HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-03-31, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2011.Councillor weighs in on severance issue
On the line
A rare A&W car was on the auction block on Saturday night at the Brussels Optimist Club’s
annual spring dinner and auction event. Taking care of the auctioneering duties was Jamie
O’Shea, left, while Jason Crawford, centre, and Kyle Stephenson were on manual labour duty,
lifting the small vehicle high for all to see. The event has raised $194,000 for various charities
and community causes over the 11 years it has been in existence. (Vicky Bremner photo)
Auburn WI cavalcade
THE EDITOR,
The March 24 issue of The Citizen
contains a couple of references to
protection of agricultural land and
the issue of severances. I am not
commenting on the future severance
issue in Central Huron, only on the
general matter of land use in rural
Ontario.
The Huron County Planning
Department and the Provincial
Policy Statement have served as
protectors of Huron County’s very
important farmland for many
years and have no doubt been
effective in the past. It’s my opinion
that because of changing times,
this rigid control of land use has
become a serious threat to some of
our rural communities. We need
to deal with the whole equation:
protect the land to the degree
necessary, but also take into
account the needs of the whole
community and its people. Let’s not
sacrifice the people in order to save
the land.
This paternalistic policy has made
it impossible for many rural
communities to respond to the
decimation of rural population and
the accompanying reduction of the
tax base of rural municipalities. The
Provincial Policy Statement
presents a set of rules for land
use throughout Ontario. On the
surface, its purpose seems to be to
protect agricultural lands from other
uses. In fact, it is strangling many of
our agricultural communities.
Because of pervasive changes in
agriculture, many rural areas
desperately need some of their land
to be re-purposed in order to
accommodate the growth of non-
farming resident population and
replace lost population and lost
assessment.
The oppressive regulation is
destroying many rural communities.
We in North Huron are a living
example of the damage the Ontario
planning regime is inflicting on our
rural communities, our economy,
our tax base and our education
system.
Brock Vodden.
On March 17 the Auburn
Women’s Institute held a card
cavalcade for several local
hospitals.
There were 12 tables in play and
two people played Scrabble. There
were plenty of prizes for people
to choose from. Desserts and ice
cream were served before cards
started.
There were four share-the-wealth
draws. Winners were Mrs. Moore,
Mary Craig, Hank Johnston and
Erma Cartwright.
“See us for all your
building and
renovating needs”
155 Anglesea Street,
Goderich
519-524-1778
1-800-667-0357
❥Fences and Sheds
❥Azek or Trex Composite Decks
❥Cedar or Treated Decks
❥Santerra Stonecraft Pavers and Stones
❥Flagstone and Armorstone
Landscape Rock
Letter to the Editor