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The Rural Voice, 1979-08, Page 30said. "The municipalities should have a big input, but there should be one authority to see that area is preserved as outlined by Bill 129." There are 55 separate municipalities involved in the escarpment area. USED "We are being deliberately used as a weapon to fight government controls and government planning," said Mr. Lowes. Much of the "flak" has been built up by "certain individuals on the development side," he said. With a membership of 1,250 in 1967, the Bruce Trail Association has burgeoned to a number of 10,000. One membership may be held by a hiking group, or a scout group, or a high school group, or an individual. "We believe that the Bruce Trail is compatible with farming," he said, "We are very much in favour of preserving farmland because that is our food basket." The association and the trail are of educational advantage, he said, and will also be an advantage to the farmer. The association has recently contributed to a group promoting the saving of remaining Ontario fruitland. The hikers want an environment worth walking through, said Mr. Lowes. "Obviously, we don't want to walk through industrial areas." "The land owner knows they (the hikers) are to stay on the Niagara and the area has had planning longer, they find it easier to adjust. But they too have had some trouble in the last year, he said. Ratepayer's groups from Niagara Falls to Tobermory have evolved with the escarpment controversy. Three of these groups, The Property Owner's Rights Association, The Central Ratepayers' Association, and The Northern Ratepayers' Associ- ation. have said that the government should take a close look at acquiring land suitable for natural areas, land large enough that it will not cause trouble for the adjacent land owners, said Mr. Vidol. At present. the trail strip is very narrow in places, he said, and not everyone using it acts responsibly. There are "cherries sitting on a tree, or grapes on the vines, and it is very tempting," he said. With the possibility of national and international advertising of the trail, and gas shortages causing people to take up hiking, Mr. Vidol said he is afraid the problem for land owners would escalate. HAPPY TO SELL Many people in this area would be happy to sell their land, and the trail does not necessarily require a continuous strip of land, he said. In addition, the government could not afford to buy all of the strip. "Many of us sympathize with the Bruce Trail members," said Mr. Vidol, "but to many of us it is quite a nuisance." "We shouldn't be hindered in the business of agriculture because of our proximity to that strip of geography" trail," he said. If they don't, they can be "sued for trespassing." Legislation designed to correct the fact that farmers can be held responsible for injuries to hikers is slated for this fall. The NEC produced its preliminary proposals in February of 1978. They outlined the optimum route for the trail. BERSERK "Immediately," said Norman Seabrook, "the property owners just about went berserk." "At one point, it (the trail) went between a man's house and barn," he said. But the NEC has "backed off" for the time being. "1 suspect there will be very little change in their policy with regard to the continuous environmental strip," said Mr. Vidol. "They are still going to push for a continuous, controlled strip." "I don't think the continuous route of the Bruce Trail will ever be again," said Mr. Seabrook. To the south, property owners have found that they can get along better with the Escarpment Commission than they can with the municipal government, said Delby Bucknell, a farmer in the Niagara area. - He said he realizes that there are differences between that area and those north. and said that some feel that because PG. 28 THE RURAL VOICE/ AUGUST 1979 Although he prefers that they "torget about the whole thing," the only alternative for the greatest number of people would be for the government to acquire select areas. Where it is not feasible for the owner to sell, he said, let the property owner use the land as he sees fit in accordance with the municipal laws. The original NEC policy papers advocated that a continuous environmental strip be preserved to house the trail, he said. The NEC "backed off on that, in words only." "We think," said the chairman of the property owner's group, "we're very sure really, that the NEC will not use the Bruce Trail name per se. But they still are going to, I believe, try to control development along the Bruce Trail." The NEC has spent $6.2 million in administrative costs alone as of April 30, said Mr. Vidol. Roger Cunningham, of R.R. 1, Marr, said "We shouldn't be hindered in the business of agriculture because of our proximity to that strip of geography." "We're not asking for special status, we're asking for equal status," he said. Said Delby Bucknell, "With some of the arguments that come up, you wonder if you live in the same country."