Cargill’s manager in Sarnia is sharing insights about the company’s application for a Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO) and discussing why nearby residential projects could harm their business and the farming industry.
Cargill Limited filed an MZO application in late 2024, requesting a ban on sensitive land uses within 300 metres of their Exmouth Street facility.
This decision surprised Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley, who voiced worries in January regarding its potential impact on upcoming developments if the MZO gets approved.
Manager Ryan Lefebvre mentioned that he has met with Bradley and city officials several times over recent years before submitting the MZO. He urged them not to permit sensitive land developments like residential buildings, hospitals, or daycares.
“Forgive me Mr. Mayor, if I don’t think you’re listening,” said Lefebvre, who also noted that he had similar discussions with Village of Point Edward Mayor Bev Hand.
“Perhaps they don’t remember meeting. My coffee is not that memorable at the terminal,” he joked.
As of May 5, Lefebvre stated that the MZO application remains “up in the air.”
“The minister has to decide whether or not he will move it into the public comment phase. My understanding is that decision should be made within the next 60 days,” he explained. “If he does move it forward, then it will be open for public comments for around 30 to 60 days as the minister sees fit. So we’re waiting.”
Lefebvre mentioned that organizations like Grain Farmers of Ontario and some municipalities in Lambton County have sent letters to support Cargill’s MZO request due to its importance for agriculture, as Sarnia hosts one of few export terminals in southern Ontario.
“We need to export about 2 million tons of wheat, about 4 million tons of soybeans, and about a million tons of corn to keep everything balanced,” he said.
<p"Everything Cargill does relates to food." Lefebvre noted that items like chicken burgers at Mc Donald's or Stevia packets at grocery stores all connect back to Cargill.
Lefebvre pointed out it would be “shortsighted” to suggest Cargill wouldn’t feel effects from a high-rise residential building at the former Stokes By The Bay property.
He outlined his worries about a complaint-driven approach where issues related to dust, noise, and truck traffic could pressure the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks into lowering its limits.
“They’ll lower it to something I cannot meet because I handle grain, and that will be 97 years of history gone,” said Lefebvre. “It’s not like we haven’t seen this happen before. We closed a mill in Toronto.”
Lefebvre also referenced New-Life Mills’ closure in Wyoming.
He indicated that Cargill has invested just over $12 million in dust collection over the past twelve years but still experiences dust plumes during loading operations.
Lefebvre suggested lands surrounding Sarnia and Point Edward within a 300 metre radius from Cargill could accommodate various non-sensitive land uses such as a potential humane society.
“My understanding is the humane society is zoned light industrial or something similar; it’s not classified as sensitive land use,” he stated. “So they can do whatever they want except convert their building into residential units or hospitals or daycares. Doggy daycare doesn’t count.”
Point Edward had re-zoned a large area on Exmouth Street for residential development; however, Lefebvre believes it would serve better as staging space for Sarnia’s heavy lift corridor.
“I’ve had multiple people reach out asking if we have room to park a 300 metric tonne reactor for a week or two? No, I don’t,” Lefebvre shared.
Meanwhile, Enniskillen Mayor Kevin Marriott previously suggested moving Cargill’s facility elsewhere in Lambton County might help avoid limiting future housing growth.
Lefebvreresponded by saying this was “a novel approach” but wouldn’t succeed unless there were discussions with government officials about making it feasible.
Lefebvreadded: “The issue is it would cost somewhere between $250 million and $350 million to build my terminal new somewhere else; our margins just aren’t there.” Cargill operates more than 70 locations across Canada and currently employs around fifty individuals at its Sarnia site which opened back in 1927. Lefebvre reported having twenty-five full-time staff along with seasonal workers who come onboard from spring through Christmas.
With 184 silos onsite on Exmouth Street alone-housing up to 154 thousand metric tons of grain-it’s quite significant.
Lefebvre served as guest speaker during Tuesday’s Kiwanis Club meeting held bySarnia-Lambton Golden K.
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Lefebvreresponded by saying this was “a novel approach” but wouldn’t succeed unless there were discussions with government officials about making it feasible.
Lefebvreadded: “The issue is it would cost somewhere between $250 million and $350 million to build my terminal new somewhere else; our margins just aren’t there.” Cargill operates more than 70 locations across Canada and currently employs around fifty individuals at its Sarnia site which opened back in 1927. Lefebvre reported having twenty-five full-time staff along with seasonal workers who come onboard from spring through Christmas.
With 184 silos onsite on Exmouth Street alone-housing up to 154 thousand metric tons of grain-it’s quite significant.
Lefebvre served as guest speaker during Tuesday’s Kiwanis Club meeting held bySarnia-Lambton Golden K.
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