Council has a duty to follow the rules

It seems the effort to keep Peterborough casino-free is not over yet. There is a legal challenge before the courts based on the illegal meeting of November 2015 in which council, in a closed session, directed staff to go ahead with the Crawford site, in contravention of the Municipal Act. I would think it is prudent of council to wait for the court case and see what the law has to say before plunging ahead with the project. That does not seem to be the intention, unfortunately. Coun. Beamer dismissed the legal determination of lawyer Nigel Bellechamber for adjudicator Amberley Gavel, as “just an opinion.”

What message are we sending to our children and grandchildren when the municipal government thumbs their nose at the law?

I applaud Roy Brady for taking council to court. It’s one thing to play heavy handed with the majority of Peterborough residents who have always voted at least 2/3 against having a casino, and another to flippantly dismiss adherence to the laws of the province.

Without going into all the issues which were denied an airing when the city bought off the DBIA thus aborting the OMB hearing, two items stand out: the 600 jobs promised in 2013 has now dwindled to 185; and the Crawford site is indeed next to a provincially significant wetland. Not good planning, as I always contended. Good luck with your application, Mr. Brady!

Carleen Johnson Wallace St.