Our Goal: Protecting the Whitevale marsh






We want to stop the sale and development of the sensitive area, north of Whitevale, which includes some marshland and a regenerating gravel pit. It should stay in public hands and become a nature park with a trailhead to the Seaton trail. Read previous posts on this blog for additional information.

To support us in preventing its sale by Infrastructure Ontario to developers, please contact the following Provincial Ministers:

Kathleen Wynne, Premier kwynne.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org


Kathryn McGarry, Minister of NR and Forestry kathryn.mcgarry@ontario.ca


Bob Chiarelli, Minister of Infrastructure bob.chiarelli@ontario.ca


Glen Murray, Minister of the Environment and Climate  Change
minister.moecc@ontario.ca


Bill Mauro, Minister of Municipal Affairs bmauro.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org


Joe Dickson, MPP Pickering jdickson.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org


Tracy MacCharles, MPP for Pickering and Minister for Consumer Affairs tmaccharles.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
 Bundle 10, which includes the Whitevale Marsh, is now being offered for sale to developers by IO's realtor. Offers will be looked at in the new year. We are still determined to advocate for the preservation of the marshlands. On Tuesday, December 10, we met virtually our MPP, Finance Minister Bethlenfalvy and Minister of Infrastructure Surma, in the presence of Pickering Mayor Kevin Ashe. Minister Bethlenfalvy and Mayor Ashe have long supported our cause. Mayor Ashe, as Mayor Ryan did in the past, had written a letter of support for our project to Minister Surma. Minister Surma listened to our arguments but insisted that the process of selling the land was in motion.  Her staff indicated that the marsh area that will be protected will be larger (see image below), following the results of an ecological assessment recently done for IO, which, we were told, recommend putting low density housing only in the flat areas. We are trying to get a copy of that ecological report. The ma...
Read more

Some Background

Image
The Whitevale Nature and Marsh Committee is dedicated to preserving and restoring the former quarry located immediately North of Whitevale and West of North Road. This area is for now in public hands, owned but the Province of Ontario but Infrastructure Ontario has included in Package 10, which is presently offered for sale to developers. Infrastructure Ontario has even applied for rezoning with the City of Pickering, and has proposed a residential plan, which seems superimposed to the site, without consideration to its ecology nor topography. This site has not been recently studied for its environmental significance. This area is in the process of regenerating. Its flora and fauna are rich, including milkweed where monarch find the ideal habitat, numerous patches of thyme thriving in the sandy areas, woodlots and meadows with diverse habitats for birds and other wildlife. Its striking topography of valleys occupied and marshes, as well as dramatic cliffs overlooking these lower a...
Read more
Image
 During the December 15 meeting of the City of Pickering Council, a motion proposed by councillor Pickles and seconded by councillor Butt was unanimously approved. It is now up to the Province to work with the city of Pickering and its community to protect this precious natural enclave. See the excerpt below: "13.6 Seaton Trail Moved By Councillor Pickles Seconded By Councillor Butt Whereas, the Seaton Trail is an important recreational and natural asset for the Hamlet of Whitevale, and residents of Pickering, Durham as well as used by people from across the Greater Toronto Area; And Whereas, the Region of Durham recognizes the Seaton Trail as part of its Activity Trail Network with the future connection to the Rouge Park and the City of Pickering recognizes the Seaton Trail in its City of Pickering Recreation & Parks Ten Year Plan (2024) noting the growing popularity and use of trails and highly desirable amenity as a valued community asset and destination; And Whereas, there...
Read more