Letters_January_11

Jeff Green | Jan 11, 2007

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Re - Sunday Hunting

Just wanted to say THANK YOU to the new council of Addington Highlands for voting to allow the Sunday gun hunt in our township.

The majority vote shows some forward thinking onthe Addington Highlands Council, as all the surrounding townshipsalso have Sunday gun hunting. This will make it less confusing for hunters, andwill provideeconomic benefits.

WhenI ran (unsuccessfully)for councillor in Ward 2 in the last election, this was one of my objectives, soI am glad this will be implemented. I am looking forward to working withthe new Addington Highlands Council.

- Larry Pealow

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Re: Condition of Zealand Road

- Jean Lewis

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A message from the Fire Prevention Officer of NorthFrontenacTownship

Happy New Year to everyone in 2007! With the weather being very mild and sunny, some of you are planning on cleaning brush, leaves and debrison your properties.

Please be aware that on January 4 North FrontenacTownship Fire Department responded to a brush fire which burnt approximately two acres of land due to windy conditions.

Just a reminder to all who plan on burning: Please keep your firesto a reasonableand safe sizeand watch for weather conditions that can change at any time.

Have a safe 2007.

- Norman Mills, Fire Prevention Officer

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Re - Electoral reform

I am encouraged and hopeful for a future government that will be both responsive and responsible (Zannah Matson's report Dec. 7th).

However, that is then and this is now. Canada's previous and present political leaders are primarily concerned with retaining the power assigned to them by the one-third of the electors that go to the polls and vote for them. That explains their pre-occupation with trivial non-issues and vague promises to consider formally praising whatever happened under their administration, or might happen if you nodded your head forward on hearing or reading their "top" policies. Easy examples are "Supporting Seniors" (by continuing taxes on OAS and CPP?); "Enforcing the Laws" (did anyone notice that crime rates are down?); "Restoring Marriage" (What happened, anyway -- did the idea fall off a shelf?) and "Fulfilling a Military Mission" (one that has yet to be explained beyond following the dictates of the CIA and Pentagon and diverting billions of tax dollars to the war-making industry where our defence minister maintains his allegiance).

Well now - can we find even more pressing issues? I think so.

1) The loss of jobs at Harrowsmith and Gananoque.

2) The restoration of funding for healthcare and daycare and native peoples' care.

3) The overdue expansion of educational activities for the oncoming generation.

4) The planned contamination at the Richmond twp landfill.

5) The planned contamination (air, land and water) at the Bath cement plant.

6) The overwhelming infrastructure deficit - roads, bridges, highways, water supply, sewage treatment and garbage disposal.

During last winter's election campaign, I failed to hear any concern about any of these six issues -- from either of the front-running candidates. It's only 12 months later, but I recall the word 'Accountability' being emphasized again and again. When I notice that we have a not-elected Minister of Public Works, an ex-lobbyist as immediate Minister of Defence, a previous 'point man' from another party trying to help the USA, bankers and corporate leaders sweep away our rights, freedoms and sovereignty permanently, and a Minister of Finance that refuses to use the Bank of Canada to fund our public goods and services, I wonder whether the word 'accountability' has some entirely different meaning -- once you are in public office.

- Jerry Ackerman

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Where have all our politicians gone?

On November 14, I sent communications to MPP Leona Dombrowsky, MP Scott Reid, and the Frontenac News expressing my concern regarding the impending closure of FEWR (Frontenac Electronic Waste Recycling) in SharbotLake at the end of December. Although Ms Dombrowsky wrote a response of sorts through the News, indicating that the matter was a federal concern, I have received no direct reply from either Leona or Mr. Reid. On December 8 the same issue was presented to Premier Dalton McGuinty on the CTV (Ottawa) noon news. On December 11, thanks to the investigative research of news editor Paul Brent, the FEWR facility was a news feature on CTV Ottawa on the evening news. Having received no response by Dec. 31, I continue to wait for a reply about the status of this facility from any of the above elected officials.

A further issue, unearthed through CTV news investigations and reporting, appears to be gas leaks onto private and business properties from abandoned gas station tanks in Plevna, SilverLake and Tichborne.

Where are our supposedly environmentally conscious politicians on this issue?

Elections are on the horizon both federally and provincially. I suggest that you press your candidates about local issues such as these and find out what they plan to do about them. Their first accountability should be to those citizens who elected them and to the communities and geographic region which they represent.

- Doug Boulter

Habitat for humanity

Crow Lake School house receives Council support

Project End Zone nets $200,000 from South, Central Frontenac

Ompah Helipad

Pine Lake tops busy North Frontenac Agenda

Oops: repairs damage library, cause temporary closing

Slow Food advocates bring their message from Truin to Sydenham

Direct Democracy: Editorial

A new look for South Frontenac Council

CD release for Fank Morrison

Ron Maguire assumes Frontenac County Warden's role

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