Clinton News Record, 2014-03-19, Page 5letters to the editor
Wednesday, March 19, 2014 • News Record 5
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www.clintonnewsrecord.com
CANACE fights for the rights of
Goderich Township
Dear Editor:
Are Communities helpless when Govern-
ments force upon them policies that go
against the will of the people - i.e., amalga-
mation and wind farms? Are Canadians for-
ever doomed to go along with whatever their
politicians force upon them?
Canada is part of a proud history of indi-
vidual rights going back to the Magna Carta
in the 13th century, followed by the Bill of
Rights in the 1600s. Our rights didn't start
with the introduction of the Charter of Rights
and Freedoms in 1982. Our Constitution is
not a single document but dozens of legal
documents that ensure individual freedoms.
In particular, municipalities are not an
invention of the Province but were created
by local citizens who received a Letters Pat-
ent from the Crown prior to the Province
having any authority. Letters Patent is
defined as:
A type of legal instrument in the form of a
published written order issued by a monarch
or president, generally granting an office,
right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or
corporation.
The community of Goderich Township,
like most communities in Ontario, was
granted a Letters Patent from the King/
Queen, which granted them control over
their own community and future. While the
Provincial government has the right to create
laws, they do not have the right to interfere
with rights granted to communities by the
Crown. The Honour of the Crown must be
maintained in order to ensure individual
rights as well as community rights are not
hindered by agents of the Crown - i.e. the
Province.
When citizens are faced with government
that interferes with their rights, they are able
to file a Petition of Right seeking the Queen's
intervention. While many have never heard
of a Petition of Right, the authority of this
application remains part of the Constitution
of Ontario. The Petition of Right was com-
mon prior to the 1970s as it was the only
means to seek damages from the govern-
ment. Civil lawsuits against the government
have since become lawful, but the authority
of all civil lawsuits against the government is
rooted in the historic right for citizens to file
a Petition of Right. The current Ontario Pro-
ceedings Against the Crown Act stated, "A
claim against the Crown that, if this Act had
not been passed, might be enforced by
Petition of Right, subject to the grant of a fiat
(order) by the Lieutenant Governor..."
In 1986, after the Constitutional changes of
1982, Air Canada won at the Supreme Court
of Canada on their application of a Petition
of Right. The Supreme Court ordered the
Attorney General of British Columbia to
advise the Lieutenant Governor to grant the
Petition of Right. A Petition of Right is an
appeal to the Queen and as such only the
Queen's representative can grant the appli-
cation. In each province that means all Peti-
tion of Right applications are reviewed by the
Lieutenant Governor and he or she decides
whether to grant them or not.
What the Supreme court was upholding is
that a Petition of Right is still part of the
Canadian Constitution, which allows all sub-
jects of the Crown to appeal directly to the
Monarch, thereby bypassing local govern-
ments, provincial governments and even the
federal government. When politicians will
not listen, Canadian citizens have historic
rights that they can call upon and as the
Supreme Court has ruled, these rights can-
not be simply ignored by government
authorities.
The landowners of Goderich Township
Pacific coast protected
area threatened by tankers
Dear Editor:
This is something we need you to under-
stand about oil tanker traffic on the west coast.
We are writing from Haida Gwaii, the islands
off western Canada, a major migratory route
for seabirds, salmon and whales.
South is Gwaii Haanas, a #1 National Geo-
graphic world destination, and " the only place
on Earth to be protected from mountain top to
sea floor'. Canada and the Haida Nation com-
mitted to its protection as an "essential" safe-
guard for "one of the world's great natural and
cultural treasures."
Across on the mainland is the Great Bear
Rainforest, home to B.C.'s provincial animal,
the white 'spirit' bear, protected by a provincial
multi -sector land use agreement.
Between the islands and the mainland lies
the shallow Hecate Strait - the fourth most
dangerous body of water in the world. Shell Oil
recorded winter waves of 20 m (65 ft.) and
higher.
The problem: Enbridge, Canada and China
plan to run 250+ supertankers a year - carrying
bitumen, returning with foreign bilge water -
through Hecate Strait and past the shores of
Gwaii Haanas.
The seas here are exceptionally rich. We feel
responsible for keeping this part alive, for our
children and yours.
Our livelihoods are at stake - existing jobs
and a healthy planet depend on a living ocean.
It is definitely in the national interest to use
our water resources wisely and sustainably.
We know that marine oil spills are inevita-
ble, and that there is neither technology nor
accountability for a real cleanup.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Jenny Nelson
JaalenEdenshaw
Masset, BC
have had enough with politicians dictating
their future so they have come together seek-
ing a Petition of Right to ask the Lieutenant
Governor to return their community to the
status it was prior to amalgamation.
CANACE is proud to stand with the land-
owners of Goderich Township and has
agreed to help draft the Petition of Right, to
ensure that the rights of the average person
are upheld.
Currently 62 per cent of the landowners in
Goderich Township have signed the petition
that will be sent to the Lieutenant Governor.
It is our goal to reach a two-thirds majority
that will establish a clear message regarding
the will of the people.
CANACE will be holding a meeting at the
Holmesville Hall Wednesday, March 20, to
do interviews and help gather signatures for
the de -amalgamation petition.
For more information contact:
Gary McHale
President of CANACE
Canadian Advocates for Charter Equality
Tel: 289-286-0423
Email: GaryMcHale@shaw.ca
BCUG members recognized
for years of volunteer service
Varna News
Joan Beierling
The Varna Crokinole Club met Tues-
day March 11 for Doubles Play. Mem-
bers drew cards for partners. Dave
Whyte and Charles Reid placed first
with 37 points, Steve Le Faive and Doug
Mills were second with 33pts. There was
a three-way tie for third Murray Perdue
and Ken Pollock, Cheryl Trewartha and
Jean Perdue and Sam Bradica and Jack
McLachlan with 32pts. Fourth place
was Ivan McClymont and Joan Beier -
ling with 26pts. The Club will meet
again March 25 at 7:30 p.m. at the
Brucefield Community United Church.
The Brucefield Odd Fellows held
their Card Party last Thursday evening.
Dorothy and Fred McGregor served a
lovely roast pork and turkey dinner
prior to cards. High Man was Bob Tho-
mas, low man Otto Dannenburg, High
lady June Thomas and low lady Dorothy
Mcgregor, lone hands Joan Beierling,
and draws were won by Margaret Hay-
ter, Tom Lyon and Mona Alderdice.
Next Card Party will be March 27. Eve-
ryone welcome!
Crystal Snyder lit the Christ Candle
on Sunday and Ruby LeFaive read the
First Testament reading and the mis-
sions for minutes. Worship leader Colin
Snyder gave the welcome and call to
worship and his message was on "Set-
ting Out on A Journey."
Jack and Geraldine Eckel were the
greeters. Next Sunday is the final simple
fare luncheon for missions and service.
Lunch will be chili, buns, relishes and
finger desserts.
Presbytery meeting will be Saturday
March 22 at St. Pauls United in Milver-
ton at 9:30am.
The 2014 Confirmation class meeting
will be Sunday March 23 at 7p.m. The
Brucefield Community United Church
Council meeting will be Monday March
24at7:30