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VALLEY VOICES e-NEWS # 38
February 12/06
Read Valley Voices' Notice of Appeal here
ONTARIO MUNICIPAL BOARD:
1. At the last AGM the membership directed your BOD to hire experts to examine the issues related to SVA. We are nearing agreements with a land use planner, an hydrogeologist, a noise technician, and an environmental biologist.
2a. VV, as an appellant, will be a party at the hearing and will call the expert witnesses in the areas identified above to prove that Zoning Bylaw 10-2006 is not good planning. If you want to appeal and be a party or a participant, follow the process and timelines in part 2b below. There is usually a day when the public can speak. If you do not want to appeal but want the OMB to listen to you, this offers a no-cost route. In any event, VV will represent your interests.
2b. Members, as individuals or as a group of neighbours, can file an appeal. The fee is $125.00 payable to The Ontario Minister of Finance. Deliver your cheque and appeal letter to A/H Township Clerk, Terrence Korotki, BEFORE FEBRUARY 23/06. Request a receipt. In your request, remember that the OMB deals with facts; emotions are an iffy, though not necessarily irrelevant, basis for an appeal. In your application say you request an appearance at the OMB hearing and clearly state the reasons why you are appealing Bylaw 10-2006. Some of the aspects to note could be noise, dust, effects on well water, the Hazardous Waste Site, severances, Environmental Assessment, traffic, haul route, wetlands, and below water table excavation if aggregate extraction is permitted. You might note that the bylaw is not the same as that discussed at the January/03 public meeting; there has not been a public meeting on the 10-2006 bylaw and the map on the new bylaw is not the same as that used in 2003.
2c. Depending on your situation you might consider hiring your own environmental lawyer to represent you.
LOBBYING:
1. What might go wrong? Well, another Walkerton. A/H doesnt know the status of the toxic dump. A/H cant prove beyond doubt that a pit will not jeopardize our wells. A/H seems oblivious to the fact it wont be able to prevent excavation below the water table. Council wont address our noise concerns. Council never did respond to our requests for clarification of eight pressing issues related to health, public safety and the quality of life.
2. We are in the political arena where activism and lobbying count. Queens Park has given more responsibility to municipalities to plan in the greater interests of the community. The most direct way for us to influence QPs decision makers is to write more letters/e-mails explaining why we are appealing the rezoning.
3. The BOD wants to hear the responses you get to your letters. Your feedback will help us mould our appeal to the OMB, and help us gauge the support we have in the community. If you send us copies of your letters, rest assured they will remain confidential. We would post them or quote them only if you give us approval in writing. Your letters and feedback will be helpful at the OMB.
4. Here is contact information for some decision makers/influencers you may want to lobby. The Minister, Executive Assistant (E/A) and Parliamentary Assistant (P/A) have the same Toronto mail address.
Ministry of the Environment:
Hon. Laurel Broten laurel.broten@ene.gov.on.ca
15th Fl, 135 St Clair Ave W, TO M4V 1P5
www.ene.gov.on.ca
FAX: 416.314.6748, 1.800.565.4923
John Wilkinson, P/A: john.wilkinson@ene.gov.on.ca
FAX 416.325.0708
Gayla Campney: Director, Eastern Region, Kingston Regional Office, MOE gayla.campney@ene.gov.on.ca
133 Dalton Ave, Box 820, Kingston K7L 4X6
Dr David Neufeld, Manager, Water Policy Branch,
FAX: 416.314.3918
135 St.Clair Ave W., TO.
Richard Tozak, Project Assistant, Land Use/Water Policy Branch,
416.314.3702
richard.tozak@ene.gov.on.ca
135 St.Clair Ave W., TO.
Jim Martherus: Senior Environmental Officer, MOE, Peterborough, jim.martherus@ene.gov.on.ca
705.755.4312 FAX: 705.755.4321
300 Water St, 2nd Floor, South Tower, PTBO, K9J 8M5
Ministry of Natural Resources:
Hon. David Ramsay dramsay.mpp.kirklandlake@liberal.ola.org
Whitney Block, 6th Fl, Room 6630, 99 Wellesley St W, M7A 1W3
www.mnr.gov.on.ca
1.800.667.1940 FAX: 416.314.2216
Kevin McGuire: E/A,
FAX 416.314.2216
kevin.mcguire@mnr.gov.on.ca
Drew Young: Aggregate Resources Specialist, Peterborough District, MNR,
300 Water St, Box 7000, PTBO, K9J 8M5
FAX 705.755.3151 705.755.3109
drew.young@mnr.gov.on.ca
Environmental Commissioner of Ontario:
Mr Gord Miller
FAX 416.325.3370
1075 Bay St, Suite 605, M5S 2B1
1.800.701.6454
commissioner@eco.on.ca
Peter Lapp: E/A,
FAX 416.325.3370
peter.lapp@eco.on.ca
Ministry of Municipal Affairs:
Hon. John Gerretsen,
777 Bay St, 17th Fl, M5G 2E5
www.mah.gov.on.ca
FAX 416.585.6012
Brad Duguid: P/A,
Brad.Duguid@mah.gov.on.ca
FAX 416.585.6777
Mike Keene, Planner, Eastern Municipal Services Office,
Rockwood House, 8 Estate Lane, Kingston K7M 9A8
FAX 613.548.6822
1.800.267.9438 X38
mike.keene@mah.gov.on.ca
Hon. Dalton McGuinty, Premier:
Legislative Building, Room 281, Queens Park, M7A 1A1,
phone 416.325.1941
Dalton.McGuinty@premier.gov.on.ca
FAX 416.325.9895
•• E/A: Tracey Sobers, Legislative Building, Rm 281
The above information changes very frequently. If you get a wrong number or address, look at the following site - The Ontario Government Directory. http://www.infogo.gov.on.ca/english/index.html.
5. Contact some of the following media. They appreciate letters and story ideas from lobby groups.
Brighton Independant - Cindy Woods newsroom@eastnorthumberland.com
Northumberland News - Mike Johnston mike.johnston@northumberlandnews.com
Cobourg Star - Diane Murphy dmurphy@northumberlandtoday.com
Colborne Chronicle - Mandy Martin mmartin@northumberlandtoday.com
Cobourg Star - Cecilia Nasmith cnasmith@northumberlandtoday.com
6. For clarification of the appeal process, or for advice on your letters, contact any Director. They are here to serve you.
President - Carol Hanley, 344.5947
Vice President - Chuck Shook, 344.7551
Treasurer - Margaret Jansen, 344.7304; FAX 905.344.7509
Cindy Anthony - 344.5011
Bob Garthson - 349.3807
Mark Towers - 344.7881
John Webster - 344.7160
