Caledon resident Tony Sevelka’s days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months and now years since he started digging into the details of a proposed blasting mega-quarry steps away from his home.
His quest led him to file a freedom of information request this summer, seeking access to all public objections to the contentious project.
Instead, what he received revealed a systemic failure.
Out of the 73 pages the Town of Caledon sent him in response to the specific public information he had asked for, Sevelka found dozens of submissions against the quarry proposal were missing, including many formal objections that Sevelka and his neighbours had assumed would have been entered into the public record.
On July 25, Tony Sevelka filed a formal complaint, requesting the Ontario Ombudsman’s Office investigate the Town of Caledon’s handling of Votorantim Cimentos’ quarry application, citing serious concerns over procedural fairness and abuse of power. He argues that the Town’s failure to acknowledge or track objections, prevent public dialogue, and outsource public engagement to a private consultant undermines transparency and accountability. Sevelka calls for corrective action to ensure a fair process, highlighting the need for transparency, public participation, and environmental justice in such a significant development.
Read more at: Caledon residents furious after FOI documents uncover gaps in Town record-keeping around opposition to mega-blasting quarry proposal – The Pointer, December 28, 2025