PRIVATE SECRET MEETINGS TAINT THE NUCLEAR PROCESS

So private meetings are improper and illegal; so what's your point is the overall attitude of municipal officials. The Municipal Act definitely has something to say but many municipalities are more concerned with committees of council violating this rule than they are about mayors or councillors. Yesterday's Waterloo Region Record has a story titled "Bruce County groups demand probe of nuclear waste talks". It seems as if behind the scenes discussions have been going on literally for years prior to the public being so apprised. These discussions involve Ontario Power Generation, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization and various and assorted local mayors. The other big problem is that included in the discussion was high level radioactive wastes such as spent fuel rods. Many residents are not thrilled with the low to medium level wastes but the opposition to the high level stuff is off the charts.

All levels of politicians are masters of hypocrisy but when it comes to in camera meetings apparently municipalities are first in being ready and willing to expand the definition of allowable topics. Recently here in Woolwich we even had a councillor on a committee insist on a gag order concerning an in camera meeting. The gag order wasn't regarding who said what, it was about the final decision made. This decision was going to both the Township administration and shortly afterwards be put on the Agenda for consideration by council. Clearly councillors are quite used to playing games and bafflegabbing the public at will.

Similarily here in Waterloo Region we've had Indemnitys and Sweet Heart Deals given to multiple local polluters. You can bet your bottom dollar none of these were discussed openly whereby the public could know ahead of time and so comment. Clearly this provincial legislation lacks teeth and most likely was intended to be just like that.