The Ontario provincial cabinet has given the green light to St. Lawrence Cement Group Inc.’s Dufferin Aggregates’ Milton quarry extension by dismissing the appeal of the groups that opposed the application. In June, 2005, a joint board composed of two hearing officers from the Ontario Municipal Board and the Environmental Review Tribunal ruled that the application was in the public interest and approved it, with strong conditions. This decision was appealed to the provincial cabinet by two environmental groups and three members of the public. 
 
"We are pleased with cabinet’s decision to uphold the board’s approval," said Bill Galloway, general manager for Dufferin Aggregates, a business unit of St. Lawrence Cement. "All the agencies supported the project, and it fits well with government policy. We agree with the board’s conditions, especially since most of them had already been recommended by the municipalities, the Niagara Escarpment Commission and Conservation Halton," added Mr. Galloway. 
 
One of the unique aspects of the proposal is an agreement that Dufferin Aggregates will hand over 1,000 acres of the rehabilitated quarry and adjacent lands to public ownership. It will include naturalized wetlands and woodlands, and a working reservoir. 
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