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\ ? - Orono Weekly Mmes, \Vedncsd;iy. November 27. 2002 /• For the record Clarington's Senior By-law officer, Mr. Len Creamer, delivered the following letter to the Orono Times office Monday afternoon. The letter addressed to Mrs. Zwart, regarding the editorial entitled "Pipe Dreams" published in the November 20, 2002 issue of the Orono Weekly Times, and signed by the Mayor, John Mutton, states: In the editorial entitled "Pipe Dreams" which you published on page two of the November 20, 2002 issue of the Orono Weekly Times, you commented on Durham Regional Council's decision to adopt an amendment to the Durham Regional Official Plan applicable to lands in the Ajax Urban Area owned by Cougs Investments Limited. Regional Council also approved the development of 27 country residential lots and a golf course clubhouse expansion on full municipal services. Fifteen members members of Regional Council votedfor these decisions, While eight members voted against them. I vo ted with the majority of the Regional Council, After.stating that "Cougs Investments contributed $750 to Mayor Mutton is 2000 election campaign" in the editorial, you went on to state: "As another election year approaches we should know which of your elected representatives respect municipal and regional official plans, and who will sell out to developers." The statement conveys the innuendo that I "sell out" to developers. developers. This allegation is false, grossly negligent, malicious, defamatory and libelous. I demand that you publish a full ad for retraction of this libel in the next regular issue of the Orono Weekly Times in as conspicuous a place and type as was the libel. The retraction must first be approved by me. If you refuse to publish this retraction, I shall instruct my solicitors to commence action against you and the Orono Weekly Times for substantial damages for the damage that the libel has caused me. Retraction: The Orono Weekly Times did not intend to suggest suggest that the Mayor "sells out" to developers, and regrets any implication to the contrary arising out of its November 20 editorial. editorial. . Weekly Times Subscriptions $29.9,1 + $2.09 GST = $32.00 per year. Publications Mail Registration No. 09301 * Agreement No. 40012366 Publishing 48 issues annually at the office of publication. "We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. " •' Orono Weekly Times 5310 Main Street, P.O. Box 209, Orono, Ontario LOB 1M0 Email: orcinotimes@speedline.ca • Phone/Fax 905-983-5301 Publisher/Editor Margaret Zwart The Orono Weekly Times we lcomes letters to the editor on subjects of interest to our readers. Opinions expressed to the editor and articles are those of the writers and do not necessarily necessarily reflect the opinions of the Orono Weekly times. Letters must be signed and contain the address and phone number of .the writer. Any letter considered unsuitable will not be acknowledged or returned. We reserve the right to edit for length, libel and slander. If your retail or classified ad appears for the first time, please check carefully. Notice of an error must be given before the next issue goes to print. The Orono Weekly Times will not be responsible for the loss or damage of such items. l Letters to the Editor Potentially irrevocable repercussions Dear Editor, This letter is in response to Peter Jaworski's column of last week about the proposed extension extension of Highway 407 east from its current terminus at Brock Road in Pickering. I live across the road from Mr. Jaworski and I too may be affecte'd by any extension of 407 into Clarington. My concerns about new highways and the choices we make around transportation go far beyond the impact the 407 might have on my property. This highway extension has,the potential to irrevocably alter land use patterns across Durham Region. Transportation corridors attract development and some think that Highway 407 might become a logical urban boundary boundary across Durham Region. I believe Mr. Jaworski is right when he says that how we go about that is important - that a balance has to be struck. One way to do that is to become informed about the 407 East Completion Environmental Assessment (EA) process currently currently underway. We need to be aware of opportunities to provide considered and focused input and be prepared to do so. at key points in the process, especially during the upcoming Needs and Terms of Reference Phases. We should examine how this might affect our rural hamlets hamlets and villages, our farmers and agricultural lands, our unique natural areas as well as our air and water quality in addition to broader fiscal and economic impacts. For things other than basic necessities, "need" is not absolute - it is a relative concept. The question then becomes: what do we "want" and what is the cost of our choices. Every choice has impacts and we must carefully examine whether these are acceptable to society or not. It has not yet been determined determined whether the 407 East Completion will be a publicly owned highway - with or without without tolls, or whether it will be sold to the private sector at some point to be operated as a toll road. The utility of a highway highway varies greatly depending on the cost to the users. Toll charges vary from those in place for cost-recovery purposes purposes to those that include cost and profit. Land assembly for the project is a key issue. Government has the power to expropriate, private entities do not. Expropriation of pri- Continued page 3 ...negotiate the best sales prices possible. " In response to Peter Jaworski's Jaworski's column "As I see it" (November 20th, 2002) In 1959, I worked for the Legal Department of Ontario Department of Highways in Toronto. Highway 401 was expanding ' eastward necessitating necessitating expropriation of homes, farms and even cemeteries. After certain negotiations were completed, I had the pleasure of sending out some very substantial cheques. I used to fantasize about how such large sums of money would change the lives of the rural recipients. In most cases, the vendors had never dreamed they would sell their land for so much money... one cheque... full payment... no complications. I also remem ber that the Department was very sensitive to the human issues involved. I suggest that the people whose homes lie in the path of the future 407 not resist what is inevitable. They should, however,» be vtfell informed and negotiate the best sales prices possible. The government government needs their land...they own their land. They can , make the situation work for .them. Perhaps the monies received will make it possible to move far away from irritating irritating road noises and carbon monoxide fumes. At the end of the day, these vendors may consider themselves blessed. Thelma Davidson Newcastle,