Letters October 14, 2004
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Appliances dumped in drivewayI would like to apprise the residents of our community of the following: In stark contrast to a normally picturesque setting, I awoke Wednesday a.m, October 6, to find that someone had discarded a large freezer and automatic washer in the very middle of my laneway. I can be thankful that I was able to move these items to the side of the road, in order to allow passage, but couldn't help but think that a more elderly person would be unable to do so. In fact, anyone limited in their capacity to move heavy objects who needed to access emergency care, would have had great difficulty in doing so, which in turn could have had dire consequences.
A productive member of our community they are not, and I expect that given their actions, they will continue to be a drain on our society.
In closing, I would like to say "Thank you, neighbour, for your inconsideration, and total disregard for my well being
- David Marvin, Hartington
Fort Frontenac and draining the Great Lakes
When Count Frontenac built his Fort for trading near Kingston he did so without permission. To mend political fences he sent his aide, Robert de Cavelier, to make amends to Louis XIV. The Sun King liked it so well that he gave Cavelier the title Sieur de La Salle. With his ego boosted, La Salle set off to conquer the upper Great Lakes and beyond into Mississippi country.
After climbing up past Niagara Falls, La Salle set up a shipyard and built the first ship bigger than a canoe to sail the upper lakes. The advantages of Great Lakes shipping to industry on the U.S. side of Lake Erie became clear and many shipyards sprang up. Lake freighters, 'Lakers', were everywhere and the demand for moving raw materials and products of industry pushed their design until currently they are over 1000 feet long and can carry 60,000 tons.
This historical development of industry's relationship to the Great Lakes gave industry the notion that the Great Lakes were put there simply to serve commerce. No other values need be considered for these, the biggest inland seas in the world.
Today, The Council of Great Lakes Governors, dominated by U.S. interests and with Canadian representation from only Ontario and Quebec has proposed a further step in industry's 'ownership' of our Great Lakes. An agreement called 'Annex 2001' that could soon be enacted would allow water removal from the Great Lakes in unlimited amounts. Annex 2001 also would not restrict whether that water would be kept within the Great Lakes drainage basin or could be piped anywhere. This proposed agreement contains no requirement for conservation of the water that is diverted nor does it specify any monitoring of how that water is used.
Consultation of Canadians has been the usual - if you can find it on the web, you can respond before a deadline that is too soon - (variously October 14 or 18). Perhaps we all should insist that our newly resurrected Prime Minister should delay action on Annex 2001 until Canadians are properly consulted about a question that has roots even before the Plains of Abraham, and that could affect the future we leave our children and grandchildren immensely.
To express concern: The Honourable Paul Martin, Prime Minister, Parliament of Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0A6 (no stamp needed). For more Great Lakes information: www.canadians.org.
Gray Merriam
Hats off to Verona
Every year for the past five years I have left my home in Scotland to visit my family in Kingston and for the past 2 years, my Dad in Verona and every year I have enjoyed my vacation more than the last - it has been wonderful. I have enjoyed so much - my visits to Canada's Wonderland, Niagara Falls, Maxville Highland Games, Picton beach and also Kingston's malls! However, I have realized this year why I enjoy my vacation so much; the kind and caring people of Kingston and Verona. Throughout my visit everyone has been extremely helpful and pleasant. I especially would like to thank Ron and Karen Sutherland, the owners of all the Kingston McDonalds who made the time and effort to give me a tour of their restaurant, and let me make my very own Cheeseburger happy meal which made my day! Also to a fellow Scot, Arlene from Headlines Hair Salon, who understood my strong Scottish accent and did a wonderful job on cutting my hair. I would also like to thank Kelly Laurin, who has made me feel welcome throughout the visit and has became a great friend. And of course, many thanks to my dad Gordon McGaw, without whom I wouldn't even be here to experience the wonders of Ontario, and more importantly Kingston and Verona. The surprising event for me was The Verona Festival ! We even had the soapbox derby(neato!) outside our house, so to the Verona residents I'd have to say " Hats off to Verona" formaking a "wee" scotttish girl from a BIG CITY (GLASGOW), see the finer points of living in the country. Thank you everyone, and I hope to visit again soon.
Rosemary Mcgaw
What thought went into decision to close NF Township office two days a week?It is interesting to note from the Frontenac News (September 29 issue) that the North Frontenac Township office will be closed to the public on Tuesday and Wednesday beginning October 12. Has Council forgotten that they were elected by the public? It is in the business of public service; the public had absolutely no input into this decision, and that very same public is being shut out of the municipal office for two days a week. In this day and age, what public service office sees fit to close the doors to the public for two days a week? What kind of thought went into such an archaic decision? We seriously have to question the motive behind such a decision. We may as well hang signs at the borders of North Frontenac Township that say Welcome to Bedrock. Wake up, Council and Staff, and get with the 21st century.
There was also the issue of mileage payments that seemed to raise the ire of Councillor Hunter. It would appear that the fattening of the pockets is more important than pressing problems in the municipality -- like the purchase of a garbage compactor that someone forgot to check to be sure it would actually work before they purchased it, and now we the taxpayers are faced with repairing a machine purchased in a "vacuum decision" that does not appear to be functional.
- Bob Olmstead
