Monthly Archives: January 2009

01.17.09
by

Dealing with the tender topic of trash

Ian McCallum

Ian McCallum


Judging by complaints from residents received since Christmas and concerns raised by council and city staff, it’s obvious the waste management agreement with BFI Canada is a tender issue … as in it’s time to throw this contract open to other bidders.
The fact BFI district manager Dave Raney was a no-show at Monday’s council meeting and instead forwarded a letter of clarification to John Dewancker, director of environmental services, sends a message the waste management firm will play hardball when the two sides meet Jan. 30 to resolve outstanding issues.
Continue reading →

01.17.09
by

Open letter from Bill Sandison re: employment opportunities

Time being of the essence I have elected to communicate with you in the most expeditious manner.
I would like to begin by thanking Joe Preston, Member of Parliament for Elgin-Middlesex-London and Hon. Steve Peters, Member of Provincial Parliament for Elgin-Middlesex-London for their
unbridled commitment to all constituencies and their unwavering support to the City of St. Thomas.
Continue reading →

01.10.09
by

Aileen Carroll misses the call, again

Minister Carroll,
It’s an absolute DISGRACE that once again,you have allowed another historic building to be demolished.The Erie Street United Church,in Ridgetown,Ontario is another glaring example of your complete FAILURE as Minister of Culture.What will it take for you to see the value in Ontario’s heritage?.We lost Alma College in St.Thomas,Ont on May 28th,2008 due to your lack of interest.It has become very apparent that you’re more interested in opening art galleries,and celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Ontario Science Centre,for which you were all over the news “bubbling” with enthusiasm for this “regal” event.Could you possibly put some of that enthusiasm towards our built heritage?.At the rate you’re going,you could wipe out all of Ontario’s built heritage,with one term in office.These buildings have stood upwards of 100 years,withstood the brutal Canadian weather,have given back to the Province of Ontario in spades,and your way of re-paying the favour,is to send the wrecking ball to their front door.Premier McGuinty needs to rein you in,before you completely wipe out Ontario’s identity.Every building you demolish,is like tearing a page from the history book,every time a building falls to the ground,so to goes with it the legacy that took a 100 years to create.I’m not only sad for the people who are fighting for our heritage today,I’m also sad for the people who years from now,will only have photograph’s of these beautiful & historic buildings.It’s a very sad time for our built heritage,and I can safely say the biggest threat to every historic building in the Province of Ontario,is Aileen Carroll.

Bob Foster
Brampton,Ontario

01.10.09
by

Waste management ambiguities prove odoriferous

Ian McCallum

Ian McCallum


Difficult to predict what will prove more odoriferous, dealing with
the city’s current waste management agreement — a “contract of
contradictions” — or the wall of silence surrounding the hiring of
the city’s first waste management coordinator.
The existing contract between the city and BFI Canada Inc., dates
back to the days of Bob McCaig and the Green Lane Environmental Group and was signed in 1994.
Continue reading →

01.07.09
by

Official opening of Aylmer ethanol plant

An ethanol plant which eventually proved to be Brantford’s loss and Aylmer’s gain, celebrated its official opening Wednesday, Dec. 17.

As an audience sitting inside a plastic tent shivered, officials toasted the stories which started with a group of farmers committed to investing in a plant that would eventually attract more than $14 million in government funding.
Continue reading →

01.04.09
by

MP Joe Preston facing big challenge with harbour

Fishing tugs in Port Stanley harbour

Fishing tugs in Port Stanley harbour

Posted by Ian:
Harbour divestiture talks between the Feds and Central Elgin have long been clouded in secrecy … now we know why. Water quality. To be specific, the potential risk to the water supply of an entire region due to a blob of coal tar sludge up stream from the harbour in Kettle Creek. To be fair, existence of the chemical mess has been known for decades, it is slow moving and despite some media warnings it is a long way from the inlet for the water supply system that supplies Elgin and south London. Nevertheless, Port Stanley harbour, which very much can return to its former glory as a viable Great Lakes harbour. has been shamefully ignored by higher levels of government. This has hampered prospects of a proposed U.S. – Port Stanley ferry – an issue in itself that has split the lakeside community. It’s a challenge for M.P. Joe Preston, who has taken up the cause.
Background story

01.03.09
by

Demise of Alma warrants top billing

Alma fire, May 28, 2008

Alma fire, May 28, 2008


With several thousand layoffs and job losses battering the local economy, T-J readers may question last week’s headline announcing the Alma College fire as top news story in 2008.
It wasn’t an easy decision for this paper’s editors and reporters … the disappearance of several thousand jobs in the city would surely qualify as the banner story in any other year.
Continue reading →