The Perth Courier
Editorial

December 23, 2002

A learning experience

It has been a difficult time over the last few years for OMYA executives in their quest to obtain water rights to the Tay River.

It has been an equally formidable time for the local citizens’ group which is opposing this quest.

The debate has been heated. The Ontario Municipal Board hearings have been a learning experience for everyone; a study in political lobbying, environmental studies, economic realities. The appellants are to be commended for their tenacity and perseverance in the face of such odds.

The Courier removed itself from the debate, to avoid any prejudice of the independence of this extremely important issue. This way both sides could feel they were being treated fairly and honestly in reported events.

It was also our desire to have the proponents feel free to vent their concerns and arguments through letters to the editor, which each did, for the most part, in a professional and logical manner.

However, OMYA is now asking Chris Stockwell, Ontario Minister of Environment, to approve its bid to increase the water intake prior to a provincial superior court appeal hearing. While there are legal provisions to allow this to take place, it is setting a dangerous precedent.

It is conceivable that such a decision could damage or destroy the environmental act or set in motion numerous other environmental issues which may not be known at this point.

While the stakes on both sides are extremely high, there are certain protocols and procedures sacrosanct to the laws and legal process of the country which should not be tampered with, and this is one of those issues.

Opening Pandora’s box can create irreversible results.