“Change”, because we all know that the only constant in life is “Change”, just for the sake of “Change”, is ill advised. The residents of Melancthon, and Dufferin for that matter, have lived with “Change” all their life, and adapted very well. New technologies, manufacturing changes and urban growth have all been handled well. It is evident everywhere that new political initiatives, those initiatives that have truly outlived the tenure of those politicians who have been brave enough to make them, have shown that the qualities of human life, and healthy businesses, are being taken seriously. We are NOT afraid of change.

What the Highland Companies are proposing is not “Change”, but rather a physical threat to life, as we know it, itself. This company proposes an unprecedented assault on water and soil, property values and the quality of life for thousands of people, whilst all along declaring that they know what they are doing and we should not feel threatened. They state that “Your water will be fine and the potato land will be rehabilitated”. Furthermore,

We” will give Melancthon a vision and look after all “you” little people.

We humans, experts of all disciplines, are proving everyday how fallible we are. There is no science, or regulatory authority, that can legitimately support their quest to establish a mine, whatever its size, below the water table, ripping the “Roof” right of Ontario. From here, everything is downhill. If they are wrong and cause a disaster, there is no way to fix it. Period!!

Once someone has lied to me, be it a person or a Company, everything else they state as “fact”, is clouded by that lie. The Highland Companies have not been forthcoming since the beginning. For me, ever since they solicited questions, in writing, at their “Open House” more than a year ago, and those questions have never been answered, all integrity is lost. All they did, by holding an “Open House”, was to solicit concerns from residents, so that they could build their promotional plan to minimize those concerns. Their plans to “safely” manipulate the water flow affecting two watersheds, and thus over 1 million people, touted at their “Open House” as being the “Best Choice”, “State of the Art” and “Foolproof” have already been revisited and fundamentally changed. Their claims that the rare vegetable soil, which now covers much of their landholdings, will be saved and reused, are nonsense at best and a blatant falsehood at worst.

With regards to the “Rail line”, every landowner within 1 km of the rail line will see their property values affected. Nobody, Mr. Keller, will build a railroad to pull four railcars at one time. Rail traffic, from whatever source, will have to be substantial in order to warrant the expense of construction. Why are the affected landowners, and Orangeville Citizens at large, not being circulated when such fundamental “Change” to their way of life, which they have paid for, is being considered?

With regards to the “Y”, the “antagonists” just want to be sure that this is not becoming another taxpayer supported, and funded, institution. If the “Y” can run on the Highlands Company’s money and its own membership funding for perpetuity, be welcome to Dufferin. If the “Y” is dependent on our tax dollars for its existence, please stay away. We, the taxpayers of Dufferin County, are already supporting venues that are currently starving for funding. Just because we, the “antagonists”, are trying to create awareness, public input and participation, trying to replace apathy with knowledge, does not make us wrong or fringe, just makes us involved members of our communities.

Carl Cosack Mulmur Township