The proof needs to be seen

Dear editor

I am writing to answer some comments made by Mr. Roy Bridge in a local newspaper on October 27, 2006.

Mr. Bridge stated that the remarks that I attributed to him in a discussion at The All Candidates Meeting held at Sandy Cove Acres on Oct. 22 "were without foundation....I would never ever have made the remarks he alleges I made".These remarks were included in my Letter to the Editor, in The Scope, Oct. 25. My response is this.... Mr. Bridge I do not make false accusations. I have a witness to those remarks of yours that I reported..

Later in his response Mr. Bridge stated that a full Environmental Impact Study had been done on the property proposed for the Big Bay Point Development. I am quite aware of this study and referred to it in my previous letter to The Scope. This was a mandatory study to be done by the developer, using a consulting firm. Mr. Bridge stated that this Impact Study has been approved by the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority. I question this. I would ask that he show us this complete approval.

As of this date, I believe that neither the County of Simcoe, nor

The Province of Ontario has approved this project. Mr. W. Armstrong, Planning Evaluator for the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (Prov. Of Ontario) provided to the County of Simcoe, his evaluation of this project in a 16 page letter on March 1, 2004. He wrote "In conclusion, given the aforementioned unresolved issues and concerns, we are unable to conclude that the proposal meets Policy 2.4.1 of the Provincial Policy Statement. Also, we do not see how removal of over half of the existing Provincially significant Wetland is consistent with the Natural Heritage Policies of Section 2.3 nor how

there could be no negative impacts upon ecological (wetland) functions where it has not been demonstrated that water quality will not be adversely affected.

As I stated previously, Ms. Kathie Woeller, of the Ministry of Natural Resources, stated to me in September, 2007 that a full study of the area proposed for this project has yet to be done by her Ministry. I look forward to such a study being conducted, even if Mr. Bridge feels it is unnecessary.

Yours sincerely, Don Avery Ward 5 Resident