CORNWALL Ontario – Mark A MacDonald likes to throw around the term Occupy or Occupy Cornwall. Who can blame him. We all like to have some bad ass street cred; but frankly this gerrymandering about the Chem tanks is creating support for the bad guys.
If you believe the spin the entire City of Cornwall is outraged by Chem Tanks on the Waterfront; from Chuck Charlebois, to Todd Bennett and of course Mr. MacDonald.
I myself am not happy with them; mostly because of the cloak and dagger shadow game of deceptions being played on the public who at the end of the day will be stuck with the Chem tanks and the bill which will not be a small one.
The root of this issue is the very very simple point; clarified in Mayor Bob Kilger’s release in December stating that the City KNEW ABOUT THE LEASE in June 2013!
It’s not the Federal Government; nor Transport Canada; nor Kevin Pollard and his company that won’t talk to the press.
No reports to council and no reports to the public were made until the project was nearly finished and in the ground in December.
Everything from that point has been an utter charade and lie after lie.
Does it really matter if we see the lease? Will that change anything? Nope. Does it really matter if MP Guy Lauzon knew or didn’t know anything? Not really. What really matters is the explanation of why we, the taxpayers, were not informed of this 180 turn on our vision of the future of our waterfront?
The answers needed was who of the three gentlemen that work in our Economic Development office spoke with Mr. Pollard or his people and why didn’t they report the lease or if they did, to whom they did and who else covered it up; because ladies and gents that’s what we’re dealing with; a very old fashioned cover up.
I asked the major players protesting this mess if they’d agree to form a group and hire a lawyer to fact check,0 and if possible place an injunction. The answer repeatedly was no even though it wouldn’t have been that much for such a legal opinion. At this point can we trust the ready made statements and answers that have led to the tanks placement?
I think not. But the reality is that the public really isn’t that concerned. Certainly not enough to take any real action. It might be the other media not asking the tough questions. It might be council giving the Mayor and Management a free pass. It might be because the people of Cornwall are simply struggling so hard to make a living they don’t have the time and energy to deal with this drama.
In the meanwhile Mr. MacDonald brought down a shack to hold a press conference in which Freeholder Ace Greg Peerenboom has reported will be moved away right after the presser. So much for Occupying which is another plop for Mr. MacDonald who has now seen the Cornwall General Hospital sold out from under his group, Citizens Coalition of Cornwall, and may in fact see the Air Force Wing dumped from their prime waterfront location.
Grand Standing is a bit like a good Negative Ad. The weight of the blow is based on the degree of truth in it. This wagon near the gate; not even blocking access was limp and politically motivated. It’s turned more people off than on and frankly its sad for all of us.
Action takes a plan; a well thought out strategy, and then execution of that plan. And even then you don’t always win; but you always have the best chance of winning. This time Mr. MacDonald and Cornwall lost. And the vacuum of true community leadership has led to having thousands of litres of Calcium Chloride next to the Legion Ball park across from Cornwall’s biggest condo development.
You can post your comments below.
Not really sure how he was able to erect it in the first place without a permit
I’m very impressed by your willingness to take an individual stand on this issue Mr. Gilcig.
Sometimes being a significant voice is to seemingly stand alone.
Hi Michael. Standing alone is rarely any fun…
No matter what Mr Gilcig, you have my respect for the courage you show to go your on way.
That’s what I have always respected in people no matter what.
I love your honesty
Go man, don’t give-up!
Mayor Kilger with City Council approval are negotiating a partnership deal with
Akwesasne which if concluded would likely give them as much as a 50 % ownership
of our port area property. How can any Cornwall Taxpayer see justification in
this possible Land give away? Cornwall Taxpayers Beware
Further acquiring the Port itself will not make money, tell the Govt thanks but
no thanks .
I agree with your article Jamie. Mark may be using all these issues to` keep his name in front of the public. With an election coming up in October keeping your name in front of the public is a good thing. Remember there is no such thing as bad publicity. Though Mark may want o find an issue where he has a good chance of being on the winning side.
@William E Beattie: I agree with what you said. Purchasing the harbour lands will not be cheap and cost us plenty. We’ll be on the hook for maintaining the harbour lands and fulfilling any outstanding / current contracts, this includes the “No Tanks.”
Bill it was months ago there was a motion tabled for a partnership between cornwall and the MOA i thought that had been shot down, or is it in the air again? i can’t see why it would not benefit both in some shape or form. i say it should be designated a heritage site and a museum dedicated to an aboriginal basis with sales of arts and crafts from native artists. or is this an impossibility
The Land Owners in this case don’t need permission from non-owners regarding what to do with their lands. Understanding this basic principle might help some people learn what sovereign autonomous self-ownership means. Who owns and operates you and your property?
Admin said “But the reality is that the public really isn’t that concerned. Certainly not enough to take any real action. It might be the other media not asking the tough questions. It might be council giving the Mayor and Management a free pass. It might be because the people of Cornwall are simply struggling so hard to make a living they don’t have the time and energy to deal with this drama.”
Like I said earlier in another article “the longer this drags on the less resistance the federal gov’t will encounter in regard to the tanks and harbour lands divestiture.” And the longer it drags on it’s also better for the city if any deception / lack of info flowing to the public occurred. The longer an issue takes to resolve public interest in the issue will slowly dissipate. Unless this drags on until election time, then things could get interesting. I find as people get older, myself included, they are less likely to want to be involved in contentious issues and they leave it to others. The NIMBY principle comes in to play, but no one wants to get involved. Is it right? Probably not, but you can’t force people to do things they don’t want to do. It’s apathy. But can you blame anyone?
This say it all Admin.
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“It might be because the people of Cornwall are simply struggling so hard to make a living they don’t have the time and energy to deal with this drama.”
.
That is why it continues.
Those who have nothing don’t care, and those who have are too busy to get involved. The defeatist mentality will take another 15 years post Domtar to evolve into something else, likely bankruptcy of the corporation afraid to insult it’s benefactors.
Why does the Standard Freeholder continue to attack you at every turn are they afraid of you it sure seems that way
http://www.standard-freeholder.com/2014/04/03/tank-shed-on-the-move
Jamie Gilcig • 6 hours ago
That was one limp demonstration. Occupy what Mr. MacDonald?
Cornwallstillsmells Jamie Gilcig • 2 hours ago
Keep sending out those meaningless legal documents to the XFLIES wackos
The “show” is better than any comedy act to hit Cornwall in years
Dr_HenryMorgentaler Jamie Gilcig • 2 hours ago
Your buddy from Toronto Mikey seems to have some anger issues whats up with that????
“420” you said what is very true indeed. Someone mentioned last week (I think) that Cornwall can become another Detroit with its bankruptcy and I agree wholeheartedly. There is always time to take to get involved. Look at the Cameron family and tell me that these people are not busy. Who is busier than nurses you tell me. My God Almighty the people of Cornwall are going to find out about not getting involved and letting other people do things for them. The Camerons are busier than bees in a bee hive and they take time between their jobs, their families and they go to the meetings and see what is going on and they get active in things that they do not agree with. If you let the government and others do everything for you then you deserve everything you get. Those condos are worth nothing after all this fiasco going on and it will add to further and further pollution and diseases. Many people are struggling and not just the people in Cornwall. People with degrees are working for minimum wage in fast food places and happy to get anything to put food on the table. Stop waiting for others to do things for you and get out there and toss Bare Ass out on his keester along with the rest of his shisters before it is too late. Yes you will all be responsible for the harbor lands and everything that goes on. You all haven’t seen anything yet.
Cornwall isn’t the only city where people don’t get involved. This happens in big cities like Ottawa and Toronto. It’s more noticeable here because of the small population base. The percentage is probably the same in Ottawa and Toronto. But because of a larger population it actually looks like more people are involved in larger cities.
I agree with what Darcy Neal said “The Land Owners in this case don’t need permission from non-owners regarding what to do with their lands. Understanding this basic principle might help some people learn what sovereign autonomous self-ownership means. Who owns and operates you and your property?”
The land is federal gov’t land and Trillium has a contract with Transport Canada, so they can be there. The Occupy Cornwall group (?) has their cabane on the land illegally and have been told to move it, so it has to go. How this all came about of who said what and when it was said will probably never be truly known. It’s a sad state of affairs. Hopefully it can be solved with all parties more or less happy with an agreement of some sort.
Ok .. I’ve read this article a few times .. Are You Saying that you don’t support what Mark McDonald is doing ?
Mike what I am saying is that if “we” all don’t work together “we” all don’t get results. Is the goal to get rid of the tanks or help get elected?
Kind of a brash statement admin
Why do you believe what Mark is doing is not for the team attempting to have the project stopped? Just because everyone has a different size oar doesn’t mean they are not rowing in the same direction!
It could also be for his campaign as any good politician takes advantage of all possibilities.
This whole sitution is a complete joke.Cornwall is being laught at from across the province.We all no Kilger and company new about the tanks,but didn,t think anything about Chucks great plans to change the landscape down there and rigtley so.Most citzens of Cornwall Don,t give a rats ass about any storage tanks.But they do care about getting more tax dollars coming in.Kilgers lie,s are another thing though.
Hopefully you will allow me to go off message for this story
Kathy Gannon, Canadian-born journalist, wounded in Afghanistan
War on Journalist
The war on Journalists continued today with Associated Press (Canadian reporter) Kathy Gannon wounded and her German Photographer Anja Niedringhaus killed in an attack by an Afghan policeman eastern Afghanistan.Gannon.60,was born in Timmins Ontario Both journalists had spent 20-plus years covering the region.In March Afgan reporter Ahmad Sardar his wife and two children were murdered in KABUL, Afghanistan at a hotel. Nils Horner was assassinated in broad daylight in the Kabul. Canadian Journalist(Calgary Herald) Michelle Lang was killed by an IED in 2009 along with four Canadian soldiers
Anja Niedringhaus (Germany) April 2014
Nils Horner (British-Swedish) March2014
Sardar Ahmad (Afghanistan) March 2014
His wife two children also murdered
Michelle Lang ( Canada) December 2009
Agreed Jamie. Mark MacDonald, IMHO, has turned this into a circus now. But I guess anything to keep his name in the public eye.
Peter this is a sad story but I can tell you that journalists who cover the wars are in danger all the time and many do get killed even many go unreported. Those journalists are in the field with the soldiers. We do not hear the majority of the news. Most of the news gets sanitized before we get it and we don’t get the real truth. Again it is very sad especially for their families to deal with. That is the job that they have chosen and a mighty dangerous one. When you are in a country that is not yours nor the mentality then anything can happen. These are mighty ancient cultures and they are defending themselves in the way that they know how.
Why is it taking until Wednesday to move the cabane? The order to move it was issued Thursday. If he doesn’t move it, get a truck and do it for him and send him the bill.
Now Mark MacDonald wants a referendum added to the October election. Which part of it’s on federal land and the feds have a legal binding contract with Trillium doesn’t he understand? How would he like his neighbour to try and tell him what he can do with his land. He also wants Guy Lauzon to resign. Mark has turned this into a 3 ring circus.