Between a rock and hard place: (re)viewing environmental conflicts over aggregate extraction in exurbia

Abstract

This research applies a post-structural political ecology theoretical framework to the analysis of an on-going multi-stakeholder dispute over the siting of a large-scale aggregate quarry on the site of an historic farm in Caledon, Ontario. This site is located within easy commuting distance of Toronto, in an exclusive area of rural estates. An application to quarry the site was submitted in 1997 by an Ontario-based aggregate company, and in response, the Caledon Coalition of Concerned Citizens was formed to mount locally-based resistance to the proposed development. While local resistance to locally unwanted developments is a common occurrence, there are some unique aspects to this case study. Most notably, the 'local community' under threat is largely comprised of Toronto exurbanites -individuals who achieved considerable professional success during their careers and were drawn to 'country living' in a peri-urban setting near or post-retirement. While a significant body o f research exists on community-based resistance to locally unwanted land uses, the vast majority o f this literature is based on the experiences of marginalized communities. The elite nature of the Caledon area opens up interesting analytical avenues for exploring the discursive aspects of land use conflicts. In this dissertation I argue that land-use conflicts in peri-urban environments are not (merely) conflicts over the siting of locally unwanted developments. Rather, these conflicts are visible manifestations of complex social struggles over the production of 'meaning' and 'truth' as it applies to 'nature' (and thus land-use decision-making) at particular sites. This analysis begins with an examination of the discourses employed ii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.