All Entries in the "Letters and Opinion" Category
Council must move forward, not backward: Mayor Mertens
To the Residents of Prince Edward County, Our County is at a crossroads—a crossroads in the way your municipality is governed, how it makes decisions and the way it represents your needs, your interests and your dreams for this community. As Mayor and head of Council, I am the only elected representative of all residents […]
Business exterior building design should fit Picton’s heritage image
LCBO is rumoured to have plans for a new store in Picton. Supposedly it will be located on the existing corner with an expanded property. Good idea in my opinion. My concern is that the exterior design must fit Picton’s Heritage image. The new stores that LCBO have recently built are not worthy of that […]
Council number dissenting view also to be presented Thursday
I would like to commend the team for the way they ran our Assembly, and the expertise they brought to bear on our deliberations. It was at once entertaining, profoundly interesting, and regardless of outcome, an incredible seminar on municipal government. To Dr. Jonathan Rose, Drs to be Aaron Ettinger and Tim Abray-Nyman, our sincere […]
Environmental groups sue government over decision to gut species-at-risk legislation
Environmental groups are suing the Ontario government for its decision to exempt major threats to species at risk from the province’s Endangered Species Act (ESA). Ecojustice lawyers, acting on behalf of Ontario Nature and Wildlands League, have filed a lawsuit in Divisional Court alleging that the Ontario government acted unlawfully by making a regulation that […]
Black River community wants its boat launch back
As of Aug 1/13, the Black River Community was disappointed at the short sightedness of the closure of the boat launch at the Black River Cheese Factory. The local neighbours disapprove of this decision and are irate and feel the launch is just as important to us as is the factory. The launch has been […]
Speak up to preserve County’s wards
Both last term and this term, council has been evenly split on downsizing vs maintaining the status quo. Now, a Citizens’ Assembly commissioned by Council is recommending a reduction to 10 councillors from 15. If approved by council, this will require the elimination of the County’s 10 historic / electoral wards. Instead, the County will […]
Turtle Does Matter – sign petition to uphold Ostrander Point decision
I received an email containing a link to an Avaaz community petition called “Save Ostrander Point In Prince Edward County”. Read more about it and sign it here: http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Save_Ostrander_Point_In_Prince_Edward_County/?erlqsfb I am hopeful this petition will allow us all an opportunity to have our voices heard by the government of Ontario in one loud, collective shout. […]
Citizens’ Assembly puts future of historic wards at risk
The Citizens’ Assembly will recommend to council – at a special Committee of the Whole meeting on September 19 – that the number of councillors be reduced to 10 from the current 15. While the CA deserves credit for its hard work and thoughtful deliberations, this recommendation puts the future of the County’s 10 Historic […]
County Citizens’ Assembly: Democratic innovation in action
Amidst the many festivals and summer events in the County is a novel democratic experiment under way in Picton. While many may not yet know about it, for a couple dozen County residents, it has been an opportunity to engage in a meaningful way about an issue that has been simmering for years. Like many […]
‘Age in Place’ development plan too hasty
I’m concerned with the hasty “development plan” process for the “Age in Place” McFarland lands, particularly the absence of any substantive research on potential uses and the lack of any technical studies on hard servicing issues such as access roads, serviceability issues such as sewer capacity, storm water management facilities, etc. 1. No substantive research […]
