Young activist
Dear Editor:
Mr. Ford: Can you please stop? Do you care about your people or your money?
Stop ruining wetlands and marshes and build houses where people want to live. It’s not too late to do the right thing.
I’m eight years old and I care too. Save the Greenbelt!
Graeme Kingdon,
Fergus
No courage
Dear Editor:
An open letter to Ted Arnott and all Conservative MPPs.
I am hugely disappointed that not one Conservative MPP to my knowledge has had the courage to stand up and say that Doug Ford’s Greenbelt development plans are unacceptable and simply wrong.
We did not elect you to represent Doug Ford and his developer friends, we elected you to represent us – the people in your constituencies – and as you are seeing, the people are speaking once again on this issue – do not touch the Greenbelt.
Please, for the love of creation and our beautiful province, stand up and be counted with those of us who are insulted, disgusted and angry with your leader’s unkept promise: “I heard it loud and clear, the people don’t want me touching the Greenbelt, I’m telling you unequivocally we’re not touching the Greenbelt.”
Please, please stand up now to keep your party’s promise for our Greenbelt. Ontarians are counting on you.
It is not too late to be a hero of the people – today and for generations to come.
Linda Rosier,
Erin
Keep your promise
Dear Editor:
Interesting how a local event here in Centre Wellington on Sunday coincided with a provincial government action, a national event this week in Montreal – with world leaders gathering.
All levels focused on the same issue: will we try to save and strengthen our remaining natural eco-systems, the foundations of life – or maybe just continue to allow business interests to consume them, seeing woodlands, wetlands as infinite sources of raw materials or areas to be “developed”.
Often the ways things are in our own lifetime becomes a base line for how we think things perhaps always were. Only by learning history do we see for example the huge devastation in Ontario caused by deforestation practices of early 19th century residents.
In Norfolk County with the removal of almost every tree, there were sand dunes a metre deep, fence rows disappeared under sand. Here in Elora almost every tree was felled in the Gorge. The critical or sacred value of ecosystems wasn’t in the culture.
One determined man, Edmund Zavitz, and small groups of very concerned citizens brought in the establishment of conservation areas! It was a huge battle accomplished over many years. He was revered as a hero throughout rural Ontario, particularly in areas previously devastated by the spreading deserts.
Today our hard-fought-for conservation authorities in Ontario are now under attack by the Ontario government. Forcing our conservation authorities to sell, lease or dispose of protected and sensitive conservation authority controlled land – to support housing development and forbidding them to speak up in appeals puts in danger the environmental and ecological future of the province! The province does not need this protected land to support the need for more housing.
The gains made in restoring our farms, parks and woodlands came through committed effort.
Citizens are appalled that Doug Ford would like reverse those protections.
Many citizens in Centre Wellington gathered on a cold Sunday afternoon in Elora to say no. Doug Ford we insist you keep your Greenbelt promise!
Carolyn Crozier,
Elora
Party above people?
Dear Editor:
Voting on Bill 23 (More Homes Built Faster) confirms that within the Progressive Conservative Party, party loyalty is above concern for the citizens of Ontario.
Chris Woode,
Fergus
‘A lot at stake’
Dear Editor:
Why do I care about Bill 23? Our farm has an environmental farm plan. Our land forms the headwaters of the Eramosa River that runs through Guelph and eventually reaches Lake Erie, providing source water for drinking and habitat and recreation as it flows. We have planted somewhere around 5,000 trees, fenced off our wetlands, used cover crops to establish our hay fields, use no chemicals to farm, and we have declared three acres under conservation on our property which means that our taxes on that portion are reduced in exchange for our protection of that ecologically important area. We do everything we can to make a living off our land, enjoy it, and protect it.
I care about Bill 23 because I understand that our farm is only a small piece of a very large puzzle that needs to be protected as a whole, not according to political boundaries. The lines on the map don’t tell water where to flow. A lot of years and a lot of expertise have gone into protecting our watershed. It’s now been thrown under the bus. Once it’s gone, there’s no getting it back. It won’t solve the housing shortage, if there even is a housing shortage. It’s more like an affordability crisis which should ease with the upcoming recession as investors have other options for their money and houses aren’t seen as a commodity but as places to live once again.
I object to the dismantling of the conservation authorities; I object to the way the bill was rammed through in the middle of municipal elections that disallowed thoughtful front lines input; and I object to the obvious connections between Premier Ford’s government and developers.
I object to the downloading of development fees, the subsidies to developers, and the removal of checks that were in place to protect our future environment. All of this will resonate long after Premier Ford has retired. I have no children but I feel sorry for those who do, leaving this mess to them to clean up, if they even can.
That’s why I care.
It’s not over yet. Keep writing. Write to all levels of government since we’ve all got a lot at stake. Remind them why they have a job – to look after us.
Karen Dallimore,
Erin
Rally, write or call
Dear Editor:
We all agree that more housing is needed, but Bill 23’s method is controversial, unlikely to achieve its goals, and disregards broader impacts and implications related to quality, liveability and safety.
We want this bill to achieve its stated goals by soliciting municipal, conservation, organization, and public input. Bill 23’s strategic timing to coincide with council transitions silences reason and jeopardizes our housing crisis solution.
Bill 23 reduces developer development charges, community benefits charges, and parkland levies, widening the municipal funding gap for infrastructure and services to support growth. Delaying maintenance and replacement projects to focus on growth will worsen our roads, sidewalks, and other infrastructure. Municipalities will cover the provincially mandated shortfall by cutting services and infrastructure maintenance and raising property taxes.
Instead of lowering construction costs to make new housing more affordable, this bill raises property taxes to compensate for lost revenue. The additional tax increase could be called the Ford levy to remind voters in four years. Alternatively, name it after the local MPP who voted for the bill.
Bill 23 ignores a 20-year land reserve that doesn’t require other Greenbelt or environmentally sensitive lands. Ontario’s construction workforce can’t build 1.5 million homes in 10 years. Our shortage of experienced construction workers is raising costs and delaying projects. With the World Cup underway, perhaps our government intends to bring Qatar’s foreign construction workers to help. Maybe the first homes they will have to build are their own.
Parks promote community integration, mental and physical health, and child and adolescent development. During COVID-19, the public demanded safer walking and cycling routes to more parks and green spaces. Bill 23 would reduce developer land conveyed or paid in lieu and complicate municipal planners’ decisions. We can’t skimp on parkland to compensate for the lack of backyards in multi-level and rental housing.
While Bill 23 requires municipalities and conservation authorities to comply, there is no such requirement for developers who receive this provincial and local tax and ratepayer handout. None of the legislative changes address developers’ obligation to pass on cost savings to new home buyers and renters. Instead, it is assumed.
If you’re angry about Bill 23, join a rally or write or call your MPP. To remain silent is to condone this questionable bill.
Ian MacRae,
Elora
‘Outstanding support’
Dear Editor:
On behalf of the Royal Canadian Legion, Elora Branch 229, we wish to thank all our community residents both private and business for their continued and outstanding support again this year.
During the 2022 Poppy Campaign we received for the Poppy Fund, lapel poppy donations of $10,898; financial donations of $1,095; mail-out program $16,598; wreath and pin sales of $3,227 for a successful campaign total of $31,818. It should be noted that expenses for this campaign will be approximately $9,000. Sincere appreciation for the donators, the volunteer canvassers and the multitude of merchants who made space for the poppy boxes or shared sales proceeds.
For the Poppy Fund period from Oct. 1, 2021 to Dec. 31, 2022, Elora Branch 229 provided 12 donations from the Poppy Fund that supported activities such as the Service Dog program; Homeless Vets; District C Hospital Fund; Provincial Charitable Foundation; Provincial Poppy Fund; British Commonwealth Ex-Services League; Youth Education and the local Cadet Corps to name some. Our contribution during this period amounted to $24,890.
Once more during this Poppy Campaign and Remembrance Day period we were fortunate in this community to observe special tributes to those who served. The fantastic display of poppies by the St. John’s Anglican Church and the increasing number of solemn lamppost banners of former service personnel reminded citizens and visitors alike of the debt owed to many.
On Nov. 11th Branch 229 provided services at both local cenotaphs in Salem and Elora honouring the supreme sacrifice made by residents of the former Nichol and Pilkington Townships and Elora Village during two world wars. A veteran’s dinner was served and enjoyed concluding Remembrance Day activities for 2022.
Special appreciation and gratitude for all those who contributed their time, support and services in making Remembrance Day the special occasion it is.
Jim Paterson,
Elora Legion Br. 229
Poppy Chair
‘Criteria in place’
Dear Editor:
RE: Life worth living, Nov. 24.
In reply to Catie Leistra’s letter, I am choosing to let the CEO of Dying with Dignity Canada, Helen Long, speak, using her words.
She wrote, “However, as eligibility (for MAID) has expanded, so too has confusion, misinformation and numerous sensational headlines about the alleged inappropriate use of MAID …
“In recent months, we have been asked to speak to the misleading assumption that people struggling to secure adequate housing, disability support, home care and more and more will be able to access MAID based on that criteria … we are confident that the eligibility criteria for MAID does not allow vulnerable people to access an assisted death solely on the basis of a lack of social supports.”
The Wellington Advertiser, back in September, printed a letter to the editor from Long, a part of which I will quote. She wrote, “MAID is a choice made by an individual; there are robust criteria and safeguards in place to rule out coercion, including that the person must be approved by two independent assessors; there is no slippery slope.”
I have a problem with people who would demand suffering people continue suffering, just to satisfy themselves.
Janice Corbett,
Fergus
List of issues
Dear Editor:
Following is from my “bucket list” of things that have disturbed me for several years.
A doctor in Quebec is proposing to extend euthanasia to babies under one year of age. This in spite of the fact that the baby is not old enough to make a choice. Have any one of our politicians responded to the concerns or objections of the threat euthanasia causes to persons with disabilities, the elderly, or those compromised with health issues? I suggest, “No.”
The criteria for eligibility seems to be widening. In the first year there was well over a thousand people euthanized. Over 10,000 were killed in 2021. Some opted for euthanasia as their disability pensions would not cover their living expenses.
The next issues involve our youth. Drug addiction, alcohol abuse, physical risk in schools, legalizing marijuana, and safe drug sites have only escalated our problems and contributed to more potent drug use.
This is costing lives and millions of dollars for counseling, safe drug sites and medications. Drug use contributes to criminal actively to pay for the habits.
Now the provincial government is threatening to destroy protected green space. This impacts our watersheds, recreational sites, farmland, ecologically sensitive areas and sets a dangerous precedent. If we are to sustain our climate and watersheds, then everyone should take action to oppose this commercial development of the Greenbelt. If we do not oppose Premier Ford’s proposals these action will lead to long-term pain for short-term profit for a wealthy few at taxpayers’ expense.
Pat Woode,
Fergus
Where are the people?
Dear Editor:
Where have all the people gone?
It seems after a couple years of “war,” the numbers have shifted from too few jobs to too few workers to fill the jobs. For years churches are asking the same question.
Looks like the demographics have shifted along the anticipated effects of “Baby Boomers,” rather significantly creating a downturn of bodies to fill the jobs or the pews.
Overcrowding of available resources to provide the same level of service we have all become familiar with prior to COVID-19 in every business from the “essential services” through to “non-essential” – yet both suffer the shortage.
So where are these people? Have they left Canada in search of greater “freedom”? Good luck with that! Are they staying at home hibernating until COVID is over?
I’m sure we all see, even in Fergus, plenty of responsible people who show up every day to the local hangout, many who could fill a vacancy of some degree.
One that may not need a university degree, work experience or a vaccine for that matter.
I know everyone is welcome to hangout in the church pews.
Karl Demmans,
Fergus
‘Amazing act of bravery’
Dear Editor:
RE: Wellington Heights student receives Queen’s Jubilee Award, Nov. 17.
Hometown Heroine!
Who else would do this?
When she saw a car go into the wrong lane right in front of a big trucks, she was shocked into action!
Would you do this?
She ran right up to a car that might blow up!
And then pulled out the driver, before the car began to catch fire!
What an amazing act of bravery!
She did get a wonderful acknowledgement of her actions, but it made me wonder what it is in some human beings that makes them behave so bravely.
What made her forget about her own self?
Only the good of some other person,was all she thought of.
I read that she said, “I think I was meant to be home that day” – this seems to hint at her belief that we humans are meant to care for each other in a Christian way.
May we all put our faith into action!
Sytske Drijber,
Rockwood