Photo: About 70 people attended a demonstration on Thursday outside of the Renfrew courthouse.
© AgMedia Inc.
by TREENA HEIN
The president and governor of the Ontario Landowners Association as well as a Renfrew area farming couple were in the Renfrew Ontario Court of Justice Thursday, fighting mischief charges laid against them in summer 2008 by the Ontario Provincial Police.
Jack MacLaren, Edward Kennedy and Cindy and Larry Reid are pleading not guilty to the charges.
The charges stem from a June 23, 2008 Association protest action held at the nearby Township of Horton office. MacLaren says the protest resulted in the office being closed for three hours, during which three township employees were prevented from working.
About 70 people attended a demonstration Thursday morning outside the Renfrew courthouse before the trial began. They sported Association hats, shirts, and signs sporting the slogan “This land is our land: Back Off Government.”
Larry Reid drove a tractor and wagon to the demonstration. Association members were present from chapters such as Oshawa, Dufferin, Carleton Place, Peterborough, Niagara and Muskoka. “I’m overwhelmed with the support here,” says Larry Reid.
The June 23, 2008 protest was a response to the Township of Horton’s decision to install two 10,000 gallon septage (sewage from septic systems) storage tanks in the ground on Township property 125 feet from the Reid home, claims the Association.
MacLaren was certain that the attention attracted by the charges would help prevent the Township from going further, to fill the tanks with septage. Speaking to the crowd, he said “If we win, we win. If we lose, we still win.”
If the Reids wanted to locate a storage tank for manure on their farm, says MacLaren, they would have to comply with the stringent requirements of the Nutrient Management Act. These include a ‘Minimum Distance of Separation Formula,’ which is used to calculate the minimum required distance between the nearest house and any proposed manure storage tank.
That distance, says MacLaren, is often over 1,000 feet.
“You’d think they would use the closest model [in locating these tanks],” said MacLaren, “which is the Nutrient Management Act, and be good neighbours. They are not good neighbours.”
The outcome of the trial could be decided today or tomorrow.
The Ontario Landowner's Association was formed in February, 2006. At that time, there were ten chapters. There are now 23.
Concerns of these groups range from threatened closure of prison farms, water use/ wetland designation and land use legislation, endangered species issues and the powers of the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to raw milk sales, elk damage to crops and feed, cutting of subsidies for deadstock removal and building permits for farm structures. BF
Comments
I don't think anyone should be surprised by anything the Ontario gov. does anymore. They continue to kick people when they're down, as times get tougher they just keep putting more restrictions in place so none of us can make a decent living!
In a time that is being called an economic crisis what has Mcguinty done to stimulate our economy? The answer is nothing. All premier "dad" has done is find ways to generate more revenue from the people under the ever growing "safety" umbrella.
The 50 over street racing law (This was already illegal!! )
No smoking in a car with kids under 16
No smoking in a commercial truck ( considered a workplace)
Speed limiters in commercial trucks. (105km/hr why not 100??? )
The new .05 blood alcohol charges
Harmonizing the taxes. and then buying votes by giving rebates to the poor.
If any of the above were really about safety and "dad" had any brains it would be 0 tolerance for driving with blood alcohol, we would have speed limiters in our cars the same as they forced the truckers to do, and smoking would be completely illegal. But that just wouldn't generate any income like what they are doing will. How about when he was going to implement tougher restrictions on young drivers, and the kids including his own I believe, got together and formed a Facebook group against it. This changed his mind! Maybe that's what we all need to do is get his kids to form a Facebook group that we can all join to change things!
As for harmonizing the taxes, if just once any politician would just be man enough to give us the truth! Yes this is going to cost more money but we feel it's something we need to do at this time!!!!!
At least I could respect that!
Words could never express the hate and anger I feel toward this government! If I didn't have family in Ontario I would get the hell out of here before my head explodes from the sheer stupidity of it all!
The one thing our beloved government seems to overlook is that everytime they impose tighter restrictions or raise taxes, they just drive more of our economy underground.
Are you kidding me?? 70 farmers have a protest that prevents people from doing there jobs for 3 hours and they're being charged!!!
Did these idiots see what went on in Toronto recently? 10,000 people closed University Av for 4 days!!!! To protest something happening in another part of the world!!
God this place SUCKS!!!
All levels of government are out of control but the Ontario Provincal Government is the worst.
Randy Hillier is a founder of both the Lanark and Ontario Landowner movements.
Randy is now a MPP as a Provincal Conservative and is trying to make this situation change. He is running for leader of the party.
He needs your help! Buy a PC membership before May 14 and get out and vote in June on the 21st or 25th in your local riding.
Go to www.hillierforleader.com for membership and more information.
TK
The MTO landlocked our land since 1958 and the fight is still "ON" !
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