Warden's response to editorial
Dear Editor,
I am writing in response to the Editorial of January 12, 2022 entitled “Democratic Deficit” submitted by the publisher Charles Dickson.
He criticizes two items, 1) the MRC Council resolution about the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories and 2) the Warden’s Declaration of Decorum.
CNL Resolution: What Mr. Dickson refers to as a ‘weak resolution’ is actually exactly what the presenter Joann McCann from the Old Fort William Cottagers’ Association asked us to support. Two weeks prior, the Council of Sheenboro had resolved to ask that the nuclear dump facility be moved “as far away as possible” from the Ottawa River. Joann McCann was very pleased that I responded quickly because originally she was slated to present this request in January. When the Sheenboro Council sent their resolution I felt it important to move the issue to the December Council meeting. The main reason for the urgency is because public hearings of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission begin February 2022. I plan as the Warden of MRC Pontiac to appear at these hearings representing our region.
What Mr. Dickson calls a ‘hollow gesture’ is actually our MRC Council finally taking a stand (because previously we had just asked for further study) and asking for the most effective and realistic action which can be acted upon.
The second item concerning the Declaration of Decorum has background which needs to be expressed. Bullying and harassment is unacceptable and certainly does not allow constructive discussion and debate. This became an issue in our previous council. Some of the abuse was directed at me, some to our staff and occasionally to other mayors. The occurrences increased with the use of ‘zoom’ teleconferencing. With the pandemic, the required use of teleconferencing has caused an increase. At the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, I sit on a committee where female politicians want to prevent verbal abuse. Wanting to find an immediate solution for MRC Pontiac, I created this declaration. It has been extremely effective. The declaration does not stifle debate or discussion. Instead, it reminds all those present to think about their words and actions and behave in a respectful and businesslike manner.
Many residents have remarked on the improved level of open communication of agendas with the Council of Mayors; through Facebook Live airing and recording, the Warden’s message and our new MRC website. We also work closely with CHIP FM radio and our two local newspapers. With any new initiatives, the people of the Pontiac are surveyed and consulted. Transparency and democracy are vitally important and I will continue to prioritize them every day.
Jane Toller, Warden MRC Pontiac
Publisher's Note - The Warden’s letter raises important questions. Why would Sheenboro, the Pontiac municipality closest to the proposed dump site, choose to write so innocuous a resolution? Why would 17 other mayors instantly adopt it as reflecting the interests of the entire MRC? Why would they even agree to vote on it, given that its last-minute addition to the agenda parted with established procedure? After years of concern over the proposed dump site, why was the matter left to the 11th hour with no time for informed public debate? On so important an issue, why must the choice be between a weak resolution and no resolution at all? Given the warden's view of the adequacy of the resolution, what will she be saying on behalf of the Pontiac at the upcoming public hearings? Will her presentation be informed by the views of the Council of Mayors? If so, what are those views? Were they the product of an informed, publicly-accessible discussion on this issue, or a closed-door conversation where the public was not able to see the positions taken by their elected officials? Is the apparent absence of any serious study or discussion on this matter an indication that Pontiac's mayors and warden are unconcerned about the siting of a nuclear dump across the river from the Pontiac? Is there hope that they may yet stand up for the Pontiac on this matter? CD
More on Hate Speech
Dear Editor,
First and foremost, we applaud Nancy Hunt of Litchfield, Quebec for her open letter to David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. When the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, made his comments, those with critical thinking skills would immediately question the motive for this tactic.
Additionally, for all who care to research, the reasons are in plain sight. Agenda 2030 and the Great Reset, which have been referred to by Justin Trudeau on many occasions, are on the internet and referred to as sustainable development goals.
Canadians must decide for themselves if this is the road on which they wish to travel with Justin Trudeau as leader. And, even more importantly, ask how a minority government acts as if it had a majority.
Sandra D Barber and Robert G Barber, Luskville, Que.
Dear Editor,
Like a great many Canadians, I have either a family member, friend, or acquaintance that remain unvaccinated. As such I recognize the personal questions and struggles that these individuals had in confronting them in making a decision in remaining unvaccinated. While we may agree or disagree with this non-compliance that is being mandated on us all we still need to afford a degree of respect and civility towards the non-complaint. We must not forget that before COVID rained down upon us these people, those that are making a stand of personal conscience, were our neighbors, friends and loved ones.
This is why I feel compelled to write in support of the unvaccinated even though I myself am vaccinated. I became moved to undertake this after reading the Open Letter in last weeks EQUITY which addressed our Prime Minister’s recent utterances, degrading the unvaccinated as “extremists who do not believe in science, are often misogynists, and often racists.” Such remarks are divisive and are not becoming of the definition of leadership, whereby one should try to unite rather than divide. Divide the Prime Minister has, as his remarks are not well founded. In short, they are untrue. Secondly, his statement fosters hatred and emboldens some to bully or shame the unvaccinated. I have witnessed this.
We must not let the hysteria of those with a platform divide and ruin long held family ties and friendships. I would also like to thank THE EQUITY in publishing the Open Letter of last week as it presents the fears and struggles that many fellow residents of the Pontiac are feeling. Certainly, there are many media outlets that would not make the space to present the other side as THE EQUITY has.
Todd Hoffman, Campbell’s Bay, Que.
Opportunity knocks
Dear Editor,
After reading our new MP for Pontiac, Sophie Chatel’s recent brochure, I was pleased to read that she is forming teams to address the many concerns in the Pontiac. One of these is a team to address climate change. She wants “a green and prosperous Pontiac”. This means “protecting natural lands and waterways”. Yeah! Maybe now we will have a leader who will take on the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission who have accepted the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Final Environmental Impact Statement for a giant radioactive waste disposal mound at Chalk River called the New Surface Disposal Facility.
There are dangers of leaks and of wholesale breaks in the fabric holding the massive dump proposed to be built between a pond and creek which flows into the Ottawa River.
An article that convinced me that the Chalk River Nuclear activities have been causing cancers for many years was by Georgina Bartos.
“In 1952, the year of the biggest nuclear accident in Canadian history, we camped, fished, swam and drank fresh cows’ milk within the sight of Chalk River smoke stacks. When my three sons were small, I noticed a hard lump in the front of my neck. The doctor said it was thyroid cancer, easlly treated in women and I would be fine. It took me a year to bounce back from the largest allowable dose of radiation to destroy my thyroid gland…. Three of my beach neighbours developed thyroid cancer, one ovarian as well as thyroid cancer. ….. there are many others.”
She also talked about earthquakes on the fault lines and blasts from the Petawawa military Base.
In a statement in an earlier article by Sophie Chatel, she says: If elected I commit to monitoring the project extremely closely.”
I liked the inscription in her brochure that accompanied a work of art painted by Nathalie Coutou, a Metis artist for the KHEWA art gallery in La Peche:
“May this drum, the heart of our Earth, give rhythm to our dearest wish to preserve our environment and our deep roots in her soil. And may the wisdom of the ancients give us the strength so that our gaze may be directed towards the future, with the fire of a galloping horse!”
Venetia Crawford, Shawville, Que.
Some tidbits of good news
Dear Editor,
This snowfall is fluffy and easy to move. Get out there and enjoy it!
For those who feel a need to take part in improving waste management, there’s a new gadget to make that easier. Those who live in the country, or have a worm bin in the basement, food waste is no problem. For apartment dwellers, it may seem daunting to keep food waste separate from other garbage, but it is economically and environmentally necessary to do so. A new gadget called ‘lomi’ (that’s how it’s spelled) is in the pre-order stage now. It is about the size and shape of a bread machine, and it similarly sits on the kitchen counter. Food scraps are placed in the bucket, and overnight, lomi grinds and slow-bakes the scraps. In the morning, there’s about a cupful of dried nearly-odourless substance that can be used as top dressing for houseplants, or saved up for outdoor gardening next summer. I’ve been hearing about it for months, because the YouTube stream I watch calls up ads for such items. I’m a fan of the YouTube algorithm - it serves me well, knowing I like music, ancient history, and ecological science.
In other good news, it seems that cannabis may inhibit and reduce infection from corona virus. I’m considering giving that stuff a try, now that it is readily available. It makes a lot more sense to me than Ivermectin or bleach, and apparently does not interfere with pharmaceutical vaccines at all.
The Beatles Get Back documentary is out, for the eternal amusement of Beatles fans and anyone fascinated with the passing show of post WWII pop culture. For 50 years, we’ve been misinformed about the later career of the most influential band of our era. Technology finally caught up with the need to enhance the murky film and audio tapes. It is now revealed that those guys got along alright (in the long run), and their process of writing and recording is fascinating and endearing. For the deep fan of that music, it’s 7+ hours of bliss.
Stay tuned - there may be more reasons for surviving in this confusing time.
Robert Wills, Shawville and Thorne, Que.
