By MPP Bobbi Ann Brady
When I ran for office in 2022, much of my campaign centred around Empire Communities’ proposal for 15,000 homes on lands at the Nanticoke Industrial Park. To this day, I maintain this is a bad idea for many reasons, and thousands of you agree. In fact, I would argue that six local elections at the municipal and provincial levels have been fought and won based on this issue.
When I knocked on doors this past winter during the provincial election, taxpayers from both Haldimand and Norfolk expressed to me their concerns about the proposal. Most people tell me they want to see the industry further developed at the industrial park and that moving large amounts of people to the area will put good-paying jobs at both Stelco and Imperial Oil at risk. We know Nanticoke is being eyed for an energy project that would create better economic benefits for the area.
Infrastructure is of enormous concern. One only needs to drive Highway 6 to experience the plethora of traffic issues – why would we add more cars to the highway? On the provincial level, the need for medical facilities, schools, and police would exist; however, the developer is not responsible for these, but you are as the taxpayer. Based on my research, growth is not paying for growth. The proof is we continue to add more people, and yet our taxes continue to rise.
Growth is inevitable, but decision-makers must be calculated in their approach. There are Haldimand County councillors who do not believe Empire will have the ability to develop quickly. Still, the public feels that even a few hundred homes is too many in the area. I don’t know why Empire would invest in these lands if they are not going to receive a return on their investment. Further, many see the problems in Caledonia, where the population is set to triple by 2051. Rapid growth has put pressure on community resources, and I also heard about this issue knocking on doors in Caledonia this winter.
Many of you are not shy about admitting that you do not want to see our rural, small-town life change significantly, and there is no shame in that. Haldimand County Councillor Brad Adams spoke about this sentiment on August 26th, when he brought forward a motion that asked council to rescind its previous decision to support a request for a Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO) for their proposed development.
In the end, Councillor Adams’ motion was lost 4-3. The result of this vote puzzles me because, in my 25-plus-year career, I have never seen an issue that has preoccupied the minds of constituents as much as this development. Yes, some people in the community believe a city of 40,000 people is a good idea, and they are vocal on social media. This week, I called on one of them to start a petition of their own and wished them luck in getting signatures.
Sadly, four councillors have not voted in the will of those they represent, but more damaging is they have signaled to the province we are a willing host to this large-scale development. These four councillors will not stop me from continuing to represent your views at Queen’s Park.
I will not consider the fight on the MZO over until we have the province’s decision, and until then I will continue to be vocal. I am certain approving this MZO could have the same or greater public reaction that we saw with respect to the Greenbelt.
Together, we must continue making noise about this critical issue. You can write to me and send it to [email protected]. You can also go to my website and print off my ‘Say No to the MZO’ petition at https://bobbiannbrady.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/NO-to-MZO-Petition-July-2024.pdf. Unfortunately, the Ontario Legislature only accepts printed petitions, not e-petitions (I’m working on this), so please have concerned friends, family, and members of the public sign it and drop it off at my office at your convenience. The war on the MZO is not over.
Bobbi Ann Brady is the MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk