The following is a June 6, 2007 letter written by MPP Tim Hudak to Transportation Minister Donna Cansfield in response to Lincoln residents’ concerns over the QEW Widening Project in St. Catharines, which may see as much as one million tonnes of aggregate trucked through Lincoln over the next four years.

June 6, 2007

Hon. Donna Cansfield
Ministry of Transportation
77 Wellesley St. W,
3rd Floor, Ferguson Block,
Toronto ON
M7A 1Z8

Dear Minister Cansfield,

I understand that you are planning to meet with Mayor of Lincoln, Bill Hodgson, this week to discuss the impact the QEW widening project is expected to have on area residents and the local road network in Lincoln. I appreciate your commitment to hear Mayor Hodgson’s concerns – and through him those of the taxpayers of Lincoln.

I had the opportunity to discuss this matter with Mayor Hodgson earlier this week and I support his initiative.

While the affected section of the QEW is in St. Catharines, I understand that upwards of one million tonnes of aggregate will be hauled through Lincoln for the project from a quarry near Mountain Road and Yonge Street in Beamsville. Given that the Region of Niagara is considering a proposal to build a 40,000-tonne compost site in the same neighbourhood, local residents and the Town of Lincoln have already identified a number of concerns about the project in regards to public safety, noise, and damage to personal and public property.

I am writing today to echo those concerns and respectfully ask that you exercise your mandate as Minister of Transportation to ensure that the highest possible safety measures are observed and enforced. As you may know, Walker Industries will be supplying the aggregate, Dufferin Construction will be transporting the aggregate and recycled material to the construction site and to the quarry, and the Ministry of Transportation has approved and signed this contract to expand the QEW through St Catharines.

The local residents, the Town of Lincoln and I understand the importance of expanding the QEW for the sake of improved transportation and safety on one of Ontario’s busiest highways. However, given the significant number of trucks, the over one million tonnes of aggregate being moved through Lincoln, and the involvement of a number parties mentioned above, it is imperative that clear lines of authority and responsibility are established in addressing issues such as safety of local residents, damage done to local roads and other concerns.

As Minister, I ask that you take a hands-on approach in working with the Mayor and the Lincoln Council in ensuring that local concerns, particularly safety matters, are appropriately addressed. A good start will include your upcoming meeting with Mayor Hodgson directly and sending a senior representative to the forthcoming public meeting.

Minister, I appreciate your ongoing interest in transportation matters in Niagara. In closing, please accept my best wishes.

Sincerely,

Tim Hudak,
MPP for Erie-Lincoln

cc:
Mr. Peter Partington, chair, Region of Niagara
Mr. Bill Hodgson, Mayor of Lincoln