June 14-20 2021
June 18, 2021
More questions arise as awareness grows in response to a statement released by the company and an article published in the Owen Sound Sun Times yesterday.
Where will we find the answers?
In a story published in the Owen Sound Sun Times yesterday it is stated that the company “ Will require approvals from three provincial ministries and Saugeen Ojibway Nation before proceeding“.
Is it standard practice to obtain pre-approval from various Provincial Ministries prior to getting an audience with Mayor and Council, or does it work the other way around? Upon what evidence does approval from those various Ministries depend?
Did it become evident that this would be a project of large scale at the closed door session with council?
What consideration and debate occurred prior to determining that this project would comply and be allowed under the existing agricultural zoning?
The company states that studies are underway. What studies, exactly? Who is paying? Who has been consulted so far as part of those studies? Will those studies be conducted at the expense of the company by firms suggested by and representing the many interests ( NEC, Bruce Trail, SON, landowners, inquiring into the project’s effects on ecological and environmental scenarios, along with traffic studies, noise, smell, and sociological impact upon this area?
It has been stated by both Council and the company that “200 jobs” will be created. What, exactly, are those jobs...for how long, and what skills are required? Can the local labour pool provide those employees from existing skills available, or is retraining required? Who will pay to train employees if chosen from local skills pool? If not chosen from local skills pool, where will they be found? Are temporary foreign workers being considered by the company?
The company’s delegation before council was held in a closed session because the purchase of land was part of the agenda. The company has now confirmed the purchase in its media release. When will the minutes from the in-camera session be publicly available? The number of questions continues to grow regarding size, scope, life cycle, potential impact and ‘cost/benefit analysis’ of this project.
The principles of prudence and full disclosure suggest that a public information session inviting all of the many interests involved and conducted with complete transparency to show evidence of prior due diligence would be a necessary step to develop a fair and equitable end result for all concerned.
June 17, 2021
The following article appeared in the Owen Sound Sun Times:
https://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/news/local-news/company-conducting-studies-for-proposed-aquaculture-facility-on-peninsula
We obtained the following:
It is a copy of a request that was filed for a closed session meeting with Town Council regarding an aquaculture facility on March 16 of this year.
Review of some of the information on the form has uncovered links to the following stories:
https://lobbycanada.gc.ca/app/secure/ocl/lrs/do/vwRg?cno=357435®Id=858117
...and it goes on.
Question: who is behind the recent purchase of the 200 acres on Berford Lake Road and has had contractors working there with heavy equipment?
Zoning compliance from the town and an aquaculture license have been obtained from the MNR
Time for answers.
People are upset, and lives have been disrupted. Hoping Council has done their due diligence....
June 15, 2021
STATEMENT RELEASED FROM GEORGIAN BAY INNOVATION GROUP
https://www.facebook.com/SouthBrucePeninsulaTownHall/posts/5724398394298558
This notice has been posted on the South Bruce Peninsula Facebook Page. For those that don’t have Facebook, the release can be seen below.
June 14, 2021
Bayshore Broadcasting published the following story to their website after a call was made to the Bill Murdoch 560 CFOS live on air radio show with Mayor Janice Jackson this morning.
Citizens Concerned About Proposed Peninsula Fish Farm | Bayshore Broadcasting News Centre
Click here to see the article: https://www.bayshorebroadcasting.ca/2021/06/14/citizens-concerned-about-proposed-peninsula-fish-farm/