Dear editor:

Recently, with the advent of late fall, I’ve been streaming more. Some shows are cowboy stories with grand vistas, unresolved family tensions and, you guessed it, cattle rustlers.

Having heard nothing back (apart from continued residents’ support) about recent calls to action — that councillors should ensure transparency by declaring self interests, consult citizens most impacted by arbitrary changes to the official plan and ensure the NOTL economic strategy is more than just tourism — I did more checking on various rumours and spoke with authorities on civil and criminal law with access to the federal Secretary of State (concerns about cultural properties).

I also had a deeper read of the Municipal Act, the responsibilities of councillors for declaring conflicts of interest, as well as the best practice guide for integrity commissioners and the ombudsman.

Have a look — they’re all public documents.

The conclusions I drew (validated by knowledgeable sources) substantiated several rumours that have been circulating about behaviour and relationships and frankly reinforced the impression that our town (not just the Old Town) has been and continues to be compromised by “the cabal.”

Calling this out by letter writing and occasional demonstrations appears to be insufficient.

A concerted effort is needed if our council leadership and, for that matter staff, are to be held to account.

Expanding the metaphor, the corral has been breached, guardrails ignored, and the rustlers are making off with prize stock.

And no amount of sunny press releases negate that evidence. It’s time to call up the posse and give co-ordinated chase.

I came across a very good quote in Saturday’s Globe and Mail — it read something like, “There’s a flavour present of local superiority laced over by a sociopathic disregard for truth.”

That rang a bell.

Terry Mactaggart
NOTL