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by Fred Kirby March 16, 2005
 Our
local broadsheet reports the newly-organized Tiverton and District
Ratepayers Association “intends to launch a very public campaign….even to
the extent of parading behind the Kincardine Scottish Pipe Bands with
signs – ‘We don’t want Kincardine’s dirty, turbulent water’….”
“Parochial pettiness destroys a beautiful lakeside community” a national
newspaper’s headlines read. “Like prehistoric creatures, the inability to
adapt by some inhabitants brings destruction to all” another national
paper reports. Peter Mansbridge on the National relates how some people in
the municipality of Kincardine tell the world Kincardine water is not fit
to drink. Michigan newspapers warn their readers to avoid Kincardine
because of problems with the drinking water.
Roberts attacks the municipal staff. That is cowardly. Talk of returning
power back to the elected officials is pure nonsense. The elected
officials have enough power to run the municipality. How those elected
officials manage their responsibilities is the issue. Ed Roberts ought to
know that if he aspires to community leadership.
Councillors Roppel and Ribey, who attended this meeting, displayed little
integrity when they did not speak up for municipal staff who cannot do so
for themselves.
I support citizen organizations for improvement in government. It is
democracy at work. But organizations should exist to build a better
community for all. That is their ultimate purpose. We organize to change
the course of political action or to chuck government out of office. We do
not organize to tear apart a vibrant municipality. We do not organize to
vilify our own community across the nation. And we certainly do not
organize to attack civil servants. That is a cardinal rule that Roppel,
Ribey and Roberts brush aside. Is it because they are ignorant, arrogant,
or both?
It has been said many times; residents of Tiverton have a choice to keep
their wells and pay for their operation themselves or connect to municipal
water. All choices have consequences, something most learn as children.
Roberts, Roppel, Ribey, and others appear not to understand that basic
moral principle – perhaps it’s the water they drink.
Correction: Lindsay
Buckingham’s email for pledges is: lbucking@uwo.ca , my apologies to
Lindsay.
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