FOODSTOCK

FOODSTOCK: Save The Land That Feeds Us


100 of Canada’s best chefs cook up a storm to help Stop The Mega Quarry.

Honeywood, ON – On Sunday, October 16th almost 100 chefs from across the country will gather to cook up a feast in a pay-what-you-can foodie festival on a farm north of Orangeville. FOODSTOCK, as it’s known, will turn local ingredients--all generously donated by Ontario producers-- into gourmet dishes highlighting the bounty of farmland that could be devastated by a proposed mega quarry.

The prospect of replacing ‘taters with craters’ has deeply concerned restaurateurs across Canada. Celebrated chef Michael Stadtländer—whose nearby Eigensinn Farm and Haisai Restaurant are internationally celebrated—is spearheading FOODSTOCK together with the Canadian Chefs’ Congress. “This will be the culinary equivalent of the original ‘60s celebration,” says Stadtländer. “Each chef is pouring their talent into one dish. We expect close to 20,000 people, and if you love food, farmland and water, you will not be disappointed.”

Top musicians have also joined the campaign. "Happy to lend a hand to people who are trying to preserve the sanctity of water and arable land,” offers Jim Cuddy. “If a little music can help open some peoples' eyes to the risks we are facing up here then I consider myself lucky to be able to help." The line-up of musicians backstopping this culinary tour de force includes Jim Cuddy, Sarah Harmer, Ron Sexsmith, Tom Barlow, Cuff The Duke, Hayden, Lily Frost and Jose Contreras and a host of unplugged artists. Jeremy Taggart (Our Lady Peace), will MC and speakers include Faisal Moola of The David Suzuki Foundation as well as Mark Calzavara (Council of Canadians), Danny Beaton (Mohawk First Nation) and Jeff Monague (Beausoleil First Nation).


In March of this year, The Highland Companies-backed by the Baupost Group hedge fund of Boston-applied to the province to excavate the largest quarry in Canadian history. If allowed to proceed, the mega quarry would:

· Span more than 2,300 acres (1/3 of the size of downtown Toronto),
· Require extraction of 600 million litres of water per day FOREVER, affecting the watersheds of five southern Ontario river systems,
· Destroy Class 1 farmland consisting of Honeywood Silt Loam—a specialty soil now producing approximately 50% of the GTA market for potatoes.

See nomegaquarry.ca  or NDACT.com for more details.

Pre-interviews with Chefs will be available at the dedicated FOODSTOCK media tent near the main entrance from 10 am. Interviews with musicians will be available from the media tent throughout the day as the artists are present.

FOODSTOCK will take place on Sunday, October 16th from 11:00 to 5:00 at Lennox Farms just west of County Road 124, Melancthon Township, Dufferin County. The entrance is off the 20th Sideroad, west of 124, at Conover, Ontario.

COMPLETE LIST OF CHEFS

TORONTO
Paul Böehmer, Milana Lise, Böhmer
Teo Paul, Union
Adam Colquhoun, Robert Bechard, Oyster Boy
JP Challet, Ici Bistro
Lora Kirk, Ruby Watchco
Jeffery Claudio, Scarpetta at The Thompson Hotel
Chris Brown, The Stop Community Food Centre
Jamie Kennedy, Jamie Kennedy Kitchens
Aaron Bear Robe, Keriwa Café
Fabio Bondi and Michael Sangregorio, Local Kitchen and Wine Bar and Bar Salumi
Luis Valenzuela, Torito Tapas Bar
Victor Barry, Splendido, The County General
Albert Ponzo, Le Select Bistro
Hiro Yoshida, Hiro Sushi
Anthony Walsh, Bannok and Oliver and Bonacini Restaurants
Carole Ferrari, Locale Café
Carl Heinrich & Ryan Donovan , Marben
Michael Sacco, Chocosol Chocolate Traders
David Kokai, Loïc Gourmet
Anthony Rose, The Drake Hotel
Derek Bendig and Colen Quinn, Pangaea
Zane Caplansky, Caplansky's
Evelyne Gharbirian, Hearty Catering
Rodney Bowers, Hey Meatball
Matty Matheson, Parts & Labour
Derek Zavislake, Merchants of Green Coffee
Keith Froggett, Scaramouche
Lorenzo Loseto, George Restaurant
Rob Gentile, Buca Restaurant
Patrick McMurray, Starfish Oyster Bed and Grill, Ceili Cottage
Joshna Maharaj
Steffan Howard, Palais Royale, Casa Loma
Kevin McKenna, Globe Bistro
Kevin McKenna and Phillip Heilborn, Earth Bloor West
Kevin McKenna, Earth Rosedale
Trish Donnelly, Chef Donnelly Catering
Brad Long, Sara Kuntz, Belong Café
John Higgins, Oliver Li, George Brown College
Daisuke Izutsu, kaiseki Sakura
Christopher Palik, L-Eat Catering and Paese Ristorante
Daniel Muia, Mogette Bistro
Joe Levesque, International Centre
Graham Pratt, Christine Fancy, The Gabardine
Giacomo Pasquini , Vertical
Audrey Demers
Bertrand Alépée, The Tempered chef
Fawzi Kotb, Veloute Bistro & Catering
Nick Laliberte, Poutini's House of Poutine
Dawn Woodward and Edmund Rek, Evelyne's Crackers
Jacob Sharkey Pearce , Two Brothers Inc.
Linda Burnside and Kevin Walters, Alternative Grounds
Alexandra Feswick, Brockton General
Diane Cartwright, Whole World Trade Ltd.
Jeff Brown and Jennifer Rashleigh, Delight
Lesia Kohut, LPK's Culinary Groove
Anton Potvin and Nick Liu, Niagara Street Cafe
Johan Maes, Goed Eten

DURHAM
Michael Schmidt, and Chef Carey McLellan, Glencolton Farms

SHELBURNE
Rob Uffen, Rob Uffen's Trout House


ROSEMONT
Ross Midgley and Beth Hunt, The Globe Restaurant

OWEN SOUND
Robin Pradhan, Rocky Raccoon Café

CREEMORE
Michel Masselin, Chez Michel
Dave Nesbitt, Creemore Coffee Company
Don Akehurst, Sovereign Restaurant

COLLINGWOOD
Gareth Carter, Men with Knives
Leona Nyman, Andrea Greyerbiehl, Azzurra
Jeremy Korten, Oliver & Bonacini Café Grill, Blue Mountain Restaurant"
Mark & Christene Kraus, Espresso Post
Scott Chalmers and Andrew Barber, Simplicity Bistro
Christophe and Wispy Boivin, Tremont Café
Joelle Rogers, Tesoro Restaurant
Mike Duffin, One99 Broadway
Roger Genoe, Ravenna Country Market

SINGHAMPTON
Marita Gómez and Jörg Neth, Haisai
Michael and Nobuyo Stadtländer, Eigensinn Farm

ORANGEVILLE
Jason Reiner, The Mono Cliff's Inn
Alex Johnston, Hockley Valley Resort

FLESHERTON
Shawn Adler, The Flying Chestnut

BURLINGTON
Tobias Pohl-Weary, Red Canoe Bistro

GUELPH
Carin Balint, Garden of Vegan

NIAGARA
Paul Harber, Ravine Vineyard
Janice Suarez
Ryan Crawford, The Stone Road Grille

STRATFORD
Ruth Klahsen, Monforte Dairy

PARRY SOUND
Philip Patrick, The Ridge at Manitou

BARRIE
Matthew Flett, Georgian College
Randy Feltis, Oscars
David Keenan, At the Five
Daniel Hong, Anna Kim, Furusato Restaurant
Ceasar Guinto, Cravings Fine Food Market and Catering

THORNBURY
Shaun Edmonstone, Jennifer Vipond, Bruce Wine Bar

WATERFORD
Tracey Winkworth, The Belworth House

AURORA
Jason D'Anna, Magna Golf Club

OTTAWA
Ross Fraser, Fraser Café

SASKATCHEWAN
Moe Mathieu

NOVA SCOTIA
Stefan Czapalay, Culinary Design Solutions

COMPLETE LIST OF ARTISTS AND MUSICIANS

MAIN STAGE
Jim Cuddy
Sarah Harmer
Ron Sexsmith & Colleen Hixenbaum
Andrew T Queen
Lily Frost and Jose Contreras (By Divine Right)
Jeremy Taggart (Our Lady Peace)
Tom Barlow
Cuff The Duke
Hayden
Misty Creek Drummers
Killing Time
Some of the BNL

UNPLUGGED
The Loon Choir
Killing Time
Shotgun Wedding
Marnie Herald
Patrick Keating
Steve York
Ed Roman
Kim Harcourt
Rob Saley
Leh-lo
Bryan Wall
Romney Getty
Jordan Eveland
Ellie Avishai
Dave Russel
Sue Miller
Aaron Garner
Blood Trails
Peter Adams
Shara Claire and Friends
Jamie Willi
Eric Nagler
Kyle Haight
Joanne Mackell
Kevin MacLean
Hobo Wally
Jim Letheid
Frannalee
Gruven Devaki
Jennifer LIvingston
Seana Murdoch
Jason Alexander
Soul Singers
MacCallum and Langhorst
Cameron Austin
Friends of the Earth
Souls at Play
Lory Macdonald
Paul Vodak
Glen Noble
Kachimself
Ironworks Clarksburg
Ralph Hollis
Gordon Kemp
The All Naturals Poetry Pocket
Artists Against the Mega Quarry

CBC THE NATIONAL

Excellent piece on the National tonight about the quarry. 

The two proponents of the quarry, Joseph Izhakoff and John Scherer are pictured here:

And when I saw them I couldn't help but be reminded of these two guys:

Full CBC print article here: http://www.cbc.ca/m/touch/news/story/2011/10/10/melancthon-quarry.html

BAUPOST ANNOUNCES NEW INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY

There is money in the moon. 

Mining activities on the Moon appears to become a fast-approaching reality as U.S. astronomers reported last week the likely presence of titanium ore on the lone Earth's natural satellite, with reserves rich enough to encourage man in establishing a mine colony.  (Click here for full article: http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/227901/20111010/report-rich-titanium-ore-reserves-on-moon-could-warrant-lunar-mining.htm )

Business magazines and twitter are abuzz that Baupost will be completing the purchase of the moon within the week and will begin mining activities within the year. 
\
An unnamed spokesperson, pictured at left stated that from a client portfolio persective it makes sense.  "There is virtually no regulatory regime in place on the moon, so the proponent can start mining the moon for everything it is worth immediately on landing.  We have also noted there are very few people living on the moon so there will be few public expectations to manage.  We find in that respect, the moon is very similar to Melancthon Township." (Source unconfirmed)

On an unrelated note, neighbours in the posh neighbourhood of Chestnut Hill Boston have complained to City officials about some sort of illegal use and construction going on at this property:

(http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/seth-klarmans-house/)

Satellite sources show the new structure appears to be this:



BE SURE TO RATE THE SITE THAT GIVES US THE BIRDS EYE VIEW OF SETH'S HOUSE.  HELPS THEM WITH WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

BAMBOOZLING THE BOBOLINK (and the public too?)

The government passed a regulation to the Endangered Species Act in 2008 showing the Bobolink is a species threatened species.

(The Act and Regulation are these thinks:
http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_07e06_e.htm
http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/regs/english/elaws_regs_080230_e.htm )

Must have gotten them some HUGE pats on the backs from environmental groups and alot of free PR, because by doing this it showed they are very concerned about the environment and eco system in which we live.

Except of course for that little back door clause 17(1) that states:
The Minister may issue a permit to a person that, with respect to a species specified in the permit that is listed on the Species at Risk in Ontario List as an extirpated, endangered or threatened species, authorizes the person to engage in an activity specified in the permit that would otherwise be prohibited by section 9 or 10

Blah, blah...what does that mean?  Well if the Minister (meaning the government) decides there is a MORE important reason not to protect any of the species listed on the regulations he just provides a permit that says go ahead, do what you want.

The Environmental Bill Registry (EBR) shows that Grand Valley Wind Farms Inc. has applied for an overall benefit permit under clause 17 (2) (c) of the Endangered Species Act, 2007 with respect to Bobolink in order to construct and operate nine wind turbines in the Town of Grand Valley.

An overall benefit permit?  I will be the overall benefit is NOT going to benefit the bobolink.

So don't think for a minute that any species listed on the Endangered species regulation that may be found in the area that Highlands wants to mine will be safe. 

IF the government of the day decides this needs to go ahead, they can just set aside the requirement to protect it with a simple permit.

You can write or email with your comments.  Do NOT phone as phone calls are not a permanent record.  Keep a record of what you have submitted.

Gail Jackson
Senior Permits & Agreements Specialist
Ministry of Natural Resources
Policy Division
Species at Risk Branch
Permits and Agreements Section
300 Water Street Floor 2
Peterborough Ontario K9J8M5
gail.jackson@ontario.ca

Here is Grand Valley Windfarm's application on the EBR:
http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/displaynoticecontent.do?noticeId=MTE0MjAz&statusId=MTcxMDkx&language=en


DEVELOPER

BOBOLINK                               





COOKIES and SPAM

NO Cookies and spam are NOT Minebusters thanksgiving dinner. 

I will be having cold shoulder and lukewarm reception. 

The rest of you with friends and family, try the turkey. 

In the meantime....

If you are having trouble posting comments on this blog try your cookies:
1) If your users are Firefox/IE users they need to make sure they have 3rd Party Cookies installed.  http://www.ec.kingston.com/ecom/config/EnableCookie.htm

If your comments aren't showing up, I will have to check my spam more often...

2) If you have word verification turned on. People with popup blockers will probably have problems with this. It's advised to turn this off as Blogger now has Spam Filtering

3) Check your Comments Tab to see if they are getting Moderated. Pay particular attention to the Spam section.  http://i52.tinypic.com/w1u1b4.png

HAPPY THANKSGIVING WEEKEND

ELECTION RESULTS

Liberals win a minority government

Sylvia Jones PC candidate in Caledon-Dufferin wins.

Interactive map showing riding results.
http://www.cbc.ca/includes/provincialelections/ontariovotes2011/map/fullscreen.html#/18

FROM A GUEST CONTRIBUTOR

I do not like you Mr. Lowndes
I wish you'd leave, get out of town

I cannot eat your rocks and stone
Please take Highland
And go home

I do not like you Mr. Lowndes
I like my water underground

I like my food that's grown right here
I want to keep the farmland near

I do not like you
What's to say?

Take Highland/Baupost,
GO AWAY.

If you would like to submit something as a guest blogger, please forward to melancthonminebuster@gmail.com

Minebuster reserves the right to edit or not publish comments that do not meet the guidelines (guideline is short and witty) or that do not otherwise meet editoral approval or put me in a pissy mood or that I just generally don't feel like posting.

SIMCOE PC CANDIDATE

Jim Wilson in Simcoe gets in by doing very little.  Showing up and, well just showing up. 

Here is his quote in Simcoe.com yesterday in response to Green Party leader and Simcoe-Grey provincial candidate Mike Schreiner saying the mega quarry could be stopped today if Queen's Park flexes the right political muscle. "We all know that the government has a variety of options.  This is just the Green Party desperately grasping for votes, Wilson said."(entire article here: http://www.simcoe.com/news/article/1220022--greens-say-quarry-could-be-stopped )

REALLY?

Good to know Mike.  Just wondering when you will bringing those options up in the house and start fighting for them.  You can email him (over and over and over) at jim.wilson@pc.ola.org to ask. 

JUST VOTE

The polls are open tomorrow morning, please vote.  A veteran will thank you.

NASTY NAFTA-HERE IS WHAT IT HAS DONE FOR US LATELY

The Council of Canadians, Maude Barlow specifically has made the following statement as it relates to the Melancthon Mega Mine (M3):

NAFTA’s Chapter 11
First Nations and other organizations have joined the NDACTF in opposing the mega-quarry, including the Citizens’ Alliance for a Sustainable Environment (CAUSE), the Sierra Club, the Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, and the Council of Canadians. Maude Barlow, Chair of the Council of Canadians, addressed some of the concerns in a recent letter to Craig Laing, Aggregate Resources Officer in the MNR. She wrote: “Because the construction company [Highland] is backed by the Baupost Group, a Boston-based multi-billion-dollar hedge fund, it likely has NAFTA rights to sue the Canadian government if, at any time after the contract has been signed, any level of government changes its mind on the project or attempts to limit damage to the land and water of the area by imposing new restrictions on the company’s operations. “As well, NAFTA’s Chapter 11 gives American corporations operating in Canada the right to claim the water sources they use in their operations. The Canadian government recently awarded the American pulp and paper company Bowater/ Abitibi $125 million in compensation for the water [and timber] it no longer uses after it voluntarily abandoned its operation in Newfoundland.

Full article here: http://www.robstrang.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Mega-quarry-article-Monitor-Sept2011-1.pdf (Thanks Rob Strang, Green Party.)


So, here is my take on this. 

IF this application goes through, part of getting a mining license under the Aggregate Resources Act (ARA) is a permit to take water. 

When you get a permit to take water, you get to TAKE the water, it is YOUR water. 

Why does that matter in this instance?

Highlands/aka Baupost/aka Seth Klarman's ARA application calls for the management of 600 million litres of water a day that has been exposed to contaminants, the air, pollution, blasting materials and probably bird shit-well maybe not they have chased those pesky birds away.

Their ever shifty, I mean shifting plan calls for the reinjection of this water into surface wells to be "reintroduced" into local drinking water.

MOE has already had a shitfit over this. 

What else could they do with that dirty stinking water?

Well, well (get it, wells, water???) Highlands/aka Baupost/aka Seth Klarman are "negotiating" with Orangeville, I mean the County to purchase their abandoned rail BED.  Not a rail line, a rail BED.

What would be way cheaper than reinstalling the rail line and operating it as a rail way?

A water pipe...to Owen Sound...to a slow boat to China, Dubai, any country that is short of water.

In my OPINION, I would bet that Highlands/aka Baupost/aka Seth Klarman will make more on water sales than they ever will on limestone.

Take a look at what the Baupost Group is trying to do in California-google the Bixby Ranch.

BUG???

Minebuster has received numerous reports that people can't post comments to blog postings. 

Is this a widespread problem?

Councillors?  Hill (of Beans) and Knowlton...You guys having problems posting anon comments?

IF YOU CAN'T GET TO CHURCH TODAY, THIS WILL DO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuzhwkaNC40&feature=share&noredirect=1

FARMING IN THE QUARRY

Here is a farmer tending his vineyard, making ice wine at the bottom of the masshole left by Highlands aka Baupost aka Seth Klarman and investors.

PRIME REAL ESTATE AT THE QUARRY'S EDGE

Put your offer to purchase in now.....

QUARRY STORY

If you want to see an amazing site, visit Portland Ct. USA.  There you will see an abandoned brownstone quarry.  It is visually massive and yet it is only 37 acres by 80 feet and it is filled with water now. 

From Wikipedia:
"Quarrying on this site began in 1690 by James Stanclift, who contracted with the town of Middletown to build stonework in exchange for a deed of land. Commercial quarrying started in 1783 when the Brainerd Quarry Company began operations. During the peak of the brownstone era, more than 1500 workers were employed by the quarries, which shipped stone on their own ships for eight months out of the year.[5] Proceeds from the quarrying business were deeded to Wesleyan University from 1833 through 1884, and stone from the quarries was used to build many campus buildings.[6] As tastes in buildings shifted, and concrete became the material of choice, the demand for brownstone declined. A flood in 1936 and a hurricane in 1938 flooded the quarries, ending their operations.[5] All efforts to drain the flooded quarries have been unsuccessful; one theory is that the floods opened some underground springs, making it impossible to effectively drain the quarries.[6]"



Wikipedia needs to be updated because the Managing Director of Brownstone Exploration & Discovery Park advised recently that they have come to the understanding that the quarry flooded when the Connecticut river came up and over the 500 year flood mark (the road) during the 1938 hurricane. They have seen pictures that show the quarry flooded within 30 minutes from the time the water breached the road.

I am SURE Baupost, aka Klarman, aka Highland Companies knows about this because Portland Ct is just a stone's throw from Boston.

Now we all know what can happen.

DO THE PCS DESERVE YOUR VOTE IN DUFFERIN CALEDON?

Gravel Watch's question to all leaders in the October 6 provincial election:

Will your party commit to undertaking a comprehensive and transparent review of the aggregate policy and regulatory framework in Ontario if you were to form the next Provincial Government?

...in a nutshell, lots of verbage from everyone except the conservatives who's official message was:  declined to answer.

http://www.gravelwatch.org/orig-gw/misc/Answers-from-political-parties.pdf

If you think Sylvia deserves YOUR vote, please read this again and again.

NO WARNING

Just like the advanced warning system on Lost in Space, whenever Will was in trouble "WARNING WARNING WILL ROBINSON" mines must have warning systems.

This is an article about a system gone wrong and more importantly about a system that doesn't seem that hi-tec or infallable:
However, several business owners in a commercial strip mall about a kilometre downhill from the gravel pit said Mid-Island Aggregates makes a habit of warning them when blasting is scheduled, but issued no such advisory this week.“Normally they’ll phone us the day before to tell us they’ll be blasting, but this time they didn’t, which is unusual,” said Doug Nestor, who owns a Nutri-Lawn franchise in the mall.  Steve Cross, owner of South Shawnigan Auto & Marine a few doors away, said previous blasting in the gravel pit has been preceded by, and followed by, a warning signal he described as “three loud beeps,” something that did not occur on Tuesday.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/no-warning-signal-heard-before-shawnigan-lake-gravel-pit-blast/article2174216/

Well no wonder Highlands has been burning and blasting the housing stock in Melancthon, that many less people to put on their speed dial to "warn" them eight times a day, seven days a week (NOT stat holidays) between the hours of 10 and 3 about an impending blast.

Wonder who calls when something goes wrong?

HILL OF BEANS AND KNOWLTONS MORE SPECTACULAR MEDIA CAMPAIGNS

If you aren't sure who Hill of Beans and Knowlton are, they are the PR guru's who replaced Daniher.

Big stupid and insane projects takes big spin, takes big PR, and takes big money.  Like the American government OR someone with more money, like Seth Klarman.

Here are some hi-lites/low-lites from Hill of Beans and Knowlton's campaigns:

Excerpts from Mother of All Wars
"If and when a shooting war starts, reporters will begin to wonder why American soldiers are dying for oil-rich sheiks," warned Hal Steward, a retired army PR official. "The US military had better get cracking to come up with a public relations plan that will supply the answers the public can accept."71http://www.prwatch.org/books/tsigfy10.html
Steward needn't have worried. A PR plan was already in place, paid for almost entirely by the "oil-rich sheiks" themselves.
The man running Hill & Knowlton's Washington office was Craig Fuller, one of Bush's closest friends and inside political advisors. The news media never bothered to examine Fuller's role until after the war had ended, but if America's editors had read the PR trade press, they might have noticed this announcement, published in O'Dwyer's PR Services before the fighting began: "Craig L. Fuller, chief of staff to Bush when he was vice-president, has been on the Kuwaiti account at Hill & Knowlton since the first day. For more click here: http://www.prwatch.org/books/tsigfy10.html

Hill & Knowlton's Maldives Role Still Generating Heat
H&K's lead consultant on the account, Tim Fallon, is saying nothing. It appears that Fallon, who posted a blog in October 2006 defending his work for the regime, blogs no more.
http://www.prwatch.org/spin/2008/01/6882/hill-knowltons-maldives-role-still-generating-heat

Risky Business: The World According to Hill & Knowlton
"Risk communication is about two things," Buckmaster said (Chairman and General Manager Thomas Buckmaster) "scaring people into action and trying to reassure them into inaction." Although corporate crisis management focuses on "reassuring into inaction," he noted noted that PR firms are sometimes hired to inflame rather than downplay fears.  http://www.prwatch.org/prwissues/1997Q1/risky.html

Corporate Think Tank Dives into Water Policy
"I have, for many years now, believed that water is the greatest environmental challenge facing the world in the 21st century," Whitman stated, in a speech at WPI's inaugural meeting.  The Water Policy Institute's chair is former New Jersey governor and Environmental Protection Agency head Christine Todd Whitman. After leaving the EPA, Whitman founded her own public relations firm. The Whitman Strategy Group's clients include FMC Corporation, a chemical and pesticide manufacturer; the oil company Chevron's Environmental Management Company; and the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), an industry lobby group. Since 2006, Whitman has co-chaired the NEI-funded and Hill & Knowlton-managed Clean and Safe Energy Coalition, a pro-nuclear front group.  http://www.prwatch.org/news/2009/04/8347/corporate-think-tank-dives-water-policy


Hill & Knowlton Uses Environmentalists to Peddle Coppertone
The thinning ozone layer leaves us exposed to increasing Ultra Violet (UV) radiation, increasing skin cancer deaths, cataracts and damaged immune systems. Bad news? Not if you are the drug transnational Schering-Plough, or its PR firm, Hill & Knowlton.
Hill & Knowlton's Nina Oligino has persuaded some national environmental groups to add their names to the "Partner" letterhead, including Friends of the Earth, National Resources Defense Council, and the Sierra Club.  http://www.prwatch.org/prwissues/1994Q3/coppertone.html

Way more, click here:
http://www.prwatch.org/search/node/Knowlton

And thanks to rabble.ca for the lead on this.

HAUNTED

Most of us are haunted by Seth and Lowndes, with their absolutely stupid idea of a 2,300 hundred 200 feet below the water table open pit limestone mine, but apparently there are REAL ghosts in Badjeros.

Since I read this on the internet, I KNOW it is true.....but it is still pretty cool
http://www.torontoghosts.org/index.php?/20090629626/Central-Ontario/Badjeros-Haunted-Road.html

ANYONE RECOGNIZE THIS PLACE?

http://www.youtube.com/melancthonvision

TILSON CALLING FOR A FEDERAL E.A.

David Tilson, MP -- Dufferin - Caledon - Tilson tables petition calling ...



Tilson tables petition calling for environmental assessment on melancthon quarry project. September 20, 2011. Ottawa, ON – David Tilson, Member of ...

www.davidtilson.ca/.../tilson-tables-petition-calling-for-enviro...

ANOTHER GREAT VIDEO

"Do you care about the safety and integrity of Ontario's drinking water? We do and so should you. Check out this piece to get the facts on the Highland Companies' application for a mega quarry in the Hills of the Headwaters. The proposed quarry would be bigger than most cities and 1.5 times the depth of Niagara falls. The location is 1 hour outside Canada's largest city, at the source of Ontario's pristine watersheds. Please share this link widely and get people informed about this epic environmental disaster in the making. Spread the word and take action."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZJFO2HBGFw

HUDAK QUESTIONED ABOUT MELANCTHON MEGA MINE

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/greenpage/hudak-cornered-by-anti-quarry-activist-calls-for-more-environmental-tests-130368123.html

http://www.680news.com/news/local/article/280344--two-weeks-until-ontario-election

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ontariovotes2011/story/2011/09/16/hudak-quarry.html

http://swo.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110922/hudak-quarry-environmental-tests-110922/20110922/?hub=SWOHome

I MUST SAY

I must say, I have been pissed at Council(s) before, but I must say, I have never, ever been as pissed as I am now and surprisingly NOT with or at (a) Council. 

I, two hours later, must say, am still shaking with anger.

MORE MEDIA ON THE MELANCTHON MEGA MINE

Across Ontario farmland is being paved over, dug up and converted to other uses by both citizens of Ontario and foreign companies. The proposed mega-quarry in Melancthon Township has caught the attention of both rural and urban residents concerned about the loss of farmland and our ability to feed ourselves down the road. With the increased awareness, this is an ideal time to bring the issues of aggregate removal and foreign ownership of farmland to the campaign trail.
htttp://sustainontario.com/2011/09/20/6611/blog/provincial-election-2011/protecting-and-keeping-control-of-our-farmland

The controversy surrounding the proposed mega quarry in Melancthon Township continues to grow, along with concerns over what kind environmental impacts the 2,316 open-pit crater could have on Simcoe-Grey.
http://www.simcoe.com/news/article/1107396--candidates-talk-agriculture

In the wake of the controversial mega quarry proposal in Melancthon Township, the Liberal Party of Ontario is making an election promise to review the Aggregate Resources Act (ARA).  The announcement was made today by Lori Holloway, the Liberal candidate vying to unseat Progressive Conservative MPP Sylvia Jones in the riding of Dufferin-Caledon where the quarry would be located.
http://www.simcoe.com/news/article/1107291--liberals-promise-to-review-aggregate-rules

As expected, the candidates were asked to give their stance on the mega quarry proposal in Melancthon Township.  Each candidate stated they were opposed to the quarry and that they fully support a full environmental assessment (EA) by the Ministry of the Environment.
http://www.simcoe.com/news/elections/article/1085131--candidates-square-off

NDACT is sure appreciative of the non-partisan support that the issue has gotten and thoroughly appreciate the Green Party’s stance on this and help on this, as well as appreciate the work Lori Holloway has done,” Cosack said.
http://www.orangeville.com/news/local/article/1085340--candidates-question-quarry-rules

MUST BE AN ELECTION COMING UP REAL SOON

Liberals promise to review Aggregate Resources Act
http://www.orangeville.com/news/local/article/1085340--liberals-promise-to-review-quarry-rules

Good for them, and about time.

Wonderful thing that close to 150,000 letters and petitions can do.

Wonder how Hudak will spin this that it is all their doing.

Someone's who's doing it isn't?

About three weeks ago there was an overflow crowd at Monora Park to present Tilson, MP and Jones, MPP all the petitions that concerned citizens from all over Ontario had signed in support of stopping the quarry to help out the residents of Melancthon and the more than 1 million Ontarians who's water supply may be threatened.

Who wasn't there?

That would be the Melancthon Mayor-I mean he wouldn't want to wade into anything TOO political in his own backyard.

IN ALL SERIOUSNESS WHO CAN DECIDE?

Alright, what to do tonight

Dancing with the Stars WITH Nancy Grace

Coronation Street WITH the death of major characters

Cuff'd-new show on MTV

Charlie Sheen Roast-WINNING!

You decide, I can't.

PETER KENT SAYS NO EA REQUIRED

Peter Kent says no Federal EA is necessary because federal EA`s are not required unless: feds are providing funds; transferring federal lands OR issuing an authority identified in the Acts law list regulations.

http://carolynbennett.liberal.ca/files/2011/09/Reply-from-Minister-Kent-re-Melancthon-Quarry.pdf?93122
Law list regulations that I think might have some relevance:
Ammonium Nitrate
http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/C.R.C.,_c._598/page-1.html#h-2
Explosives
http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/E-17/
Fisheries Act
http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/F-14/page-7.html#h-10
Indian Act
http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/I-5/
Railway Safety Act
http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/R-4.2/
Regulation: Mining Near Lines of Railway
http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-91-104/index.html

But then what do I know?

PERFECT WEEKEND FOR THE SHELBURNE FAIR

Nuff said-get out and enjoy today and tomorrow.

Demolition derby tonight.

ON AND ON AND ON IT GOES

Council is not wrong.

They are NEVER wrong.

Everyone else is wrong.

And they will stand up for their right to be wrong until the end. 

Here are some media articles:
http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2011-09-15/Editorial/A_waste_of_taxpayers_money.html

http://www.orangeville.com/opinion/letters/article/1082089--melancthon-mayor-addresses-closed-door-report

I am having trouble reconciling the fact that our Mayor and Deputy sit on County Council.

County Council AND Melancthon Council operate under the same rules, Municipal Act, 2001, Municipal Election Act, Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, etc. etc., perhaps up to 100 different pieces of legislation and regulations.

At County Council agendas and attachments have been posted on-line and available to the public in advance of a meeting for years, in order to meet the transparency requirements in the legislation.

Melancthon Council ONLY provided agendas and attachments after a private citizen obtained a legal opinion in February 2009 and waiting 7 months for Council to comply. 

They held fast to their respected solicitor advising them they were correct in NOT providing the pesky public with information in advance of a meeting due to FOI concerns.

Seriously, this is what the solicitor advised them.  And they put that forward, despite two members of Melancthon Council attending County meetings where agendas and attachments were provided in advance of a meeting.

And I not sure if anyone picked this up from the media reports about the closed meeting investigation, but Melancthon Council went into a closed session last summer about wind turbines, with their solicitor to receive advice, a permited reason under the Municipal Act.

When it becomes a contravention and we didn't know until the meeting investigators report was released, is Council admitted the solicitor, staff, council AND the developer/proponent into the "closed" meeting.

So, the only people who were shut out of the meeting was the pesky public, you know, those people who's lives are impacted by these decisions and have rights under existing legislation.

My question to the Mayor and Deputy who sit at County Council - have they EVER gone into a closed meeting at County Council to receive solicitor advice WITH the proponent/person/developer about whom they are receiving the advice?

My guess would be NEVER.

I would also guess you will NEVER hear this admission from them.

CONNECTING LINK

I think, I think
I have found the connecting link

Hudak, Sylvia and PC's in general have been pretty silent on the Melancthon Mega Mine (M3).

So follow this if you can:

Michael Daniher is Highlands former PR frontman (and piss poor one at that).

He gets "promoted" to policy.

Highlands hires Hill (of beans) and Knowlton-very expensive and established PR firm.

H&K starts a campaign to earn their money from Highland Companies and feels they are hip to the twitter crowd and they engage in a very dismal social media campaign by tweeting under the name Teamhighland, but are trounced at every tweet by Teamheadwaters.

Then H&K starts tweeting under hk_canada about, surprise surprise, Hudak and how he is great and winning at every turn.

Since H&K does nothing for nothing, one has to make the connection that the PC party is using the same PR firm that the Highland Companies uses.

And don't forget that Michael Daniher and John Tory, he the former leader of the PC's are best buds from childhood.

Coincidences aren't just coincidence you know.

ALL CANDIDATES DEBATE IN ORANGEVILLE

September 14, 2011, Westside Secondary School, Orangeville at 7:00 p.m.

With the conservatives slipping in the polls, perhaps Ms. Jones will be a little more commited to commiting to an EA instead of just being commited to taking her constituents concerns to Queen's Park.

CLOSED MEETING 101

For anyone who IS interested in the rules around closed meetings, click these links for cases that have been investigated:

Closed meeting reports by LAS
http://www.agavel.com/?page_id=45

Closed meeting reports by the Provincial ombudsman
http://www.ombudsman.on.ca/Investigations/Municipal-Meetings/Cases.aspx

List of Municipalities who use LAS – 135 out of 444 (almost 30%)
http://www.amo.on.ca/Content/las/AdministrationPrograms/MunicipalInvestigatorProgram/ProgramParticipants/default.htm

CLOSE TO HOME-SETH's HOME THAT IS

Article about the mega quarry in the Boston Herald.
http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view/2011_0911hub_hedge_fund_hit_over_quarry/

ALL CANDIDATES MEETING IN SHELBURNE SEPTEMBER 7, 2011

Liberal-Lori Holloway

Loud and proud about supporting an EA after being elected, as well as supporting changes to the Aggregate Resources Act.





Green-Rob Strang

Loud and proud about supporting an EA after being elected, as well as supporting changes to the Aggregate Resources Act.

 

Conservative-Sylvia Jones

In response to THREE direct questions to her about doing everything in her power, if re-elected, to bring about an EA, she stated that she was committed to taking the views of her constituents to Queen's Park.

CLOSED MEETING INVESTIGATION

Article in the local paper:
http://www.orangeville.com/news/local/article/1078180--melancthon-council-lacks-training-says-investigator

Wonderful display of temper and outrage by certain councillors yesterday at the meeting, targeting members of the public.

Again, the ONLY recommendation the closed meeting investigator made was for Council to update their procedure bylaw and take some additional training. 

We live in Canada where we are allowed to question our elected officials.  That is the foundation of a democracy.

LEADERSHIP, ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY-Ha, fooled you!!

Melancthon Council was the subject of two closed meeting investigations relating to meetings held in the summer of 2010.

The consultant who did the investigation was retained by Melancthon Council.

As a result of the investigation, the consultant Amberley Gavel found (and these are just the hi-lites)
“on the face of it the public portion of the meeting was a sham both at the outset and even more critically at the conclusion of the meeting:”

"The placing of the notice (of the meeting) in a different location on the website made it difficult, if not impossible for the public to observe the actions of the council.:

"The resolution indicates that the meeting was closed in order to “discuss a matter pertaining to the receiving of advice that is subject to Solicitor/Client Privilege…. However the presence (in the closed meeting) of the party opposite in the agreement suggests the real reason was to finalize negotiation of the agreement.”

“The report …..does not fit within the exception relied upon in the public motion authorizing the closed meeting…:

“If the planners report is going on a council agenda, it should be on the public portion.”

The recommendations made by Amberley Gavel?

Simply that the procedure bylaw be updated and Council and staff undertake further training on procedures. 

Seriously that is it.  No reprimand, nothing.

The consultant further advised that if implemented, the recommendations would assist council and staff in serving their community. (gasp!!)

So there. Easy peasy, right?

Well not so fast.

Did Council accept their own consultants recommendations and look inward as to how they could better serve their constituents and show a commitment to transparency, move the municipality in a new direction and show leadership in setting a new tone with their ratepayers?

Survey says.....NO.

While this council is loathe to spend any money on lawyers, OMB hearings, bylaws, or hiring peer reviewers in a timely fashion against anyone proposing a 2,300 hundred acre 200 foot below the water table open pit limestone mine situate on prime agricultural land, they certainly don’t mind spending taxpayers money on a legal opinion to tell the taxpayers why Council is NOT at fault for anything.

And why isn’t it Council’s fault?

According to the lawyer (and this isn't the exhaustive list of excuses) it was because:

1. This was the meeting investigators first investigation- Following that logic, if a lawyer wins his/her first case in court does that mean the lawyers case should be found to be flawed?

2. There were more people at the complainants interview than at staff’s interview. Wouldn’t the answers all be the same whether there was 1 or 10 people in the interview?

3. Despite being legislated as to how closed and open meetings are to be held, the lawyer states that Council didn’t list the meeting as open because “ratepayers in the past have indicated that they do not wish to attend a meeting when most of the time would be spent in private session”. Wow, there are rules and standards for electricians, but my uncle told me one time just to stick a penny in the fusebox, it would work just as well and not waste time.  Do you think an electrician would get off in a court of law if something went south real quick employing this method?

4. And then there is this great logic-ratepayers need to be sophisticated (which means smarter I think, not sure I am not sophisticated enough to figure it out).  In fact the lawyer advises "any ratepayer sophisticated enough to follow Council matters would know that no decisions can be made in closed meetings and that a by-law could only be passed in an open meeting:  So there people, go get your political science degree so you can understand the machinations of Council. The rest of us unsophisticated hicks will have to stay at home and play our six string banjos with our six fingers and shoot possums from the front porch I guess.

Highlands, please continue with whatever you were doing (demolishing houses, cutting trees, ridding us of the pesky bobolink, altering sites without adhering to the site alteration bylaw, etc. etc.) because Council has no intention of ever standing up to you.

All other ratepayers, beware and be warned.

Council WILL stand up for their right to be wrong and make us wrongly pay.

If you want to read the entire report and solicitor’s letter open this link and read page 54 to 65.
http://melancthontownship.ca/11council/agenda.sept8.pdf

COUGH COUGH IS ANYONE PAYING ATTENTION?

Ice River Springs-Shelburne

http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/displaynoticecontent.do?noticeId=MTE0Mjgx&statusId=MTcxMjA0&language=en

This proposal is for a new Certificate of Approval (Air & Noise) for Ice River Springs Water Co. Inc. for their facility located in Shelburne, Ontario. The facility manufactures recycled Polyethylene Terephalate resin flakes from post-consumer PET bottles.

This application is for the approval of two (2) dust collectors and two (2) cyclone driers serving the resin flake production line, combustion equipment, maintenance welding, battery charging and two (2) emergency power generators.

Emissions discharged to the atmosphere include nitrogen oxides and particulate matter.

Open for commenting until September 25, 2011

ALL CANDIDATES DEBATE IN SHELBURNE

Wednesday September 7 @ 7:00 in the Grace Tipling Hall.