On the beach
Social media lit up. Suddenly, if you were anywhere near Ostitional Beach in Costa Rica earlier this month, you had to get down to the shoreline to observe an amazing natural phenomenon. Hundreds of thousands of olive ridley turtles were crawling out of the ocean to lay their eggs in the sand. Soon, vacationers and […]
Harm, harrass or kill
Bill Mauro stood before a hastily assembled group of reporters and nature groups in May 2009. The MPP representing Thunder Bay–Atikokan was back home with money from Queen’s Park— $107,000 for the protection of species at risk in the area. “People in our communities are concerned about the protection of species at risk and the […]
Unravelling
The revelations in Demorestville on Friday were as shocking as they were predictable. Many folks harbour a degree of cynicism about their government’s action and intentions. Sadly last week, for many, their worst suspicions were confirmed. To fully grasp the significance of Joe Crowley’s explosive testimony on Friday at the reconstituted Environmental Review Tribunal (Tribunal) […]
Irreversible
As we embark on yet another leg of the journey to spare Prince Edward County’s rugged south shore from the scourge of industrial wind turbines; as we prepare for the final legal battle that will weigh the destruction of an endangered species against the hunger for profit by a well-financed developer and the political avarice […]
The moral case for growth
In the first three months of 2015, just five new-home permits were issued by the County’s planning department. At that rate, the municipality was on track for its worst new-home construction performance since it began keeping records. A healthy second quarter, however—fuelled by strong numbers in May and June—helped stabilize what appeared to be a […]
A collective duty
Heritage costs money,” said the councillor to the residents who had come to Shire Hall asking for a stay of the demolition for two buildings at Wellington’s intersection of Main and Wharf Streets. “Somebody has to pony up.” The councillor made it clear. In his view, it was the folks wishing to see the 117-year-old […]
Won’t be fooled again
This is a pivotal week for council. Especially so for two councillors. Their last exit is coming up this Thursday afternoon. Will they carry on their charade and insist on public meetings on an issue that has already been decided? Or will they finally admit they have no intention of reducing the size of council, […]
Welcome
All the world headed to the beach this past weekend. Sandbank’s beaches in particular. By mid-afternoon on Sunday, cars were backed up on every route into the park. Police officers were sent to break the disappointing news to weary travellers that the park was full and they weren’t getting in today. Many received a County […]
Defining vision
The newly amalgamated County had barely learned to walk by 2004 when a fresh council embarked on a radical initiative to ask residents what they thought. Some grumbled that it was a waste of time. Some likely saw it as mild form of treason. After all, residents spoke on election day. That was it. No […]
A good day
Homs was a working town. Tough and self-reliant. Its people had endured centuries of the ebb and flow of rule ranging from Christian Byzantines to Muslim Ottomans. It had abided the whims and cruel heel of distant kings, emperors and dictators. But by 2011, the people of Homs had had enough. Enough of the corruption […]