Dear Editor,
The mega-incinerator is in our rear view mirror, and I praise the mayors for their decision to scrap it. They may face other variations of incineration proposals in the future. That is the main reason why I’m drawing attention to our recent incinerator battle.
The council of mayors showed more bullocks than many councils do in Canada and internationally, and for this, its members deserve recognition.
The new mayors will, in the course of their mandate, have many projects to consider, where they will need to do their own due diligence. I am pleased that there are knowledgeable mayors now on council in whom I have the greatest trust that no stone will ever go unturned when it comes to doing their due diligence in protecting the Pontiac against future potential risks to the environment, health and financial security of our MRC.
I am looking back and giving thanks that we never got put into the terrible position that many citizens around the world have been put in by their mayors and councils who fell for the lies from incinerator promoters. Those that go for the low-hanging fruit bring bellyaches to their citizens. Ignorance is no excuse. Not when you hold the health, security and the environment of your electorate in your hands. “An error does not become a mistake until you refuse to correct it,” said John F. Kennedy.
No mistake happened because the mayors corrected an error; an error of trusting the incinerator lobby, another error of making a decision without doing the necessary due diligence to fact check and to verify. I believe no mistake happened because they collectively listened to the activists working to bring the facts into the light of day for public scrutiny. Lessons were learnt by our mayors and by the citizens.
Citizens of the Pontiac now trusts the acumen of the new council of mayors to investigate, discuss and heavily debate where needed. During the election campaign Warden Jane Toller spoke about her hopes to put in place a system that allows for polling MRC Pontiac citizens, for example in instances of controversial matters being decided by the council of mayors.
Between the breadth and width of the experience of our new mayors and the insights learnt by our old council of mayors, plus potential for a new system that could poll everyone in our MRC, we are starting 2026 on solid footing.
Judith Spence, Clarendon
