Dear Editor,
I was shocked to read your editorial on September 24.
As most readers have probably figured out by now, I believe the Pumped Storage proposal is a non-issue for the Meaford election. The opposition’s claims are unscientific scaremongering. Meaford has no say in the decision itself. Meaford needs to prepare for the Meaford challenges if the project proceeds, but wasting valuable election or Council time arguing about opposing it is pointless.
Kudos to soon-to-be Deputy Mayor Rob Uhrig for explaining this so well in his letter of September 17. Everyone in Meaford should read that letter before voting.
But. It is very important for Meaford’s future that Council candidates recognize – and acknowledge – that the Pumped Storage proposal is only an issue here as far as preparing for it goes – if it proceeds.
Any candidate pretending that they’ll lead the charge to prevent it from happening certainly isn’t needed on Meaford Council. The politest way to put it is that those candidates simply don’t get it. And aren’t needed.
I always buy the paper edition of The Independent to read what the candidates have to say about themselves. Why do they think they deserve to be on Council? Every voter in Meaford should read it. In the past, I’ve written comments in the margins, frequently rude ones, underlined the good ideas, then shared the paper with my wife. And sometimes the neighbours.
Your Editorial telling us that I will open my Oct. 1 copy of The Meaford Independent to research the candidates’ positions only to find that Justin Perks wants to be Mayor of Meaford without including his position on Pumped Storage floored me. Nothing? He had nothing to say?
Leading to my next concern. Did Mr. Perks take a position on Pumped Storage in Meaford without devoting the one hour of time it would take to learn about and understand the issue first? Is that possible in the 2026 election in Meaford?
Could that be even remotely true of any candidate for election here? Surely it can’t be?
Which led me right back to your Sept. 21st Meet the Candidates article.
I appreciate that it isn’t the format you have planned for the Oct. 14 event, but I have a suggestion. A request.
I think it would be both informative and entertaining if you were to ask all the candidates for a show of hands before the event begins. It would take one minute.
“Please raise your hand if at any point in the last 5 years you took the one hour it required to learn about the Pumped Storage Project directly from TCE before you made up your mind about the Project and decided to run for Council.”
That would be a valuable aid for undecided voters.
Could be fun to see the looks on some of the faces too.
That show of hands would split the candidates into two groups. Those who recognize the need to get educated on the facts surrounding issues before they take a position – and vote. And those who think it’s fine to take a position while remaining blissfully ignorant of the facts – and prove it with their votes.
Without a word being spoken or necessary, it would tell us a lot about what each candidate would be like on Council. In the best, or worst, way possible.
Putting it another way?
That would split the candidates into those who say “We have to listen to everybody” and do it.
And those who say “We have to listen to everybody” and can’t find the time or be bothered to do it.
Bruce Mason, Meaford
