An open letter to Mr. Marc Bataille, Colacem Canada:
After months of debate and detailed analysis with respect to the proposed cement plant, democracy has spoken. Last week, Champlain Township Council voted against the zoning change required to establish a cement plant in L’Orignal. As it is clear to us that a majority of the population in Champlain is of the same opinion, the Mayor and a majority of councillors supported the conclusions of the citizens they represent as duly-elected officials. We salute their leadership and service to the community.
The following day, the mayors of Hawkesbury and East Hawkesbury joined Champlain Mayor Barton to vote against Official Plan Amendment no. 30, also required to establish the plant, at the United Counties of Prescott-Russell council (UCPR) meeting. Officials from a large, contiguous eastern part of the UCPR have now opposed the project.
We therefore invoke Colacem’s sense of corporate social responsibility and respectfully request that the company withdraw the project application and respect the wishes of the population, as expressed by its elected officials.
We understand that Colacem may still want to pursue the idea of establishing its cement plant in the UCPR, notably as a result of the UCPR’s decision last week with respect to Amendment No 30 to the Official Plan. This decision is the result of the votes of the Mayors from Clarence-Rockland, The Nation, Casselman and Russell, all in the western part of the UCPR.
These mayors are also elected to represent the citizens of their communities and as such, we suggest that Colacem could seek to build its cement plant in one these communities that supports the project. As your company also operates a quarry much further west of L’Orignal, this could perhaps be a viable option for you.
With our best regards,
Charles Despins, Gérald Pilon and Michael Santella
For Action Champlain
L’Orignal
