Mail bag: 10/08/26
‘Support local’
Dear Editor:
An open letter to those running for council in Centre Wellington.
We have been saddened by many of you using divisive “tourist versus locals” rhetoric in your campaigns.
The vast majority of small businesses relying on income from both tourists and locals are owned by local residents. We own three businesses in Elora. We employ 28 people year-round and then, with the addition of our patio in the summer, we add another 15 to our payroll in both front and back of house in our restaurant. And 95 per cent of our staff live within Centre Wellington.
Our economic reality is not the same post COVID and now, coupled with constant shifting trade negotiations south of the border, it is even harder on our small businesses. The cost of goods, food and shipping have all increased. We have also seen a rise in the cost of services across the board.
We do our very best to keep payroll up with inflation and offer benefits to our full-time staff. In the past five years we have become proficient at “pivoting” to keep our necks above the surface, but most of the time we are just treading water.
Is it any wonder that we need to be this busy? Our federal government is asking Canadians to spend locally and travel within Canada and we are upset when they come? Vilifying small businesses for trying to pay their staff and their bills is abhorrent.
We recognize that the impact of tourism on our local residents and infrastructure is frustrating and needs to improve. We need to work together to find solutions positively because we can’t afford to go backwards.
The negativity around tourism that supports local businesses, and the locals that work in them, needs to stop. Support local!
Sarah Barber and MacLean Hann,
Elora
‘Take the time to vote’
Dear Editor:
As a regular reader, I would like to thank the Wellington Advertiser for its outstanding coverage of the municipal election. The election supplement was informative, giving residents insight into candidates running for positions.
I encourage my fellow residents to view the Erin candidates Meeting on YouTube. It allows Erin residents an excellent chance to see all the candidates in action, how they respond to our questions.
Many of us have been frustrated one time or another with council decisions. We feel we aren’t listened to. Some have contemplated/voiced the idea of voting for a completely new council. Would that serve our purpose? A brand new council would be “starting from scratch” and the learning curve would be very steep, taking a few years to catch up. Is that acceptable?
A more thoughtful and realistic option might be to see that the new council we vote in will have the skillset necessary to meet the challenges and opportunities in the next four years. A matrix of expertise is helpful for councillors: financial, business, technical (engineering), environmental. We can exercise our choices for councillors with the help of such a matrix.
The mayor must demonstrate strong leadership in setting the tone at council business. As well, experience at county council is advantageous and preferred. We need a mayor who will advance our interests/concerns at the county. There are seven municipal mayors on county council, each have their respective interests.
Each of us has the power through our vote to have the council we want. Please take the time to vote.
Anna Spiteri,
Erin
Another bin issue
Dear Editor:
A while ago I read about someone wondering about keeping the paper dry in recycling carts. It was suggested she line the cart with a plastic bag.
How many different bags are we supposed to buy and stock so our refuse can be taken away? As of today we need yellow bags for garbage, little white bags for compostables and paper bags for garden waste. Now possibly plastic bags to line the recycling cart which will only serve to retain water in the cart, which do not have drainage holes like recycling boxes did.
The main problem with the carts retaining water is the mechanical arms that lift the carts up, dump them in the truck and return them to the ground do not close the lids. Depending on how long the empty carts sit outside with the lids open will determine the amount of rain they receive. Not everyone can sit at home, watch for the recycling truck and run outside to close the lid on their cart.
What about during the winter, when heavy snow accumulates in the cart? As a senior with limited mobility, am I expected to turn the heavy cart upside down to empty out the snow? Maybe you’d like to hire me to walk behind the truck closing the lids when it’s on my street.
This seems to be another decision made without thorough research. Just saying!
Lesley Morris,
Arthur
‘Progress and prosperity’
Dear Editor:
Over the past five decades of my working life, I have been employed in project management, home construction, development and small business. Those experiences help bring into focus what this election means to me and why the right candidates are critical as Centre Wellington embraces the future.
The business park on the west side of Fergus was created to encourage local jobs for local people. Little has happened on that site and I wonder why. Is the land priced too high or is the purchasing regimen too onerous? Failing to keep this project a priority has meant no additional tax revenue despite a significant investment using taxpayer’s money.
More importantly, locals have been denied employment opportunities to make living and working here a reality. Jobs out of town mean we risk status as a bedroom community. A healthy industrial and commercial base help offset property taxes on residences.
The new subdivisions proposed require ample engineering and studies to ensure the impact on the current population base is sustainable. Something is out of step here.
We also seem to have an issue with hiring. Any business person knows one of the largest investments and costs is people. Has anyone thought to analyze the way the township functions to ensure efficiency and best value?
Traffic and its impact on the community at large have only worsened in recent years. Signage, speed limit changes, traffic calming initiatives – these things all require some common sense. Bottle-necking traffic on major thoroughfares only backs up traffic on side streets.
Please vote for people interested in progress and prosperity for all.
Don Vallery,
Belwood
Ignoring job losses?
Dear Editor:
The rezoning of 650 Victoria Terr. was requested again. The Sept. 28 council meeting addressed this request.
The new proposal from Dunpar Homes would leave trees, reduce the number of three-storey townhouses to 180 with a park to replace the commercial units. Although the vote was just on the rezoning, it should be difficult to okay when you know the details of the coming proposal.
Residents of Ward 5 made their thoughts against this development very clear in the February public meeting. Ward 5 has been bombarded by new housing approvals. When and if everything is completed, we will be the victims of huge traffic increases, more students for schools at or near capacity and job loss when the factory in removed.
The future of the business park has been has been promoted as the source of future jobs for Fergus. How can you say that you are going to place importance on jobs once and if the business park is filled, but be unconcerned about the current jobs at the factory on this site?
Just because this site is not on the industrial plan doesn’t mean you can ignore the impact of their loss. It is of even more importance given the economic environment that we are now in. The factory was built in the 1990s. It was an acceptable location then and now that it isn’t located in the new business park it shouldn’t be there with its good paying jobs?
Our Ward 5 councillor Bronwynne Wilton (now running for mayor) voted for this rezoning. This was in spite of acknowledging constituents’ concerns from emails she received concerning this proposed rezoning. The people to whom she is supposed to answer have made clear that this is not supported.
Our current mayor, Shawn Watters also voted in favour. They do not seem to acknowledge our concerns nor the loss of jobs. Maybe losing their jobs will give them a better appreciation of a job loss.
Ward 5 was better and more compassionately represented by the current councillors of Wards 1, 2 and 3. Please vote!
Bernice Robinet,
Fergus
‘We need a woman’
Dear Editor:
Under Centre Wellington’s mayor from 2014 to 2022, Pearl Hospitality was able to purchase all the land across the river in Elora and receive 10 years tax relief. Citizens protested the bicycle lanes on Highway 6 in Fergus and four councillors pushed back, but the mayor and two councillors voted against reversing it.
Under the current mayor, in 2024 we received a property tax increase of 7.38%. In 2026 the planned tax increase was 2.4%, but ended up being 3.7%.
Times are hard right now for citizens and we have to reduce our spending, so the mayor needs to be cognizant of spending our tax dollars. It is time for change. Make your vote count for the next four years. I feel we need a woman to take charge.
Judy Haddad,
Elora
*Editor’s note: Mayors have but one vote on all council matters.
‘A complex conflict’
Dear Editor:
RE: Falafel Friday at KIPP oven Oct. 2 to raise money for farmers in Gaza, Oct. 1.
Canadians are compassionate and civilian suffering understandably creates a desire to help. That makes accurate context particularly important when journalism promotes fundraising connected to a complex conflict.
The article recounts the organizers’ family history in Jaffa, stating their parents were “forced to leave” in 1948, but provides little broader context. In 1947, UN Resolution 181 proposed both Arab and Jewish states, with provisions protecting citizenship and political rights. Israel’s 1948 Declaration of Independence called upon Arab inhabitants to participate in the new state on the basis of “full and equal citizenship.” The subsequent war on Israel by neighbouring Arab states created Palestinian displacement: many fled, others were expelled, while a substantial Arab population remained and became Israeli citizens.
I am similarly concerned by the unqualified reference to Gaza as being in the “aftermath of the genocide,” followed by the assertion that this fundraiser is “not political.” Genocide is an extraordinarily serious and contested legal characterization, not a neutral synonym for civilian suffering.
The timing is particularly sensitive. The Oct. 2 fundraiser occurred five days before the anniversary of the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023 attacks, the deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust. Approximately 1,200 people were killed in Israel and about 250 taken hostage. Yet Oct. 7 receives no mention while readers are presented with Palestinian displacement, “genocide” and fundraising for Gaza.
Most importantly: where exactly does the money raised in Elora go? The article says proceeds go to Arduna/Our Land to support approximately 25 Gazan farming families. But who legally receives the Canadian funds? Through what charity, bank, payment processor or intermediary are they transferred? Who controls them in Gaza, and what independent accounting verifies their ultimate use?
These are reasonable questions. Gaza has been governed by Hamas since 2007, and Canada designates Hamas a terrorist entity.
Compassion, historical accuracy and financial accountability should not be competing principles.
Alona Malysheuski,
Elora
*Editor’s note: An independent commission appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council released a report last September stating Israel committed acts of genocide between October 2023 and July 2025. Israel has rejected the findings.
‘Deserve an explanation’
Dear Editor:
As Erin voters prepare for the Oct. 26 municipal election, one question for our mayor and council is this: If the stated purpose of the Hillsburgh Pit commercial fill agreement was to remediate the pit, why are we moving forward with a 20-year fill operation after the remediation requirements have been addressed?
The operator had provincial compliance issues that had to be addressed before the aggregate licence could be surrendered. The requirements were addressed and the licence was surrendered. That work was required to close out the licence – not evidence that a 20-year commercial fill operation was necessary to remediate the pit.
The Ministry of Natural resources (MNR) then accepted an amendment to the licensed rehabilitation plan incorporating the commercial fill operation. The town’s commercial fill agreement became the municipal mechanism governing imported fill.
MNR’s records indicate there was already sufficient material on site to accomplish the required remediation. If so, why is Erin being subjected to millions of cubic metres of imported fill and truck traffic?
The town describes the project as remediation, while its agreement provides for commercial fill over 20 years. That raises questions of necessity and transparency.
It also raises a risk management question. What risk assessment did the town undertake before accepting responsibility for a 20-year commercial fill operation involving millions of cubic metres of imported material and hundreds of daily truck movements? What risks were identified, and how were they determined to be acceptable?
One member of council has clearly objected. Why do the remaining members continue to support the operation if the stated purpose was remediation?
Council members speak publicly about making Erin healthier, more sustainable and environmentally responsible. How are those campaign commitments reconciled with approximately 250 daily diesel truck trips, five days a week, for up to 20 years? Residents have obtained FOI records, reviewed MNR inspections, compared rehabilitation information with the agreement and asked council to reconsider. Residents’ lawyers have also written to the town without a substantive response.
The town said the matter was referred to legal counsel. Was advice being sought about reconsidering the agreement – or protecting the town’s position to move forward?
Mistakes happen. What matters is whether decision-makers acknowledge new information, reconsider their position and correct the public record.
If remediation does not require 5.36 million cubic metres of imported commercial fill, why is Erin proceeding with a 20-year commercial fill operation?
Erin residents deserve an explanation before Oct. 26.
Jacqueline Guagliardi,
Erin
‘Tools and levers’
Dear Editor:
RE: Not what people think, Sept. 24.
I’d like to offer a rebuttal to publisher Dave Adsett’s piece about local politicians and the topic of housing. This housing crisis requires an all-hands-on-deck approach. Every tier of government needs to get involved to ensure we are building for the needs of today and tomorrow. Adsett’s editorial ignores the tools and levers that lower tier municipalities have at their disposal to shore up housing in Centre Wellington.
One tool: zoning. This is completely on the lower tier municipality to zone areas of the town to ensure good growth. It’s completely their job to ensure we don’t pave over vital farmland, allow for infill densification in areas already on municipal services. A good example is the initiative to block 446 homes being built near Belwood. This is on the municipality to block this so taxpayers don’t see sharp rises in property taxes due to a developer’s poor planning and desire to have taxpayers foot the bill on a new wastewater plant and operation not near any existing services.
A second example: developer charges. Lower tier municipalities can increase or reduce these charges to encourage or discourage specific types of home builds. We ought to be looking more into this to encourage developers to build the types of homes that Centre Wellington needs. These developer charges can amount to over $100,000 per home build.
And we’ve seen that with the reduction or elimination of HST on new builds, local developers will pass the cost savings on to buyers.
John Mifsud,
Fergus