Special Council

WHEREAS a significant portion - 22.8 hectares (57 acres) - of the Lower Duffins Creek Wetland Complex, comprised of key natural heritage features and key hydrological features including Provincially Significant Wetland (PSW), Significant Woodland, and Significant Wildlife Habitat designated in 2005, and which is likely, according to the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), to have Endangered Species habitat and seeps, is being threatened by a senseless development plan approved by Minister Steve Clark through a Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO) to by-pass consultation, provincial policy restrictions, appeals processes, consideration of transportation infrastructure, environmental impacts, etc.; AND WHEREAS this significant portion of the PSW, located west of Squires Beach Road, north of Bayly Street and south of Highway 401 in Pickering, will be destroyed in its entirety, and filled in to fast track the construction of up to 4 million square feet of warehousing adjacent to the Durham Live project; AND WHEREAS according to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) website, MZOs for new development are “generally not permitted on PSWs, prime agricultural lands,[…] and areas susceptible to flooding or where fish or wildlife habitats will be disturbed”, and the Provincial Policy Statement, overseen by MMAH, directs that natural features and areas shall be protected for the long term (policy 2.1.1) and that development and site alteration shall not permitted in

That By-law number 44-2020 being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Ajax at its special meeting held on November 9, 2020 be read a first, second and third time and passed.

That the November 9, 2020 special meeting of the Council of the Town of Ajax be adjourned. (5:22 p.m.)