LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Clarke owes constituents more detail on PDI deal
Re: Councillors misrepresenting details of PDI sale: Clarke, July 5, and Clarke fed up with PDI sale attacks, July 5
Despite Henry Clarke’s democratic right to speak his mind and express personal outrage toward his strategic support of the sale of Peterborough Distribution Inc to Hydro One, I am disappointed at how he has consistently dismissed the respectful arguments from a huge portion of the community that has rejected the sale.
Of course Henry can legitimately criticize the comments from extremely rude and slanderous individuals, but what is his understanding of the legitimate arguments against the sale. It is hypocritical of Henry to dismiss the arguments of people opposed to his position?
Through the civil process in 2016, and thereafter, Henry provided no evidence at all for the sale. During his last speech at the (voting) city council meeting in December 2016 and during a subsequent online exchange with myself, he provided no evidence, apparently relying entirely on what he had been told.
At the voting meeting, during my presentation I challenged Henry directly and courteously to provide what he actually knew that would suggest he was better informed. He refused to provide any of such information. Opportunity lost, or hide from the opposition!
Remarkably he fully praised the city’s one-sided community engagement process in November 2016. Guests did not in any way share his praise.
This sale is hugely unpopular, regardless of what motivated Henry to speak and act as he has done. At this critical moment regarding a sale Coun. Henry Clarke can practise real transparency and relate to the residents of Peterborough what he knows.
That would represent the personal integrity that I have traditionally believed Henry Clarke has in our community.
‘Innocent until proven guilty’ abandoned
We all agree on gender equality and that sexual allegations should be investigated, but that does not mean that the accused is automatically assumed to be guilty. Our laws say a person is assumed to be innocent until proven guilty, and if our laws are ignored, anyone who does not like another person can accuse him or her of something just out of spite.
The media is to blame for reporting half a story. Wait until you have the whole story, otherwise you may be destroying someone’s career. When an 18year-old story can tarnish the Prime Minister of Canada it’s time to stop reporting on something someone said and stick to the facts.
Land trusts effective at communication
Land trusts (or conservancies) protect land by owning it or by establishing an agreement with a willing landowner to protect their land.
Biodiversity loss is a significant threat in southern Ontario. In this region, there is a high concentration of species and habitats at risk of extinction, a relatively large proportion of privately held land and significant development pressures.
Private land conservation is an effective tool because it encourages prioritization of and resource allocation to most at-risk areas, allows for apolitical decision-making, and serves to protect at-risk species and habitats in perpetuity.
On the Oak Ridges Moraine north of Toronto, the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust protects 56 ecologically sensitive properties across 4,120 acres, providing critical and permanent refuge for at-risk flora and fauna.