To the editor,
How astonishing and entertaining it was to read the article “Mayor scolds POW-NNW for spreading false information” in the Nov. 18 issue of this paper.
To put into print, after publicly denouncing the credibility of canvassers and overall efforts of Protect Our Waterways – No Nuclear Waste (POW-NNW) – via a Zoom meeting of South Bruce council no less – clearly demonstrating those who claim to be willing to listen and possibly those who hold public office may not be neutral at all!
The article spells out in black and white what their true colours really look like; apparently neutral now means one side or the other but pretend to be neither?
I am wondering how a conversation about hearsay discussed the night before, regarding the timing and definition of a binding referendum, suggesting “both parties research the information and meet in the middle” became misleading lies?
Obviously, the entire conversation was not disclosed, or the opportunity to take the conversation to a public forum to discredit POW-NNW and its volunteer canvassers in any way possible (without confirmation) was just too tempting. And so began the building of a proverbial guillotine in the town square.
What was meant to be a breaching of two interest groups for the common good became a witch hunt very quickly. Best way to divide a community ever!
Bullying is not something to be proud of. We are fully aware that Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) has more of our money to distribute than the volunteers of POW-NNW will ever have to play with. Remember, we are volunteers giving our time for free, hoping to secure for the people in our municipality a vote on a very life–changing decision, something our elected officials should be doing as paid representatives of all the people in their constituency.
And this of course, is my personal opinion of what I am watching happening as our communities insist on choosing sides and dividing to the point where we become fractured beyond healing.
Money, greed, power… will there ever be enough?
That’s what you seriously need to be asking.
And now you know the rest of the story.
Kathleen Schmidt
South Bruce
