Nightclub in the Neighbourhood

RE: Councillor Sam’s Place, News, December 25. I am a musician. I’m a professional saxophonist, improviser and composer. I have improvised for Pope John Paul II and for the Dalai Lama’s Long Life Empowerment Ceremony. My music was taken into space on two shuttle missions by Canadian Astronaut Steve MacLean. I have performed with a wide variety of musicians from Stevie Wonder to I Musici de Montreal. I offer this thumbnail sketch of my career to establish my credentials. So that you know, I love music.

Having performed in many concert halls and jazz clubs, I am aware that the transference of sound would make many of them unsuitable for residential areas.

Unwanted loud music is invasive. Very loud unwanted music is an assault—every bit as aggressive as any physical assault. So I feel for and support the community of Carrying Place who now, by virtue of their neighbourhood, have to endure unwanted loud or very loud music imposed on them by a councillor who clearly does not consider their plight. And by a Councilthat does not care for community.

Following on the MZO secret vote this condoning of a nightclub in a neighbourhood clearly establishes that this Council cares little about its constituents. I say Shame!

David Mott, Waupoos

Wedding Woes

Having lived through events at the Cape, Merrill House and Wexford, I understand the concerns raised by neighbours of the new Sam’s Place event venue (Councillor Sam’s Place, News,December 25). We have had weddings next to us that were so loud that we could not hear the TV with the windows closed, though thankfully those ended when the Wexford changed hands.

Weddings at the Merrill and Cape have been more sedate, which we can live with as long as the festivities end by 11pm. I just hope the people next to Sam’s Place aren’t blasted out of their homes as a result of this questionable approval.

Richard Pearse, Picton Main Street

Economic Snapshot Needs Work

In An Economic Snapshot (News, December 25), Eleanor Zichy addresses a report provided by the County on job numbers in PEC. As is so often the case, Shire Hall has chosen to include numbers which make it look like they know what they are doing but which actually raise more questions than they answer.

For example:

Where do the employees of retail businesses get counted?

What about County residents who work outside of the County?

How many of these jobs are full-time vs. part-time? Year-round vs. seasonal?

Why does the title of the report say the snapshot covers the period from 2020 but the data is for the period starting in 2019?

Why are the categories of jobs and the numbers on the two graphs inconsistent? Here are just two examples:

* Professional, scientific, and technical services 2024: 517 jobs (Job Growth graph)

* Professional services 2024: approx. 1100 jobs (Job Numbers graph)

* Construction 2024: 380 jobs (Job Growth graph)

* Construction 2024: approx. 800 jobs (Job Numbers graph)

The scariest question: Does the County really base planning decisions on data of this quality?

This snapshot is woefully out of focus and before Ms. Palmer presents her Economic Action Plan to Council, perhaps she should review the numbers on which she is basing her plan.

Don Payne, North Marysburgh

Trump’s Terrors

A year ago, anyone who believed that the US would try to annex Canada would have been regarded as out of their minds.

Yet Donald Trump has announced his ambition “to use economic force to convince Canada to agree to a political union with the US”. In the same January 7th news conference, he also said he wouldn’t rule out military force or economic coercion to take control of Greenland.

It’s unclear whether this is just Trump’s bluster to undermine Canadian confidence in tariff negotiations or whether it is something which he actually intends to pursue.

However, apart from Trump’s official pronouncements, there is another threat to Canada which Trump’s rhetoric will encourage.

Imagine that Trump builds up anti-Canadian sentiment in the US through on-going rants about some grievance or other – illegal immigration, a refusal by Canada to surrender our water to the US, an attempt by Canada to respond to Trump’s tariffs by cutting energy exports, etc.

Egged on by Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric, a mob of heavily-armed Trump supporters gathers at a border crossing. Reminiscent of the mob who invaded the US Congress, they intend to force their way into Canada on their way to Ottawa to disrupt our parliament.

Do we just let them invade and overthrow our government? Or do the OPP or the Canadian Forces try to block them at the border? Suppose we try to block them at the border and the US thugs open fire with their assault rifles? Do the Canadian forces fire back or just let them invade? If the Canadian forces fire back resulting in American deaths, could Trump use that as a pretext for US military to punish Canada for killing US citizens?

As far-fetched as it seems, I believe that something like this is becoming a real possibility. We need to recognize that times have changed: the US may be our neighbour, but they are not our ally. We need to start thinking about our response to US threats to Canada.

Treat Hull, Picton

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