1989 ADAMS MINE LISTED AS POSSIBLE LANDFILL FOR METRO TORONTO
1990 METRO TORONTO SELECTS ADAMS MINE AS A PREFERRED SITE
AND MAKES FINANCIAL DEAL WITH NEIGHBOURING MUNICIPALITIES
1992 PROVINCE INTRODUCES LEGISLATION REQUIRING METRO TORONTO TO DEAL
WITH SOLID WASTE WITHIN GREATER TORONTO AREA
1995 METRO TORONTO CONDUCTS EIGHT MONTH INVESTIGATION
OF THE ADAMS MINE AS A POSSIBLE LANDFILL. 1995 METRO TORONTO REJECTS THE ADAMS MINE
PROJECT ON FINANCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL GROUNDS AT ITS DECEMBER COUNCIL MEETING
1996 NOTRE DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCES THEY WILL PURSUE THE
ADAMS MINE AS A PRIVATE SECTOR PROPOSAL AND BEGINS PREPARING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 1996 CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT MAKES DRASTIC
CHANGES TO ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ACT, DROPPING REQUIREMENT TO
CONSIDER NEED AND ALTERNATIVES TO LANDFILL PROJECTS AND GIVING GOVERNMENT
ABILITY TO NARROW ASSESSMENTS AND IMPOSE SEVERE TIME LIMITS.
1997 NOTRE AMENDS REQUEST FOR LANDFILL APPROVAL;
PROJECT NO LONGER INCLUDES RECYCLING OR RAIL TRANSPORTATION, AND IS
FOR ONLY ONE OF THE THREE PITS ORIGINALLY IDENTIFIED
1998 FAST-TRACKED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT HEARING
IS ANNOUNCED. THE HEARING IS RESTRICTED TO ONE TECHNICAL QUESTION
(ON THE LANDFILL DESIGN AND ITS ABILITY TO CONTROL AND CONTAIN LEACHATE
ESCAPE TO THE LOCAL GROUNDATER. THE ENTIRE EA MUST BE COMPLETED WITHIN 3 MONTHS 1998 HEARING PANEL RELEASES DECISION ON JUNE 19.
THE THREE PERSON PANEL ISSUES A SPLIT DECISION, WITH TWO MEMBERS CONCLUDING
THAT MORE TESTS ARE REQUIRED AND THAT THE FINAL DECISION SHOULD BE MADE BY
A MINISTRY EMPLOYEE; THE THIRD MEMBER DISSENTED CONCLUDING THAT THE
PROJECT SHOULD BE REJECTED BECAUSE OF ENVIORNMENTAL AND ENGINEERING
CONCERNS. THE BOARD DELEGATES THE DECISION TO A BUREAUCRAT IN THE
MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT. 1998 ADAMS MINE INTERVENTION COALITION, A COALITION
OF FARMERS ORGANIZATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS AND RESIDENTS ASSOCIATIONS,
APPEALS THE DECISION TO CABINET ON THE GROUNDS THAT THE BOARD FAILED TO MAKE
A DECISION. CABINET IGNORES APPEAL AND APPROVES ADAMS MINE BEFORE THE
CONDITIONS SET BY THE HEARING PANEL ARE MET 1998 ADAMS MINE INTERVENTION COALITION
LAUNCHES JUDICIAL REVIEW IN THE ONTARIO COURTS IN SEPTEMBER, ASKING THE
COURT TO REVIEW THE DECISION OF THE E.A. AND OF THE ONTARIO CABINET.
1999 MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT RELEASES
DRAFT CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL FOR THE ADAMS MINE IN MARCH, BEFORE THE COURT
CASE IS HEARD 1999 COURT CASE IS HEARD AND DISMISSED ON JULY 13.
THE COURT DECIDED THAT THE MINISTER COULD MAKE HIS DECISION WITHOUT THE EA
BOARD HAVING FULFILLED THEIR MANDATE. 1999 CITY OF TORONTO ISSUES A REQUEST FOR
PROPOSALS FROM PRIVATE SECTOR WASTE MANAGEMENT COMPANIES. THE RAIL
CYCLE NORTH CONSORTIUM, INCLUDING NOTRE DEVELOPMENT, CANADIAN WASTE SERVICES,
ONTARIO NORTHLAND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION, MILLER WASTE AND THE
CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAY ARE ONE OF 6 COMPANIES TO RESPOND;
RAIL CYCLE NORTH PROPOSES TO SHIP1 1.3 MILLION TONNES OF GARBAGE TO
THE ADAMS MINE.
2000 WORKS AND EMERGENCY SERVICES REPORT IN
FEBRARY TO THE WORKS COMMITTEE OF TORONTO CITY COUNCIL ON THE 5
QUALIFYING RESPONDENTS TO THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. THE PROPOSALS
WERE DESCRIBED AS BEING AVERAGE IN COMPARISON TO EACH OTHER BASED ON
TORONTO'S CRITERIA. 2000 WORKS AND EMERGENGY SERVICES REPORT
IN JUNE TO A JOINT MEETING OF THE POLICY AND FINANCE AND THE WORKS COMMITTEES
OF THE TORONTO CITY COUNCIL, RECOMMENDING THAT THE KEELE VALLEY LANDFILL
BE EXTENDED, AND THAT TORONTO CONTRACT WITH THE WINDSOR-ESSEX AND
GREENLANE LANDFILLS IN SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO AND ONYX'S LANDFILL IN
MICHIGAN FOR SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL.
FIFTY PRESENTATIONS ARE MADE IN OPPOSITION TO THE ADAMS MINE, AND 4000 LETTERS
RECEIVED EXPRESSING OPPOSITION TO THE PROJECT. THE COMMITTEES
REQUESTED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, AND DEFERRED MAKING A DECISION ON WHICH OPTION
TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL. 2000 WORKS AND EMERGENCY SERVICES REPORT IN JULY
TO A JOIN MEETING OF THE POLICY AND FINANCE AND THE WORKS COMMITTEES OF
THE TORONTO CITY COUNCIL, IDENTIFYING A COMBINATION OF THE ADAMS MINE AND THE SITE
OWNED BY REPUBLIC IN MICHIGAN AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THEIR JUNE RECOMMENDATION.
THE COMMITTEES RECOMMEND TO THE TORONTO CITY COUNCIL THAT STAFF BE DIRECTED TO
PROCEED TO FINAL CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE RAIL CYCLE NORTH CONSORTIUM AND REPUBLIC 2000 TORONTO CITY COUNCIL MEETS AUGUST 1-3, CONSIDERS
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE POLICY AND FINANCE AND THE WORKS COMMITTEES TO PROCEED TO
FINAL CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WITH RAIL CYCLE NORTH AND REPUBLIC. 2000 WORKS COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS FINAL CONTRACT
TO COUNCIL (SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER), COUNCIL TO RATIFY FINAL
CONTRACT(SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER).
FALL 2000
TORONTO COUNCIL AND NOTRE DEVELOPMENT FAIL TO SIGN CONTRACT ON A CLAUSE AWARDING LIABLITY.
DEAL FALLS THROUGH.
TORONTO MAYOR MEL LASTMAN VOWS NEVER TO USE ADAMS MINE FOR A GARBAGE DUMP AS
ONE OF HIS ELECTION PROMISED. JANUARY 2001
ANTI-ADAMS MINE COALITION CHARGE PREMIER HARRIS WITH CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND
DEMAND HIS RESIGNATION. 2001TORONTO COUNCIL VOTES FORMALLY IN COUNCIL 56-4 NEVER TO USE ADAMS MINE AS A DUMP DESPITE
GORDON MCGUINTY AND MIKE HARRIS' ATTEMPTS TO PRESSURE THE CITY TO REOPEN NEGOTIATIONS. FEBRUARY 2001
GORDON MCGUINTY ATTEMPTS TO NEGOTIATE WITH OTHER SOUTHERN ONTARIO CITIES TO ADD THEIR
TRASH TONNAGE TO THE GARBAGE TRAIN TO MAKE IT FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE FOR HIM.
information acquired from the anti-adams mine committee
