Thursday, January 23, 2025

Letters

TC Energy Responds to Recent Letter

Dear Editor, We appreciate the ongoing interest in the Ontario Pumped Storage Project and welcome the diversity of opinion amongst your readers. An important aspect of our work is engaging with community members to ensure they have the information they need so they can provide valuable input into our planning process. It’s our view that this direct input results in...

Reader Offers Thoughts on Property Standards Enforcement

Editor, The recent Meaford Independent’s editor’s piece on the zoning for a temporary vehicle repair operation was both informative and instructional relating to the unique circumstances culminating in the special variance approval for this agricultural property. Certainly, businesses such as this provide a valuable and important service to its customers, secure employment for its staff and meaningful contribution to our town’s...

Reader’s Response to Recent Pumped Storage Letters

Dear Editor, In response to Bruce Mason’s November 9th letter, I will attempt to address his questions and concerns. Save Georgian Bay (SGB) is a volunteer group of local citizens that strongly supports sustainable energy and infrastructure projects. However, the group believes that an open-loop pumped storage system is inefficient, expensive and would cause significant and irreversible harm to the escarpment...

Former Resident Has Fond Memories of Meaford

Editor, When my husband and I retired 19 years ago, we looked for a community away from the city in which to retire. Our search ended in Meaford, and we bought a home on Centre St. It was always our intention to become a part of whatever community we landed in. It was through joining the curling club that we met...

More Thoughts on Pumped Storage Proposal

Dear Editor, I take issue with the basic premise of the Independent’s Nov. 2 editorial about TC Energy’s pumped storage project. The Editorial asserts that Meaford council had “the least say in the matter (virtually none).” In fact, council had vital decision-making power. Energy Minister Todd Smith, who seems to be hellbent on pushing ahead this project despite the clear reservations of the...

Thoughts on Climate Change & Green Energy Projects

Dear Editor, The Pumped Storage Proposal retrospectives left me wondering whether people would still oppose green energy projects if they understood where we stand on fighting Climate Change. Especially in Canada. Because I doubt they could. So, uh, I wrote another letter. The science of Climate Change is actually pretty simple. The math of Climate Change is too. What complicates doing what...

Concern About Harbour Area Development Proposal

Editor, All is not well in the Municipality of Meaford. A recent decision by the Ontario Land Tribunal has changed a floodplain zone from Environmental Protection to Downtown Commercial. Obviously, protected land can be purchased at a reduced price by developers with handsome profits to be made by a zoning change. The subject property is located directly behind the new Meaford...

Praise For Meaford’s Hospital

Editor, I have just spent a few days in Meaford Hospital. It is not a pleasant experience to be in hospital at any time but I have to say that our hospital has to be one of the best there is. Their facilities may be limited but the quality of staff is unbelievably high. The people there are very personable...

Thoughts on History

Editor, I am reading The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series of books and in the second book, Tears of the Giraffe, Mma Ramotswe (the primary detective) says some interesting things. She says, “People are forever digging up events that had taken place a long time ago. And what is the point in doing this if the effect was merely to...

It Has Been a Long, Unnecessarily Acrimonious, Four Years

Dear Editor, I enjoyed your historical perspective of the Pumped Storage proposal. You should be commended for your commitment to balance. Not abused. I usually wish you would call utter nonsense and garbage utter nonsense and garbage more plainly. And frequently. But I respect that you remain professional. In your place I sure couldn’t. Unwarranted accusations to the contrary, you...