Wednesday, April 29, 2015

STEWARDSHIP OF CANAGAGIGUE CREEK, ELMIRA PROJECT



Congratulations to CPAC and Graham Chevreau who headed up the application process to obtain funds from the Region of Waterloo's Community Environmental Fund. Graham Chevreau did the legwork in making a proposal for a project to sample soils and sediments around the Stroh Drain area, on Chemtura's east side. The purpose of the funds is to allow CPAC to hire a consultant to do this work. One concern I have of course is the Mayor's close relationship with Chemtura and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. The two latter groups want nothing more than to defang public consultation. This includes so called "expert" meetings and technical meetings which intentionally exclude completely qualified and knowledgable citizens. This is the exact same nonsense that went on with CEAC being left out of technical meetings back in the late 80s. See where that got the public with the wells shut down in 1989. Similarily in the early 90s Uniroyal and the M.O.E. wanted the same thing but citizens through APTE said absolutely not. Bring your technical experts to public meetings and let the public listen and have their say.

There will also be an attempt to co-opt CPAC's consultant. As MTE are already working directly on behalf of Woolwich Township with the Breslau splashpad this is a problem. CPAC and the last Council worked together hand in hand. This Council has allowed Mayor Shantz free rein to smear CPAC in her attempt to please Chemtura and the M.O.E.. Now Chemtura want MTE to attend "technical" meetings. MTE can not and should not wear two hats. Either they represent Woolwich Township (Council) or they are under the direction of the current, honest CPAC. This is similar to Councillor Bauman attending the private, secret discussions of April 9/15. He attended as a representative of Council not representing CPAC. That said he has told CPAC that he spoke up on their behalf while they were being smeared by other attendees. Unfortunately exactly zero of his remarks appear to have been included in the biased "meeting notes" as Mayor Shantz calls them.

2 comments:

  1. You are doing an amazing job for the people of Elmira.. Dam shame the Mayor, and MOE are not on side with the residents.. Industry pulling the strings ..as usual..

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