Dear editor:

Frankly, I’m losing count and developing a growing sense that “Something Rotten” (apologies to Stratford programming) may be going on.

Unneeded and inappropriately sited hotels, out-of-scale buildings in the wrong locations, blatant disregard for the official plan, “the Gang of Five” with its flimsy rationales — the beat goes on.

It begs the question of whether there is any route to getting out of this mess, much less rectifying it.

Three possibilities …

1. While provincial legislation about declaration of interest is very weak, should citizens not insist that their elected representatives do just that? Several conflicts have been identified without acknowledgement that may be influencing decision-making.

Declaration doesn’t necessarily remove a councillor from a debate as his/her opinion is likely worth considering. It merely provides transparency and context. That should be conventional in our town — a citizen’s right!

2. Our consultation process is clearly inadequate. Arguing that the town as a whole does not oppose a particular development (such claims made without evidence), the residents who count most are those who will be most affected.

Perhaps informal plebiscites are needed to underscore that reality and help make it stick.

3. Over-reliance on tourism is often a road to ruin. Just look for evidence at other jurisdictions in Canada, the U.S and abroad.

NOTL needs a balanced economic strategy, including a 21st-century approach to our natural assets, agriculture and the arts, adding stimulation of a startup economy.

That combination has proven to be influential elsewhere for creating jobs, correcting the age demographic, and strengthening the tax base.

Some argue that the solution is voting out “the Gang” at the next election.

The concern is that the die is being cast now, not in 2026 (assuming we are not consolidated with other municipalities by then).

Terry Mactaggart
NOTL