Letters: July 18/13

Jul 18, 2013

Litter can be deadly to wildlife

A few weeks ago my wife saw a water snake with a plastic ring around it. Yesterday we captured it and cut the ring off. It was a ring from a child's cap gun and the snake probably would have died. Teach your children not to litter please.

John St. Aubin and Cindy Benoit

Re: cottage rentals on Big Clear Lake

(Central Frontenac Council report, July 11) After reading Theresa Smith's comments during last week’s council meeting, and a reply from one council member, Tom Dewey. I live here; I see weekend to weekend, week to week, day to day. Throughout the entire year. Sometimes the renters coming in are as nice as anyone you could meet. Sometimes, it's lock the doors and phone the OPP. Neighbours’ fields are driven through, things disappear, boats get swamped, property gets trespassed on. There is belligerence, confrontation, other property owners’ access blocked. A structure burnt to the ground. This issue is not just isolated to Big Clear or Kennebec. It's happening all around. When 20 or 30 or 50 people descend on one small area, bad things can happen to people who should have a reasonable expectation to enjoyment of their property.

I personally could care less if someone chooses to off set tax, hydro and maintenance costs by renting, allowing people to use - what ever. When some one advertises on the internet - Executive, Lake Front Property Rentals, on a single family residential property!!!!! Sounds like a hotel or business. Wouldn't you say, Tom? $585 a night, no less. Check out the web sites.

Brian Davis

Re: Pipeline running through Ottawa and Eastern Ontario

Late June, Trans Canada Pipeline (of Keystone XL fame) announced that it would like to see the crude oil flowing east as early as 2017. With the current Labrador fire continuing to enflame an area 17 km. by 17 km. polluting the air of Montreal 1200 km. away; with New York City still recovering from last October’s flooding by Hurricane Sandy, (also causing $100 million in damages in Ontario and Quebec); with the recent flooding of High River, Calgary and Toronto; how is the expansion of Alberta’s Oil Sands and a pipeline running through Ottawa and Eastern Ontario the answer? In 2012, 22% of Germany’s energy came from renewable sources. They expect that number to be 60% by 2050. If all of Europe is moving in that direction, why not North America?

Ken Fisher