Bruce Grey Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker says it's clear thousands of constituents don't support a consultation plan to expand land controlled by the Niagara Escarpment Commission.
Walker says that is a clear mandate from his riding to the provincial Liberals that residents don't support it and don't want it. He says people expect meaningful consultation, yet the commission has been unable to articulate the overall impact of adding 45,000 hectares to their jurisdiction.
Walker says consultation conclude this week despite the fact that no one can explain how this will benefit residents.
He says local government's will lose out on tax revenues, and ratepayers on the land in question will have to absorb the cost. He adds he has shared about 1,000 petitions on the subject with the minister so far, and people can still go to his website and sign a petition.
He points out the province is under no obligation to push this plan through, and he hopes the government will do the right thing.
“Grey County, Meaford, and other area municipalities, along with the thousands of constituents who have signed petitions don’t support it and don’t want it,” says MPP Walker. “Owners of the lands affected have the right to be fully informed of the merits of the objectives of any such significant proposal. But, we know this didn’t happen, which is why I have shared with the Minister about 1,000 petitions to-date."
He also encourages constituents to continue to sign petitions, which are available at his constituency office at 920 1st Ave. W in Owen Sound, as well as on his website at http://billwalkermpp.com/docs/petitions/Petition_-_To_Abandon_Proposed_NEP_Area_2015_ref_012-7228.pdf