Letter to Minister Yurek re: Environmental Compliance Approval for 70 Glen Scarlett Rd

Text version follows.

February 24, 2021

Sent via Email: minister.mecp@ontario.ca (No Original to Follow)

Hon. Jeff Yurek

Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks

College Park 5th Flr

777 Bay St.

Toronto, ON M7A 2J3

Re: Environmental Compliance Approval for 70 Glen Scarlett Road

Dear Minister Yurek:

An application for Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) for air and noise was

submitted by Ryding Regency Meatpackers Ltd. (Ryding Regency), with consultation

open from November 1, 2018 – December 16, 2018. During that time, 93 comments

were submitted expressing concerns, with it noted on the Environmental Registry of

Ontario (ERO) that:

In general, all commenters expressed concerns about increasing production/emission

levels from the site and a potential negative health impact related to these increase[s].

Additionally, commenters expressed concerns about odour emission from the site, lack

of proper responses to complaints, inappropriate land use/city zoning, residential

property values, air and noise pollution from delivery trucks on public roads and future

development of the area.

The Ministry granted Ryding Regency the ECA for air and noise (ERO No. 013-4066)

on March 12, 2020. By this time, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency had already

cancelled Ryding Regency's Safe Food for Canadians licence and their operations

ceased.

The community of York South—Weston has learned that a new meat processing plant,

Tru Harvest Meats Ltd. (True Harvest), is planned to open at 70 Glen Scarlett Road,

formerly home to Ryding Regency, on March 1, 2021. It has been reported that the

plant will work towards being one of the larger facilities in Ontario, processing 1600

heads per week.

Please confirm whether ECA has been granted to Tru Harvest Meats Ltd. for operations

at 70 Glen Scarlett Road and if not, what action will be taken by the Ministry to ensure

that the facility does not begin operations without all necessary approvals.

Thank you,

Frances Nunziata

City Councillor

Ward 5 York South−Weston

FN/jm

cc: Faisal Hassan, MPP, York South—Weston, via email at FHassan-QP@ndp.on.ca