Unearthing the truth

This blog has come about as a result of a foreign investment company, under the name of Highland Companies, who have busily purchased more than 7,000 acres of prime agricultural land in Melancthon Township over the past two-three years. Their original published intent was to merely have a world class potato operation, however their real motive was revealed in July this year (2009), when they finally declared their intention to apply (initially) for a 2,400 acre mining application which will permit limestone extraction up to 200 feet below the water table.

Despite continued pleas by ratepayers over the past year, not one of our elected officials, either at the local level in Melancthon or Mulmur or at the County level in Dufferin, have stood up and championed the residents in their fight against this threat. The community, the water source for more than 1 million Ontarians who's water source is on the headwaters of the Grand and Nottawasaga Rivers, the environment and the specialty soil are all at risk. The grassroots organization North Dufferin Agricultural and Community Taskforce (NDACT) have been working diligently on behalf of ratepayers, doing what elected officials were elected to do. http://www.ndact.com/

In fact, when the going gets tough, local Council members declare their pecuniary interests (conflict of interest) and form an orderly line to have their picture taken to appear in the local paper on the front page with John Lowndes of the Highland Companies while accepting cheques from him for whatever good deeds Mr. Lowndes decrees have taken his favour that particular week. I am unclear how Councillors have time to do this, while collecting their paycheques from taxpayers. That takes quite a bit of time management, for sure.

To date, the largess of Mr. Lowndes includes a clock for Honeywood arena, empty houses for medical personal who have not beaten a path to the door of Melancthon, a $5,000.00 cheque for the Hornings Mills Hall, a pet project of our Mayor Debbie Fawcett and finally "studies" to determine the need for a YMCA, not in Melancthon, but in Shelburne.

The local press is somewhat reluctant to report the truth. The truth is this company has cut down thousands and thousands of trees without proper permits and in contravention of the County tree cutting bylaw (and to date County politicians refuse to fine this company); they have demolished several homes and structures on properties they own and have plans for demolition of up to another 15-20 structures.

Finally, in case you are wondering, and this is a concept our elected officials do not seem to grasp, this corporation does not even have the right to vote in a municipal election. Numbered companies are not eligible to vote and neither is John Lowndes or his lackey Michael Daniher (a highly paid lawyer who spins whatever messaging Lowndes wants to issue) as neither lives anywhere in or near Dufferin County.

There is much more to tell of this sad tale, stay tuned....for information on the rail purchase, the local papers efforts at censuring balanced reports, undeclared conflicts of interests by local politicians and finally local political efforts to thwart all suggestions and assistance offered by ratepayers, subject matter experts and NDACT as to ways and means to prepare to battle the application for a 2,400 acre, 200 foot deep open pit mine, when it is filed by Highlands.