May 14, 2025

Letter to Grey Highlands Council: Outrage at proposed Bill 5

Photo: EnvironmentalDefence.ca

Dear Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and Councillors: I am writing to you to express my outrage at the proposed Bill 5 before the Ontario Legislature.

Although I do not always agree on your decisions as a Municipal Council, I never want to take for granted that we have multiple layers of government for good reasons, and that the people who serve on local Councils do so, because they deeply care for the place they live, and the people who live around them. Each and every one of you displays that daily, in your dedication to this calling of municipal leadership.

It is because of this, amongst numerous other concerns, that I am furious with the proposed ability for the Ontario government to give itself the power to exert its power anywhere, at any time, in any jurisdiction in Ontario and to suspend any law they want, without any process. To me, this means that they have no regard for the essential work you do, the essential wisdom you bring, and the essential service you provide to our communities.

My suspicion is that you may also be feeling outrage: disrespected, and disregarded in a proposed decision making process that would upend our political process and our very democracy — the things we have come to depend on, and that are at risk of being taken for granted.

For this reason, I am writing to all of you directly, to ask you — from the bottom of my heart — how can we work together to protect the democratic values that you all bring to our region? How can we best express our outrage that a word from 'on high' can undermine anything that our Council has worked, collectively over decades, to create in our communities? Can we work together on this? How can you use our support?

I have asked MPP Vickers for a meeting and will see him on May 23. I will be leaving a comment with the Ontario government through their venues. What else can I do? And what can local groups do to protect YOUR critical role as local leaders and decision-makers?

Please feel free to get in touch anytime. I have cc'd some local concerned folks as well as leaders from a couple of local organizations. This truly is an assault on our commonly held democratic values.

I do so much appreciate what you do for Grey Highlands.

Sincerely,
Erica Ferguson

 

---

At South Grey News, we endeavour to bring you truthful and factual, up-to-date local community news in a quick and easy-to-digest format that’s free of political bias. We believe this service is more important today than ever before, as social media has given rise to misinformation, largely unchecked by big corporations who put profits ahead of their responsibilities.

South Grey News does not have the resources of a big corporation. We are a small, locally owned-and-operated organization. Research, analysis and physical attendance at public meetings and community events requires considerable effort. But contributions from readers and advertisers, however big or small, go a long way to helping us deliver positive, open and honest journalism for this community.

Please consider supporting South Grey News with a donation in lieu of a subscription fee and let us know that our efforts are appreciated. Thank you.