August 2021
Monday August 23 -560 CFOS 560 Open Line with Claire McCormack.
Mayor Jackson again spoke about the fish factory.
https://www.560cfos.ca/2021/08/24/the-open-line-with-claire-mccormack-33/
Among her comments:
about 6 months ago “can’t really recall” she and council were made aware of project
“the town doesn’t have right to look at every business that wants to come and say that we don’t want you.”
“this project is years away”
real movement to oppose this production that she finds very disappointing because nobody knows anything about it.
suggests project could be “the best thing that happened here”………“looking at 200 jobs”
(opposition) “Started by one guy that came from out of town and bought a property that abuts the land that this company has purchased”……..”really a Not In My Back Yard issue and that’s what makes me really angry”
“offended that this guy who doesn’t want this beside him has created such a monster of a mess”
“he’s been fear mongering in my community and thats what really distresses me”
Setting the record straight…just the factsApril 6 - Tim Boosamra and Gerry Sullivan of Georgian Bay Innovation Group met with Mayor Jackson and council in a closed session “off the record” meeting
minutes of that meeting still have not been made available to the public
April 13- real estate transaction closed for the purchase of the proposed site at 83 Berford Lake Road.
the company and the Town issued a statement only when they were found out in June
although they have promised more info would be forthcoming, there has been nothing further to date
mayor’s comments on the radio suggest she is angry, distressed and disappointed that there is opinion different from hers regarding this project
With the mayor’s feelings set aside, perhaps it is time to remind the mayor that the choice to allow this to proceed is not hers alone and the residents must be given a voice in directing all future development in South Bruce Peninsula and all areas adjoining Georgian Bay.
Reminder-the mayor is an employee of the people that reside here
To invite input once all of the ministry licenses and EAs has been done is too late…..is she suggesting that if studies come back with results saying it will not have negative impact, will the residents will still be given the power to “kill it” if public opinion suggests so?
A project of this scale should not be taken lightly with the profound impact it could have on the entire peninsula and Georgian Bay…to continually deflect questions and be dismissive is not acceptable
the promise of 200 jobs is media candy…..lots of info out there discussing jobs in aquaculture…to date we have found nothing to indicate any aquaculture facilities in the world have this many employees. Recall the company has stated there “will be no processing on site.”
This is not one mans fight…a petition approaching 1000 signatures and continued submissions from residents to website that has had in excess of 24,000 page views.
in excess of 300 local residents are publicly displaying opposition to the project with signs on their property.
Information shared on the site is verifiable and accurate and can be refuted at any time if the mayor would care to do so……
To suggest that continued invitation to the people of the Peninsula to get informed and learn more is fear mongering is ridiculous. People should be encouraged to make informed decisions that will have very real impact on the future of the area.
Whether the mayor likes it or not residents have a vested interest in seeking info on this industry and this project and do want to have a say in whether it moves ahead or not …..and direction of any future development in the peninsula
A token hearing when everything is in place is not acceptable
Mishandled from the start…..Mayor Jackson and her council must accept responsibility.
August 19, 2021
Grey Bruce Climate Action Group hosted an online forum titled CHANGE Balancing Protection & Recreation in Our Favourite Wild Spaces
One of our members was invited to provide input.
The video can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/98617zmlVO4
August 14, 2021
On Thursday, the following email was sent to us from the Municipal Office of South Bruce Peninsula
The Town has received a complaint from a resident about the “smells fishy” signs in the Mallory Beach area. The complainant also had concerns about other signs, that are also being addressed.
Technically the signs are not permitted in our sign bylaw. However, as a compromise for the remainder of this year, can I ask that you notify the people that have posted these signs and request that they be moved back off the municipal road allowance, town boulevards, ditches, etc.. and placed on private property. The Town will inspect the area again in a week and address the signs that remain on Town property.
As stated above, for the remainder of this year, we will allow the signs to remain that are placed on private property. The Town will review its sign bylaw in the near future (hopefully over this winter) and advise you of any changes for the 2022 season.
I appreciate your assistance in sharing our message.
If you want to discuss the issue further, please contact me at your convenience.
Regards,
Bill Jones, CAO
Town of South Bruce Peninsula
The Town’s Sign Bylaw 27-2012, stipulates:
3.7 No portion of any newly erected signs nor any part of its support shall project or extend over any street or road entrance in any manner unless first having been approved by the Town and appropriate authorities.
3. 16 No person(s) shall display, cause to be erected, or structurally alter any sign within the Town without first obtaining a sign permit.
12.4 In the case of a sign or other advertising device erected on a road allowance or on any street or town owned property without the consent of the Town such signs shall be removed at the expense of the sign owner or property owner.
Note: There are provisions within the bylaw that allow (with conditions) contractors signs, real estate signs, no trespassing signs, garage sales, car wash, directional signs in parking areas, and warning signs.
The Town appreciates that residents want to support local causes. As such, for the remainder of this year, the Town will allow the signs to remain however, we ask that
all signs be relocated off of the Town’s Road allowance. As some residents might not know the exact location of their roadside property line the Town will ask these residents to make sure that the signs are placed back a minimum of 3 meters from the edge of the travelled road to ensure compliance.
The Town will review its sign bylaw in the near future (hopefully over this winter) and advise you of any changes for the 2022 season.
August 10, 2021
One of Mallory Beach’s residents has shared a letter received from Mayor Jackson at the Mallory Beach Ratepayers Association AGM:
Hello Mallory Beach residents! It’s been a year since I saw you at the last AGM zoom meeting. How quickly time flies. I’m sorry I’m not joining you this year however I wanted to update you on a few issues of importance to the area.
The Aquaculture Project
While this has become quite a contentious issue, I want to express the position of the Town. We know very little about this project. It is a private business that purchased land on Berford Lake Rd. The zoning is appropriate for their purpose, so they did not need to apply for a zoning amendment. Zoning amendments not only trigger public meetings, but the proponents must fully explain their development to town staff and the public. In this case, that was not necessary as they do not need to alter the current zoning therefore, they are really no different than most businesses in the sense that we don’t have the ability to prevent a business from setting up in SBP. Businesses rarely need the town’s approval to set up shop. This is no different. We did have a zoom meeting with them and out of courtesy, they gave us a general overview, much of which is now public. This is an in-land project. Off-shore projects have been shutting down worldwide for environmental reason in favour of in-land productions which can be controlled. We have been told that because the entire plant is inside, there will be no odor or noise. It’s a one-story building so it won’t tower over the trees. They expect 3 trucks daily to leave the facility which is a far cry from the multitude of quarry trucks that drive right through the middle of town each day. They claim it will employ a great number of people in everything from entry level to highly skilled positions. The only thing we believe they will require from the town is access to our road allowance to bury their pipe leading to the bay. We do have control over that. Right now, they are working through the various Ministries along with SON to get their approvals. The main concern we are hearing from our residents is the concern of polluting the Bay. I have heard from some people that they feel the Ministry will turn a blind eye if this business pollutes the bay. I don’t believe that to be true however I certainly don’t believe SON will allow their fishing rights to be jeopardized by any form of continual pollution and I can assure you the town won’t either. Their need for a pipe in our road allowance gives us control in the end. Until we are assured by all agencies that our bay will not be polluted, we will not issue road allowance approval. What disturbs me are the false statements being put out by one person who is doing his best to stop this project before it even begins. He knows little about this project because there is very little information available at this point. I would be happier if we allowed this company to execute their due diligence with the Ministries and SON and if there’s concern, they likely won’t get far. If it turns out they will not harm the environment or the bay, this could be a total windfall for our community. But until we have facts, we should not be casting judgement or do harm to a project that might be of huge benefit to our town. So, until we have information on every nuance of this business, please hold your opinions and don’t panic, we will walk through this plan one step at a time. This project is not going to happen overnight or anytime soon. The process with the Ministries and SON takes time.