DIRTY, ROTTEN, FILTHY, MUNICIPAL POLITICS

Woolwich Township are a microcosm of why the environment is going to hell in a handcart. They are also a microcosm of why democracy is so fragile. Their municipal Council are made up of both rookies with minimal ethics as well as experienced Councillors who are liars and bullies. Last evening they dissolved the Chemtura Public Advisory Committee after four members plus a supporter (moi) spoke strongly and factually in support of them. This Council also lied through their teeth while doing their dirty deed; claiming that some/majority of the current CPAC (until August 31/15) could be appointed to the two newly formed comittees called RAC and TAG. Meanwhile Uniroyal/Chemtura and their bed partner the Ministry of the Environment are rolling together in the mud, in delight.

This beyond idiot and into corrupt Council has given the green light to the complete destruction of public consultation here in Elmira, Ontario. Granted it was a badly flawed model to start with, with the Municipal Council doing all the appointing to CPAC. It is now nothing but a joke as the citizens are literally relegated to third class status while bureaucrats and politicians are the ones in control. The TAG (Technical Advisory Group) committee including citizens has zero authority or control whatsoever. They report to RAC (Remediation Advisory Committee) which reports directly to Woolwich Council. RAC have a total of five bureaucrats from the local Conservation Authority (GRCA), plus Region of Waterloo combined with the Woolwich Mayor and a Councillor along with the paid (professional?) Chair of TAG and then two alleged honest citizens. Fat chance of that with this set up.

The purpose of all this is to get myself and five honest citizens out of the hair of Chemtura Canada, formerly Uniroyal Chemical. They have destroyed the local water supply and poisoned the people and wildlife throughout the watershed. When even their bought and paid for consultants combined with a corrupt Ministry of Environmrnt could not stop the citizens group, they waited for a new municipal Council to do the job. Councillor Bauman and Mayor Shantz have led this corrupt charge.