Highlands new spokesperson Mz Lynz (aka Lindsay Broadhead) must believe that we have short memories are stupid or else Daniher (the former spokesperson for Highlands who was unceremoniously dumped by the company a few weeks ago) didn't bring her up to speed.
In a story about the quarry (hey, that kinda rhymes) in the July 30, 2011 Toronto Sun, she is quoted as saying:
Highland spokesman Lindsay Broadhead denied accusations by critics that the company’s John Lowndes misled sellers.
It was not a secret,” she said, adding he described potato farming plus quarrying starting in 2006, followed by a public meeting, publishes ads plus a website.
Sorry Lynz, but that is factually untrue.
There may have been rumours of a gravel pit or quarrying operations when Highlands began to purchase land in 2006, but the fact is Highlands denied, denied, denied it. And so is it unexpected that people would believe them?
Here is a quote in a June 2007 article that appeared in the Orangeville Citizen:
"Trevor Downey of Downey Farms and John Lowndes both say the intent in Melancthon is merely to have a world-class potato operation."
You can read the entire article here, but for those who have been with Minebuster since the beginning, you will be familiar with this article because Minebuster has rehashed this article over and over and over again. http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2007-06-07/local_news/011.html
Then there was that awkward moment at the January 2009 meeting called by local citizens who were desperate for information, which was NOT forthcoming from Highlands. Their then spokesperson, Michael Daniher attended that meeting, NOT to provide information, but to gather it.
He identified himself and then gave the usual, blah, blah, blah what great people Highlands were, they were LOCAL people, he himself owned a place in Adjala, I mean he truly thought he could bamboozle the locals.
He was asked if in fact he was a lawyer, which he refused to confirm or deny. For christs sakes a simple look at the Law Society members confirms it.
THEN a citizen stood up near the end of the meeting, immediately after Daniher said he was unaware of any plans other than farming. And here is where the awkward moment occurred.
This ratepayer said she had, in the past two weeks, been in contact with the Ministry of Natural Resources, Mininstry of Environment and Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, every one of which confirmed that Highlands had been in talks with Highlands for months and months about an massive aggregate operation.
Wow, you could have heard a pin drop if the audience hadn't exploded into wild applause. I do believe it was at that moment that Daniher's tic began.
It was at that same meeting the NDACT board was formed.
But it was THREE days after that, and ONLY after that, that Highlands issued the following statement:
"In a phone interview Tuesday, Michael Daniher of the Toronto consulting firm of Special Situations Inc. — representing The Highlands Companies Inc. — said the group has never attempted to hide the fact that it will continue farming while looking beyond for other opportunities such as wind and bedrock resources. "http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2009-01-22/front_page/004.html
More tomorrow Mz Lynz on the other factually incorrect statements you have made in the Toronto Sun article link here:http://www.torontosun.com/2011/07/30/between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place#disqus_thread
Slight change of subject, but not really. Fiddle festival, contest, whatever, stop the quarry info booth request? "This is a controversial issue, anyway the people attending fiddleville are not your audience" say Fiddle festival officials = no info booth, ...pity! I've had the gag order placed upon me from an imperial government employee, who shall remain nameless, so you be the judge minebuster. What sayeth the minebuster?
ReplyDeleteJust received confirmation from Bill Waite, Fiddle contest organizer, Rotary club member. "Yes" Highland is one of the fiddle contest sponsors.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm....I smell a challenge. If you are attending any of the events this week, wear your NDACT shirts, wear your Stop the Quarry buttons, carry your signs, stick stop the quarry buttons to Highland advertising,put a BIG sign on every single float that will take one. My float has had one for the past 2 fiddle parades. Let's go people!
ReplyDeleteIt's a sad state of affairs when the organizers of the Fiddle festival are preventing the citizens of this town from learning the facts about this abomination, in order to protect what they refer to as "a premier partner". Tom Eagen has decided "The people attending the fiddle festival are not your audience" Who is he to decide? Why is the Shelburne fiddle festival drinking from the Highland trough? Everyone needs money, doesn't mean we rush down to Jarvis and prostitute ourselves. Remember what one of our valiant farmers, Mr Armstrong said about 'principles'.
ReplyDeleteThe facts are the organizers of Fiddlefest are service clubs NOT the Town of Shelburne. The service clubs are NOT political masters. They are the Rotary, Lions and Kinsmen, along with other local clubs and VOLUNTEER groups in town. These groups rely on the revenue from the Fiddleweekend in order that they can continue the donations and good works they do. The Kinsmen operate the campground and have forever. They also run the parade. The Rotary Club runs the actual fiddlefestival, the fairboard does the pork chop lunch. If it is the Town of Shelburne denying you access, then criticize. If it is the local SERVICE CLUBS, they are not in the business of being political. NDACT is burning alot of bridges if this is their iniatiative. Would you be badgering the boy and girl scouts if they wouldn't sell NDACT signs with their girlguide cookies?
ReplyDeleteFoooey. Highland by your own admission is a Fiddle festival 'Premier partner'. Taking money from a company whose intention it is to destroy this region for the sake of their own net gain to the tune of $120 billion, is political. Regardless of your protestations the Fiddle festival is in Highland's pocket. I am not ndact, I have nothing to do with ndact, I am a resident of this region, who, along with many other residents doesn't buy what you are selling. It's unfortunate that you align yourself with girl guides, as I am quite sure they would demonstrate a greater degree of integrity by not prostituting themselves for money the way the Fiddle festival has.
ReplyDeleteNo one, not a municipality, not a service club, not a single person should be accepting "bribes" from the Baupost Group. The Fiddlevest has survived decades without them; their name sullies the whole event.
ReplyDeleteWell said 9.58 p.m. Exercising a little creativity on the part of the organizers, might be a preferable means of raising money.
ReplyDelete8.45 pm - Rather than intimating that NDACT is burning it's bridges, consider; what began as a simple civilized request on the part of concerned local residents, merely wanting to educate fellow citizens on the facts about your Premier partner. By your own sheer stupidity, you may very well turn the event into a civil protest. Furthermore, insulting the intelligence of your fellow residents by denying that you have accepted the Baupost 'bribe' is not going to endear this event to anyone except the supporters of Highland. One might consider that it is the Shelburne Fiddle festival that is burning it's bridges and it's credibility and it's integrity and, and, and. No matter, the world is watching.
ReplyDeleteCould we all direct our anger at Highlands instead of our neighbours?
ReplyDeleteThis is about Highland for heavens sake, don't be so obtuse, this is a public forum not the censorship board,
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, on this particular isue I have to express my deep disappointment in the organisers of the Fiddlefest not being 'visionary' enough to recognise by accepting sponsorship from the Highlands Group they were entering a political minefield. However hardpressed financially they are, and whatever they believe the good they would do with the funds directly and indirectly acquired, they are tarnished. All organisations who could in someway or other be approached by the Highland Group and offered perquisites in some form or other should now consider these offers extremely carefully recognising the growing local intensity against having the quarry application approved. I don't need a Highland anything.
ReplyDelete