Council here supports proposed legislation to formally grant municipalities the authority to approve landfill projects in, or adjacent to, their communities.
On July 10 council endorsed a resolution from the Township of Georgian Bay supporting Bill 16, the Respecting Municipal Authority Over Landfilling Sites Act, which was introduced by MPP Ernie Hardeman and received second reading on May 3.
The bill has been referred to the Standing Committee on General Government.
The resolution from Georgian Bay alleges municipalities across Ontario “are quietly being identified and targeted as potential landfill sites.”
The resolution states municipalities should be considered experts in waste management, “as they are responsible for this within their own communities, and often have decades’ worth of in-house expertise in managing waste, recycling, and diversion programs.”
The resolution also states municipalities should have the right to approve or reject such projects and “assess whether the potential economic benefits are of sufficient value to offset any negative impacts and environmental concerns.”
While municipalities already have authority over other types of development, including approval of casinos and nuclear waste facilities, the resolution points out they do not have the same approval authority over landfill projects in their communities.
“This outdated policy allows private landfill operators to consult with local residents and municipal councils, but essentially ignore them,” the resolution states.
A motion of support for the resolution was passed by council without comment.
