No, To Earth Hour

In this household, we recycle, compost and try to practice conservation as much as possible. We have also planted a few trees on our property. But last week I heard the chainsaws at work once again and several more healthy mature trees came tumbling down. In the about a dozen years that we have lived here, that must make more than thirty large trees that have been destroyed in this area. Unlike Toronto, Brantford has no rules governing trees on private property. People buy a house and it seems that the first thing that they do is remove all the trees on their new property affecting the natural balance of the neighbourhood. And in a few years they have moved on to do the same elsewhere, leaving their destruction behind. Sort of sounds like our City Councils.

Turning a few lights off for an hour once a year, might make these people feel good about themselves, but hardly makes up for the permanent harm that they have done. And people are encouraged to come down to Harmony Square to celebrate Earth Hour(many coming by car causing more pollution) , where they can look over and see the 41 buildings that will soon be taking up space in the local landfill supported by a councilor who fancies herself a champion of environmental causes. Sort of like Al Gore and David Suzuki who constantly fly around the world exhorting others to follow their words, but certainly not their examples.

So enjoy yourself celebrating Earth Hour, whether downtown or sitting in your back yard around a roaring fire burning the former homes of birds and squirrels. I'll be in that house with the lights on and the tree in the front yard.

The Gustapo

Apparently the Brantford City Council feels that it is their right to not only know what information is being exchanged with the Provincial Government, but also who this information is coming from.What business of their's is it? This is in regards to the demolition of the buildings on the south side of Colborne St. They claim that they need to know this to tell if the Province is "receiving correct and/or complete information.” Yet, at the same time, the city is resisting supplying the Province with information that they have requested. Something sure smells here. And surely the Province has the right to ask questions about any project so as to make sure that provincial regulations are being adhered to. As well, the Province has invested a lot of money in the downtown and is being asked for even more for the sports complex that is being proposed for part of this stretch. The Province supplies this city with a large amount of funds each year, but then so do the city taxpayers and they are being treated with equal contempt as well.

This is a Council that likes to do most of its business in secret, often not even informing all members of council about what is going on, but thinks that they have the right to poke into private correspondence between groups or individuals and the Province. What hubris. This whole council needs to be replaced come the next election.

If you hear someone rummaging through your mailbox, take a close look, it just might be a City Councilor.