There’s A Big Stink in Collingwood Part 3
There is so much “noise” (or should I say smell) on this issue that it’s hard to think straight. Protests, press releases, emails, letters, phone calls and of course, endless gossip and burning telephone lines. Personally, here’s what I think.
The bottom line is that Collingwood Ethanol has dumped solids and chemicals above allowable limits into our waste water treatment system SEVERAL times. They’ve exceeded numerous limitations established by the Ministry of the Environment for things like noise and odors (in some cases over 100 times allowable levels) and they’ve impacted our precious environment. They have not complied with Ministry orders to fix the problem and in fact, 17 charges were laid against them in the last 24 hours by the same Ministry. Is this a good corporate citizen? (By the way, I gotta ask, how safe is this plant?)
They are members of a maverick group from the west spinning the story to deflect attention from the real issues. They have not brought forward one single piece of fact to substantiate the claims they have made. The Mayor is “reckless” and we have a “tax crisis” on our hands?
Well let me tell you something PGIB. This Mayor voted to allow your Dad’s company into town. He has worked with them for 15 months to solve the problems and many would argue he was TOO patient. That doesn’t sound reckless to me. And a tax crisis?
You seem to have forgotten that CE received over 7 million of OUR tax dollars from the Federal Government as well as money from the Province to help set up the plant. They’ve sought money for subsidies for every drop of ethanol they sell. From our tax dollars. Yes, a tax crisis indeed.
I’m sickened by spin doctors who have an agenda that does not serve a purpose beyond their own. And yes, I’m sickened that they would stoop so low as to target one man. One man! Not the council, not the MOE, just Chris Carrier. Chris is human folks. He has failings as every human being does but, he does his job with integrity, passion and caring for our town. He does not deserve this.
If I sound angry, I am. Collingwood is a beautiful town with clean air and clean water. We have dedicated and passionate people in every corner and we care about our future. We have had disagreements and fractures in our relationships over the years but we’ve never been broken by them. It’s time that our council stand up to these bullies and not leave the Mayor to wave the flag alone. It’s time for the industry leaders to speak up and it’s time for the people to stand up for our town.
Related Posts:
There’s A Big Stink In Collingwood Part 1
There’s A Big Stink In Collingwood Part 2
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Great series on this topic, Marg! Mayor (assumedly with Council’s support) is doing the right thing with respect to CE. We can’t let our east end residents languish in odour and noise, whilst losing equity in their houses and having health problems. PGIB is muddying the already polluted waters swirling about this topic by creating an imaginary tax issue. Well, I say, what if those hundreds of impacted residents stopped paying taxes until this is resolved? Tax crisis indeed!
On the supporting-our-mayor-front: Drew Wright’s climb to the top 3 of Canadian Idol showed what we in Collingwood are made of, when we pull together. Let’s pull together again, and rally around our Mayor. Perhaps a Hummer with his picture on it might be going a little too far, but a show of support (T-shirts? E-mails? Letters?) would certainly be appropriate.
Great series on this topic, Marg! Mayor (assumedly with Council’s support) is doing the right thing with respect to CE. We can’t let our east end residents languish in odour and noise, whilst losing equity in their houses and having health problems. PGIB is muddying the already polluted waters swirling about this topic by creating an imaginary tax issue. Well, I say, what if those hundreds of impacted residents stopped paying taxes until this is resolved? Tax crisis indeed!
On the supporting-our-mayor-front: Drew Wright’s climb to the top 3 of Canadian Idol showed what we in Collingwood are made of, when we pull together. Let’s pull together again, and rally around our Mayor. Perhaps a Hummer with his picture on it might be going a little too far, but a show of support (T-shirts? E-mails? Letters?) would certainly be appropriate.
Wow!! you are articulate, factual and right!! Good job Marg!!
Wow!! you are articulate, factual and right!! Good job Marg!!
Thanks Karen.
What good ideas you have Sharon and you are quite right about the Town’s ability to show support for someone as they proved with Drew. Maybe a certain downtown business person/organizer is needed again?
Thanks Karen.
What good ideas you have Sharon and you are quite right about the Town’s ability to show support for someone as they proved with Drew. Maybe a certain downtown business person/organizer is needed again?
Marg,
Nice spin. You do not have all the facts and not all on Council are happy with the Mayor. Here is a quote from Ian Chadwick’s blog:
“The mayor has taken the role of spokesperson and leader in this fray. Council has played a minimal role in the process, and none at all in the public relations, negotiations, meetings or discussions with the parties involved. We did not even get a chance to comment on (let alone approve) the mayor’s letter to Minister Gerretsen demanding action. Until recently we didn’t even see most of the correspondence on the issue (which is why I said at the public meeting that council was unaware of the scope)”.
Also you are unaware of other communications and do not seem to care about the 58 families tht work directly at the plant and the 200 people who work indirectly and all the farmers etc… You sound VERY greedy.
Marg,
Nice spin. You do not have all the facts and not all on Council are happy with the Mayor. Here is a quote from Ian Chadwick’s blog:
“The mayor has taken the role of spokesperson and leader in this fray. Council has played a minimal role in the process, and none at all in the public relations, negotiations, meetings or discussions with the parties involved. We did not even get a chance to comment on (let alone approve) the mayor’s letter to Minister Gerretsen demanding action. Until recently we didn’t even see most of the correspondence on the issue (which is why I said at the public meeting that council was unaware of the scope)”.
Also you are unaware of other communications and do not seem to care about the 58 families tht work directly at the plant and the 200 people who work indirectly and all the farmers etc… You sound VERY greedy.
Thanks for dropping by the blog Craig.
Thanks for dropping by the blog Craig.
Mr. Chandler, or shall I call you the POT? Because this is surely a case of the pot calling the kettle black. I’m astounded that someone who has arrived in our town less than a week ago would have the unmitigated gall to call Marg greedy, let alone VERY greedy. I’d venture to say you not only don’t know her, but I’ll bet you’ve never even met her!
We are ALL taking into consideration the livelihoods of the employees of CE, but frankly, the residents who are affected– were here on the east side first. These residents made THEIR investments before your Dad did. He’s the latecomer to this party, and in his promise to operate at 0 odour units, by way of his Certificate of Approval, he also promised his 58 employees and their families that they would have a place to work. Quit trying to deflect this issue onto everyone else. Compliance with the CofA is the solution and it is at the root of these problems, and no amount of attempts by you and your group to confuse the issue will change that.
P.S. – The MOE laying 17 charges against CE would further indicate that the Mayor and council are doing the right thing.
Signed Sharon A. Forsythe
Mr. Chandler, or shall I call you the POT? Because this is surely a case of the pot calling the kettle black. I’m astounded that someone who has arrived in our town less than a week ago would have the unmitigated gall to call Marg greedy, let alone VERY greedy. I’d venture to say you not only don’t know her, but I’ll bet you’ve never even met her!
We are ALL taking into consideration the livelihoods of the employees of CE, but frankly, the residents who are affected– were here on the east side first. These residents made THEIR investments before your Dad did. He’s the latecomer to this party, and in his promise to operate at 0 odour units, by way of his Certificate of Approval, he also promised his 58 employees and their families that they would have a place to work. Quit trying to deflect this issue onto everyone else. Compliance with the CofA is the solution and it is at the root of these problems, and no amount of attempts by you and your group to confuse the issue will change that.
P.S. – The MOE laying 17 charges against CE would further indicate that the Mayor and council are doing the right thing.
Signed Sharon A. Forsythe