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Algoma Mills protestors make their points on Highway 17 against quarry plan (4 photos)

The residents and a group of First Nations People took part in Wednesday's two hour protest

About 50 cars on the Trans Canada Highway stopped last week for cookies, chocolate turtles and flyers explaining the environmental value of a patch of crown land up for development as a quarry, adjacent to Lake Lauzon. 

It happened Wednesday between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. beside Highway 17 at Algoma Mills, in front of the Township of the North Shore municipal offices.

A group of local and area residents staged a peaceful.protest opposing the quarry plan which they maintain would have a negative impact on.the water quality of Lake Lauzon, and pose a hazard to the habitat of the federally endangered species of Blanding's turtle, which lives in the area.

Among other concerns, they worry about the impact they believe the quarry will have on the Trudel.Creek.watershed. Trudel's the main creek that flows into Lake Lauzon.

The Township of the North Shore Council approved the quarry plan on a 3-2 vote in favour of a zoning change for the crown land involved, at a recent meeting the Township Committee of Adjustment.

The residents and a group of First Nations People took part in Wednesday's two hour protest under the watchful eye of Police directed by Officer Tom Shawan.

One of the motorists who stopped made a cash donation to offset some of the protester's legal costs. Placard carrier, Janice Gamble was wearing her purple "turtle" skirt, and holding a placard that left little doubt about what she was there for. That is, aiming to stop the quarry development and save precious local wildlife habitat.

The group used signs to highlight the archeological and environmental issues they've uncovered since the summer of 2018.

On a sidelight, concerned citizen JoAnne McClellan said she has noticed a change in the way public access to the Township of the North Shore which he says has been limited since the quarry issue has garnered public attention. 

McClellan said, "There was always a public question period at the end of public meetings." She went on, "Since January of this year (2019) question period has been eliminated from the meeting agenda."

She concluded, "Although I have read all of the minutes of Council meetings leading up to and since the implementation of these changes, I have never seen a resolution of Council approving the elimination of these items."

Along with those comments protestor Gamble told ElliotLakeToday, "I learned a lot about Trudel Creek and the important role it plays in draining a large wetland into Lake Lauzon. I wish I had learned about the archeology sooner; I would have pressed our municipal government to protect Algoma Mills' abundant heritage and archeology before it began to consider extractive development."

Ms. Gamble continued, "The permitting process is nasty, from the disrespect the proponent levies on the opponents to the muzzling of public servants, to obstruction of my rights under the Municipal Act and denial of delegations regarding history and reconciliation." 

She concluded, "I feel that extraction of resources will affect everyone in the north sooner or later and hope others will become more vigilant and proactive in the future, as we learn to press for a healthy environment and municipal governments that support us."



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About the Author: Brent Sleightholm

As a reporter, Brent has covered everything from amateur and professional sports, to politics, entertainment, police and courts, to human interest stories and government issues
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