Peaceful Protest: Say No to the MZO

The expressions, “It’s not over ’til it’s over,” and “It’s never too late” (to make things right) apply to the Picton Terminals travesty.  

To date, over 1,300 concerned citizens have signed the petition, Say NO to the MZO.  The outrage is palpable and for good reason.  People who live close to Picton Terminals have told me of being awakened at 4:00 a.m. by loud banging (not blasting but some kind of work going on at PT), windows rattling with every dynamite blast and more.  

People are worried about our drinking water even with the present activity stirring up the bay, let alone if it is allowed to increase.  The quarrying of the gorgeous limestone cliff is unacceptable to the vast majority.  Beyond all of this, people are incensed that our mayor and councillors have allowed this to happen — behind closed doors, and after being given a clear mandate to take Picton Terminals to court.  

We do not know when County staff will submit the MZO application, but it is understood that it will not be before Dec 27. Given that this application does meet most of the criteria to receive the MZO  — there is no urgency to rezone this land, there has been no consultation with the community, nor with the Mohawks of Tyendinaga, and it clearly is not critical to an expansion of housing — perhaps we should simply submit our protest petition and arguments and trust that the province will deny the request.  

I personally, however, find it hard to trust our provincial government. I would like the County to reconsider submitting this application. 

Please join me outside at Shire Hall at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday 11 December. Council has a Planning and Development Committee meeting that evening. I would like to show the Council with our numbers and signage that we are SAYING NO TO THE MZO, NO TO PICTON TERMINALS EXPANSION.  We will not disrupt the meeting and the protest will be peaceful. I look forward to seeing you there!

Penny Morris, Picton

The White Cliffs of Picton

Ben Doornekamp couldn’t wait to blow up the limestone cliffs on Picton Bay. That has been his intent for years. He just needed a reason. Along came the silos. He doesn’t care about shipping grain. He bought an old port on a cliff with big dreams of becoming the Hamilton of the Great Lakes — but first he had to get rid of the cliff. Because what port in the world sits on top of a cliff?

A few of us close to the situation have watched what has transpired over the years. Nothing phases us now. For years, people have been asking the County Conservancy why nothing can be done. Well here’s why. Trust me, it is not for lack of trying.

Ben Doornekamp does exactly what Ben Doornekamp wants. Rules don’t apply to him. Rules are made for other people. 

Ten years ago, the citizens of the County looked to town staff to enforce some of our bylaws to regulate Picton Terminals. The attempt ended up in court — and still County staff did not enforce our bylaws. 

The provincial oversight agencies have turned a blind eye. MNRF claims the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of limestone Picton Terminals is quarrying for massive profits is “incidental rock.” Because the Terminals is building a port. 

But wait, there is not a single building permit or plan to build a port. 

Quinte Conservation states that their hands are tied now that the Ford Government has reduced their regulatory authority. Well where were they ten years ago? QC’s answer has always been, “well we would have given PT a permit anyway.”

When PT blew up the cliff face last week without a permit, QC’s answer again was, “well we would have given him a permit, anyway. And the $850 fine is so minimal it is not worth anyone’s time to issue it.”

But now, let’s get to the real reason this has gone so far: County staff and the very people for whom taxpayer dollars are going to pad their salaries and their pension plans.

Marcia Wallace came into the County at a time when it was experiencing some significant growing pains. One of her mandates was to put in a Site Control Plan for development. We are one of the few counties that does not have one.  Four years later, we still have nothing. This means developers can really do whatever they want as the town has no oversight. 

Take someone like Ben Doornekamp and this quickly turns into the perfect storm. Who cares about the limestone cliff face that has been there forever and cannot be replaced, who cares about the quality of the water when container ships come in, who cares about the noise coming from the blasting, who cares that there is a huge rock quarry on the bay, who cares that the public has not been consulted and who cares that there is huge public opposition?

To  all of those people who have asked the County Conservancy over the years why can’t we do anything: it’s because we are dealing with government officials — federal, provincial, and municipal — who are not held accountable. It’s so much easier to sell off the farm. Actually, scratch selling. Even that was too much work. They just gave it all away.

Leslie Stewart, President, County Conservancy