The
letter reflects the increasing desperation
of the City to bring an end to opposition
to the expressway project. It attempts
to impose a prior restraint on the implementation
of rights enshrined in the Canadian
Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The
City has systematically avoided the
normal regulatory and administrative
procedures associated with such a massive
project that has very large environmental,
economic and social implications. Their
actions have ranged from spending $4.5
million to prevent a federal environmental
assessment, to seeking an exemption
from provincial environmental rules,
to refusing to respond to written concerns
of citizens for more than four years,
to their latest threat to sue the National
Energy Board for following normal procedures.
Like
the letter released yesterday, these
are the actions of a municipality which
understands its expressway project cannot
stand the light of day, and which despises
and fears public scrutiny and criticism.
The most appropriate response is for
citizens to redouble their efforts to
elect a mayor and councillors who will
end these abusive practices.
Rally
for the Valley – Monday August
4, 2003
The
City’s threats make it all the
more important for as many people as
possible to join in a peaceful and legal
rally against the expressway on Monday,
August 4 (Civic Holiday). The rally
will take place at 1 pm near the corner
of Greenhill Avenue and Harrisford Avenue,
one block west of Mt. Albion Road. The
afternoon’s events will include
the planting of a Garden of Hope. Parking
is limited in this area, so please try
to carpool, take public transit (Parkdale
bus) or use alternative transport to
get to the site.
