Sir: What happens on the municipal level in Chatham-Kent has a visceral, lasting effect on how residents live in C-K. What is happening in C-K is that nobody seems able to stop the slash and burn, the demolition and piling of the endangered Carolinian forest habitat on privately held lands.
Such practices are reminiscent of developing countries, long understood to be a practice with unintended adverse environmental consequences, and a practice unlawful in other jurisdictions. Many agree that such disregard of the intrinsic and monetary value of the remaining Carolinian forest is unacceptable and that the demolition and clearing of the endangered Carolinian forest habitat in C-K should be restricted, abolished, or outlawed.
Actually, prior to the provincial Liberal party’s recent reneging on legislative requirements of the Endangered Species Act, private landowners were required to protect endangered habitat and wildlife present on their private property.
Without the backing of provincial agencies, C-K residences were forced to turn to their municipal council in hopes of saving the sparse remains of this endangered habitat. Considering that with less than 6% natural cover (i.e. woodlands, forest cover, wetlands and grasslands), as a municipality Chatham-Kent has the least remaining natural cover of any upper tier municipality in Ontario.”
C-K council could make preservation of the remaining natural cover a priority. However, C-K council voted to reject a motion to implement a temporary six-month clear cutting by-law by a 9-8 vote.
Voting to support the temporary clear cutting bylaw were councillors Sheldon Parsons, Bob Myers, Anne Gilbert, Michael Bondy, Art Stirling, Derek Robertson, Doug Sulman and Marjorie Crew.
Voting against the motion were councilors Joe Faas, Jim Brown, Karen Herman, Brian King, Bryon Fluker, Leon Leclair, Steve Pinsonneault, Frank Vercouteren and Mayor Randy Hope.
If you agree that it is time for change, there are new choices, which may better represent your voice. Four years ago, the voting rate in the C-K municipal election was less than 40%. Let’s have municipal council be accountable to the majority of the C-K population. Encourage your acquaintances to vote and have your vote count on the municipal level.
Allen Jackson
Chatham-Kent
