Page 3 - May 18, 2017

Thursday, May 18, 2017 The Independent Page 3 Politicians expect a ‘showdown’ at OMB over Lambton of cial plan
Pam Wright
their own land. Brooke-Alvinston Mayor Don
county has dilly-dallied long enough on the plan.
have been leading the charge against the of cial draft plan. The organization has retained a London-area lawyer to represent its position.
“It (the draft plan) in its current form is pretty good,” Veen explains. “You’re not going to please everyone.”
The Independent
McGugan thinks the plan is headed to the Ontario Municipal Board — no matter which way the vote goes.
But McGugan came face-to face with the opposition which has slowed the plan. A farmer at the meeting told council he’s worried the new of cial plan may dictate how he can use his land.
Even if Lambton County Council approves the new of cial draft plan June 7, some politicians say it is headed for a showdown.
According to McGugan, fears generated by landowner groups opposing the plan are “over- exaggerated.”
McGugan believes the landowner’s fears are unfounded.
In the end, it’s the province not the county that has the nal say, says Veen.
The County of Lambton has been revising the planning document for nearly ve years. Over the
last few months, a committee
“That’s the way I see it,” McGugan told Brooke-Alvinston council at its regular meeting May 11.
And he wonders if he’ll be
told how to manage his land by protecting species, preserving wetlands, being forced to plant vegetation buffers, and told where to plant his crops.
“Whatever way you’ve been working your farm, there’s no change,” McGugan explained to the man. “I’ve had calls from every mayor in the municipality and that’s what I tell them.”
Enniskillen Township Mayor Kevin Marriott is taking a more measured approach, adding he thinks problems with the plan can be worked out. There’s no urgency to pass the document, he explains.
has been going over the major issues including how much land Plympton-Wyoming should be able to develop near the lake and concerns of landowners that the plan contains environmental rules which will stop them from using
McGugan, a former president of the Lambton Federation
of Agriculture and longtime agriculture lobbyist, thinks the
A number of Lambton County landowners share his concerns.
Oil Springs’ Mayor Ian Veen is on the same page as McGugan.
“I, myself, would like to avoid going to the OMB,” Marriott said. “All it does is cost money. “I’m still weighing it,” he adds. “I’m still a bit undecided.”
Heather Wright
and school board resources for the broader bene t of rural commun- ities... and how education funding could better recognize the realities of rural Ontario.”
government started talking about xing the funding formula in 2011 and “here we are today talking about declining enrolment and funding.”
recently going to a nance hearing to voice concerns again about a funding formula which leads to school closures in rural areas.
don’t think so. The government has taken a lot of heat on this... this seems like a lot of smoke and mirrors and optics.
The Independent
Sarnia Lambton MPP Bob Bailey thinks an upcoming provincial forum on rural schools may be “a lot of smoke and mirrors” but he’s urging parents and municipal lead- ers to voice their opinions anyway.
The news release says the min- istry is “committed to working with municipalities, schools and school boards, parents and other stakeholders to explore opportun- ities to enhance the quality and delivery of education in rural and remote communities in Ontario.”
Bailey believes the government set up the “listening tour” after fa- cing tough questions about reports that up to 600 schools were slated for closure in the province.
In Plympton-Wyoming, munici- pal leaders are lobbying to keep Aberarder Central School closer to home. The school is one of a half dozen to be merged in Forest if the province comes up with $27 million in funding.
“It is a little late to be doing the consultation now.”
Members of the Concerned Landowners Legal Defence group
He says it doesn’t matter which way the plan sits — it will likely go to the OMB.
MPP says speak for rural schools even if hearing ‘smoke and mirrors’
The Ministry of Education is hosting a forum at the Thedford Arena May 24 to “discuss and share ideas about how to best address the unique needs and challenges that rural and remote communities face,” according to a news release issued this week.
The minister of education says only 300 closures are likely.
But Bailey is urging the com- munity to have their say, just in case the government is “ legitim- ately listening.
The forum is expected to focus on “ strategies to support and improve student achievement in rural Ontario... to leverage schools
The municipal council there has been trying for years to encour- age the school board to change boundaries to bring more students to the rural school and has lobbied the province at every turn, most
Bailey believes the forums are likely meant to “take the heat off” the government.
“And I would urge community leaders to tell them what it is going to do to your communities.”
But Bailey is sceptical of the hearings which are taking place across the province. “I always want to be optimistic but to me, it is too little, too late,” he tells The Independent. “A lot of these clos- ings are already taking place.”
That could include small rural schools like Dawn-Euphemia School.
Of cials from Plympton- Wyoming want the students to
be allowed to attend Errol Road School, which is just minutes from their homes instead of being bussed to Forest.
“I would encourage people to attend - tell them... exactly how it is going to impact you and your family and your community if your school closes,” says Bailey.
Bailey points out the provincial
Burnie has no plans yet to bring apartment building plans to Petrolia Council
The Independent Staff
David Burnie has no plans yet to move his planned apartment build- ing forward.
Burnie owns the iconic Petrolia mansion known widely as Fair- bank House. He has plans to build a 16-unit apartment building on site. The town’s committee of
adjustment approved the idea of two buildings on the property but then an appeal of the decision was made to the Ontario Municipal Board. It was recently withdrawn
1st Annual
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by the objector.
When reached by phone, Burnie
agreement for council to review. And he wasn’t sure if that would happen this summer either, citing “too many other issues” to deal with rst.
Wyoming WalkWay
Construc on crews were out early in the morning to begin work on a new sidewalk in Wyoming. The town has budgeted $85,000 to replace sidewalks in the municipality this year.
Heather Wright Photo
“Will this lead to anything? I
told The Independent he has no immediate plans to move the pro- ject forward by ling a site plan
The forum is slated for May 24 between 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm at The Thedford Legacy Centre.
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