100 km² of McGuinty&#8217;s "Habitat" Bulldozed!


GREENBELT DIRECTORS DIRECTING TAX-DOLLARS TO THEIR OWN ORG'S– LANDOWNERS DEMAND McGUINTY HOLD INQUIRY Carleton County, 14 April 2008 The Ontario Landowners’ Association (OLA) is demanding that the McGuinty Government set up an enquiry to look into the dispersal of $25 million of provincial funding by the GTA Greenbelt Commission. In a recent article that appeared in Ontario Farmer, journalist Ian Cumming revealed that many of the Greenbelt directors and advisors also represent agencies that have derived huge sums of public money from the multi-million dollar provincial funding of the Greenbelt. The Executive Director of Environmental Defence, Rick Smith, is a Greenbelt Director and his organization received $600,000 from the $10 million that has already been spent from the tax-payer funded slush-fund. The Executive Director of Ontario Nature, Caroline Schultz, is another Greenbelt Director and her group netted $235,000. Stuart Hilts, a Guelph University professor in charge of the Land and Water Stewardship Programs sits on the Greenbelt advisory board and his academic department walked away with $400,000. The Executive Producer of the Royal Winter Fair, William Duron, is a Greenbelt director and the Fair got $600,000 over three years. The OLA rejects the claim by Greenbelt Foundation President, Burkhard Mausberg, that the conflict of interest was necessary in order to have “the best possible people.” “He’s defending the indefensible.” replied OLA director Jamie MacMaster. “There’s an old farm test for sour milk that can be used as an ethics tool: if it looks bad, and it smells bad, don’t swallow it no matter what anyone tells you. What do you think the average Canadian would think about this situation? A group of NGOs lobby long and hard for the creation of a Greenbelt. When it is formed, the directors of these various NGOs also become directors of the Greenbelt and secure millions in provincial funding. Lo and behold, a huge chunk of that money goes to their respective organizations.” The Greenbelt Commission notes that there are guidelines in place so that none of the funding can be used for salaries, but Garry Otten, an OLA director from Peterborough County scoffs at the suggestion that this makes things okay. “What a crock. A kid could see through that. If you already have, let’s say, $1 million in the kitty from donations, doesn’t the infusion of another half-million - only for expenses - free up a larger portion of your original million for salaries?” Otten, says that this should be a wake-up call for residents who see the Greenbelt as an environmental saviour. “And this is the agency that wants to expand its influence? Boy, everyone better take a long, hard look at what’s going on here.” 100 km² of McGuinty’s "Habitat" Bulldozed! Angry Landowners from across the province have responded to the McGuinty Government’s Endangered Species Act by committing to clear-cut 24,754 acres of rural land that - under the new legislation - would be in danger of being classified as ”species habitat”. To give some idea of the amount of land involved, all the parkland in Metro Toronto amounts to only 73 km². “This is quite a milestone” said OLA President Jack MacLaren, “and Mr. McGuinty can take a bow, because he is responsible for it” MacLaren estimates that perhaps 40 km² have already been cleared and he thinks that the rest of the land will be cleared in the few months ahead. OLA Press Release 6 Mar, 2008 Leeds-Grenville Landowners Association AGM - an Enthusiastic Fresh Start! (Attached photo front L to R: Nancy Kehoe, Gill Cyr, Duaine McKinley, Stephen Kirkwood, Carolin Kroot) The Leeds-Grenville Landowners Association (LGLA) had their Annual General Meeting on March 4 at Spring Valley Hall at Brockville. It was a very enthusiastic meeting attended by 125 people most of whom signed up or renewed their memberships. A draft Constitution was presented to the membership which was accepted by all. Duaine McKinley, the interim president, gave a report on the recent activities and future plans of the LGLA. Shawn Carmichael gave a brief report on how the Upper Canada School Coalition won its fight with the school board to keep three local schools open. This was a big success for Grenville County. Guest speakers were Jack MacLaren, president of the Ontario Landowners Association (OLA) and Tom Black of the Carleton L.A. They talked about the many OLA battles with government legislations, regulations and bureaucrats that interfer with the ability of Landowners to use, enjoy and profit from their property. Jeff Bogaerts, president of the Lanark Landowners Association, convened the elections for a new executive and board of directors. The following people were elected: President: Duaine McKinley ph: 613 926 2372 mckinley@ripnet.com 1st Vice-President: Gill Cyr ph: 613925 5049 paulinec@ripnet.com 2nd Vice-President: Stephen Kirkwood ph: 613 924 2535 skirkwood@xplornet.com Secretary: Carolin Kroot ph: 613 926 2577 carolin.kroot@sympatico.ca Treasurer: Nancy Kehoe Directors: Bill Kroot, Onne von Hoek, Shawn Carmichael, Gene Countryman, Joanne Cyr, Jim Kehoe, Roger Crandall The Leeds-Grenville Landowners Association has been re-instated as a member in good standing of the Ontario Landowners Association. Attention Landowners!! A new 10 episode series, "It's Your Government" is coming soon to a channel in your area. On March 11, 7:30, if all goes well, Laura Black and her family will be featured in a 20 minute segment where her documentary, "The Rural Revolution..a Fight for Survival" will be highlighted. Clips from her movie and interviews with some of the people she filmed, will be part of the show called: Citizen Politicians.. The Channel is called: "Ichannel" and it stands for Intelligent Channel. Find it at: Rogers Cable: Channel 197 Star Choice: Channel 593 Bell ExpressVu: Channel 514 We will keep you posted if the times change. If you have any questions etc, call Tom or Marlene Black at 613-831-2642 "24,000 acres of Habitat denied to McGuinty" DEMOCRACY DENIED! Today, the Ontario Landowners Association blockaded the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority offices in Ottawa to protest the absolute disregard for the democratic process that elected Merle Bowes and Terry Hale, members of the Ontario Landowners Association, to the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Committee. The purpose of this committee is to enforce the regulations of the Clean Water Act. Merle and Terry have been rejected solely because they are members of the Ontario Landowners Association. This is a rejection of the Ontario Landowners Association and a rejection of the democratic process. These are injustices that we will not accept. Until Merle Bowes and Terry Hale have been reinstated to their rightful positions as members of the MRSPC, the properties of OLA members will be posted and conservation authority employees will denied access without informed consent. A similar situation exists in Huron County where John Van der Burgt was rejected by the Ausable-Maitland Source Protection Committee. We demand that he be reinstated as well. Why are rural landowners under attack? Why are rural landowners under attack? Why do we need property rights entrenched in our Constitution? Here is the government's plan and strategy to attack rural landowners and their economy. TAKING our land-For their use. People often believe that governments are benevolent and have our best interests at heart when they pass legislation: and that the failings of government policy and legislation are the result of poor implementation or their lack of knowledge and competence. The Vancouver declaration proves they are both neither benevolent, nor incompetent, only deceptive. This declaration provides the bureaucratic rational for collecting data regarding your land and then using that data to change your ownership rights. Read more http://habitat.igc.org/vancouver/vp-a.htm The second step of the plan was concluded with the repatriation of the Canadian constitution that omitted property rights from the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, but included collective & minority rights. Read the Charter at http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/charter/ The third step is the abolition and modification to existing water use rights as outlined in the 1989 UN Charter on Ground Water Management that Canada signed onto. Read more http://www.internationalwaterlaw.org/ The fourth and final step is found in "The panel Report-On the role of government, which lays out the framework to manage the death of Rural Ontario. Read more at Nov 1, 2005:INVESTING IN PEOPLE - Creating a Human Capital Society for Ontario 47,000 more reasons to fight back http://www.ruralrevolution.com/website/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=132&Itemid=205 Randy Hillier Past President Ontario Landowners' Association January 9, 2006 The Vancouver Action Plan 64 Recommendations for National Action Approved at Habitat: United Nations Conference on Human Settlements, Vancouver, Canada 31 May to 11 June 1976 Vancouver Declaration Preamble Land, because of its unique nature and the crucial role it plays in human settlements, cannot be treated as an ordinary asset, controlled by individuals and subject to the pressures and inefficiencies of the market. Private land ownership is also a principal instrument of accumulation and concentration of wealth and therefore contributes to social injustice; if unchecked, it may become a major obstacle in the planning and implementation of development schemes. Social justice, urban renewal and development, the provision of decent dwellings-and healthy conditions for the people can only be achieved if land is used in the interests of society as a whole. Instead, the pattern of land use should be determined by the long-term interests of the community, especially since decisions on location of activities and therefore of specific land uses have a long-lasting effect on the pattern and structure of human settlements. Land is also a primary element of the natural and man-made environment and a crucial link in an often delicate balance. Public control of land use is therefore indispensable to its protection as an asset and the achievement of the long-term objectives of human settlement policies and strategies. To exercise such control effectively, public authorities require detailed knowledge of the current patterns of use and tenure of land; appropriate legislation defining the boundaries of individual rights and public interest; and suitable instruments for assessing the value of land and transferring to the community, inter alia through taxation, the unearned increment resulting from changes in use, or public investment or decisions, or due to the general growth of the community. Above all, Governments must have the political will to evolve and implement innovative and adequate urban and rural land policies, as a corner-stone of their efforts to improve the quality of life in human settlements.http://habitat.igc.org/vancouver/ Are you fed up with the intolerable acts of Governments? The Nutrient Management Act The Amalgamation Act & the loss of democratic representation Environmental Protection Act and the Ministry of Environment closing rural saw mills Species at Risk Act & the loss of property use & enjoyment MPAC & unfair property tax assessments and reclassifications on woodlots & maple syrup producers Fish & Wildlife Act & the MNR mismanagement of wildlife and introductions Unaccountable and overpowering bureaucrats armed with double standards & unjust enforcement Firearm registration Act & the loss and destruction of firearms and the rural lifestyle Buffer zones and land use designations that deny the use of private property The mining act that strips away rights and privacy DFO regulations that protect minnows more than people and harm your farm The bureaucracies' attack on the rural economy and lifestyle And ready to demand a return to democracy & justice? Download the "Public Servants Questionaire" Click here..... Join the rural landowners, farmers and small business - to fight for democracy's return and a Canadian Bill of Rights - not Government Wrongs. All these intolerable acts are the result of our lost property rights. The Landowners are resolved to make Parliament restore "Our right to own, use, enjoy and earn a living on our private property" - free from the unnecessary and intrusive urban regulations that have closed our sawmills, slaughtered our abattoirs, broken the back of our family farms, threatened our maple syrup producers and clear-cut personal freedom and liberty from our woodlots and lands. In conjuction with: Lanark Landowners' Association (LLA) The Renfrew County Private Landowners Association (RCPLA) Ontario Property & Environmental Rights Alliance (OPERA) Hastings County Property Rights coalition Glengarry Landowners association Leeds & Grenville landowners association Prescott/Russell landowners association Dundas & Stormont Landowners association York& Durham landowners Association Simcoe County Landowners association Conservationists of Frontenac & Addington Kapuskasing Energy Regional Resource Association Ontario Wood Producers Association West Carleton Rural Association (WCRA) Rural Council of OTTAWA Water watch association Milton rural Residents association Rural Rights alliance Alberta Association of Landowners for the Protection of Agricultural Land Western Stock Growers Ottawa Carleton Soil & Crop improvement association Ontario Deamalamation Network Ontario Deer & Elk Farmers association GreenBelt Coalition Merle Bowes 253-3941, (mrbowes@sympatico.ca), "THIS LAND IS OUR LAND - BACK OFF GOVERNMENT"