A local MPP has broken his silence over the future of a dormant landfill near Dresden.
Lambton-Kent-Middlesex Conservative Steve Pinsonneault says he is well aware of significant community pushback to Bill 5. The provincial legislation would eliminate the need for an environment assessment or First Nations consultation in order to reopen the property on Irish School Road, fast-tracking redevelopment and expansion of the site.
“I’ve had thousands of emails, hundreds of phone calls, and several people in person come to talk to me about the York1 landfill in Dresden,” Pinsonneault said in a video on social media. “People are angry and quite frankly, so am I.”
Pinsonneault says he spoke out against development of the dump during his time on Chatham-Kent Council, and continues to be against the idea.
The MPP, who took office in the riding last spring following a by-election, says he continues to stand against the landfill proposal and has voiced his concerns to Premier Doug Ford. However, he says his vote in the Legislature is just one of 80, and doesn’t believe his vote could change the outcome.