|
September 9, 1999
Kevin Tipson
R.R. # 2
Cannington, ON
L0E 1E0
The Hon. Chris Hodgson, M.P.P.(Haliburton-Victoria-Brock)
2 King St
Lindsay ON, K9V 1C5
Dear Mr. Hodgson,
I am writing you on behalf of The Task Force For
The Preservation Of The Wilfrid Bog.
We would like to draw to your attention a
situation developing at the Wilfrid Bog. It appears the new land
owner (Bloom Maker Soils Inc.) has ignored all previous attempts to
preserve the SE corner of the ANSI 6, zoned EP property, deemed both
a regionally and provincially significant rare wetland area.
Wednesday, July 28, 1999, Pefferlaw Peat Products (owned by Bloom
Maker Soils) entered the property via a makeshift (and up to the time
of this letter) unapproved access and has once again destroyed a
sizable section of this unique habitat in preparation for peat
removal. This will be the third attempt within the last 20 years that
this bog has been damaged by this company.
The Wilfrid Bog was identified as a significant
wetland site in the early 1970's in an IUCN Man and the Biosphere
survey. In 1972 it was zoned EP under recommendation of this study.
In 1980, the Nature Conservancy of Canada in its report on the bog
stated ‘Wilfrid Bog provides a vital public service through its
biological and hydrological functions. To destroy it through
deforestation and peat extraction would be contrary to public
interest, the Official Plan, and the environmental well-being of
Ontario. This vital headwater source must be protected'. In 1982, a
study by the local conservation authority of that time, recognized
the Wilfrid Bog as an Environmentally Significant Area. The study
described the bog as ‘as an exceptional example of a northern
bog ecosystem. The fragility of the bog community and the pressures
that are being exerted on it make this a high priority area of
protection'. Also of note is the fact that the Pefferlaw Peat
Products company purchased this site in 1977, five years after the EP
zoning. Since this time the Wilfrid Bog has been classified by our
Provincial Government as an ANSI 6 wetland site.
We would like to see an immediate stop to the
destructive action currently being exerted upon this EP property. In
1981, an OMB hearing reversed a zonal change from EP to M4-1 (a zonal
change granted previously by our local council) and also regulated
the removal of peat from this site. We generated a letter on August
4th of this year to Brock Township Council asking them to act on the
municipal zoning infraction, but to this date no action has been
taken. Since this time (August 27, 1999) the peat extractor has
started removing peat from the site. This is most definitely an
infringement of the zoning and must be challenged by our
municipality, yet still our council has not sent our Bylaw Officer in
to deal with the matter.
This is very similar to the 1991-1992 events with
our town council and the destructive approach on the bog by the same
company. Here the land owner destroyed a considerable section of the
bog through the cutting of trees within a pristine section of the bog
and associated woodlands around it. During this time our council
refused then to challenge zonal infringements and during a 1992
council planning meeting, resolved not to uphold any Regional bylaws,
thus releasing them from the burden of responsibility in exercising
the then new and controversial Regional Tree Conservation Bylaw,
which the Task Force was anxious for them to apply. The Task Force
found it necessary to go to Durham Region Planning to have the law
applied, but not before considerable damage was done to the bog due
to the delay and lack of promptitude on our municipality.
Durham Region Planning is once again amazed at
this developed situation with our council and is talking with their
solicitors to find out what action they can take to enter the bog and
have the destruction stopped. They are also looking into the matter
of Brock council and the negating of their responsibilities on this
matter. It would be so much easier if everyone (local council, the
region, the conservation authority and the OMNR) were able to work
together. Unfortunately, this does not appear to be transpiring and
as a result the action needed to be taken will not and has not been
enforced in time. With every day passed, severe additional damage is
being committed by an environmental criminal on this very special
part of Ontario. We need council to enforce the zoning bylaw, so as
the OMNR, the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority and Durham
Region Planning can accompany the Bylaw Office Mrs. Jan Holder onto
the property so as follow suit with additional charges in regards to
Regional Bylaws and provincial regulations and get this matter
resolve quickly and neatly.
We would like you, our M.P.P., to get involved in
this matter by doing what you can to assure that this bog will be
preserved as it has already been deemed worthy of. Also, please
present this issue to our Premier Mr. Mike Harris and let him know
that the environmental laws as set in this province needs
strengthening through increased manpower and additional powers to
those agencies responsible for the protection of our bio-diversity
and fragmented eco-systems, and not weakening via cutbacks to our
most essential environmental services. We also may need to look at
our whole process for protecting the environment. We believe that too
much responsibility is placed in the hands of the environmentally
unknowing or unwilling and that there should be enforcement available
at a much higher government level for environmental situations such
as these.
Due to the time restraint involved here (a large
amount of damage can occur in a very short time). We thank you for
your prompt attention to this matter.
Kevin Tipson
Resident
PS: We have a Web-site out on the Wilfrid Bog
that may help you with the issue. You can find us at
www.millicentorchids.com/wilfrid . You can email me at
ktipson@millicentorchids.com . This letter and all correspondence in
reply will be published at this Web-site. |
