All Entries in the "Letters and Opinion" Category
Tell council approving rental units on farm land is wrong
A recent planning public meeting was a pure example of democracy gone wrong. Going against the planning department’s report to deny the application, council voted to approve an application to rezone a rural property to approve two illegally built rental units. Land that is classified prime agricultural area. Council voted to approve this application totally […]
Tribunal appeals expected, but troublesome
Right at the August 2nd deadline, three appeals were launched against the recent decisions of the Environmental Review Tribunal relating to Ostrander Point. The first two were by Ostrander Point Wind Energy LP (alias Gilead Power) and the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) respectively against the Tribunal’s decision, sought by Prince Edward County Field Naturalists […]
N.E.W. plan for restructuring council
The Citizen’s Assembly on Council size and the N.E.W. Plan for restructuring Council Council has responded to voters who answered ‘Yes’ to the 2010 municipal referendum question regarding interest in a review of council size. Saturday, July 27 was the first all-day session of the Citizens Assembly (CA), commissioned by council to consider the question: […]
Apartments in outbuildings approval would be precedent setting
Council decided earlier this month that the illegal conversion of storage buildings into rental units on a rural residential property in Hallowell was an important contribution to the County’s affordable housing challenges. Although the staff report from Engineering, Development and Works recommended denying the application because it did not conform with the County’s official plan, […]
Cuts about to unfold at Picton hospital
About 10 years ago when I first started writing to the media, my goal was to keep the residents of the County informed about service cuts to PECMH. That goal has not changed a decade down the road. My primary concern has always been that it is cost-prohibitive for many County residents to travel to […]
Bigger turbines – same setbacks?
Premier Wynne acknowledged in a June 13th CBC Radio phone-in show that wind turbine setbacks are an important issue. Wynne knows that Ontario’s 550 meter setbacks were established more than four years ago when turbines were much smaller, and when rural Ontarians had no experience with their harmful effects. It is past time for Ontario […]
stop wind energy fiscal hemorrhage before funding ‘Big Move’
Two of Toronto’s major newspapers recently had front page articles in respect to the Metrolinx “Big Move”. The May 26th Toronto Star reported that “Metrolinx, the provincial transit agency, will finally tell us how to bankroll its $40 billion transit blueprint to unlock GTA gridlock over the next two decades.” Then the Globe and Mail […]
One ferry at Glenora until mid-July is unacceptable
I am writing to express my dismay that the seasonal addition of the second ferry between Adolphustown and Glenora has been delayed until at least mid-July. As you know, this ferry link is a vital part of Loyalist Parkway/Highway 33 and joins the two counties of Lennox & Addington and Prince Edward. Already this spring […]
Challenges for healthcare in the County
An Open Letter to the Community This article is provoked by the announcement that two talented young physicians from the County are moving to Kingston. Several years ago, I was involved in establishing the Prince Edward Health Alliance (PEHA), a collaborative partnership of key representatives of the Prince Edward Family Health Team, QHC, the Municipality, […]
Fallout from QHCs cuts has begun
Fallout from QHC’s disproportionate cuts at PECMH has begun. After careful consideration Dr. Lisa Forster and Dr. Darren Lett will be closing their practice in Picton as of August 28th, 2013. They have decided to leave Prince Edward County due to recent changes at the hospital. They are trying to find a replacement and will […]
