:: C.A.R.E. in Barrie has done us all proud ::

A couple years ago, Barrie was still very unaware of the intricacies of, and the environmental impacts associated with ethanol production.

A few residents came together on learning of plans to construct an Ethanol Plant inside of Barrie's borders less than one kilometer from schools, parks and residential subdivisions. They brought with them the right mix of foresight concern and civic duty to investigate the dangers in overlapping the buffer zones of ethanol plants and populated regions and they shared their still expanding knowledge and concerns with the people of Barrie.

Along with opening my and many thousands of Barrie residents’ eyes, their shared awareness enlightened Barrie City council, our current MP, a former MPP and our local media while helping to hone the positions and responsibilities of the ministry of the environment.This group’s efforts should go down in the municipal history books as having contributed to saving our city from permanent stigma and a course change that would have stifled our vital tourism industry and stripped Barrie of a proud reputation as being a save clean place to live.

Those few individuals, who rallied volunteers together for a cause and became known as CARE in Barrie, gave us the confidence to believe that yes, you can (and you should) challenge government and big business when the cause is just.

They can hold their heads high and Barrie can be grateful we have such dedicated citizens in our midst.

:: Farmers state "Ethanol Refinery is a Win Win for Barrie" ::

I fully appreciate the too often unrecognized contribution our local farmers have and continue to make to our community. Given that, I still have to question the statement made by the President of the Simcoe County Corn Producers in a letter to Barrie Mayor Aspden that an Ethanol Refinery would be a "win win situation for the City of Barrie, the local Economy and the environment."

There may be one win and that is the chance that our regional farmers will produce a portion of the corn needed to run an ethanol refinery in Barrie. How big a portion, will likely be influenced by the ability to compete on price with heavily subsidized US corn imported from "Mega" farms that receive two thirds of the multi billions of dollars per year in US federal farm aid. With our rising Canadian dollar that is not likely to drop any time soon, imported US corn gets even cheaper by the day.

In the US Midwest the international demand for ethanol producing corn has been responsible for dramatic shortages and price increases on foods dependent upon many traditional cash crops to produce. Fields that once contributed to food production are now used for more lucrative bio fuel-corn production.

Rail line re construction, more frequent road repair and the effects the odor of fermenting corn will have on tourism plus home and business values, puts the prospect of a financial "win" for the City of Barrie far into the future if ever. Why our previous Mayor welcomed an ethanol plant with disregard for the side effects to his city is baffling. Some say this was a one last gasp attempt by his former worship to kibosh the Park Place development which Borders the former Molson's property to it's south and east.

I have to assume that any farmer who has researched the clearly documented environmental and health risks and concerns associated with ethanol production would have great concerns if an Ethanol refinery was proposed one half mile up wind from where their livestock grazes let alone where their children live, play and go to school.

I respectfully wish all farmers due compensation for the hard work they do but not at the risk to the health and wellbeing of their children and grandchildren who may choose to live in Barrie.

For further information, please visit www.CAREinBarrie.com or call 705-309-2273 (CARE).