LATE TO THE PARTY-BUT COME ON IN

This article is by our local paper, Shelburne Free Press/Orangeville Citizen:
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT IS NEEDED
http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2011-07-14/Editorial/An_environmental_assessment_is_needed.html

Their support for calls for an Environmental Assessment are certainly appreciated by this blogger and probably by the grassroots organization who have been working diligently, mostly on their own dime for 3 years trying to raise the awareness of the issue.

I will say, however, that in my opinion there has been a decided lack of balanced reporting by this paper in favour of one of their biggest advertisers, the Highland Companies.

In fact, often articles were “written” based entirely on press releases issued by Highlands, without disclosing that fact or seeking clarification on Highlands (mis) information.

Here are some notable comments from articles from the Free Press with links to the articles. You decide for yourself if they are fair and balanced.

WHILE WE MIGHT SYMPATHIZE with property owners who feel they're being kept in the dark about planned developments, we are having some difficulty with the wild speculation surrounding the proposal to restore the rail line north from Orangeville. http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2009-03-12/editorial/016.html

It wouldn't even be new if the ND agricultural and community taskforce were to spend its resources negotiating for the best possible outcome for all parties. The sad truth of the matter is that there are bound to be agricultural disruptions of some kind to access an aggregate resource that's vitally needed for nearby development — no matter whether that be for residential or employment, or just transportation. http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2009-07-16/columns/023.html

In the circumstances, perhaps the best course for NDACT will be to strive for a compromise under which Highland will be barred from having an operation that occupies more than 100 of its 6,000 acres http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2009-06-25/editorial/028.html

According to the plans graphically displayed at the Community Hall and in a hand-out booklet, only 300 acres of the proposed 2,400 would be affected at any given time. And then only 50 acres within each 300-acre tract would be subject to actively staged mining operations, as rehabilitation would be on a progressive basis. http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2009-07-30/regional_news/009.html

Like it or not, the aggregate industry is, and will remain, a fact of life in Southern Ontario, and the problems posed by creation of a new quarry will most likely be found at any site selected by a proponent. http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2009-07-16/editorial/020.html

There is a growing debate as to what Melancthon Council can, or even should, do to prevent a large quarry from being established on prime agricultural and in the township's headwaters. http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2009-08-06/regional_news/040.html

We can only guess at how the Ontario Municipal Board — which will have the final word on the application — is going to react to a council position of, in effect, saying, "we don't care what exactly they want, we are against it." http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2009-10-08/editorial/022.html

On the other hand, provincial laws appear to be strongly in favour of aggregate extraction over other land uses, including farming, and it’s at least arguable that there would be little point in the council fighting what would inevitably be a losing battle. http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2010-01-06/Editorial/Fighting_the_quarry_will_be_costly.html/

The complaints were presumably based in part on a belief that Highland was removing trees in preparation for a quarry. http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2009-10-29/local_news/023.html

It would appear the Free Press has made a slight policy shift in THEIR reporting on the Baupost Mega Mine.

You can search for all the stories at this link: http://www.citizen.on.ca/search/luceneapi_node/quarry?page=10