Long Blog 4 — The Wetlands of Pickering are “Safe” from Paving, Now what?

The neglect for environmental protection became evident when official plans to pave protected wetlands in Pickering, Ontario were expected to have been authorized by Premier Doug Ford in the fall of 2020 (Crawley 11 Mar. 2021). However, these plans created concern within Pickering locals and many who were aware of this news and concerned for the wetlands immediately.
The wetlands of Pickering, otherwise known as the Duffins Creek Wetland Complex, act as homes for many birds while simultaneously possessing plentiful greenery (Crawley 14 Mar. 2021). The plans to pave the wetlands would have taken away numerous bird nesting sites and foliage just to be replaced by an alleged Amazon warehouse. Wetlands are imminent for the fight against climate change but also serve to protect from water pollution and floods (DHS Environmental Council 2020).

As a result, many environmental activists took it upon themselves to get these plans redacted from advancement. Local Pickering environmental activists Devin Mathura and Ally Zaheer planned to hold a protest on February 22, 2021, to fight for the wetlands to remain protected. The protest that took place was named a “Shoe Strike” wherewith 920 donated pairs of shoes were placed in front of Pickering City Hall to act as resistance against the paving of Pickering’s wetlands (Calis 2021). Although no council members approached the protest, Zaheer and Mathura were not discouraged; it was crucial that they made their voices heard by writing an open letter to the province and actively spreading awareness on their social media platforms.

Social media was passionately flooded with many using their platforms as tools to prevent the building of the warehouse on the wetlands.

The constant fight against the paving by many and the community action ultimately lead the company Amazon to refrain from moving forward with the project. This showcases that through environmental activists who take charge and spread awareness, the Pickering wetlands were protected and preserved.

On the other hand, had Amazon not halted the progression of the project, likely to preserve its own image, Pickering’s council members would unlikely have shut down the paving of the wetlands. In the mind of the council, destroying an area of natural importance is worthwhile if Pickering could gain upwards of 4000 potential job openings (Crawley 11 Mar. 2021). The Ford government had apparently been “ pushing to approve the project”. It seems yet again the benefit of the economy comes before the environment and nature. The project was even said to be fast-tracked by Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark despite its location on protected wetlands (Crawley 14 Mar. 2021).

The overall reason for wanting to use Pickering wetlands as the location for the new Amazon warehouse was greatly due to the competition between municipalities as to who ends up with the largest retail warehouse in Canada (Crawley 11 Mar. 2021). This combat over a warehouse put the 57-acre wetland at risk demonstrating the anthropocentric nature of this project (McGillivray 2020). The Pickering wetlands would have become “the collateral damage” of a warehouse project.

There has been a deep history of community union and protesting for the environment such as the fight against several building projects on protected land, against GMOs, and against the building of companies with colossal carbon footprints (McCauley 2015). As a result of local communion, some of these protests were widely heard and concerns began to be expressed globally. It is the lack of concern from those with the power for visible change that remains worrying.

“Blaming the consumer” has been a recycled argument since the exposing of carbon footprints of large companies has become more and more discussed. However, how can the blame be shifted to those who do not see convenient alternatives being as widely advertised? It becomes a dilemma when the choices are down to “Should I buy this green product despite its high price?” and “Should I buy this convenient product despite its environmental harm?” Many are not privileged with the choice of buying green products due to their lack of awareness, or the increased expenses on the products.

In consolidation, it was exceedingly evident that the efforts of a community coming together and fighting against injustice to nature ultimately saved Pickering from losing its “protected” wetlands. In addition to some of the city’s council members showing a lack of regard towards the defence of a wetland, they exhibited clearly that the environment comes second to the economy and consumerism. It is fortunate that the union of a community was able to fight this project, but yet it remains disappointing that it had to be a fight at all. This outlines the importance of speaking up, spreading awareness, and community togetherness which all are invaluable assets when regarding the protection of the environment and all its inhabitants including nature and wildlife.

Works Cited:

Calis, Kristen. “‘Legacy of Warehouses and Urban Sprawl:’ March 6 Protest against Duffins Creek Wetland Development in Pickering.” Thestar.com, 4 Mar. 2021, www.thestar.com/local-pickering/news/2021/03/04/legacy-of-warehouses-and-urban-sprawl-march-6-protest-against-duffins-creek-wetland-development-in-pickering.html.

Crawley, Mike. “Property Developer Vows to Protect Pickering Wetland after Amazon Cancels Warehouse Plans | CBC News.” CBCnews, CBC/Radio Canada, 14 Mar. 2021, www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/land-owner-vows-to-protect-pickering-wetland-1.5949589.

Crawley, Mike. “What’s really behind the Ford government’s push to pave protected wetland in Pickering | CBC News.” CBCnews, CBC/Radio Canada, 11 Mar. 2021, www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/doug-ford-duffins-creek-wetland-pickering-ajax-warehouse-amazon-1.5942938.

Gray, Tim. “Why We Are Going to Court to Save the Lower Duffins Creek Wetland.” Environmental Defence, 26 Feb. 2021, environmentaldefence.ca/2021/02/08/going-court-save-lower-duffins-creek-wetland/.

“‘Havoc It Will Wreak on the Environment’: Protest to Oppose Pickering Warehouse Project.” Toronto.com, 15 Feb. 2021, www.toronto.com/news-story/10329396--havoc-it-will-wreak-on-the-environment-protest-to-oppose-pickering-warehouse-project/.

Javed, Noor. “Blockades at Pickering Wetlands Development Greet First Use of New Conservation Authority Law.” Thestar.com, 12 Feb. 2021, www.thestar.com/news/gta/2021/02/10/blockades-at-pickering-wetlands-development-greet-first-use-of-new-conservation-authority-law.html.

McCauley, Darren (2015) Protest, politics and produce: a resource account of anti-genetically modified organism activism, Local Environment, 20:1, 34–49, DOI: 10.1080/13549839.2013.818955

McGillivray, Kate. “Province Greenlights Controversial Pickering Development on Protected Wetland Using Special Order | CBC News.” CBCnews, CBC/Radio Canada, 31 Oct. 2020, www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/pickering-wetland-building-proposal-1.5784390.