I would have thought that MPP Brady could have got all the answers she was looking for in her opinion piece last week, by asking Mayor Bentley. That edition of The Haldimand Press was on the street the day before the March 27 Ward 4 candidates’ debate and she was seated next to her during that debate.
As we now know Haldimand Council reaffirmed its support for Empire to submit an MZO to the Province in May of 2023 and apparently again on June 18, 2024. While Empire’s vision for their Nanticoke development had been presented publicly to Council on at least two occasions with intervening public consultations, the process for MZO submissions to the Province was recently changed as was reported in the March 27 edition of The Haldimand Press. It appears that Empire has not shared, nor under the new process, is it apparently obligated to share, the content of its actual MZO submission with the County. If not, surely the support expressed on June 18, 2024 can only have been support in principle.
I’d like to suggest that, if not already underway, the Mayor and Council, with the vigorous support of our MPP, need to diligently pursue this matter with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to ensure that the County gets its hands on a formal copy of Empire’s submission as soon as possible. Does the modified MZO process require the submitter to share the content of their submission with the municipality concerned? If not, it should. Otherwise how could the Province really know to what level a municipality supports or doesn’t support any development proposal requesting an MZO?
If not already done, our MPP must make it a high priority to speak with Minister Rob Flack and find out what’s going on and when the County will be given a formal opportunity to learn the details of what’s been proposed and promised by Empire and logically be given the opportunity to negotiate needed changes and inclusions. The MZO process can’t and shouldn’t proceed without the Province knowing and fully understanding what Haldimand’s existing plans, aspirations and concerns are for the area. And Ms. Lewis, there’s a Federal component to this too. Industries are often given sweet deals to locate to Canada and with Canada’s international trade situation currently in turmoil, why couldn’t this be a combined effort of infrastructure funding by all three levels of government and the developer? The Feds have often co-funded major projects and highway rebuilding. Why not in Haldimand County?
Am I naive to think that all three levels of government can work together for the benefit of Haldimand County? This is an unprecedented opportunity for Haldimand County to graduate from the buckboard era and make its mark in 21st century history!
I throw this out as a challenge to all of you in all three levels of public office as you pursue your chosen mission to represent all residents of Haldimand County.
In closing I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the diligent work of the publishers and staff of The Haldimand Press, not only as it relates to this issue, but also for their excellent coverage of all things Haldimand. Long may you prosper.
Mike Shacklock,
Hagersville
