The Lucknow Sentinel, 2015-06-17, Page 5Wednesday, June 17, 2015 • Lucknow Sentinel 5
www.lucknowsentinel.com
letters to the editor
Run for the Environment
Dear Editor,
Canada is blessed with 2.5
million lakes and rivers. At
this point in time, 99 per cent
of them have been stripped
of federal environmental pro-
tection as a result of legisla-
tion passed during
Mr.Harper's nine years of
environmental neglect. In
2012, the Harper government
hastily passed the omnibus
Bill C-45. This irresponsible,
non -sustainable piece of leg-
islation cancelled pending
environmental impact
reviews on 3,000 energy pro-
jects, projects which included
mining, fracking and tar
sands pipeline proposals. Not
long ago, 2.5 million lakes
and rivers in Canada were
protected by federal legisla-
tion. Today, only 159 remain
protected by federal legisla-
tion. In the month of January
2015 alone, there were 1,838
drinking water advisories
across Canada. Such drastic
neglect of a vital and precious
resource is a most serious
indictment of Mr. Harper's
rule. His disdain for the envi-
ronment has been noted by
many, including Brad Firth,
who prefers to be called
Caribou Legs. Caribou Legs is
one of my new heroes.
Caribou Legs is an indige-
nous ultra -marathon runner
from Inuvik, who for many
years has been running to
raise awareness of the dan-
gers posed by mining opera-
tions in northern Yukon. On
June 1, Caribou Legs was
given a spirited send off by a
group of high school students
as he departed from Vancou-
ver. His destination is Ottawa.
He expects to complete his
4,400 km marathon of hope
on Parliament Hill, arriving
just prior to the most
"The not so `Great' Great Lakes Protection Act"
As Bill 66: The Great Lakes
Protection Act moves its way
through the Legislature I
would like the opportunity to
explain my position. Although
the name sounds promising,
Bill 66 isn't as 'great' as it may
appear. While it goes without
saying that I am entirely sup-
portive of improving and pro-
tecting the environment and
our great lakes eco -systems,
the manner in which Bill 66
has been drafted raises some
serious concerns.
First, I worry that Bill 66 may
strip away local autonomy.
Currently the legislation pro-
vides the ability to override
existing official plans and zon-
ing bylaws developed to meet
the specific needs of local
municipalities and their resi-
dents. Already, in rural
Ontario we have seen the dev-
astating
evastating effects that the loss of
local autonomy can have on
communities. The Green
Energy Act strips away local
decision making abilities
resulting in the development
of Industrial Wind Turbines in
unwilling host communities,
producing a source of energy
that is not based on demand,
and ultimately has contrib-
uted to the increase in hydro
rates province wide. Addition-
ally, I have made it clear that
we will only support this legis-
lation if the government com-
mits to not allowing the con-
struction of industrial wind
turbines in our Great Lakes.
We do notknowhowbuilding
offshore wind projects in fresh
water would affect the fragile
freshwater lakeshore eco -sys-
tem, and Ontario does not
need more intermittent and
expensive power generation.
Bill 66 also increases red
tape, it would create a hand -
selected "Great Lakes Guard-
ian Council" to provide
advice to the Minister of Envi-
ronment and Climate
Change, but offers no guaran-
tee it will include representa-
tives from a broad range of
The Muleskinner's Party
Well the campaign has offi-
cially started. Jim Merriam
has stopped praising mules
and started talking up Tories.
In a recent article he claimed
the heartland of Ontario for his
Party, including Bruce -Grey -
Owen Sound. The riding is
apparently Larry Miller's (and
therefore Mr Harper's) to con-
trol "as long as he wants it"
If, as Mr Merriam insists,
Ontario's rural heartland gives
Mr Harper an advantage, it
maybe the only one he has left
After all itis Mr Harper himself
who: left our economic eggs
too long in one basket and now
the whole economy stinks;
appointed foxes to guard the
Senate only to find they had
cooked the goose and were
lapping up the gravy (EEE -eye -
EEE -eye -Oh -oh); preached to
the PIGS about fiscal manage-
ment and had our Security
Council seat at the UN swiped
by one of them - Portugal; tried
some serious horse trading
with the Chinese on a Foreign
Investment Protection deal and
lost his shirt (and the horse).
Those are just some of the
road apples Mr Harper's
government has left behind.
As they say in England,
groups. This model also limits
full public participation.
Bill 66 lacks funding
details as well. Specifically,
there are scant funding
details for Geographically
Focused Initiatives and how
any programs created will be
paid for, which is essentially
handing a blank cheque to a
government that's proven it
can't manage its spending.
Bill 66 does not respect
property owners. As it reads
in its present state, Bill 66
would allow authorities to
access private property
without a warrant. Not only
is such a provision concern-
ing to landowners in general
and in the case of farmers it
can be dangerous to have
uninvited guests wandering
their property.
Finally, Bill 66 doesn't take
into account the rural per-
spective. From a rural lens
stand point, Ontario doesn't
need another layer of bureau-
cracy to tell local
there's more shite than
shovels on this farm.
If Mr Merriam thinks the
Tories have a lock on Ontario's
heartland, he would do well to
remember Alberta where Mr
Harper's former Minister of
Industry, Jim Prentice, was
supposed to shepherd in
another Tory majority. Pundits
and pollsters should keep a
firm rein on their predictions.
Personally, I think polls
are better used to tie up
mules. But Jim, you would be
wise to take a gander at what
Albertans are actually think-
ing.
hinking. Theywant: higher taxes
important federal election in
a generation. His courageous
challenge is supported by
Maud Barlow, National
Chairperson of the Council of
Canadians. Interested readers
can follow his progress by
contacting the Council of
Canadians at inquiries@
canadians.org. Our hopes rest
with Caribou Legs' message
being heard and acted upon
by the next government of
Canada.
Yours sincerely,
Jim Hollingworth
MD, Goderich
decision -makers how to run
their communities; what the
province needs is for this gov-
ernment
overnment to honour its current
agreements and adequately
fund and staff programs.
Through my review I have
determined Bill 66 overlaps
with approximately 20 acts
and agreements already in
place to protect the Great
Lakes. The chance for duplica-
tion and redundancy in this
legislation is enormous.
Over the next few months,
I will continue to speak to
stakeholders, municipalities,
conservation authorities and
individuals on the effects of
Bill 66. When this legislation
comes for Third reading in
the fall, if these issues I have
spoke of and crucial amend-
ments are not passed during
committee then I cannot
support Bill 66, as it is by no
means 'great' for rural
Ontario or the province.
Lisa Thompson
MPP Huron -Bruce
on corporations; higher royal-
ties for their resources; less
dependence on oil; affordable
child care; core services over
balanced budgets; no truck
with elected members chang-
ing horses mid -stream (or par-
ties between elections)
Those ain't Tory policies
my friend. Or Liberal.
I can see why Jim Merriam
likes mules. They are patient,
thick skinned, sure footed on
the trail, willing and able to
carry the load. Sort of like
New Democrats these days.
David McLaren
Neyaashiinigmiing
North Huron Food Share says "Thanks"
On Sunday, June 14 at 1 pm,
the Food Share held its first
"Zero K Non -Race Race". To say
this race was a success, is an
understatement. With approxi-
mately 30 participants and
friends, we raised $2,700 to
help buy food, to support the
Food Share over the coming
summer months. As the race
time approached, Carol Phil-
lips (fitness instructor extraor-
dinaire) led us in some appro-
priate warm-ups such deep
breathing, small stretches and
smiling. We wanted to be fully
prepared for the 1- 2 seconds
the race would take.
Despite some jostling for
position everybody crossed the
line together making it a defi-
nite "photo finish" The rain
that fell, seemed to just
increase everyone's excite-
ment to finish strong. Young
and old where caught up in the
excitement We hope this most
certainly will become ayearly
fundraising event
We would be amiss if we
didn't thank the Muskrat Fes-
tival Committee for allowing
us to be part of their festivities
and for the use of one of their
tents as a "warm-up" area.
Lisa Thompson, our local
MPP, managed to take some
time out of her busy schedule
to be our official starter.
The support the Food Share
received for this event just
reinforces our belief that we
live in one of the most com-
passionate and giving areas
anywhere. Once again thank
you from the North Huron
Community Food Share - so
no one goes hungry.
Gord Kastner
Media Relations
SUDOKU
THIS WEEK'S PUZZLE SPONSORED BY
Mitchell Twolan,
Broker of Record
Lake Range Realty Ltd. Brokerage
3430 Concession 2, Point Clark Office: 519-395-3959
FR.R.1 Kincardine, Ontario N2Z 2X3 TollDirectDireccttLine: 519-955-0664
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Level: Intermediate
To solve
a Sudoku puzzle, every number
from 1 to 9 must appear in:
• Each of the nine vertical columns
• Each of the nine horizontal rows
• Each of the nine 3 x 3 boxes
• Remember, no number can occur
more than once in any row, column
or box