An activist group called the Raging Grannies of Chatham-Kent say they plan to use council's hesitation in developing a permanent bylaw to protect woodlots to hit opposing councillors where it hurts, at the ballot box.
On Tuesday, group member Rageen Granny told CK News Today that they were anticipating that the bylaw to save trees would be pushed to the new council after the October municipal election.
She said the group will do everything in its power to encourage voters to cast a ballot for councillors who want to stop deforestation and protect trees.
"There is just not enough time to put together the appropriate recommendations and have community consultation and discussions about next steps before the election," Rageen Granny wrote in an email. "This works in our favour because we can highlight the voting record of the various councillors regarding this very important issue. And we will no doubt be knocking on doors to encourage people to vote for those who support woodland and woodlot protection."
The temporary bylaw will remain in effect until a new strategy or framework is devised and the Raging Grannies said that "pleases" them.
On Monday night, Chatham-Kent council voted 15-2 to postpone the woodlot preservation discussion until the new term of council.
Many critics, including the CK Woodlot Preservation group, said council is trying to avoid making a decision on the issue, adding that councillors need to stop wasting time and implement the permanent bylaw to save Chatham-Kent's woodlots.
The group also said on its Facebook page that council must stop kicking the can down the road and are hoping for sound judgement and good leadership, even if it decides to go back to the committee of the whole.
The environmental group says it's time to stop talking and start acting.
"The fact is, we are beating a dead horse. What this comes down to is a decision from our government on what is best for this municipality in the long run," said the group in a post. "We don’t need to spend time arguing about it in board rooms as landowners and residents wasting more of our money."
CK Woodlot Preservation also said it doesn't make sense to derail the "logical approach" with the committee of the whole reviewing the "copious" amount of information and feedback already collected.
"It’s time to get back on track, get our municipal representatives the information they need to make an informed decision, and hopefully get on with protecting the last bits of natural heritage that we have left here!" the group said.
The Kent Federation of Agriculture, which is pushing for more consultation, has not commented on the latest setback.
In March, Chatham-Kent council sent out requests for a consultant to gather more input on the issue, but no one came forward.
Council has been working on establishing a woodlot preservation bylaw for over a year.