SO WHAT IS GOING ON WITH WOOLWICH TOWNSHIP?

To date we have had one excellent TAG Chair namely Dr. Jackson. It is a major shame that he has departed. The second Chair is Tiffany Svenson and I recall Dr. Jackson approving of her nomination to the position. That bodes well. We have had Woolwich post warning signs along the Canagagigue Creek despite the Ontario M.O.E.'s objections. TAG (Technical Advisory Group) quite frankly have been hammering Chemtura and the Ministry of Environment (M.O.E.) for over a year now. That is both accurate and appropriate as well as music to my ears. Not only TAG but also RAC (Remediation Advisory Committee) have been passing Motions criticizing the M.O.E.'s words and actions. That is also honest and appropriate and frankly a pleasant surprise to my ears. I did not give them much hope based upon so many politicians (municipal) and bureaucrats as well as decades of not aggressively stepping up and demanding both honesty and appropriate action from Chemtura and the M.O.E.. Lastly I have checked on the Township's website and by gosh they do indeed have a Media Release in regards to the last (Dec.8/16) RAC meeting. Assuming they did send that along to at least the local media, then good on them.

Why would a Township who have vigorously defended Chemtura and the M.O.E. for so long using age old tactics such as appointing tame committees (UPAC & Crompton/Chemtura Public Advisory Committee), totally under their thumbs, now decide to get aggressive? Why would Woolwich who enabled and assisted Chemtura and the M.O.E. in their fake CPAC boycott (Oct./14-Aug./15) now decide to get tough? Why would Woolwich lie, deceive and slander the last and best CPAC both verbally and in writing (April 9/15 "stakeholders" meeting)? Why would they focus their disrespect upon Woolwich volunteers especially including Dr. Dan Holt and myself who have done nothing but truthfully point out the falsehoods of Chemtura and the M.O.E. over the years? Everything CPAC (late 2010-Aug.2015) publicly stated in direct contradiction to Chemtura and the M.O.E. has come true and is now being espoused by Woolwich Township, TAG and RAC.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery I am told. O.K. so myself and many CPAC members are flattered. Some Woolwich politicians and bureaucrats have complained about style versus substance. They whined about hurt feelings and disrespect shown to Chemtura and the M.O.E.. Boo hoo, so sad. The reality is that the Township's TAG Committee appropriately were soft and fuzzy right up until they caught those two parties lying, dissembling and disrespecting them. At that point, exactly as with CPAC, TAG turned up the heat. In fact other than myself, I would suggest that TAG's "heat" often exceeded CPAC's. The Chair (Dr. Holt) and vice-Chair (Dr. Seibel-Achenbach) are gentlemen through and through. So are Ron Campbell, Graham Chevreau and while she does not suffer rudeness or sexism gladly (just ask Todd C.), Vivienne Delaney is a lady. That leaves Richard Clausi and Dr. Henry Regier of the SWAT sub-committee). They too both are polite and respectful but neither is a pushover and will push back hard when needed.

While the Citizens Public Advisory Committee (CPAC) are pleased with the direction of RAC, TAG and Woolwich Township and frankly disgusted yet again with Chemtura, GHD and the M.O.E.; is it any wonder that we do not remotely trust the Township? Why would we? What has motivated their disgusting behaviour? Is it all personal to the point that they would harass, disrespect and replace multiple volunteers just to get at me and or Dr. Holt who never did anything to disrespect the Township? Or on the other hand are the Township under Sandy and Mark's lead just playing yet another game? Are they play acting again as tough protectors of the environment all the while greasing Chemtura's easy exit from accountability and cleanup? Time as always will tell.