NASTINESS, PERSONAL GAIN, INCOMPETENCE OR PERHAPS SIMPLE BLACKMAIL?

I've explored a number of motives for Woolwich Council's unbelieveable behaviour against CPAC, democracy and the public interest. Lying, maligning and disbanding a group of volunteers who achieved so much in one short term on CPAC took incredible stupidity, nastiness, deceit and motivation. Similarily I've speculated on Council's willingness to bend over backwards for Chemtura Canada. Enabling their boycott of the public consultation (CPAC) set up by the previous Council which included Councillor Bauman was contemptible and contrary to the public interest. Disbanding CPAC because Chemtura told them that was the only way they Chemtura would return to the table was blackmail. Now this plan to ban Delegations to Council, pertaining to Chemtura, from CPAC (Citizens Public Advisory Committee) and the public is yet another example of Chemtura twisting Council's arm.

The question is why does Council allow Chemtura to get away with this behaviour? What does Chemtura have on Council or some of its' members? Could there be hidden campaign donations for example? Brown paper bags of money of the Brian Mulroney- Karl Heinz Screiber style and fame? Or is it something entirely different? Chemtura are a multi-national, multi-billion dollar American corporation. They have gone through several restructurings as well as a bankruptcy a few short years back. Have they pulled out of their bag of tricks the old saw that give us everything we want or else we'll pull up stakes and leave? Are they capable of stooping to blackmail? It appears as if the answer is yes when you see how sucessfully they misbehaved by boycotting CPAC and then had Council disband CPAC.

Chemtura have over the years been called many names although I've always been partial to them being referred to as a "rogue" corporation. It does of course presume that other corporations are better behaved although that might be just wishful thinking. The amount of Chemtura's property taxes would be interesting I expect. That would give us a small idea as to their value to the community. The fact is though that if they departed there wouldn't be a rush by other companies to take over their still grossly contaminated site. Their biggest contribution to the community would probably be the jobs they provide. One of my neighbours works at Chemtura as did my father decades ago. Perhaps our current Council don't want to be known as the Council that "chased" Chemtura out of town. Certainly a couple of hundred votes plus spouses and adult children isn't as significant as it was when Chemtura had more employees and Elmira was a much smaller town.

Is it back to the old and hopefully discredited argument of jobs versus the environment? Are Chemtura flexing their muscles with a Council who already have members predisposed towards rewarding money and power even when contrary to the public interest? One thing is certain. Our local politicians are serving Chemtura's interests, not ours.