‘Essential’ services
Dear Editor:
I am a single parent whose world revolves around my daughter and her care.
She has developmental disabilities and Tourette syndrome. This affects everything in our world and unless you have loved ones in care, such as a day program or group home setting, you don’t know the challenges we face.
The announcement of closure of the day program at Community Living Guelph Wellington is going to strip my daughter of her primary social interactions. The people in the program are her peers, friends, and old classmates.
Our world was turned upside down when, in the middle of COVID shut downs, the agency threatened to close the programs. But parents fought back. It was a hard fight, but we got Community Living to back down.
As COVID restrictions lifted and day services reopened, we thought all would return to what it was before. And we were getting there. But now, with the closures looming again, we are going to have to fight all over again for our loved ones to have a meaningful and full life.
These services are essential for my daughter. They enrich her life. Without them, her world shrinks. She’s isolated. No one should have to live like that.
Let’s make sure these adults have their own lives. Keep day programs open at Community Living.
Gloria Cassavetes,
Guelph
‘Very disappointed’
Dear Editor:
RE: Does your voice matter? (Oct. 26).
In response to Ed O’Shaughnessy’s letter last week, no, our voice doesn’t count. I will give you a personal example.
Over the summer I spoke to our mayor and he asked me to send him an email regarding my concern, which I did. Guess what? I never heard another word!
I asked him verbally and in writing about the distribution building on 1st Line and why they installed barbed wire all around the building? I heard a Chinese company were going to try to sell or rent it.
Who is going to upgrade 1st Line to handle all the semi-truck traffic and what about a traffic light at Highway 7 and 1st Line?
As an member of this community, I feel we all need to know what is happening. I am very disappointed!
Judy Haddad,
Elora
Subdivision concerns
Dear Editor:
After spending two hours at an open public meeting held in council chambers on Wednesday, October 25th, I find it necessary to offer some concerns with respect to the proposed Salem subdivision known as Cachet Development.
Although as a resident of Elora, I am only indirectly impacted by the proposed 286 units which include single family houses as well as townhouses on a 30-acre property on the corner of Woolwich and Irvine Streets near Salem Public School.
The density of this subdivision, which could have a population of 1,000-plus figuring on three residents per unit, I find excessive.
Each of these units will have two cars which will be taxing for the short single driveways. It was commented by the presenter for the development company, that a pickup truck or some SUVs could have difficulty fitting on the driveway. I fear it will be a traffic nightmare as these residents try to exit using the two proposed exits, one on Bricker Street and one onto Irvine. Should there happen to be the need to evacuate residents of this subdivision, could 1,000 people safely exit this area using only the two proposed exits?
Since federal and provincial governments encourage electric vehicles, the need for an electric capacity will be more demanding. I wonder if the developer has planned for hydro demands of the future.
The presenter agreed to let Cachet Development know that the three-storey houses on 40-foot lots which were proposed were unacceptable and an invasion of privacy to existing residents.
Concern was expressed about a row of existing healthy walnut trees and the danger of construction vehicles etc. damaging them. Could the park/green space now proposed for the centre of the 30 acres, be located encompassing the row of trees along one side creating a shady park-like spot along one side? Granted it is not central, but, it is a healthy doable walk.
I would hope that our council will listen to the concerns of those residents who need definite assurances that their well water will not be adversely impacted. And, in writing, have the developer agree to fix the problem should the water survey done now be adversely impacted down the road. Water is a concern for all, not just during construction, but long term for all Elora residents.
With all the recent growth in Centre Wellington (Colbourne Street and Beatty Line, Garafraxa and Gartshore, subdivisions off River Road, plus subdivisions proposed and approved exiting onto Highway 6, does our existing water/sewage facility have the ability to keep up.
By approving developments without roads, water and sewage capacity, are we putting the cart before the horse?
I hope council was listening to legitimate concerns of their constituents.
Ron Mitchell,
Elora
Three years of hell
Dear Editor:
So it has been almost three years of hell.
I live on Wellington Road 7, directly in front of the condo monstrosity.
They have now started to work at approximately 5:30am everyday and are working on Sundays!
No matter who I talk to or contact it is all good (the wall of the condo is about 10 feet from my property line but according to everyone it is 23 feet?).
I guess if you have enough money bylaws don’t pertain to you. Pearle Hospitality needs to think about a rename because they are absolutely not hospitable to their neighbours.
I would really like to know why I pay taxes to get treated this way? How much money has Pearle paid to get away with ruining the town?
Neil Crane,
Elora
Be thankful
Dear Editor:
Hallowe’en is short for All Hallow’s Eve – literally the day before All Hallows’ Day or All Saints’ Day. Each year Nov. 1 is All Hallows’ (All Saints’) Day.
It is a day to remember the people who presently and over the course of our lives have been examples to us of how to live a life the right way. Those who through their lives uplifted and encouraged others. Those who did the right thing even when it was difficult to do. Those who kept promises even when was costly to keep them. Those who were fair in their treatment of others. Those who gave wise advice. Those who had listening ears and caring hearts. And the list could go on – but that is enough for now – because if you are like me – in our minds are the names of a number of people who did those things in our lives and in our community.
We can be thankful for these people, and live out their example, not just on All Hallows’ (All Saints’) Day, but on each day of our lives.
Peter Bush,
Fergus
Privatization in disguise
Dear Editor:
Ontario’s proposal to “streamline” environmental permissions is a thinly veiled attempt to further privatize and/or abolish what should be public services.
Citizens are justifiably suspicious of practitioners, no matter how well trained or credentialed, who are hired by firms to give opinions and advice. It’s only common sense that hired experts will tell the person hiring them what they want to hear, if they want to get re-hired or paid for their work.
Instead of outsourcing advice previously supplied by public servants, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks should increase its workforce.
If we need faster approvals, we should replace the staff who have been cut by this government’s many public service layoffs, and fill positions frozen five years ago by the hiring freeze imposed by this government.
Our environment is too precious, and already too threatened, to take the chance that purchased advice or no advice at all is good enough for stormwater management, hazardous waste transportation and management systems, construction site dewatering, aggregate operations, etc.
Especially here in Waterloo Region, where 80% of our drinking water comes from groundwater, we can’t take the risks.
That’s why I’m sending my comments on ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-6951 to permissions.modernization@ontario.ca. Please join me.
Kae Elgie,
Waterloo