OMB & MNR ARE UNDEMOCRATIC

Today's Woolwich Observer has Steve Kannon's Opinion and position in regards to the recent Decision by the Ontario Municipal Board Chair regarding the Jigs Hollow Pit. The title of his piece is "OMB decision reinforces belief officials have no desire to protect public interest". Local residents feel that three members of Woolwich Council just north of Kitchener-Waterloo sold them down the river. The real blame according to Steve Kannon rests with the Ontario government who have a fake process in place merely as windowdressing. Basically the O.M.B. are there to accept gravel pit applications and the citizens wishes, opinions and even facts are given little or no weight.

According to Steve "The poor provincial record of respecting local wishes is magnified in the case of gravel pits, where the Aggregate Resources Act is practically a cudgel and the Ministry of Natural Resources seen as a defender of operators, not Ontarians.".

Sunset clauses for pits need to be accepted and implemented and to date are not. Furthermore monitoring and supervision of active pits is abysmal. Violations are highly unlikely to be dealt with properly or in a timely manner. As it now stands many Woolwich residents have just learned first hand that their governments; regional, provincial and even municipal are not working on behalf of their interests.