Premier Not Satisfied with MNR Handling Cursory Look at the Oct
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Page 4 — ALMAGUIN NEWS, Wednesday, November 7, 2007 THE ALMAGUIN NEWS Box 518, BURK’S FALLS, ONTARIO P0A 1C0 Phone: Burk’s Falls 705-382-3843 • Powassan 705-724-2741 • 1-800-731-6397 • Fax: 705-382-3440 Email: [email protected] IS A DIVISION OF METROLAND MEDIA GROUP LTD. Joe Anderson, Vice-President and Regional Publisher Premier not satisfied with MNR handling cursory look at the Oct. 10 provincial election could have given Premier Dalton A McGuinty a pretty rosy outlook on how Ontarians view his governing over the past four years. But a little deeper delving into the results demonstrates that all is not well for Liberals in Northern Ontario. In Thunder Bay-Atikokan, Liberal MPP Bill Mauro squeaked to victory over his NDP opponent by a paltry 36 votes. Former Minister of Natural Resources David Ramsay had one of his closest calls in his 22 years of Queen’s Parking, winning by only 634 votes. But no result may be more troubling than the narrow victory of our own Monique Smith. When Smith’s margin of victory shrank from more than 3,000 in the 2003 election against incumbent Al McDonald to only 357 votes against Bill Vrebosch, it caught our eye. It must also have caught Premier McGuinty’s as well. Despite huge progress on the four-laning of Hwy. 11, a new hospital under construction, relative peace on the education front and what seemed to be a competent campaign, it came down to the last ballot box for Smith to claim her ticket to Toronto. Something must have been amiss with Smith in voter’s minds. PHOTO BY LAUREL CAMPBELL And while we won’t take anything away from GOSSAMER THREADS: An explosion of milkweed seeds in Powassan wait for the wind to carry them to new locations where they will put down roots for Vrebosch and his campaign team, we believe next year’s growth. Milkweed plants (Asclepias) are the host plants for Monarch butterflies, thus gaining their reputation as Butterfly Weed. However, that voters in this area sent a message that they milkweed is also a highly-sought nectar source for many other butterfly species Aside from attracting Monarch butterflies for egg-laying, milkweed entices want better support for the MNR. swallowtails, painted ladies, American ladies, red admirals, fritillaries, and hairstreaks for nectaring. Milkweed also draws hummingbirds and For the past few years, news from ‘The hummingbird clearwing moths to the garden for nectar. The plants get their name from the milky sap that is released from any break in the stem. Ministry,’ as the MNR is called in these parts, has been about cutbacks to fish stocking programs, offices closed to the public and unions holding bake sales to illustrate the lack – Letters – of funding for core fish and wildlife programs. It is unsettling to residents of an area that Why is one man’s dream costing taxpayers so much? relies so heavily on angling and hunting for much needed tourism dollars. To the Editor: Windsor Airport for free. The City of Windsor Township and owned by South River. De facto Perhaps it can be assumed that Premier Barry Morris’ vision for the South River- has been trying to unload it for years. The ownership has fallen by default to a loosely McGuinty has picked up on this disappointment Sundridge-Morris airport is known to him, I new owner merely needs to guarantee that for knit band of a half-dozen pilots who own assume, but has been kept a secret from a period of years, he will pay the shortfall their own planes and have exercised and ire and has decided to do something about everyone else. No councillor can tell you what between airport income and expense. Now squatter’s rights and use the terminal as a it. Not only did he turf Ramsay from the cabinet, it would cost. No councillor (other than this is a fully-functioning municipal airport private clubhouse. They pay nothing. but McGuinty appointed one of his stars as the perhaps Mr. Morris) can tell you what the with scheduled airline flights, paved runways, You and I pay for heat and electricity. You replacement. annual costs are now to keep the airport lighting, control tower, gates, emergency and I paid for the installation of an aviation The new Minister of Natural Resources, “open.” Whatever the costs are now, they are equipment, long term parking, etc. It costs fuel pump. You and I pay for snowplowing and Donna Cansfield, has a proven track record of being paid by the residents of Joly, Machar, the taxpayers of Windsor hundreds of runway maintenance. You and I pay the salary success in her past portfolios of energy and South River, Sundridge and Strong through thousands of dollars each and every year to for someone to plan for further expenditures. their property taxes. The only way to keep it open. You and I will pay for any improvements and transportation. This is evident right here in ascertain what amount of your property tax The South River airport was originally a the costs to maintain them. Almaguin as the hordes of bulldozers, bill goes to airport upkeep would be through Royal Canadian Air Force training facility If Morris gets his way, you and I will be excavators and dump trucks work at relative a provincially mandated forensic audit at during the Second World War owned by the looking at $100 to $200 more per month in break neck speed to four-lane our main corridor each of the five municipalities. Federal government and gifted to South River property taxes. This madness must be – Hwy. 11. Upkeep costs are substantial and any after the war. The Feds were glad to get rid of stopped. Contact your councillors. They need But, it cannot be ignored that she comes from improvements to the airport would, in it. Joly was offered the airport and declined. to be reminded that they owe a duty of care Toronto, a place whose residents are not addition to capital costs, trigger increased South River soon discovered their error and when spending the taxpayer’s money. And maintenance costs for salaries, electricity, importuned for help from the other that making one man’s dream come true associated with strong outdoors culture. vehicle maintenance, license fees, etc. municipalities, who, apparently as an act of should be low on their list of priorities. Her citified past alone is drawing detractors Municipal airports lose money. If Morris charity, agreed to split the costs. It is still William Douglas, who wonder how she could possibly understand wants his own airport, he can acquire the surrounded by Crown land but located in Joly Joly Township the importance of a fall day walking the bush chasing game. We prefer to see this as an opportunity. Cansfield has been handed a chance to show Reflections on Remembrance Day that a person from Toronto is capable of To the Editor: Do You Remember Do you Remember how to get freedom? understanding rural residents’ connection to I have enclosed a short poem composed By Emily Nobes You have to fight for your freedom, and that’s their natural resources. by my granddaughter last November. Grade 7 student at Land of Lakes Public School what they did. And, let’s not forget that the years of cutbacks I thought it may be of interest to your Do you Remember who died for you? Do you Remember the poppies that grow came from Minister Ramsay – a supposed paper. Do you Remember World War II? across the river row by row? northern boy. It is interesting to see how our children Do you Remember what they did for you? Do you Remember what they thought on reflect on the history of how our soldiers Do you? Do you? World War II? Minister Cansfield has pledged to be a strong fought for our freedom in the past and Do you Remember what they gave? Do you Remember the days they fought just advocate for the MNR at the cabinet table to present. They gave their lives just for you. for you? secure funding for her ministry. Shirley Nobes, Do you Remember why they fought for you? Do you Remember? In this regard, at least, she can do no worse. Sundridge They fought for you to give you freedom. Because I sure do. The water may run clear now, but it witnessed a great sacrifice t was a grey drizzling day a few Juno Beach; water that 60 years through the intense machine gun fire Maybe he bravely ran out of the water willing to die and over 40,000 of them years ago, and my wife and I were earlier had been turned red from the and mortars that the German army on the very beach that I stood on or made that ultimate sacrifice. I eagerly anticipating blood of Canadian would have rained down upon them flew sorties over the skies of Europe. But now they are, for the most spending some time on soldiers. with unimaginable ferocity. Did he languish in a German or part, ignored. And not only by their the beach. Unable to Directly in front of me Many did survive; but those that Japanese prison camp? neighbours and fellow citizens, but find a place to park were the remains of a did saw many of their friends die. I don’t know and, like many, often also by our governments. Many close to the water, I German bunker. Further Soon afterwards we drove to the can’t be bothered to ask.