The Mayor and Council were sent a letter by a law firm that represented a group of concerned residents in Joshua Creek. That letter outlined the residents concerns regarding the industrial dumps that exist near Joshua Creek and other dumps within the vicinity. It outlines the start of the Joshua Creek Inquiry.

NOTE: For clarity, the following people were copied on this response from the Ministry of Environment:  Doug Ford, Stephen Crawford (MPP Oakville), Rob Burton (Mayor of Oakville), Gary Carr (Regional Chairman - Halton)

Additionally, MECP records also show that Ford Motor Company had used the site to dump sludge in a dump site up the street at the 9th Landfill? How did the Ministry of Environment then infer that no waste was buried at all at these sites?

• “review of available information”: was the Halton Region’s report available? If so, they would have seen that their report indicated that the dump was used by Ford and destined to be moved to the US for final disposition.
  
  

• “sampling program in Joshua’s Creek”: why did they not say they took soil samples from the actual dump (the soil)? That would be a more accurate measure of whether or not waste disposal actually occurred at these locations in order to come to a concrete conclusion.

For those interested in understanding more about toxic waste sites and their impact, here are some resources. Staying informed can help our community recognize environmental issues sooner and take proactive steps for a healthier environment.

• "The Ford Plant in Mahwah generated hundreds of thousands of cubic yards of waste and millions of gallons of paint sludge. For each car made, 5 gallons of paint was produced, equating to 6,000 gallons of sludge a day."

• New Jersey Community Endures Decades of Ford's Toxic Legacy

• Ford built the landfill to dispose of soil and sludges generated by the removal of on-site lagoons

• Ringwood halts plan to build recycling center on dump site

• EPA Record of Decision: Ford Industrial Landfill

• "Ford Motor Company created the dumpsite, located just north of Hidden Falls Regional Park, before the advent of environmental laws and standards and still owns the site today"

• Paint spraybooth waterwash systems in automotive assembly plants are chemically-treated to produce a conditioned (detackified) paint sludge, which settles in the sludge basin

Nearly two years later...Despite all the available information...

There has been no update on this matter.

Please note: South Service Road has had it’s name changed to The Canadian Road. It’s a recent change and unclear of when exactly this took place but the reference from Halton above, is referencing the same dump site used exclusively by Ford.

It was “destined to be moved to the United States for final disposition”. 

No records have been produced that it was ever done.

From the Letter: That (e.g. rugby leased) land sits on a 1950’s era garbage dump of the former township. Ford Motor Co. used its own trucks to dump here. Before recycling, everything went into the landfill. Don’t want to be digging too deep.” Further, “Fronting on to the south was the Town’s Dump Site during the 60’s that took in industrial waste of all kinds…don’t think that it was ever remediated. It was used into the 60’s for sure before being relocated.”

Findings on Dumps and Landfills

1. No Explicit Mention of Historical Dumps or Landfills
   Across all documents, there is no direct acknowledgment or examination of potential historical dumping activities or landfills, particularly the 9th Line landfill site. This omission is critical given the reported concerns about historical waste disposal in the area including the sludge that was disposed of in that area.

2. Hydrological Focus with Limited Context on Subsurface Contamination
   While the reports provide an extensive hydrological analysis (e.g., flood risk, hydraulic capacity, and climate change impacts), they lack a detailed investigation of subsurface conditions that might reveal contamination linked to past dumping activities.

3. Soil and Borehole Testing Absent
   Despite flood mitigation plans and environmental assessments, there is no evidence of borehole testing to evaluate the subsurface for contaminants. This is a significant oversight, particularly given the allegations of toxic waste disposal in the area.

Potential Red Flags and Suspicious Omissions

1. Lack of Historical Review of Land Use
   A comprehensive historical review of land use, particularly between the 1960s and 1980s when dumping allegedly occurred, is absent. This is a glaring gap, as such activities could significantly influence current environmental risks.

2. Focus on Surface and Flood Risks Only
   The reports limit their scope to flood mitigation, with no parallel investigation into possible environmental hazards beneath the surface. This narrow focus overlooks the potential for leachate migration or other contamination that could affect water quality in Joshua Creek

3. No Engagement with Historical Dump Records
   The reports make no reference to Ministry of Environment and Climate Change records or other repositories that might document the existence or activities of disposal sites along the 9th Line corridor. This absence undermines the thoroughness of the environmental review

When John Scheel reached out to his Councillor, Tom Adams and asked to present his findings to Oakville Council. His request was denied, citing “Council did not approve your request for a presentation” and “I am forwarding your correspondence to Doug Carr, Town Solicitor, to be handled accordingly.”

When John Scheel pressed for an official answer why he could not present to Council, the CMO/Town Clerk, Vicki Tytaneck cited: “There have been no notice of motions introduced to date by any member of council” and “therefore there has been no matter listed on a Council agenda that would allow his delegation.” And that in order for him to present anything, he would have to look on a website link, 9 days prior to the meeting, to see if there’s “an item on the agenda that would pertain to his issues allowing his request to delegate to be validated.”

December 4th, 2024: Halton Region leaks all emails of residents concerned & subscribed to Joshua Creek updates from the Region. This is in violation of the Municipal Freedom of Information & Protection of Privacy Act & must be reported to the Information & Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC). Gary Carr, the CAO of Halton is sent an email regarding the breach. 

PRIVATE INVESTIGATION: REPORT ON OAKVILLE TOXIC DUMPS 

John Scheel has attempted to tell the Town of Oakville, Halton Region and other Governmental authorities and news outlets about the toxicity of three hidden Oakville Dump sites in the Joshua Creek Area.

“All dumps drain into Joshua’s Creek, then Lake Ontario” 

“The 3 dumps are real, large, industrial, toxic and untested” 

“A developer walked away from owning The Ninth Line Dump in 1976 (sold to Ontario)”