Honourable Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing,
The mayoralty election in Haldimand County has shown that the people are against the MZO and the Empire Homes proposal at Nanticoke. It has been rejected by the citizens of this county. Mayor Ken Hewitt stood alone amongst the candidates, initially backing the MZO and what its purpose is, to facilitate the Empire Homes proposal at Nanticoke Industrial Park to build 15,000 homes. No matter how hard he tried to wheedle out of it, the documentation found him to be disingenuous. He came in third with only 25% of the vote.
Four candidates that got 75% of the vote did not say they supported the MZO and the Empire Homes proposal. Other polls showed similar rejection rates. Toby Barrett’s analysis found 82% rejection of the proposal. A poll at the Haldimand County Political Discussion Facebook page showed a 78% rejection rate. Our new mayor Shelley Ann Bentley made the MZO/Empire Home Proposal an issue. She punctuated it at all candidate meetings in her summation. Our MPP Bobbi Ann Brady also made it an issue in the provincial election, giving her a mandate to stop the proposal. There was no doubt where they stood; there was no doubt the voters knew where they stood. They were elected with a mandate to retract the MZO and end the Empire Homes proposal at Nanticoke.
Both Stelco and Esso have declared their objection to allowing this proposal to proceed. In fact, Esso has increased the buffer zone around their oil refinery by buying out another house and demolishing it, giving them a clear 2km to the next nearest house east of the refinery. Industry and government need to be cognizant not just of regular emissions but upsets like explosions. Industry located there over 40 years ago to be away from residential areas. Need I mention the Bhopal, India industrial disaster at a Union Carbide plant?
Empire Homes is on record as wanting to reduce the buffer zone or setback from industry to 300 metres and to 500 metres from wind turbines. It is best that there be a 2km setback from both industry and wind turbines.
Have you not heard of the world food crisis? Food inflation is the worst in 40 years. Destroying 4,200 acres of productive farmland in the warm climate of southern Ontario is genocidal.
Mandate: the authority to carry out a policy or course of action, regarded as given by the electorate to a candidate or party that is victorious in an election.
I ask that that you would reject the MZO now that the election has been held and you are aware of the desire of the community and the facts of the matter.
Sincerely,
Grant Church
Cayuga
