|
December
1999 Newsletter
Council
Threatens to Start Construction
Regional
Council is actively considering breaking Canadian law and
trying to start clearing the valley. The November 29 meeting
of the Transportation Services Committee adopted a motion
instructing regional staff "to bring a report back to the
Committee detailing the strategy to be used to begin construction
of the north-south extension of the Lincoln M. Alexander
Parkway" to the January 10 meeting (9:30 am at Hamilton
City Hall). The motion was moved by Fred Eisenberger.
For
several months, extremists on council like Albert Marrone
have been demanding an immediate start to construction.
In response to one of Marrone's council outbursts, the Regional
Chairman stated wisely that he (Mr. Cooke) did not want
to go to jail. But when Marrone launched into his hysterics
at the November 23 council meeting, Cooke merely advised
him to wait for the November 29 meeting of Transportation
Services Committee.
Marrone
was not disappointed. The Region's lawyer, David Estrin,
stated at the meeting: "in the event that we begin to have
tactical roadblocks or slowdowns placed in front of us by
the Federal Justice Department because for some reason they're
not interested in letting the court rule on this matter
in an expeditious way, it's my advice that the Region should
be preparing an analysis about whether or not the region
could proceed with some or all of the road even though the
Federal Review Application has not been heard."
Councillor
Marrone called this "absolutely very positive news in terms
of where we can go from here, in terms of getting this Red
Hill Creek done. ... I for one will stand on record for
being very able to call aldermen on this motion and phrase
it so that we can actually start it as early as March."
Friends
of Red Hill is consulting with our lawyers to address these
rash threats to break Canadian law and damage the valley.
There is no question such actions are illegal while the
federal assessment and court challenges are underway.
As
a precaution, we are looking for individuals who regularly
visit the valley to participate in a "valley watch" and
report any unusual activities. If you can assist with this,
please call the Friends phone line at 381-0240.
You
should also let your councillors know how you feel about
these threats of provocative and illegal activity.
|
