THERE IS NO WATER TO WASTE:
Save the Water: Fight the Dump

Council of Canadians' chairperson Maude Barlow is a staunch supporter of the campaign to Stop Dump Site 41. “Water, in my opinion, is the single most important environmental and human-rights threat of our time, and while millions around the world are dying and going thirsty, Simcoe County is about to violate this unique and precious Canadian aquifer.”

Alliston Aquifer

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In 1976, The Alliston Aquifer was the first groundwater complex to be mapped by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, based on its "major extent and significant potential for development". It extends from Georgian Bay and beneath Lake Simcoe. The jagged line at the south end indicates that the aquifer is thought to continue south of the protected Oak Ridges Moraine. The preservation of the aquifer is important since it is used as a primary water source by numerous municipalities and also discharges into creeks and rivers which eventually flow into Georgian Bay, Lake Simcoe, Lake Scugog and Lake Ontario.

*This overlay on this map is derived from Hydrogeologic Map 77-1 issued by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment in 1977.

August 25th, 2009 One-year moratorium debate and decision.

Hundreds of people gathered for an information session followed by a county council meeting where councillors voted in favour of a one-year moratorium. Read update on our campaign blog.

'Rally for a Moratorium' July 25th, 2009.

Over 2000 people gathered to 'Rally for a Moratorium'!
Speakers included Anishanabe representatives from the vigil site; Maude Barlow, Senior Advisor on Water to the President of the United Nations and Chairperson of the Council of Canadians; David Crombie, former Toronto mayor and former federal cabinet minister; Mary Muter, vice-president and chairperson of the environment for the Georgian Bay Association (GBA) and the Georgian Baykeeper; and Charlie Angus, NDP MP for Timmins-James Bay and one of the leaders of the successful fight to ban Toronto garbage from the Adams Mine.

NO WATER TO WASTE: Ontarians Marched to Dump Site 41 on July 4th, 2009.

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More than 700 people marched from Elmvale to Site 41, where another 150 people were gathered. At the protest camp we heard speeches from local resident Stephen Ogden, a representative from the Chiefs of Ontario, Conservative MPP Garfield Dunlop, radio host Dale Goldhawk, Council of Canadians chairperson Maude Barlow, and several others.

There was also music by William Buttery, Fiddes•Lefaive, Marg Raynor, and Youth drummers.

A heartfelt expression of appreciation to Art Parnell, the local farmer who made the land available for the event and for the protest camp, was made by Maude and Stephen.

Members of the Peterborough-Kawarthas, Northumberland County, Niagara Region, South Niagara, and Grey-Bruce chapters were part of this extraordinary protest. Click here to find your local chapter and get involved.

Photos of the Site 41 march and rally - July 4, 2009

PHOTOS

NO WATER TO WASTE: Ontarians Marched to Dump Site 41 on May 4th, 2009.

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The Barrie Examiner reported on May 5th that, “Upwards of 500 people gathered yesterday to protest the North Simcoe Landfill, formerly known as Site 41. At least 375 opponents of the dump marched about 6.5 kilometers from here to the site on the second concession of Tiny Township, where they were met by more than another 100 people…Maude Barlow, national chair of the Council of Canadians, led the march and told those gathered at the site that she will ‘keep coming back and coming back until we’ve stopped Site 41.’”

Maude Barlow told the assembled, “A dump site over the world’s purest water is going to pollute the water system. On behalf of the Council of Canadians, I want you to know our members are 100 per cent with you in this fight. It’s a travesty to the community. We’ve been given a gift of this water and we owe it to future generations to keep it as clean and safe as we found it. It isn’t just the people from Tiny Township who oppose it. There are people all over the province and around the country who are standing with you.”

Opening Remarks at Site 41 Rally	Photos of the Site 41 rally and march - May 4, 2009
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A group of First Nations and Metis people have been holding vigil at Site 41 in Tiny Township since the beginning of May 2009. They plan to stay until the federal government overturns the province of Ontario's decision of approval for Site 41.