TBL should withdraw its support for the pig slaughterhouse project

The meeting of the Town of Brome Lake council on September 5 was most revealing. An unusually large number of residents filled the room. Clearly anticipating hostility concerning the proposed construction of a pig slaughterhouse on Mill Road, the mayor opened the meeting by reading a lengthy statement. He attempted to justify the council’s unanimous decision on July 4 to endorse the request to the CPTAQ by the owner of the lot in question to allow a non-agricultural industrial use (slaughterhouse) in an agricultural zone. Not surprisingly, the promoter wishes to remain anonymous.

The mayor’s statement convinced no one. During a question period that lasted 45 minutes before the mayor cut it off, at least a dozen material concerns were raised by numerous questioners. The mayor objected that these concerns should have been raised at the July 4 council meeting, not two months later. But the agenda for the July 4 meeting gave no indication of the purpose of the proposed request to the CPTAQ, so how could residents possibly have known what was coming?

Finally the mayor invited opponents of the slaughterhouse project to register their objections with the CPTAQ and the Ministry of the Environment, both of which must approve the slaughterhouse project. He said that if these two bodies gave their approval, there would then be a public consultation (of an unspecified nature), and that the council would proceed democratically. Meanwhile, the council would wash its hands of the matter.

Surely a far better and less divisive course, now that the virtually unanimous opposition of the residents is clear, would be for the council to withdraw its premature support of the landowner’s request to the CPTAQ. For the council to persist in supporting this project against such strong opposition will doom us all to another battle of petitions, accusations, letters to the press, and stormy question periods at council meetings.

In this election season, let us hope that our politicians show some political sensitivity, and remember who elected them.

Knowlton trails; 2) an operation the size of the suggested project would create major amounts of large trucking traffic on that road, therefore, logically one should not allow it to be shared with the bicycle trail; 3) Brome road was not constructed to support large or heavy truck traffic; 4) TBL has always had concerns regarding its water supply and sewer treatment etc.

The mayor said he was aware of all that, however, he still says, “Even if CPTAQ accepts making the change, TBL is not bound to going ahead with the project.” Again, then why go through with asking the CTPAQ to make this change? Again his only answer, “It is compliant to TBL bylaws and will create 70 jobs.” Once into the meeting the mayor tried shifting the responsibility onto the citizens, suggesting that the project had reached this point because

group has no idea what this town needs.

TBL citizens want nothing of this type of business on its territory, and it was very clear at this meeting. Mr. Burcombe, his council, as well as the administration needs to wake up and smell the coffee before it takes its citizens down this very bad road in every aspect of the word.

Increased truck and automobile traffic up to or more than 35,000 vehicles a year, road structure failure, very bad odors, low paying jobs, pollution by matter and water. Waste of good water reserves for TBL in this projected area.

I believe you have left a very sour taste in many citizens’ mouths about what this town really needs, after your council performance of the fifth. It’s time for all of you to come forward and apologize publicly for such poor performance.

In my opinion probably your very last mandate for all of you should you not do the honorable thing, abandon this project immediately, and leave at least one good thing you have made a decision on.

Anyone in TBL wishing to expose their opinion against this project may do so via email directly to the CPTAQ office in Longueuil, Que. at the following email address: infor@gouv.qc.ca. In your email always refer to them always refer to lot number 3 939 612. (Tell them in your own words why you do not want this type of business in Knowlton.)

PS. Mr. Patterson, seeing I did not get a chance to answer your question concerning the slaughtering at the duck farm I would like to mention to you what my answer would have been.

I have owned my property since 1979, I have been in Knowlton since 1942, I live one kilometre from the duck farm, I would have liked to invite you a few years ago for a sleepover on a hot summer night. You would have really enjoyed the smell I am sure. And I can also very well remember when raw sewage was dumped directly into the lake. Do you remember that?

Knowlton