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The following press release was received from Forks of the Credit Preservation Group for publication.
Caledon residents are dismayed by the Province’s latest unilateral dismissal of Caledon’s revised aggregate mining policies. “It is egregious,” says David Sylvester, Chair of Forks of the Credit Preservation Group (FCPG), “for the Province to state that the Town’s proposed amendment would work against key provincial objectives, when the revised policies have not yet been finalized or even seen by the Province.”
Caledon worked for two years to create Official Plan Amendment 1 (OPA1), guided by community input and scientific expertise. Caledon Council responded to overwhelming public concerns by committing to modernizing and strengthening aggregate policies to create a reasonable balance between the needs of the industry and the need to protect Caledon residents and the environment.
After the Province summarily and extensively modified the OPA1 policies, the Town of Caledon reviewed the modifications and began drafting revised policies to address provincial concerns. Their one key request of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the Ministry of Natural Resources was that they engage in meaningful consultation with the Town regarding these revisions.
Instead, on May 4, 2026, Minister Flack wrote the Town of Caledon and inexplicably threatened Caledon to cease the initiative or suffer consequences. FCPG’s lawyer David Donnelly stated “After practicing law for 25+ years, it is my opinion the Minister’s actions are inappropriate and unprecedented.”
“Caledon residents deserve a transparent and collaborative planning process – not threats and political interference,” added Sylvester. “The people of Caledon have repeatedly expressed their desire for stronger protections for water, farmland, forests, and rural communities. Council listened. Experts contributed. The Town acted responsibly. For the Province to attempt to shut down that work before even reviewing the revised policies undermines both local democracy and public trust.”
FCPG is calling on the Province to immediately withdraw its ultimatum and engage in meaningful consultation with the Town of Caledon regarding the revised aggregate policies. The organization maintains that municipalities must retain the ability to protect their communities, drinking water, and natural heritage while balancing provincial interests.
“As Ontarians become increasingly concerned about water security, environmental resilience, and responsible land-use planning,” said Donnelly, “the Province should be supporting municipalities that are trying to get these policies right – not punishing them for trying.”
