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By Fred Kirby   December 22, 2004 

“Hewitt upset with angry meeting in Tiverton” reads the heading in last Wednesday’s Independent. “Kincardine councillor Ron Hewitt says Kincardine is a long way from becoming one community.” 

You are right, Ron, and it will stay that way just as long as council retains its present attitude towards governing.  

We are no longer a scattered, semi-literate, rural population; we are literate, reasonably educated with palm pilots, cell phones, and computers. We can watch astronauts hundreds of miles above us or view courageous demonstrators for democracy in front of the Ukrainian parliament buildings. 

 We can do all this and more; but in Kincardine we flounder and quarrel among town, townships and villages. Nobody asked to be amalgamated but ever since amalgamation, members of council and private citizens have continually fought the fact that we are one municipality. The ward system does nothing to make us one. 

As for the water dispute, there should be one rate. I accept outlying wells being subsidized for those citizens have no choice. The Tiverton folk have a choice. They are fortunate to have one, but why should those with a choice be subsidized? Choices are freely made and carry consequences. Tiverton residents want their choice, but without consequences. That gives them an advantage over other citizens and that is not fair. It is unfortunate Glenn did not use this opportunity to make this point rather than dangle some hope of a beneficial solution when there is no other equitable one to be had. By confronting the vented frustration, Glenn might well have dissipated the anger rather than allowing it to simmer. The people of Tiverton deserve an honest answer about the realities of choosing. They may not like it, but they might appreciate clarity over ambiguity. 

Ron, if you want Kincardine to become one community, and I believe you do, council must begin the process of making it so. Rid ourselves of a ward system that encourages pockets of envy and distrust. Practice transparency in all municipal business, build a reservoir of trust and involve citizens as active agents in municipal decisions. Then you will have one healthy, sometimes loud, vibrant community called Kincardine.