LIKE A BAD SMELL

Have you ever had a dead mouse in your house or cottage? The REAL deal...

You can smell it every now and again, but you just can NOT find it, no matter how hard you look.

Well, just like the invisible dead mouse...you can smell it but you can't see it....John Lowndes has (re)surfaced. Meow.

Albeit, it was to announce yet another tax deduction, oops, I mean a donation to a good cause, but he is back......

http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2010-11-25/Local_News/Highland_donates_cash_to_food_banks.html

DESPERATE MUCH?

The proponent for the Duntroon, below the water table mine, Walker Aggregates, you know the ones that have exhausted a below the water table quarry and want to move lock stock and barrel across the road and CLOSE the road, while the hole they leave behind fills with water.....seemed a little desperate at the OMB hearing.

Headline reads: Majority speak in favour of pit

The article points out 27 of those speaking in favour of the quarry are employees of the Walkers. Hmmm..how many employees does Highlands have? At least until they start mining and then those local farming jobs will be going, going, gone.

Entire article here:
http://www.theenterprisebulletin.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2863200

WES THE CRYPT KEEPER KELLER

Photo above: Freelancer Wes Keller with John Lowndes at Highlands open house in July of 2009-you know the one where all the Ministry officials were...

Good old Messy Wessy makes the statement in tomorrow's Shelburne's Free Press (published on line today for free, why in hell BUY the paper?? But I digress)

"After more than 30 years of fulltime reporting for both community and mainline newspapers, I stand accused for the first time ever of something that I would consider akin to a betrayal of a confidence."

That is his FIRST untrue statement in this article (link to entire article attached below).

In fact good old Messy Wessy, or Wes the Crypt Keeper Keller, is a freelancer, NOT a full time reporter, due an alleged spot of legal trouble a few years ago.

He states in this "opinion piece"

"I probably erred in including the lady’s remark related to the importance of Official Plans in respect of OMB hearings in a short item headlined as an NDACT reaction, even though I made it clear that she was not speaking for NDACT.

Hm, an admission of guilt. That is going to come in handy if the focus of this article decides to sue.

This is the same guy who "reports" on Council meetings after reading an agenda and then reading the minutes three weeks AFTER the Council publicly posts them. The same "crack reporter" who couldn't get to the first public meeting in Honeywood where the quarry issues was discussed, because the wipers in his beat up jalopy wouldn't work, but who nevertheless took it upon himself to "report" on the event.

And why in the hell wouldn't he write the REAL story which is Ministry officials TOLD him at a public meeting that they had no idea how in the hell Highlands could make their water work? Well that might dry up (excuse the pun) the Citizen's lucrative revenue source from Highlands.

No, he and the local paper would rather attack the locals. They are an easier target than Highlands.

Article in full: http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2010-11-25/Columns/In_my_opinion.html

READING THE OMB DECISION FOR THE CALEDON PIT

"WTF??????", says little blue man.

DESPERATION OR JUST A BULLY

You decide, but either way, St. Mary's better have deep pockets to take on the government.

After all the Province has almost as much money and resources as the Baupost Group.

ST MARYS TO PURSUE JUDICIAL REVIEW IF MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO IGNORE APPEAL
http://www.flamboroughquarry.ca/media/Oct29_2010_1.pdf

27 AND COUNTING

Lets see, despite Highlands public denial in June of 2009 that they would be taking down structures in LESS than double digits (in my book that is LESS than 10) they have demolished or have permits to demolish structures on 27 properties.

Was any of it recycled or reused? NOPE.

In Peel Region alone there are over 20,000 people waiting for affordable housing.

Here is an example of what the Canadian Forces did-they donated homes for Habitat for Humanity. http://www.theenterprisebulletin.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2846592

And remember, Highlands are doing all of this destruction to "maximize their agricultural potential", except, take a drive by any single structure they have demolished. It is sitting fallow, wells haven't been capped, septics haven't been decommissioned, nor have crops been planted on the land.

RETIREMENT PARTY FOR DEB FAWCETT

A retirement Party today at 2:00 p.m. at the Hornings Mills Hall, for outgoing Mayor Deb Fawcett.

LIES AND MORE LIES

At a public meeting held by NDACT in June of 2009 Michael Daniher, he being the Highlands spokesperson, stood up to address the issue of Highlands demolition of properties.

He stated that NDACT was fear mongering and that the total number of structures to be removed by Highlands was less than double digits.

27 properties-more than 27 structures-and STILL counting.

If his lips are moving....he's lying.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT????

Province spends $40M on Lynn Lake rehab

"The province says it will spend $40 million to rehabilitate seven abandoned mines around the town of Lynn Lake in northern Manitoba.

After a number of mining companies departed from their operations there about 10 years ago, the area was left with toxic sites and thousands of workers without jobs.

"When they left, they left in a hurry and they left quite a mess," said Mayor Sean Maher."

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2010/11/17/man-lynn-lake-mine-cleanup.html#ixzz15pc0Tijq

Just another example of what can happen without proper financial assurances in place.

LOOKING FOR A NEW JOB

Hey, I saw this little guy at the post office the other day mailing a letter.

Since he couldn't possibly be mailing a copy of the OMB decision where they turned down James Dicks 145 acre below the water table mine proposal, to his bosses, maybe he was sending out his resume?

Just wondering.....

MORE FROM THE OMB DECISION IN CALEDON

In the OMB's decision to refuse James Dick OPA/ZBA for a 145 acre quarry, they noted that much of their decision centred around the provisions in the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS), the Aggregate Resources Act (ARA) and the Town of Caledon's own Official Plan (OP).

What was in Caledon's OP? (here is a link to their entire OP)http://www.town.caledon.on.ca/townhall/departments/planningdevelopment/policy.asp

In a nutshell, Caledon's OP addresses the issue of obligation, onus or burden. They specifically set out the criteria for the approval by the town of an OPA to allow for the development of a new aggregate extraction operation. Of particular relevance to the issue of onus or burden are in subsection 5.11.2.4.2 subsections b,c,d,e,f,g,i,j and k.

How did they do that?

Well for instance, one provision in their OP (subsection c), is the requirement that the applicant must assess social impacts and have demonstrated that the proposal will not have any unacceptable impacts. That highlighted statement was in every section of Caledon' OP in subsection b,c,d,e,f,g,i,j and k.

In almost all areas of required studies that were in Caledon's OP, the board ruled that James Dick had not met the onus or burden in that they had not demonstrated that the proposal will not have any unacceptable impacts.

I recall being at two meetings in Melancthon in 2009 where ratepayers advised, argued, cajoled, begged and pleaded with Council telling them that all requirements for an OPA for aggregate extraction MUST be in their OP. Council assured ratepayers there was no need for that, they would just ask the applicant for what they wanted and the applicants would comply, because they signed a piece of paper when they filled out their application for an OPA.

OMG.

In fact in the James Dick case, the OMB ruled that the Town should not request studies not envisioned by their OP, nor impose standards not set out in the policy in the course of considering aggregate application.

Further the Board ruled because of the wording in Caledon's OP, the onus or burden of proof was on the applicant to prove there are no adverse impacts, NOT on the objector to prove there were impacts.

Finally the Board ruled that the wording of Caledon's OP was such that if the onus or burden of proof was not met in every instance cited in subsection b,c,d,e,f,g,i and k then the entire application must fail.

The decision is a fascinating and surprisingly easy read. Here is the link for the entire decision:
http://www.coalitioncaledon.com/images/clientupload/OMB%20Decision-Rockfort%20Quarry,Nov12,2010.pdf

If any Councillor elect is reading this, perhaps you could forward a copy to Jorden AND Osyany??? Just thinking out loud.

2nd INSTALLMENT TODAY-ASTOUNDING CONCLUSIONS FROM OMB REFUSAL OF JAMES DICK AGGREGATE PROPOSAL

This will be good news for our Mulmur ratepayers....you know, the ones with the view....and the money to fight Highlands....

The OMB considered a "Summary of Affected Views and Landscape Change" report prepared of course by the proponent, which concluded that after all phases were complete and the farmscape demolished that:

"while the quarry project proposes changes....the proposed plans will retain many existing heritage features of the site, its vegetation, circulation, spatial order and views and integrate these elments into the new development"

The OMB's findings with respect to this report?

"The Board finds these assertions to be astounding and unsupported by the evidence contained in James Dicks' Visual Impact Report."

MORE OF THE AMAZING STORY-OMB AND JAMES DICK

Considered in the OMB's decision to refuse James Dick OPA/ZBA for a 145 acre quarry, was the conservation of significant cultural heritage landscapes.

The Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) directs the conservation of significant built heritage resources and cultural heritage landscapes. In 1993 the Town of Caledon, as part of its Environmental Policy Review, recognized that the "most dominant cultural landscape in Caledon is farmscape".

In response to James Dick's proposal to destroy TWO (just two) nineteenth century farm complexes over the course of their operation, which they had acknowledged had cultural and heritage value the Board said:

"The PPS directs conservation of significant cultural heritage landscapes. The subject property is part of such a landscape and the eradication of the agricultural context does not constitute conservation, it constitutes destruction. Such destruction is an unacceptable impact."

So to recap, the OMB relied on the PPS and the Town of Caledon's own policies.

And said TWO century homesteads would constitute destruction.

Despite more than 27 properties in Melancthon losing their farmsteads because of Highlands, the Township of Melancthon has still refused to take ANY action to stop the destruction.

COUNCIL ELECT:
STOP the madness, STOP the destruction and get to work.

HIGHLITES OF THE OMB DECISION AGAINST JAMES DICK'S PROPOSAL FOR AN AGGREGATE OPERATION IN CALEDON

James Dick in Caledon was proposing a very similar model to what Highlands is proposing in Melancthon, except on a MUCH smaller scale. Dicks proposal was a 100 foot below the water table quarry of approximately 58 hectares (or 145 acres).

Dickheads proposal (I mean Highlands) for Melancthon is for a 2,400 acre, 200 foot below the water table quarry.

On page 20 of Highlands material presented at their heavily guarded open house on July 25, 2009 in Hornings Mills states: "bottom line-NO adverse effects on water"

At that same meeting, however, Highlands highly paid consultants were confirming with ratepayers that the cost of mitigation and keeping the water out of the hole they dug would be the responsibility of the owner, which they assured ratepayers would NOT be them after they had taken all the aggregate (and in my own words, the money).

All parties in the James Dick Caledon proposal agree that the hole they will leave in the ground will take 50 years to fill with water. Again, theirs is about 145 acres to a depth of about 100 feet below the water table: Highlands is 2,400 acres and about 200 feet below the water table.

The Ontario Muncipal Board, in their ruling against the James Dick proposal, made the following statement:

"The Board finds that no public authority, not the Province, the Region, the Town,
nor the CVC should ever find itself responsible for the costs of mitigation measures for the proposed quarry."

The Board finds that such a stated intention by JDCL (James Dick) is inadequate in the circumstances. As noted above, the only thing that stands between the proposed quarry and a negative impact on the natural environment is a complex, highly engineered and closely monitored mitigation system which would have to operate effectively for approximately 80 years. On the limited evidence before it, the Board finds that such a mitigation system could cost well in excess of $90 million. The Province Region and the Town and their residents must have clear assurances embodied in executed legal agreements that James Dick will always be responsible for the costs of mitigation."

Oh SNAP.

If James Dick's proposal was less than 150 acres and it would cost at least $90 million in assurances, wonder what Highlands 2,400 acre proposal would require in assurances.

I know at a meeting of Council in 2009 a ratepayer suggested half a BILLION dollars and was scoffed at. Not so funny now, is it? Reality bites.

Just saying.

EXCELLENT NEWS

If you hear someone's head exploding, it will probably be this little guy after he reads this Toronto Star article: OMB Kills Rockford Quarry Proposal (Caledon), November 15, 2010 (click link for entire article:
http://www.thestar.com/news/article/890982--omb-kills-rockfort-quarry-proposal

Here is the entire decision. http://www.coalitioncaledon.com/images/clientupload/OMB%20Decision-Rockfort%20Quarry,Nov12,2010.pdf

And in case you are keeping track:

OMB kills Rockford quarry proposal (James Dick quarry application in Caledon), November 15, 2010 http://www.thestar.com/news/article/890982--omb-kills-rockfort-quarry-proposal

"The Government of Canada will not be moving forward with any authorizations as the proposed project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects that cannot be justified under the circumstances," said the Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/media/npress-communique/2007/hq-ac61-eng.htm

FORCE:Provincial Order Freezes Zoning To Stop-The-Quarry, April 2010 http://www.stopthequarry.ca/

CARRA:Puslinch Residents Stop Quarry, January 21, 2010 http://news.guelphmercury.com/News/article/588689

MELON LAKE:Environment Wins over Gravel http://www.wildlandsleague.org/attachments/Final%20Quarry%20denied%20-%20Mellon%20Lake.pdf

RECOUNT

The recount was held this morning and Nanci Malek was confirmed as winning a Council position.

On October 25, 2010 there were seven votes separating her and Wayne Hannon.

Wayne requested a recount and Council passed a resolution authorizing it.

Everyone should be commended on a good job.

Wayne for requesting the recount in a civilized way.

Council for granting it.

The Clerk for running a great election.

All the candidates who put their names forward to run.

And congrats to Nanci.

JACK & JILL

In response to the anon person questioning that Melancthon is the headwaters for the Grand and Nottawasaga River systems and is the source of water in the watershed for more than 1 million Ontarians, I would say, even my 3 year old knows the old rhyme:

Jack and Jill
Went UP a hill
To fetch a pail of water.....

Why?

Well because the starting point of ALL rivers is higher than their end point.

"The Grand River flows 300 kilometres through southwestern Ontario from the highlands of Dufferin County to Port Maitland on Lake Erie. The Grand River Conservation Authority manages water and other natural resources on behalf of 38 municipalities and close to one million residents."http://www.grandriver.ca/

And with an elevation of about 400 metres above Lake Huron, Melancthon has one is one of the highest points of land in southern Ontario.

Google it.

And seriously, if the anon questioner has a water source that flows UP to their property naturally, please call Guiness World book of Records, like now.

REMEMBRANCE DAY

Service at 10:00 am at the Shelburne Legion.

Service at the Centotaph at 11:00 am

CAN ANYONE CONFIRM THIS

At the November 4 Melancthon Council meeting the $110.00 an hour planning consultant for Melancthon gave a verbal report on why Council should pass Strada's OPA and ZBA.

Strada reps were in the audience. They were NOT on the agenda to make a delegation. The procedure bylaw sets out how you make a delegation request and then you are put on the agenda so everyone has notice about who is making a delegation and about what. The outgoing Chair/Mayor, however let them show charts, and speak in response to the planning consultant's verbal report for at least 15 minutes.

And then during the course of the meeting, when it became clear to Strada that council was not going to rush this through, despite the Mayor's best efforts, (and kudos to the re-elected sitting council for taking a sober second thought and time to pause) Strada made a statement to the effect that if they have to go to the OMB, they won't give Melancthon anything they had previously offered. In fact, they said that Melancthon will get nothing if Strada is forced into an OMB hearing.

Can anyone confirm?

Lets hope the new Council (to be sworn into office in early December) will become more transparent, by following the procedure bylaw AND insisting that all staff/council reports be in WRITING.

How does this make them more transparent?

Firstly, if Council veers from the procedure bylaw and listed items on the agenda, how does anyone have NOTICE about what is to be discussed at meetings (and by the way municipalities are legislatively obligated to provide notice)?

I could probably name at least 10 people who would have moved heaven and earth to be at the 9am Council meeting had they known Strada would be making a delegation. But they didn't know because Strada was not listed on the agenda as being a delegant. weren't supposed to, according to the agenda that is to provide the public NOTICE.

And lack of WRITTEN reports mean the only way you can know what is going on in terms of recommendations/history/issues is to actually attend the meetings. This is not transparent government.

AND it creates an atmosphere of he said/she said. In fact the Mayor couldn't even remember what had been agreed to during a meeting with Highlands in February 2010 regarding MORE houses they had planned to demolish. In fact she kind of revelled in the fact that it was ALL verbal. When it was pointed out to her that the minutes of a subsequent meeting indicated that Highlands was to put something in writing to confirm what was said, she couldn't even remember that. (and by the way, Highlands of course submitted NOTHING in writing, nor did Melancthon follow up on that undertaking)

Staff reports should be prepared for every issue on which Council will be asked to pass a resolution or bylaw and be posted with the agenda. The reports should contain the issue, the background, the analysis, the recommendation, planning implications and how it meets the provincial growth plan and complies with the PPS, the financial implications and how it ties in with the municipality's strategic plan.

Here are some examples from other municipalities.
Barrie:
http://www.barrie.ca/CDocs/2010/BLD001-101108.pdf
Brampton:
http://www.brampton.ca/en/City-Hall/meetings-agendas/Committee%20of%20Council%202010/20100505cw_F4.pdf

Melancthon Council elect: you are playing with the big boys now about vital issues that are impacting 1,000,000 Ontarians water, your ability to be financially sustainable, to be a viable community-a community in which people want to live. These mega corporations have found your weaknesses. You need to start dealing with them.

MELANCTHON RECOUNT

A recount will be held in Melancthon on Monday November 15 @9:00 am at the municipal office.

Who can be in attendance?

The clerk and any other election official appointed for the recount.
Every certified candidate for the office.
For every certified candidate for the office
i. a lawyer, and
ii. one scrutineer for each recount station established by the clerk

Any other person may also be present at the recount with the clerk’s permission

THE DESTRUCTION OF MELANCTHON

Here is a list of properties and assessment values on which destruction of homes and structures occurred (or is scheduled to occur) on Highland properties in 2008/2009/2010:

[1] Ferguson West Part of Lot 25, Concession 3 OS $289,750
[2] Jamieson West Part of Lot 26, Concession 3 OS $276,250
[3] Speers East Part of Lot 19, Concession 1 OS $332,500 (2010 $352,000)
[4] Whitten Part of Lot 276 & 277, Concession 1 NE Assessment: $261,500.00
[5] Benotto (Tavares) Part of Lot 7, Concession 3 NE $334,250
[6] Wilcox East Part Lot 16, Concession 4 OS, $179,500
[7] Earl East Part Lot 19, Concession 4 OS $210,500
[8] Fawcett East Part Lot 19, Concession 3 OS $228,000 (2010 $243,000)
[9] Eichhorn East Part Lot 17, Concession 4 OS $199,250[
10] Looby (Chenier) East Part Lot 19, Concession 4 OS $185,750
[11] Richardson West Part Lots 20 & 21, Concession 3 OS $210,750
[12] Hurst (Bates) West Part Lot 20, Concession 1 OS $198,500
[13] Parsons East Part Lot 21, Concession 1 OS $304,250
[14] Ferguson West Part Lot 24, concession 2 OS $238,750
[15] Irwin East Part Lot 26, Concession 10, NE $ 168,000 (2010 $181,000)
[16] Mumford West Part Lot 21, Concession 3 OS $107,250
[17] Wilson 5th Line West Part Lot 28, Concession 4 OS $198,500
[18] Irwin West Part Lot 26, Concession 1 OS $211,000
[19] Downey Barn, Lot 15, Conc 4 OS $440,000
[20] Marshall Lot 18, Conc 3 OS $221,000
[21] Laverty, Lot 23, Conc 1 OS $311,500
[22] P.Downey W Pt Lot 17, Con 3 OS $265,000
[23] Brants garage East Part Lot 20, Conc 1OS $300,501
[24] Travis Pt Lot 277-278 Conc 1SW $208,000
[25] E Downey W Pt Lot 19, Conc 3 OS $344,000
[26] E. Pt. Lot 28, Concession 2 O.S. $177,500
[27] Downey Homestead Cty 124 Lot 19, Conc 2OS $198,000

At the February 4, 2010 meeting of Council, after dozens of letters and personal pleas for a demolition control bylaw the minutes show:

"The Mayor acknowledged the several submissions received regarding the draft (demolition) by-law and advised that she, the CAO, Township Lawyer and Planner met with John Lowndes and his solicitor regarding the draft by-law and the Township's concerns were put forth.

The Highland Companies have three outstanding permits and have agreed to stop demolition after this and she would like to see this in writing from the Highland Companies. She advised that one of the homes is going to be donated to the museum. A report from out solicitor regarding the meeting is forthcoming."

To date, and lets be clear it is now November 5, 2010, no solicitors report has been forthcoming, NOR, according to the Mayor yesterday did Highlands ever put something in writing that they would destroy ONLY three more homes.

ELECTION RESULTS

I am late in getting the results posted so I am sure you have heard...and congratulations to those who won and thank you to those who put their names forward to run.

Melancthon's new Council:

Bill Hill - Mayor
Darren White - Deputy
Janice Elliott-Councillor
John Crowe - Councillor
Nanci Malek - Councillor

Mulmurs new Council:

Paul Mills - Mayor
Rhonda Campbell-Moon-Deputy
Heather Hayes-Councillor
Earl Hawkins-Councillor
Lynn Hilchey Councillor

THREE SLEEPS.....

If you haven't voted in either Melancthon OR Mulmur yet, it is not too late to do so.

It IS too late to mail it, so you must drop your ballot off at the municipal office on Monday up until 8:00 p.m.

In Melancthon, due to provincial rules and the number of ballot boxes to be counted, the entire municipal office will be designated as a polling location and will be off limits to everyone except staff and scrutineers and or candidates (one per ballot box) until after the ballots have been counted.

And here comes the sermon.....or broken record, you decide..

It is your democratic right and arguably your responsibility to vote.

If that doesn't do it for you, think about this:

A municipal government is the closest level of government to the public and the decisions they make impact you most directly and immediately.

Example: If Harper implements a foreign policy, it can take years, if ever to trickle down to impact your life.

BUT if your road doesn't get ploughed it impacts you immediately!!

PLUS, just try calling Harper on the phone at 10 o'clock at night to yell at him about something. More than 2 calls like that and you will probably have a little visit from the police, asking some polite but pointed questions.

But I bet no matter what time you call a local politician they take your call.

And I am going on the record here (and not the broken one) to say that Melancthon politicians do NOT get paid enough. That is one thing that needs to be rectified, no matter who gets in.

CHANGES

Council meeting tonight seemed very mature and a little bit sad. Sort of like high school where it is the last class in June with your Grade 12 year and even the people who have never liked each other from Grade 1 seem to realize the significance of the event.

(Well, except for Daniher. He was more like the kid who showed up in Grade 10 who never fit in with any group and no one liked but he was going home to tell his parents that all the other kids were stupid idiots which is why he had no friends.)

Best of luck was issued to all in attendance (sitting Councillors, outgoing councillors and the new comers in the gallery) and we will all wait for the results on Monday night.

MISCELLANEOUS MUSINGS

Haven't mailed in your ballot yet? No worries. You can STILL vote, just do not mail it. Deliver it to the municipal office Thursday, Friday or Monday.

Last Melancthon Council meeting before the election tomorrow night, plan to attend if you can.

And finally another evening in the series of environmental forums being hosted by the Trinity United Church in Shelburne. FRIDAY October 22, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. Wind energy is the issue being discussed.

DEJAVU ALL OVER AGAIN

Wow, great news.

County Council passed a resolution to have the former Shelburne Hospital site gifted to them.

You know, so they could use it for good things for the community.

Here is the entire article: http://www.orangeville.com/news/local/article/889425--county-wants-shelburne-hospital-site-gifted-to-it

Wait, wait, this reminds me of something.....

OH YEAH.....

Sounds like the railbed deal. CN gifted it to the "County" for a community trail and good works but when push come to shove and Orangeville with its weighted vote stands to make a $2 million signing bonus in having the railbed sale go through for a company to haul aggregate product, boom...only a matter if time before it is gone.

How about using the Shelburne Hospital site for a truly County initiative, something which the Mayor 0f Shelburne is championing....I believe it is called the DEEP plant. After all, it is completely safe because the consultants say so, and it would limit the greenhouse gas emissions because the trucks from the cities who are lining up to dump their (literal) crap there, wouldn't be hauling it all the way to the Grand Valley/Amaranth townline.

And Ed doesn't have to worry like other elected officials about losing votes, after all he never has to run.

Win, win for everybody.

If anyone else has any good idea where Ed can stick his DEEP plant, just post them anonoymously on this blog.

PLEASE GET INVOLVED

In any small way, please get involved.

This 16 year kid from Melancthon, who isn't even old enough to vote, got herself to Queen's Park to protest against the governments lack of water policies, got her picture with Maude Barlow of the Council of Canadians and got her message "out there".

If you can't do THAT, please think about helping in some, or any small way.

Donate, put up a sign, send an email, write a letter, go to a Council meeting and finally the most important thing you can do is to VOTE!!!

READ ALL ABOUT IT

Melancthon All Candidates Debate

Quotes from the Orangeville Banner (Free Press was too full of inaccuracies-I swear their reporter wasn't even sure which debate he was at)

John Crowe-absent. No excuse was provided which seemed "lame" although rumour has it this was more important than facing the electorate (your decision-but I know most of the men in Melancthon will go with John on this one-you get a a moose ticket you better use it):


Rob Uffen- “There is a perception that council is confused, or not willing, or submissive or passive, or passive aggressive when they should be more engaged with what is going on,”

Bill Hill- Council needs to “aggressively” fight against the province’s Green Energy Act, which is currently handcuffing their control over land use planning.

Darren White - council needs to start taking more initiative, “getting in front of some of these issues, not always coming from behind them.”

Barton Malloy-has seen numerous delegations from residents brushed aside by council. He argued council should have increased setbacks for turbines when they had control — before the Green Energy Act came into effect.

Nancy Malek-believes council needs people like her, who have already been down to Queen’s Park regularly to advocate on behalf of residents and their concerns. “I think we need someone who has the gumption to stand up and do it,

Dennis Sanford -it is important to make sure we don’t lose any more houses and at the very least, for demolitions to happen, there should be a plan in place.

Janice Elliott - Compromising our water system will be one of the priorities that we are going to be following through, We have to be prepared and we feel that we are.”

Wayne Hannon-believes council should be working with the ministry to correct any mistakes in regards to the mapping of the area’s watershed. That is the kind of thing council should be doing and … making sure everything is in place.

Alex Banks- believes the province’s Clean Water Act may help fight threats to the town’s water supply .

See entire article at this link:http://www.orangeville.com/municipalelection2010/orangeville/article/887366--quarry-quarrel-top-issue-at-melancthon-debate

WHAT DO THEY KNOW THAT WE DON'T - WELL FRANKLY, NOTHING

At the Melancthon all candidate's meeting held this week, an incumbent Councillor advised in their closing monologue that:

"a Council can not appear to be hostile or else a proponent does not have to pay the cost of any peer reviews or studies done for or on behalf of the municipality and that the cost would fall to the taxpayers".

The basis for that statement-no idea. Council or the incumbent has certainly not provided any legal opinion or case law to back up this statement. Seems chick...I mean convenient, doesn't it?

Case law titled Save Richmond Farmland Society v. Richmond (c Twp), however provides a different view.

The point in issue in the case is whether an alderman (Councillor) can properly participate in the process leading to the passage of a by-law if his mind is made up before the real decision-making stage of the process is reached.

In fact, the appeal was dismissed when the Supreme Court judge ruled:

"It is a foolish politician who does not listen carefully to and weigh the strongly held opinions of his constituents; if nothing else it is foolish because it may cost him his seat. Mr. Mawby has been part of this debate from its inception. He has heard, I am sure, all the arguments and he has expressed his conclusion and expressed it strongly. He had the right to do so. In my view, the public life of British Columbia would be the poorer if in a matter of this kind a politician must keep an inscrutable face and a silent tongue not disclosing his strongly held opinions lest he be deprived of his vote. There should be no penalty for candour. However distasteful Mr. Mawby's opinions may be to a very large segment of the electors of Richmond, he is entitled to hold them and to express them by his vote at the council table. "

SO, according to the incumbent (based on what???) a Council as a whole can't collectively decide against a decision, but this Supreme Court decision would certainly indicate that individual Councillors can.

So why aren't our Melancthon Councillors, individually listening to their ratepayers and being the municipal Champion that ratepayers are begging for, instead what appears to be listening as a collective whole and reverentially deferring to one large, foreign backed corporation?

Read the entire case is at this link and then YOU decide

http://www.canlii.org/en/bc/bcca/doc/1989/1989canlii2718/1989canlii2718.html

GET OFF THE FENCE OR GET IMPALED

I believe we should all be off the fence now after the all candidates debate.

If you aren't, then prepared to be impaled.

AND there were all kinds of pictures of people/animals being impaled on a fence, but I considerately decided not to post one.

You are welcome.

ALL CANDIDATES MEETING

Don't forget about the Melancthon all candidate's meeting tonight at 7 at the Hornings Mills Hall.

Remember it is an all candidates meeting-Q&A's-NOT a debate.

Hope it doesn't turn out like Shelburne's though.

The Annointed, I mean acclaimed Mayor was given a seat at the table, even thought he had no need to campaign.

Did he sit back and give the incumbents and the new politicians a chance to voice their views?

Why no. Eddie doesn't want his apple cart upset, so he took every single opportunity he could to go on and on and on about how the CURRENT team (and I am paraphrasing here) works well together and gets things done and of course doesn't question Ed.

Basically, while running over on his time on most questions, he was campaigning for the incumbents.

Wow. Way to build bridges with new councillors, just in case your ratepayers decides that change is needed. Although if King Eddie says no change is needed, except change as it singlehandlely benefits him. (DEEP, YMCA, out of town children user fees in parks, etc. etc.)

But I digress. Don't forget about the all candidates meeting tonight in Melancthon at 7 at the Hall.

ECO FORUM ON WIND TURBINES

The next Eco Forum will be from 7-9pm on Oct. 22nd at Trinity United Church in Shelburne. The topic is Wind Turbine Concerns.

In the meantime, here is an article everyone might want to read:

Ted Cowan, Ontario Federation of Agriculture – Warns Farmers to be Careful When Dealing with the Wind Industry http://windfarms.wordpress.com/2008/08/19/ted-cowan-ontario-federation-of-agriculture-warns-farmers-to-be-careful-when-dealing-with-the-wind-industry/

Excerpts:

“I’ve seen over 30 leases, and there are problems with every one,” said Cowan..

Cowan said some wind power companies are not giving a fair share of their profits...

Farmers were also cautioned on assessment and tax implications. “It’s your farm – it’s your taxes,” said Cowan, noting that the landowner was ultimately responsible for taxes on their property. In addition, Cowan said there was no guarantee that the provincially imposed caps on assessments and taxes would remain in the future.
“I don’t know, taxes could be 50 times of what they are right now,” he said.

TRASH TALK

So let us not get into the science of the DEEP plant right now, because of course Shelburne Mayor Ed Crewson, the DEEP champion, wants to bully and beat down anyone who HE says isn't an expert who might weigh in on the issue with an opinion-to which I thought the Canadian Constitution guaranteed all Canadians, but I must be wrong there.

Firstly, who ARE Ed's experts? Trevor Lewis of the County of Dufferin? Not sure when he got his science degree. Other County staff? Same thing. I know for damn sure Ed has no science degree.

So, based on Ed's criteria, if citizen's can't criticize because they aren't scientists, then staff can't be doing research to support what Ed, I mean the County, wants either.

I will go out on a limb here and suggest the ONLY scientific evidence that has been accepted by Ed, whoops, I mean the County, is by the scientists who work for the gasification people, who (altogether now-get paid for selling a product). If I am wrong, then I will stand corrected.

Secondly:Shelburne is desperate to find a place to send their garbage, because they have no landfill and haven't for almost 25 years. They were so desperate years ago that Council limited their peons, I mean ratepayers to two bags of garbage per week.

However an elected official from Shelburne, who realized his family generated more than 2 bags of garbage a week, saw nothing wrong in taking HIS trash to a neighbouring landfill (more on that another day).

Ed's logic: We should all be working for the greater good by helping HIM pay for a YMCA to be located in Ed's town and championed by one of Ed's biggest customers in his insurance business, and help HIS ratepayers subsidize the cost of disposing of THEIR garbage because we are one County and we need to support and blah, blah, blah.

BUT, this is the same Mayor who went on a rant a few years ago about HIS taxpayers were paying taxes to cut grass and keep the parks in Shelburne up to date while OUT of town kids played on HIS parks without contributing to the maintenance so he implemented an OUT of town kid user fee. He even battled an 80 year old woman in letters to editors when she questioned this decision. (Bully and beatdown for sure.)

But NOW, we are all to be one big happy family and take the financial hit because Eddie needs to keep HIS taxpayers costs down.

Think we outsiders aren't subsidizing Shelburne's garbage removal:

"Several local municipalities have objected to an initiative to have the county take over disposal responsibilities for their waste, when they have their own landfill sites where they could handle it themselves more economically."

“During the presentation at Mono, Mayor Crewson pointed out that Michigan, a destination for much of the trash generated in the GTA and other parts of southern Ontario, is poised to close its borders to such waste within the next couple of years. For those communities without their own landfills, “I expect tipping fees will increase dramatically,” speculating they could exceed $100 per ton.
http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2010-05-13/Front_Page/County_reps_talk_trash_at_council_meetings.html

Can't blame him if he gets his way. A politician should be pushing his own muncipality's agenda.

We SHOULD be blaming all the non-Shelburne and Orangeville politicians who voted for this, especially the ones who have active landfills.

To add insult to injury, according to this article, there isn't even an equalization of services. Melancthon will NOT be getting door to door pick up the way everyone else is, but we will be helping to pay for everyone else's door to door pick up.

Great, just great.

There is a blog coming in the next week about how Ed can reduce his municipality's taxes substantially and it involves the police service.

Stay tuned.

"DEEP" HYPOCRITICAL ACTIONS

At the link below is this comment posted by Peter Turrell:

Jane Pepino is doing another not in my back yard. She is part of Core who are about to fight the monster quarry in Melancthon while destroying the community of Grand Valley defending Orica Canada with an Ammonium Nitrate Storage facility next to the most significant wetland in southern Ontario (Luther Marsh). The good news is the toxic water from the quarry will have the Ammonium Nitrate from the facility she is defending.Please come and help Grand Valley on November 3/09 for our OMB hearing.Hail Queen Nimby

http://windfarms.wordpress.com/2009/02/27/not-in-my-backyard-jane-pepino/

Peter Turrell is known to be an adament opponent of Orica, because of course it is in HIS backyard. He has made many unsubstantiated public accusations against Jane Pepino, which why she hasn't sued him by now I have no idea. Probably because he is a non-entity in the big game.

HOWEVER, talk about hypocritical.

In 2006, Shelburne committeed $50,000 to have Peter Turrell do a feasibility study on a gasification plant. Eddie Crewson was supporting Peter wholeheartedly. Here is a link to the 2006 article.http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2006-03-02/Front_Page/003.html

SO it seems if Peter is getting paid for something, he has no crisis of conscience if it is in someone else's backyard, but by God, no one else better do that.

In fact when there is opposition to this project, Champion Eddie cites the ludicrous claim that the Sierra Club supports gasification plants. Why? Well because Peter, probably one of millions of people who could come up with the membership fee to the Sierra Club (now know as Environmental Defence) is a member.

Wow, who knew that because you could afford a membership or made a donation you got to individually set policy and speak for the entire organization. That would be kind of like everyone who pays taxes in Shelburne gets to speak for the corporation and their truth is the word.

But Eddie has never let the truth get in the way of getting what he wants.

I recall in the early 2000's when Eddie called an emergency meeting which was held on a Saturday.

EVERY single person at that meeting heard the same thing out of Eddie's mouth which was: If you do NOT support amalgamation today, the province will do it on Monday.

There were provincial reps at that Saturday meeting just looked at each other like WTF. As you all know, amalgamation didn't happen, despite the Champion of the day, Eddie and his "truthiness". The province's position is and always HAS been it is a local matter which needs a local solution. (And I can say that as truth, because I pay provincial taxes, which makes me a spokesperson, right Peter and Ed?)

Tommorow-watch for the TRUTH about why Shelburne Council is pretty desperate to have some way of getting rid of garbage.

QUICK AND EASY PUMPKIN PIE RECEIPE

Too busy enjoying the nice weather to blog. If you are rushed for time in turkey preparations tomorrow, try this quick and easy pie receipe.

ENJOY..

I DON'T THINK THIS IS WHAT OUR FOREFATHERS HAD IN MIND

I am sure anyone over the age of 40 knows the tune and lyrics to the Red River Valley. I remember in particular it being drummed into us in Grade 5.

Here is a reminder....

CHORUS:
Come and sit by my side, if you love me
Do not hasten to bid me adieu
Just remember the Red River Valley
And the cowboy who loved you so true

Fast forward to today.

This is OUR generation's Red River Valley, thanks to governments who go for the quick fix, instead of the greater good. Governments (at all levels) who have have been easily swayed by the economic development argument (and $$ backing their party) instead of seeing it for what it is:

MILLIONS of dollars for the rich who back these dubious schemes in the name of "economic development".

Good news though. The Hungarian Government says the red sludge toxicity level is dropping. Whew, that is a relief.

At this rate human habitation should occur about the same time as Chernobyl.

I believe this little guy does some contract work for hedgehog fund real estate companies in both Hungary and Russia, just in case anyone is interested in an inexpensive summer place. There is a firesale on waterfronts lots right now.

GET WELL

We need everyone in fighting form for the all candidates debate.

DATE NIGHT

Start yer engines and mark yer calendars:

Melancthon All Candidates Debate- October 12, 2010 at Hornings Mills Hall 7:00 p.m.

All qualified electors MUST attend.

But you do not have to be an elector to attend or ask questions.

Remember, what happens in Melancthon is not going to stay in Melancthon, well except for a 200 foot deep, 2,400 acre hole in the ground.

A TREND

Hey...

I spotted a trend.

Lets see if the candidates and incumbents can too.

Flamborough-proposed mega quarry (means mining below the water table, so it is NOT a gravel pit)

Action: as soon as trees started being felled a local councillor championed the cause AGAINST the proposal, even before there was a proposal in front of Council.

She rallied the health unit, the upper tier council, the neighbouring municipalities, the residents and was their visible leader in the battle. She went to Queen's Park, she held rallies, she mustered financial support from Council and worked WITH her ratepayers group. She had Council pass bylaws and implement a $100,000.00 aggregate application fee.

End result? The province stopped the proposed quarry. Never even got to the OMB stage. http://www.stopthequarry.ca/

Oakville-proposed gasification plant in the midst of a residential neighbourhood bordering Oakville/Mississauga

Action: Both municipalities joined forces with their ratepayers organization. They rallied the health unit, the upper tier, the neighbouring municipalities, the residents and provided visible leadership in the battle. They went to Queen's Park, attended rallies, did studies, set aside money for the cause and worked WITH their ratepayers group in opposition. Why they even called Erin Brokovitch in to save the day.

End result? The province stopped the plant from going forward. Never even got to the OMB stage. http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Ontario+cancels+billion+TransCanada+power+plant/3640097/story.html?cid=megadrop_story

Melancthon - proposed 2,400 acre 200 foot deep open pit limestone mine on prime agricultural land.

Action: nothing, zip, nil. Well that isn't entirely true. The ratepayers group and individual citizens have made proposal after proposal after proposal to Council over the past two years but Council has taken no action on any of those recommendations (recap: demolition control bylaw, $100,000.00 aggregate application fee, specialty crop designation, etc. etc. etc.) There has been a cautious response from sitting Councillors wherein they have stated ad nausem that they can take NO action whatsoever or do ANYTHING whatsoever until an application is in front of them. (My own comment: at which time we all know it will be too late to do anything.)

End result? Armageddon.

I BET ALL THE CONSULTANTS SAID THIS WAS SAFE TOO

"Police in Hungary have opened a criminal negligence inquiry after leaking chemical sludge caused the country's worst ecological disaster. "

Read all about it here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11488386

Just to recap, several people died and over 100 were hospitalised in western Hungary after a containment dam around the waste reservoir of an aluminium plant owned by MAL Magyar Aluminium in Ajka, broke last week, spewing a river of red toxic chemicals throughout the land.

If I were a betting man, I would BET that all the consultants hired by the company to PROVE to the government that this industry would be a good thing for economic development and jobs said that this would be a good thing for economic development and jobs.

I would FURTHER bet that anyone who objected to this in the beginning were pooh poohed, saying what do they know, the "experts" know better. The companys website, when you translate it into English says:

Our company is deeply committed to minimizing the negative impacts of European standards. Modern technologies and equipment to serve the natural waters and the protection of air purity. Well localized, well-built, reliable storage system with monitor is intended for the storage of red mud. We take care of the red mud-spaces recultivation, the constant pool already filled with land and vegetation cover. The ISO 14001 environmental management system was introduced in 1999. http://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=hu&u=http://www.mal.hu/&ei=VjCtTInpE5K1ngeu4K20Bw&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CDMQ7gEwBg&prev=/search%3Fq%3DMAL%2BMagyar%2BAluminium%2Bin%2BAjka%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26prmd%3Do

Honestly, how could the uninformed NOT believe this? It IS on the internet that they are protecting the environment and the company who is trying to make a kazillion dollars off this slipshod and highly dangerous facility should NOT be doubted. In fact how dare anyone doubt the technology.

I wonder if anyone from the County and DEEP is listening? Nah, probably not.

VOTE BY MAIL

Many people in Mulmur and Melancthon have received their vote by mail kits already.

If you don't have yours, contact the Clerk of your municipality to get one.

Be sure to vote by mail on or before the date indicated. Your ballot is only guaranteed to get to the municipal office on or before October 25 IF you mail it on time.

If you decide to wait until after the mailing cut off time, deliver your ballot to the municipal office. Do not mail it or it may not arrive in time to be counted.

MUST BE AN EASIER WAY

Honest to God JD, there must an easier way to get out of helping with the fall harvest!!

Be well and behave.