OrilliaMatters welcomes letters to the editor at [email protected]. Please include your daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). The following letter is in response to an article, titled 'Local voters urged to be 'brave' at the polls', published Oct. 15.
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Last week OrilliaMatters carried an article covering the Get Out the Vote to Stop Urban Sprawl Rally. It was a good thing the rally was held outdoors as the “I'm All Right Jack” atmosphere would have been insufferable indoors.
One quote stood out: “Be brave, have the courage to make tough principled decisions.” Since the 1850's in Canada everyone's vote has been a private matter where the results of individual votes is unknown at the municipal, provincial and federal.
I will bet that the words 'economic growth' and 'jobs' were not uttered once at the meeting. Why? Everybody was all right Jack.
Let me offer a reality check. Several years ago a previous city council made the decision to purchase local farmland from the Horne family. As I understand the Stop Urban Sprawl supporters, the purchase would qualify as “urban sprawl.”
As a result of that decision, Lakehead University was able to purchase the property for the university. Current enrolment is approximately 2,000 students, many from Orillia and the county.
Recently, Hydro One purchased land in the Horne Business Park for a grid control centre, warehouse, and operations centre consolidation which will result in an estimated 250 or more jobs.
I would encourage the voters of Severn and Orillia to vote for council members who will make principled decisions for the future growth of both the township and the city on a planned basis that respect the environment.
Doug Lewis
Orillia
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