Mail bag: 05/14/26
‘Avoidance’
Dear Editor:
In an election year, “transparency” gets used a lot. But transparency delayed – or ignored – is no transparency at all.
Freedom of information requests submitted on March 20, and again on April 20, remain unanswered. Two requests to appear as a delegation before council were also denied due to “process.” There are so many reasons to object to the Hillsburgh pit fill project and so many questions as to “how did we get here?”
The truth is that no one wants this in their “backyard” or their community and that’s why there was minimal notification provided about the public meeting in July 2024, and therefore minimal opposition. Until now.
As people learn more (5.36 million cubic metres of imported fill, 150 return trucks per day for up to 20 years), opposition is growing. People are talking, meeting, asking hard questions and waiting for answers.
The site alteration agreement authorizing the commercial fill operation was approved by council in January. Because of this, the only people who can bring it back to council for reconsideration are the members who approved it: on record for approving are Jamie Cheyne, John Brennan and Michael Dehn. I urge you to contact them and ask them to reconsider their position on this matter.
This is not a complicated task. Timely information and a willingness to meet are the minimum standard of accountable government.
If it takes this much effort to be heard, that’s not transparency, it’s avoidance.
And voters won’t miss it.
Angela Lauryssen,
Hillsburgh
‘Procedural check-box’
Dear Editor:
I read with interest a lot of the dissatisfaction with Town of Erin decisions as of late.
Gravel truck traffic has always been a huge issue with the number of gravel pits. I’m sure it is the major export of the area. I was initially happy to see one pit under consideration for rehabilitation, fooled of course by the sign posted outside that it was an Indigenous-run endeavour. I couldn’t imagine 150 trucks a day added to our already-taxed roads.
I attended that council meeting on July 18, 2024 with several other delegations on a different matter regarding a commercial land application on agriculturally zoned property surrounded by EP2 protected lands that shares a border with my property in Cedar Valley.
The process, much like the gravel pit remediation, seems quite dismissive to taxpaying landowners. I have received emails with the exact same wording regarding how long zoning applications take the town to complete regardless of the 120 days prescribed by the planning act. Failure of the planning department to schedule the submission and meeting for council in this time frame guarantees the applicant an option to appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal regardless of the decision.
As I write this it has been 661 days since the council meeting regarding the application that I (and several other delegations) opposed in Cedar Valley. That application that took 547 days to complete .
While residents understand that development proposals require careful review, the length of time these applications have been under consideration raises important questions about fairness, transparency and public trust.
What is most troubling is the apparent imbalance in how communication is being handled. The municipality appears to be working closely with the applicant to address concerns, revise plans and move the proposal forward, while residents who oppose the application are left feeling unheard and excluded from meaningful discussion.
I really am hoping that patience is a virtue. The system in place right now grants planners and “bad players” a lot of leeway. Public consultation should not be treated as a procedural check-box.
Residents who take the time to attend meetings, submit comments and raise legitimate concerns deserve more than polite acknowledgment. We deserve equal access to information, timely responses and confidence that our voices carry the same weight as those seeking approval.
Residents and affected taxpayers are given 30 days to register as a delegation and present their arguments to council; in our case in Cedar Valley it was 24.
Markus Rabstein,
Cedar Valley
‘Nature hates a vacuum’
Dear Editor:
RE: ‘Authoritarian,’ May 7.
It is really easy to criticize, it is another thing to point out possible solutions, and yet another thing altogether to try to implement the solutions.
At last count, Ontario is the most indebted non-sovereign entity in the world. To address this issue, what Doug Ford should be doing is eliminating at least 90% of the jobs listed on the sunshine list, and forcing a minimum 30% reduction per annum in government expenditures with emphasis to greater efficiency and/or privatization.
Instead, our cash-strapped province is looking to sell off more assets to meet its ever-increasing bureaucratic obligations. Doug Ford is not leading our province, he is merely managing its decline as painlessly as possible.
To address David Courtney’s comment on homelessness, Ontario has massive lands that are poor qualifiers for farmland, yet could be developed into residential lots. The government or some financier could prepare these lots for development. The homeless could take courses on how to build their own home; on graduation, they would be allowed to finance the purchase of one of these lots, then given staged financing to build on their lot.
At the end of the day, rather than 85,000 homeless, we might only have 20,000 who don’t want a home (simplified rationale on the 20,000) and 65,000 who are happily housed with saleable skills and equity to move their lives forward, all at relatively small cost to government.
Ironically, Courtney ends with the truest path to authoritarianism. You see, nature hates a vacuum, and by supporting “Nobody,” he is in actual fact supporting ever-increasing levels of authoritarianism. Again I ask, how far down this rabbit hole are we willing to go?
Wayne Baker,
Wellington North
‘Wonderful angels’
Dear Editor:
Angels do exist and we are surrounded by them, especially at the Wellington Terrace Long-Term Care Home in Aboyne.
Once you enter the “Terrace,” your venture with angels starts at the front desk. You will be greeted by the kindest smiling ladies. They have seen me shed many tears and the ladies have always reached out with a hug and a sympathetic ear.
As you proceed past the large common room and lounge, you cannot help but be impressed by the cleanliness and attractiveness of your surroundings. I always looked forward to the seasonal changes in their décor.
This maintenance is obviously done by the quiet, unassuming angels that you hardly ever meet, or who receive little thought or acknowledgement. These angels include the hardworking laundry staff, cooks, cleaners and maintenance, and others I’m sure I have missed.
The two years my mom lived at the Terrace, every person I met had a smile and hello. The most visible angels are the staff. There aren’t enough words to describe their passion, dedication and love for the residents. I do not know what led the caregivers to choose this profession, but they are a godsend.
The activities director organized euchre, bingo, music and entertainment, but many more like special meals, bus trips and “bucket list” wishes. The bucket list especially touched my heart. It was providing the opportunity to do something that they had enjoyed in the past.
In my mother’s case, one was a trip to the local bingo in Fergus, and another to the casino in Elora. For the residents these trips provide a taste of the past. To the family it is endearing and appreciated.
When someone passes, we generally think about their family and rightfully so. But I couldn’t help think about the dear sweet angels who have also suffered a loss. They cared for my mother for two years and loved her dearly – her cheerfulness, quirky sense of humour and agreeable nature.
There are many residents who live at the Terrace for many years. Naturally the staff becomes very attached, as if they were their own parents or grandparents. The night my mother passed, the staff on duty hugged and cried with me.
I gave my sympathy to them – those dear, sweet angels with such caring, gentle hands, helping my mom pass on with the dignity she deserved. I will sincerely miss seeing these wonderful angels.
Blessings to them all. Where would we be without them?
Linda Shaw,
Elmira
‘Sincere appreciation’
Dear Editor:
We are pleased to announce that the 36th Annual Elora Festival Giant Book Sale was again a big success, in spite of the frigid temperatures over the entire three days of the sale.
Opening at 1pm on May 1 helped ease the traditional congestion of the first day. We are grateful for generous donations of sale items from the whole community throughout the year, as well as the fantastic support we receive from Rona Elora, The Centre Wellington Food Bank, FUNDrive, Elora Curling Club, The Grand 101, and of course, the Wellington Advertiser.
Our sincere appreciation goes out to the many volunteers who give freely of their time and energy to collect, sort, pack, prepare, arrange and sell the thousands of items up for sale.
And we can’t forget to thank the many patrons who come out and spend their hard earned dollars on the gently-used books, games, puzzles and music. The proceeds from the sale provide a much-appreciated infusion of cash to help keep the music alive in our wonderful community.
The donation cupboard at 380 St. Andrew Street W. in Fergus will reopen for donations of gently used items on June 8, after allowing our volunteers time for a much-needed rest.
Judy Bates and Karen Eddie, Co-Chairs,
Elora Festival Book Sale Committee
Hospital update
Dear Editor:
April was a month of renewal and fresh beginnings, and it was also the first month of Guelph General Hospital’s fiscal year – an annual new beginning of sorts for us.
As we continue to make improvements at the hospital to meet the growing and evolving health care needs of all of you in our community, we want to make sure you continue to receive regular updates on our progress.
As part of our Lab Medicine improvement project, laboratory automation is currently underway. This phase includes an upgrade to the lab’s mechanical systems to ensure consistent temperatures for sensitive equipment year-round. Additionally, equipment and services are being relocated to optimize space and improve efficiency in the blood bank area.
The next phase of the project will begin this summer, with full completion of construction by the end of the year. By this time next year, our lab will be fully automated so patients and staff alike can benefit from the digital pathology platform.
Automating many of the lab’s systems will ultimately lead to a better patient experience. It will provide faster and more consistent turnaround times for test results, reduce the number of times a patient gets “pricked,” and enable a greater volume of testing. It will also provide a more effective, safer and better work environment for staff. Donations to the Foundation of Guelph General Hospital were vital in supporting this transformative project.
As lab improvements continue through the summer, The Angel Gabriel Foundation Centre for Mental Health and Addictions is also scheduled to open on the first floor of the hospital, just off the main lobby. The new space will double our capacity to care for the people who need these services. In addition, a new group therapy space will be created to support our outpatient follow-up service.
Just a little over a year since breaking ground, progress continues with the rest of the Linamar Emergency Department as well. Work is presently underway to build a new mechanical room in the basement of the new addition. Once that is complete, the building above will be erected, and progress will happen more quickly over the coming months as we complete that space. A new emergency pedestal has also been installed in the patient drop-off area, entered from Delhi Street. This allows patients and visitors to connect directly with hospital staff for emergency assistance.
The full update can be found on the hospital’s website.
Mark Walton, President/CEO,
Guelph General Hospital
‘Thrilled’ with award
Dear Editor:
On May 5, the Fergus Scottish Festival was honoured to receive the Cultural, Arts and Tourism Impact Award at the Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce’s 26th annual Awards of Excellence.
This award is presented to an individual, business, organization or group that has made a significant impact on cultural, arts or tourism within Centre Wellington, putting the community on the map to drive economic growth and awareness.
The Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games is thrilled to have received this award, which is a testament to the hard work of our entire team, particularly with respect to our 80th Anniversary Celebration in 2025.
This success belongs to our dedicated volunteers, sponsors, partners, performers and competitors as well as the thousands of guests who join us each year for “Scotland without the airfare” – we simply could not achieve this without them.”
Save the date – Aug. 7 to 9, 2026 – for even more celebrations of Scottish heritage with the 81st Fergus Scottish Festival.
Further details and news is also available on the festival website.
Elizabeth Bender,
Executive director,
Fergus Scottish Festival
‘Heartfelt journey’
Dear Editor:
RE: Valiant hearts, May 7.
Kelly Waterhouse, you knocked your Mother’s Day column right out the park!
I concur completely with what you had to say. Raising children to adulthood will be one of the most challenging jobs any of us will take on. It’s a 24/7 job, but I believe we always strive to do our very best.
It can be hard at times, and down right exhausting, but we have not failed. Congratulations Kelly on a beautifully written and heartfelt journey of your experience.
I’ve graduated from motherhood. I stand silently by now, unless my opinion is asked for. I’m thankful that I have been given this privilege. It’s called being a grandmother!
Liz Hughes,
Puslinch
‘Losing touch’
Dear Editor:
RE: ‘Double standard,’ May 7.
I fully agree with Kristen Reilly’s concerns regarding the contradictions coming from Premier Doug Ford’s government.
Students and school boards are being told graduation ceremonies must remain “apolitical,” yet the premier himself used a commencement speech to discuss political issues involving Canada-U.S. relations and tariffs. It sends the message that there is one standard for ordinary people and another for those in power.
What concerns me even more is the growing feeling that this government is losing touch with the everyday struggles of communities across Ontario. Families are dealing with rising costs, students are graduating with more debt, health care is strained and many people are simply trying to stay afloat financially.
People are beginning to ask themselves: why are we electing governments that seem more focused on headlines, corporations and political image than on helping the communities they were elected to serve?
Ontarians want leadership that listens, supports education, strengthens health care and helps ordinary working families – not leadership that appears disconnected from the realities people face every day.
Education should open doors, not close them. We need educated people in our communities, but young people should not be denied opportunities because of rising tuition, reduced grants and increasing financial barriers. A strong province invests in its students and gives them a fair chance to succeed.
The frustration many people feel today did not come out of nowhere. It comes from watching services decline while the cost of living continues to rise.
Margherita Tabone,
Rockwood