Issues and Concerns

HOW FAR FROM THE PROPOSED SPEEDWAY SITE
DO I LIVE?

To calculate distance
Click here

SOUTHERN ONTARIO WETLAND CONVERSION ANALYSIS
FINAL REPORT - MARCH 2010

Although wetlands are being restored and protected on the southern Ontario landscape, the trend of wetland loss continues.

The decline in wetlands since settlement has been most drastic in south western Ontario, parts of eastern Ontario, Niagara and the Toronto area, where over 85% of the original wetlands have been converted to other uses. Built-up lands, impervious and pervious, were a significant factor in the loss of wetlands within the Golden Horseshoe.

The study area for this update analysis is similar to the original Environment Canada study, covering southern Ontario’s Mixedwood Plains ecozone. The Mixedwood Plains ecozone contains a large portion of the country’s population and is one of the most human dominated ecozones. For this reason it has experienced increased industrial, commercial, transportation, residential development and agricultural pressures. Wetlands as well as other natural areas often cannot compete economically with these other land uses and as a result there has been a significant decline in wetland areas within this ecozone through the industrial revolution to current day. Wetlands, however, provide a wide variety of ecosystem services that benefit people and the environment. These include flood control/attenuation, shoreline stabilization, water purification and groundwater recharge and discharge, recreation, education and tourism opportunities. Wetlands also help limit greenhouse gases in the atmosphere by acting as carbon sinks and stabilizing climate conditions. When wetlands are lost or destroyed the important ecosystem services they provide are also lost.

Since pre-settlement times, the percentage of wetland area in Niagara has decreased from 40-60% to 5-20%; equally a loss percentage of over 85%. In Fort Erie specifically, the wetland area has decreased from 50.8% to 11.1% by 2002.

To read full report, CLICK HERE

"You don't plunk a speedway on top of an agricultural span that's supposed to be environmentally protected by the province."

Issues

Fort Erie Speedway

OMB PRE-HEARING POSTPONED FOR SPEEDWAY CHALLENGE

If you thought a 12 storey condo tower on the beach would change the face of
Fort Erie, *hold on to your hat...."

The proposed speedway development, which has been designed to desecrate 821 acres of mainly prime agricultural land and includes environmental protected areas and wildlife corridors, will clearly change the character of Fort Erie’s semi-rural, quite lifestyle forever!

Concerned Citizens of Greater Fort Erie is preparing for the David and
Goliath challenge of an Ontario Municipal Board Hearing. The OMB prehearing was originally scheduled to take place on April 8th. However, late last week CCGFE received a notification from the proponent's lawyer requesting that court proceedings be delayed due to the fact that their client still had not completed the necessary environmental and health studies that must be provided to the OMB and all appellants. In the spirit of cooperation and transparency, CCGFE agreed to allow the delay. The purpose of the prehearing is to identify all the parties in the case and establish a format for the actual hearing. It is open to the public and CCGFE encourages all those who stand in opposition to the speedway development to attend.

CCGFE is acutely concerned about the loss of wildlife habitat,
agricultural lands, and the degradation of two creek systems that will
result if the speedway development is allowed to proceed, and encourages those who care about the quality of life in Fort Erie to join with them to show how incompatible a noisy, polluting speedway will be in the in the middle of Greater Fort Erie.

Please get involved - Every voice and every dollar helps!

For more information on how this will negatively impact not just Fort Erie, but the entire Niagara region, please visit http://www.forteriecars.org.

HOW FAR DO I LIVE FROM THE PROPOSED SPEEDWAY SITE?

To calculate distance Click here

If you live in	Place Marker at the Intersection of
Black Creek	Bowen and Laur
Crescent Park	Gilmore and Sunset
Ridgeway – Crystal Beach	Ridgemount and Bertie
North End of Fort Erie	Bridge St and QEW
South End of Fort Erie	Gilmore and QEW
Stevensville	Bowen and Laur

Members of CCGFE recently attended the Michigan International Speedway. This speedway holds 119,000 spectators, only 19,000 more than Canadian Motor Speedway's ultimate build out goal.

Bay Beach

On March 1, the council of Fort Erie supported a plan to build a multi-storey condo tower that will be completely out of place in the historic, lakeside town of Crystal Beach, and will cast a shadow on the future of one of the last open beaches for the public in the Niagara region.

PROTECT OUR
FARMLAND

Between 1971 and 2001, over 14,000 square kilometres of our best agricultural land has been permanently lost to urban uses.
Fortunately, as more individuals recognize the problems to be they are asking Canada’s policy makers and politicians why this precious yet limited land base is allowed to disappear.

Video
Do you know where your food comes from? - Eat Real. Eat Local.

SPEEDWAY NEWS

It ain't over yet. We'll keep you updated.

Visit http://www.forteriecars.org
for information on this contoversial issue.

BAY BEACH NEWS

Wednesday, Feb 23, 2011
A split town packs council chamber over Bay Beach controversy

.......Read More

March 3, 2010
Controversial Condo Tower Plan
For Public Beach Area Is Pushed Forward .....Read More

February 27, 2010
Controversial Condo Tower Plan For Crystal Beach About to Reach Crescendo .....Read More