Serving MIMICO, LONG BRANCH, STONEGATE-QUEENSWAY, ALDERWOOD and NEW TORONTO
www.etobicokeguardian.com
fri feb 15, 2013
Ministry, city act on noise, dust complaints
INTO THE DEEP
Solution to residents’ concerns ‘very attainable’: company officials TAMARA SHEPHARD tshephard@insidetoronto.com
Staff photo/MARY GAUDET
at the olympium: Bishop Allen High School's Clara Trudell, left, launches into the pool during a qualifying heat for the girls' 50-metre freestyle at the Toronto Catholic District School Board swim meet hosted at the Etobicoke Olympium last Wednesday.
A Mimico concrete mixing plant that has operated for a decade without Ministry of the Environment approvals is committed to resolving residents’ complaints of noise from a steady convoy of trucks and dust, a company official insists. ML Ready Mix Concrete has operated since its owners purchased the property at 29 Judson St. in 2002 in a residential neighbourhood down the street from Mimico GO Station, a seniors’ residence and Coronation Park. Yet, a Ministry of the Environment spokesperson said Wednesday the
Woodbine racetrack lays off 100 workers Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) announced Wednesday that more than 100 jobs will be slashed at two of its racetracks – including Etobicoke’s Woodbine – to make up for revenues lost as a result of the Slots-at-Racetracks termination. In total – including changes implemented in late 2012 – 109 salaried positions, plus a “significant” number of hourly positions will be impacted at Woodbine and at
Mohawk Racetrack in Milton. Those jobs impacted, fall at all levels of the organization – “from the executive offices to frontline employees.” “Today is a very difficult day for Woodbine Entertainment Group,” WEG’s President and CEO Nick Eaves said in a statement released Wednesday. “The people we are saying goodbye to have helped build WEG into a world-class horse racing and entertainment company. As we
confront these difficult but necessary changes to our company, we remain committed to delivering a superior experience to our customers and demonstrating vital leadership to the Ontario horse racing industry to ensure its long-term sustainability.” Citing a significant drop in revenues as a result of the loss of the Slots-at-Racetracks program – a partnership that directed $345 mil-
lion in slots revenues to the horseracing industry each year until its termination on March 31 – WEG officials said not even recently announced transitional agreements with the provincial government and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) were enough to fill that void. As a result, the company said it has had to take steps to reduce costs >>>Woodbine, page 6
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ministry only learned of the cement operation in 2008. Last week, some 130 area residents expressed their concerns at a Feb. 6 meeting with city, provincial and company officials at which they learned ML Ready Mix has been operating without a Ministry of Environment certificate of approval for dust and noise emissions, and may require a city building permit for changes made to the site. “How did they build a full-on concrete mixing operation without any (city permits)?” Kyra Trainor, Mimico Residents’ Association president, said Thursday in an interview. “I’ve lived in Mimico six years. I >>>residents’, page 13
LEADING UP TO THE LAYOFFS n Province cancels Slots-atRacetracks program, ending $345 million partnership n Funding set to expire on March 31 n 109 salaried positions cut, hourly positions also affected
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