Gravel pits don’t mix with species at risk

The proposed Darien Quarry will encroach on the habitat of a large population of endangered Blanding’s Turtles on the north shore of Lake Huron.

From the Wilderness Committee

In this time of crisis, many of us are taking comfort in seeing nature’s cycles continue. Spring buds opening, warming soil, birds returning and animals emerging from hibernation remind us life goes on.

However, for a population of threatened turtles just now waking from their winter slumber, their critical overwintering and nesting grounds are at risk from destruction by gravel quarry and loopholes in Ontario’s Endangered Species Act (ESA). We need to speak up and tell the Ford government endangered species habitat is no place for industrial mining.

Tell Ontario to protect critical habitat for threatened turtles

In the Township of the North Shore, in the Serpent River watershed north of lake Huron, community members and Indigenous leaders have been fighting to stop a massive quarry from being built on top of pristine wetland. Recently, scientists from Laurentian University documented the site as home to a large population of Blanding’s turtles, a species listed as threatened in Ontario and endangered on the Canadian species at risk registry.

The provincial recovery strategy for Blanding’s turtles is supposed to protect their critical habitat, but loopholes introduced in the ESA by the Ford government could allow the company to destroy the wetland by paying into a conservation fund. If permitted, this could set a dangerous precedent for all species at risk.

Tell the government to reject the quarry

We need to make sure the Ontario government knows we are paying attention and Ontarians expect endangered species habitat to be protected.