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The Acton Wednesday May 10 Farm gates closed but Trail still supported Release of the Niagara Escarpment Commission policy proposals on February and the subsequent forma lion of opposition landowner groups like has placed the Bruce Trail In en ex tremcly vulnerable position to Stacey of the Bruce Trail Association We have lost the coopera of many landowners particularly In the Grey Bruce and Grimsby areas who have closed their trail sections However he says notwithstanding the emotionalism and genuine concerns of the appeals of NECHA the majority of our landowners have continued to support our objectives of a continuous footpath along the escarp ment There is no question that there are problems implicit In the future planning of this unique resource the Niagara Escarpment The Bruce Trail Association fully appreciates the need to incorporate the oftconflicting land uses- extractive agriculture forestry reescarpraent area and the province but plan must be done In response to NEC pro posals and to make clear the position of the Bruce Trail Landowners NIAGARA ESCARPMENT landowners carried signs calling for an end to Vf3tl II the NEC NEC not expropriating in final plan McMullin reaction he pointed out The Niagara Escarpment it will be priced at what the even required by legislation Commission NEC is hinting chairman termed fair market get public and municipal about the direction of retreats value to be taken from its Pre- Reed said the people at the Plan Terra meeting have a A major disclosure came right to be concerned about from NEC chairman Ivor what is meant by fair Mullen who told people in market value I have the ombudsman in vestigating acquisitions In the Parkway Belt at much below market values said the The government reason for the low prices is the Imposition of a draft plan Continued from page 1 being in the scarp area they get you for being in an area where theraa wildlife or one which has scenic potential he said When a clllien takes something from the state it called theft If the state takes something from a landowner It called planning White complained that the NEC still have anybody on its staff with Terra Cotta Creditview School last Tuesday May that the majority of commis sioners favor dropping the word expropriation from final plans for the Bruce Trail When pressed by Julian Reed Burlington went further The revelation went like this Your comments tonight lead me to believe the NEC will no longer consider expropriation as a way out Reed said Thirteen members of the Commission which has 16 members have said they ore willing to remove tion said McMullin also indicated the commission will consider permitting some growth around Cheltenham just as it is allowing around such centres as Alton and Reed drew loud ap plause from the gathering- many people also stood in the auditorium and foyer by taking on what he sees as a threat to the traditional Idea of ownership I submit we got to be very careful It certainly appears to Impose a new perception of landowners which I believe is untenable to most here The Liberal MPP also took a swipe at McMullin 3 tion that if land Is to be bought The chairman earmarked training in agriculture He some his comments for the there s no need for the Bruce Trail He indicated NEC lo have a continuous people concerns that expro- trail from Niagara to pnotlon will be used to as land for the trail are white suggested the NEC perhaps unfounded It was its planners to go back to he predicted the word he drawing board and that expropriation would be the wintarlo plggybank be removed from final plans for tapped for the government to the trail buy up land along the trail Thirty three per cent of the McMullin replied that he d not think he knew of the discloscd chairman did not think he knew nee In this area buying land at more than what the also defended the market value would be I commission from questions don I think Ontario could raised from a flyer which ad prove a need to buy land for Bruce Trail on the the chairman said Acquisition said will be a long time pro gram For most of the meeting area farmer Harry Baker told the meeting that there are now seven different designations on the 120 acres of land he owns Some of the best farmland I have Is designated forestry said Baker I paid 55 cents lo use the subway 1 is not restricted i not frozen The NEC in Toronlo the other day said Baker one more than Caledon I McMullin and staff explained don think the land is frozen stepby step details of the the chairman said NEC proposed plan A brief Do want your land con question period was followed by elected represent rural policy calls for four 200 severancesperlOOacres that SSlSSS axel Why toft these people should be able to come up here and have free use of this trail Baker said he honestly thinks the NEC is brain k ii mum mealing tuiivcy fcsa s sss that landowners must be notified by registered mail how their land la to be designated and have the right to a hearing Ontario Federation of Agriculture President Peter reminded the meeting or the need for all landowners along the escarp ment to have a common voice and be unanimous In their feelings If there not unanimity the government will take full advantage of that Hannam warned Hannam said the has an escarpment action committee with reps from all areas of the province which the escarpment passes through I can t be opposed to good planning but planning is for people and people who should get priority are those whose livelihood Invest ments and life savings are affected by the regulations Walt of Nottawasnga township who identified himself as longtime sup porter of the Conservative Party said he believes that unless the Davis government listens to landowners con and does something about hem it will no longer be worthy of their support Wellington Peel MPP Jack Johnson the only Government Member at the meeting promised to convey NEC lo residents to inspect the NEC s maps and talk about their particular con Ratepayers groups are forming to oppose Ihe NEC remarked He said such groups are encouraged to give opinions to local and to the commission NEC planners it has Eight of Ihe NEC members Angus Ralph Tobermory sit on councils others have area farmer had the been council members and audience In stitches when he the balance represents people said the government had at large replied McMullin Ron Reed of Bruce County and John Mitchell of 10th Line Esqucsing both said mm iu uic tune took a defensive they in general support the shown his land as a provincial park on the road maps last year Now I a provincial park with camping allowed tack regarding thai position The commission is concerned about opposition said MtMullin The com mission has not exceeded lis aulhorijy he said The pre liminary proposals are not Another Orangeville area farmer J McKee charged that Ihe Bruce Trail Associ has developed a cancer The Bruce Troll Association has their own throats it a said NEC land control may be cut in half NEC efforts to preserve the escarpment The meeting learned that the NEC s proposed plan is far from the final the escarpment said he landowners there is minimum period of Ihree months for municipal said lhat narrowing dictatorship in my career to talk to counties about the planning area is not the than from the NEC he said the escarpment then another to the problem per of escarp- month for counties to complete rejection of the ment ls in Grey and Bruce the commission NEC planning and control yet here are only four reps meeting back his caucus and the Cabinet Johnson said he believes the area covered by the plan could be drastically reduced in size He also said he believes strongly in local autonomy and that more decisions should be left with local governments Longtime Liberal for Bruce Eddie Sargent told the meeting the NEC has so much power that even Premier Davis can do anything about it I ve never seen so much injustice and The Province intends to cut the of land controlled by the Niagara Commission by more than per cent a source at Queen Park announced last week The reduction comes at a time when NEC proposals have aroused bitter opposition from landowners and farmers See articles elsewhere in this issue A source at Queen Park has said the land to be taken from the commission wing will be transferred lo the municipalities in the escarp ment planning area However the municipalities will be expected to follow the lives or the Niagara Escarp ment act The commission with head quarters at Georgetown now controls about 3 million Even final plans are adopted by cabinet amend ment to the play may be made said the chairman acres along Ihe mile Also the plans will be re strain of escarpment from viewed every five years after to Tobermory adoption he said Property owners have com plained the commission has exceeded its authority with others were clamoring for plans for control over land as protection for Ihe escarpment mueh is miles from the lip Whtn the Government decided to form the Although Ihere have been there was almost total cries to abolish Niagara approval from newspapers Escarpment Commission and environmentalists along Premier Davis has said il the route However over the would be irresponsible do years support for the com away wlih it The Government mission mandate has deter has long sought lo protect the when controls have escarpment from develop- been implemented Both land merits and gravel pits and owners and developers have quarries opposed having the commis The push lo abolish escarp- scrutinize their plans for Is Orangeville Deputy reeve Lloyd Thompson said he sees some good in the NEC plan and proposals but em from thai area on the NEC and they re all Tory hacks Sargent charged Sargent said thai most Association on issues that have been paramount in clsms levelled against it Stacey says the Association will make the following recommendations lo the NEC 1 That extent of the Planning area can be reduced in many areas presently Included That the narrow Scarp protection area Is critical to the provision and main ten flnce of the escarpment as a continuous natural environ ment that no development be permitted on existing lots of record within this limited scarp area and that these be acquired when they come on the market or when Ihe owner requests 3 The concept of a fool wide Trnilway 13 mis lending It should be replaced by variable and flexible approach only after the negotiated content of the landowners when securing therouteoflhe footpath As in the past the footpath cannot upset the normal land uses of continuous access by landowner Any arrange ments should ensure the continuance of current land use casement patterns keep title in the landowner hand and assure continued Trail values Thai the securing of a continuous footpath be first satisfactory the landowner Do we have to tractors down and paralyze Toronto for a day lo show Davis lhat we mean business he asked Sargent was ready offer the meeting two suggestions first Ihal Davis be asked to abolish Bill and second the premier set up a Royal Commission when he was roundly booed halfway through Ihe second Sargent said he d belter go back to Ihe first one and was cheered again Mel Swart an NDP member from the Niagara peninsula said his party believes here should be a continuous Bruce Trail We have some obligation to our neighbors and future societies he said However he tidied the NEC for holding closed meetings and said it should be phased out the final speaker on Ihe platform said the proposal to have a con Bruce Trail caused all the problem In the first place all reference to expropriation should be removed from Ihe Bill Shepherd read a letter from Premier Davis which he said was delivered to him by courier that day Davis assured Ihe govern ment wants to know its concerns but added final decision will rest with the elected members of the Legislature and that expropriation be deleted as Inappropriate with this policy The continuation of voluntary cooperation should wherever desired by the landowner be Ihe means of the trail Where this la not possible lm mediate negotiations by an appropriate government agency to secure mum route should be entered Into with landowners to end their uncertainty through mutually negotiated agree ments That landowners along Ihe trail be protected by null able liability legislation PROCLAMATION THAT THE COUNCIL FOR THE TOWN OF HALTON HILLS PROCLAIMS THE WEEK OF MAV TO AS Flowers of Hope Week IN THE TOWN OF HILLS OVEN MITTS SCARVES 99 STYLE RITE BLOUSES ASSORTED PRICES PANT SUITS JEWELLERY TUBE TOPS BEACH TOWELS LADIES OVERSIZE TOPS VARIOUS PRICES FREE JAR OF PONDS COLD CREAM WITH MOTHERS DA Y PURCHASE OVER the BARGAIN CENTRE No Highway 1 Mile West of Acton 853 ment controls and the mission is an entirely different tune than was sung before the Commission was formed Then environmentalists and developments ANNEX OF SYERS FLOORING OUTDOOR Specialty Lightintj Stnre CHATELAINE A LIGHTING York York GUELPH Bright Ideas For All Your Lighting Needs EXTENSIVE SELECTION OF HOUSE FIXTURES Tablt Lamp Swsa Lamp Vanity A AccmkuIm Vacuum Ctonlng Sytttrm Wiring Limp Pm Etc Vtntllnlon Hood I TtblM FREE PARKING OPEN DAILY B 30 30 TILS SATURDAY ft MAY 14 to 20 National Flowers of Hope Week Please be generous when the canvasser calls on you ALL FUNDS STAY IN NORTH HALTON SPONSORED BY THE NORTH HALTON ASSOCIATION FOR THE MENTALLY RETARDED tUeSp fie belauded lil grass green 6 and 12 width ONLY SO 99 SQ YD UNDERLAr YD STEEIES AVE MILTON