Just a small rant on the environmental front. This one really puts me to shame, especially being a York resident.

As you might have read in the news, York Regional Council “unanimously” approved a Big Pipe extention that cuts right through the sensitive lands of the Oak Ridges Moraine. [Read Article]

The project, which involves laying down sewer pipes along 19th Avenue between Yonge and Leslie in Richmond Hill, has significant environmental impacts because it will pump substantial water resources (up to 66 billion litres, according to environmentaldefence.ca) underground water from the Oak Ridges Moraine.

This is definitely another wake up call, as it seems as though York intends to spark further urban sprawl into areas in King Township and the northern stretches of Vaughan. I am disappointed that although York has been so adamant to bring upon a viable transportation alternative and more sustainable communities — with the Viva BRT project and the creation of “Transit Communities” in 4 new high-density nodes (See Markham Centre)— that we continue to see the subsidy for further urban sprawl. It seems as though there is a great will to provide for sustainable development, but once again, no one in the Region have and political guts to stand up against these sprawl development initiatives.

They see it as there’s nothing to lose. More development yields more property taxes and more development charges. Sounds good economically no?— of course, we’ve neglected the long-term effects on the environment.

Meanwhile, curbing sprawl is easy: stop providing water/wastewater infrastrucutre to new areas. No water infrastrucure yields no urban development— it’s as simple as that.

What is most disturbing is that Bill Fisch, the Region’s Chair and CEO, stated that the sewer connection will not damange the natural area because it will run underground.

He makes a remarkable point. If we stash things underground, things will magically heal itself. Riiight. There is apparently no ecological connectivity once structures are placed beneath the soil. Yep. So burying radioactive wastes would be okay too because yes, it would run underground.

Yes, this is the man that we’ve put in charge to run our region. It is sad that he was caught in the media stating such irresponsible, absurd and ignorant comments.

I think he needs to hire me as a co-op sudent to write him some background briefing notes before he opens his mouth.

Politicians. What would they do without civil servants?

He was also stated in the article as saying “we’re putting the environment way ahead of almost anyone else in the province,” now I’m quite disillusioned on what exactly he believes is taking that “environmental” step.

Right now, it all comes down to whether Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of the Environment, will approve this project or not. She better have a good set of Reseach Analysts! But really, with the Liberal government’s strive for more sustainable growth, and the recent Greenbelt and Places to Grow (which passed Royal Assent a few weeks ago) initiatives— not to mention a possible violation with the Canada Fisheries Act— lets hope they’ll be able to stop the enviornmental madness.