June 3, 2011 Mr.

Craig Laing Aggregate Resource Officer Midhurst District Office Ministry of Natural Resources 2284 Nursery Road Midhurst, Ontario L0L 1X0 Registry Number: 011-2864
Ontario Institute of Agrologists Ontario AGRICentre 100 Stone Road West Suite 108 Guelph, Ontario N1G 5L3 Tel: (519) 826-4226 Fax: (519) 826-4228 Website: www.oia.on.ca

Dear Mr. Laing: As President of the Ontario Institute of Agrologists I write to you to advise the Ministry of Natural Resources on a matter of public interest. On behalf of the OIA Board of Directors and members of the OIAs Huronia Branch, I am writing to express the OIAs opposition to The Highland Companies proposed 937 hectare quarry in Melancthon Township, Dufferin County. You may be aware that through the Ontario Institute of Professional Agrologists Act (1960) the Professional Agrologist (P.Ag.) designation represents excellence in the practice of Agrology by qualified and accountable professionals that have achieved nationally recognized standards. Working to serve the public interest, approximately 10,000 designated Professional and Technical Agrologists in Canada have achieved the education, training and professional requirements needed to practice within ethical and public accountability standards. Representing the public interest the OIA must speak to the need for a safe and sustainable food supply and environmental sustainability within its public interest mandate. We are witnessing a rise in the publics concern for a safe and sustainable food supply. More specifically, Ontarians are expressing their concern about environmental issues with respect to food transport distance and the associated negative carbon footprint created. According to a survey conducted by Local Food Plus in 2010, and noted in an article in the Fall 2010 issue of the Ontario Agrologist, more than 90% of Ontarians interviewed prefer local food grown using environmentally sustainable methods mainly for socio-economic and health reasons. The proposed quarry is located on lands used for potato growing and is situated only 60 miles from downtown Toronto. This land is key to local food production. The proposed site is almost exclusively Class 1 agricultural land (as determined under the Canada Land Inventory)

and should be considered a specialty crop area, protected from activities such as aggregate extraction. Further, the cool climate found near the Escarpment north of Shelburne, combined with the qualities of the Honeywood soils have created an ideal potato production zone. We are aware that significant science speaking to the climate and significance of these lands has been submitted to the Ministry. However, the proposed quarry plan is to encompass 937 hectares or 2,314 acres of prime agricultural land. This area, fully planted with potatoes, would produce about 60 million pounds of potatoes in one season, and 30 million pounds of potatoes annually in a two year crop rotation. We believe 30 million pounds of potatoes is a lot of local food. In Highlands proposal they claim that they will restore the site and they will protect the local water table. However, these claims are difficult to substantiate. The soil in this region was created from silts and sands following the retreat of the glaciers in the last ice age. No earth mover can rebuild soil that was put in place by nature more than 10,000 years ago. Further, it is absurd to think that an earth mover can recreate soil that is friable, easily worked and is high in plant nutrients; soil that is naturally capable of holding moisture during dry periods. Highland will ultimately create a 937 hectare lake at their quarry site. In our opinion, this is not site restoration. Ultimately, the decision must be made whether to view what nature created in the backyard of the Greater Toronto Area as a treasure or determine if it is in the public interest to squander these food production lands for aggregate usage. These is a time in our history when efforts should be directed toward protecting our domestic food supply and have regard for the financial costs and environmental consequences associated with importation of food from long distances. With other options for dolomitic limestone elsewhere in the Province the Highlands proposal remains perplexing. From a policy perspective, the Province of Ontario has moved to protect areas within the Niagara Escarpment, the Oak Ridges Moraine and the Greenbelt. Why this area goes unprotected is not clear. This Class 1 agricultural land was described in 1964 by the Province of Ontario as among the best agricultural soils in Southern Ontario.

From the perspective of protection of the public interest the Ontario Institute of Agrologists supports the Province of Ontario working with The Highland Companies to identify a more suitable location (non or low classed agricultural lands) for quarry activities versus fertile agricultural land located in the backyard of the Greater Toronto Area. We must object to any further use of prime agricultural lands in Ontario being rezoned to allow for aggregate development. Sincerely,

Frank Reddick, P.Ag. President, Ontario Institute of Agrologists cc Linda Jeffrey, Minister of Natural Resources Carol Mitchell, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Ernie Hardeman, MPP Oxford Howard Hampton, MPP Kenora-Rainy River Sylvia Jones, MPP Dufferin-Caledon David Tilson, MP Dufferin-Caledon Bette Jean Crews, President, OFA

For more information please contact: Terry Kingsmill, P.Ag. Registrar, OIA 519-826-4226