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From Eve to Adam

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From Eve to AdamBy Bill Rowsome

We are on the eve of the end of the first mandate for local governing in the new amalgamated townships. Three years have passed since the province encouraged/forced small municipalities into larger units. Success has been varied over the province but problems have been disclosed in almost every municipality. Interestingly, on one side of Hwy 41 problems and their attempted solutions have been so controversial I understand four candidates have already declared themselves to seek the Reeve's Chair. On the other side of the highway peace seems to reign with little competition indicated yet.

Why am I concerned when all seems to be going well in North Frontenac? If there is no competition is there a debate?

There are many issues that must be aired so the ratepayers can form a reasonable picture of our municipality's future. During the three years of the next mandate serious issues will arise and we need our municipal candidates to express their various philosophies and ambitions as they pertain to North Frontenac.

Three years ago I doubt the people of Kirkland Lake elected their representatives on the basis of whether to accept or reject Toronto's garbage in the Adams mine. That problem has become a province wide public debate since. The present council in Kirkland Lake wants the garbage and the Premier has said that the council represents the feelings of the town. The mayor is opposed. This when the province has stated that no municipality has to accept outside garbage against its will. I expect there is election fever in that area of Ontario. Three years ago the impact of mega dumps and massive pig farms with their pollution problems were not factors. Now rural townships in Ontario are fighting to counter the expansion of both; larger cities seek rural areas for garbage and multinational companies seek rural locations for factory farms.

We have an unbelievable number of square miles of isolated bush that some may think could accommodate various wastes. In the spring of 1989 a proposal by a Toronto company was made to dump unsupervised liquid wastes into a lagoon that was to be constructed on a flood plain only metres above Mazinaw Lake. The local Township Council approved the proposal and only rescinded permission after a violent public outcry. Local residents had to do the research that Council neglected to do. They had no basic philosophy as a guide for decision making.

We are fortunate to have relatively unpolluted lakes, streams and ground water. Are we selfish in wanting to keep it? Will we be expected to export it to less fortunate areas? Where do the candidates stand? Not an issue? Many cubic metres of the Tay River will soon be exported as slurry leaving the local area more arid than before. I believe this controversy arose since the last municipal elections.

Local municipal councils have been given unprecedented responsibilities and I, for one, want to hear how the candidates are planning to address these responsibilities. Gone are the days when the council can tie itself up for almost a third of a meeting arguing with a ratepayer whether lilac bushes have to be cut near a road allowance. There are more serious problems looming.

The public must have the opportunity to evaluate each candidate, hear his or her hopes for North Frontenac and how those hopes are to be implemented.

A special plea to the young people of our township to consider running. You will inherit our future. The pay is miniscule ($107.20 per meeting plus expenses for councilors), the hours awkward, the travel extensive, criticism rampant but the rewards of public service can be satisfying. Unfortunately the system makes it very difficult to participate unless you have time and other income, neither readily available to our young residents trying to make a living. 1