HawthorneVillager.com

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Ohhhhh, and he slices right through the towering pile of bullshit!

As per an earlier submission, the town and region did know.

Cluett says, "You look at people in this area, if they want to build a shed they have to go through hoops like a circus if they want to put a shed on their property."

HA! I beg to differ!

Actually, a friend of mine lives near where the condo is being proposed downtown and she's NOT allowed to build a shed because it's on the floodplain.

If we're gonna pay for endless lawsuits anyway, why not just eminent domain the private land away from them and let CN sue instead?

So I just got a chance to actualy watch this video....

The CN guys we're easy targets as they were clearly looking to avoid conflict, which neuters their ability challenge any attacks directly. It's a good performance by Mr Carr, I think he asked some very good questions. What most people watching this clip will miss is the key point made by CN. "As you know, we have been in conversation about this for 14-15 months".

So, while Mr Carr is pretending to be all up in arms about how shovels are already in the ground and homes being sold in that area based off of those (now obsolete) plans - he conveniently fails to mention that they did nothing to change any of those plans for the last year and a half. Why? Because there was an election coming, and it was inconvenient for him.

So I'd like to ask Mr Carr why he allowed people to buy those homes, and the town/region to proceed with the plan, despite knowing it would have to change? Apparently protecting the official plan, and the finances of the citizens he represents, come second to protecting his own job.

It's not just the homes built or sold within the past 15 that are in question. Apparently the town planned this stuff years ago after CN initially said they weren't building an Intermodal (when they lost the challenge last time).

I doubt that the town taking action 15 months ago vs whatever the last 2-3 months would have made any considerable difference here.

CN has established a beach head at James Snow and Main...............

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I alluded to this a few dozen pages ago as well - as did one of our councilors.

If we were a bigger town and covered by a better funded press, I'd love to see an investigative journalist sink their teeth into this and see just who knew about this and how far in advance they did.

While everyone has claimed complete ignorance on the topic, there are little slip-ups here and there that tell a different story. I don't know who or what levels of government were in talks with CN before the announcement, but someone appears to not be on the up and up about it.

I find that part of the discussion far more interesting.

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It’s the kind of story that could advance a journalists career and get them working for a bigger outlet. (hint, hint Champion reporter)

Dig up the who knew what when story, confront them with difficult questions, then tell a story of a local citizen who was completely screwed by their inaction.

A counselor with some balls and a moral compass could do the same thing. But I think the politics here is too small town and friendly for that sort of sh*t stirring.

Or get a horse head put in their bed.

That’s some badass Halton politics!

There's a local reporter who has been reading/commenting here in this very thread (hint hint)

I don't know how FOI requests work exactly, but I know where and who's emails I'd start with.

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I am glad the video was made of the meeting, the comment caught on camera of how some at that meeting knew last year of CN’s newest proposal for their lands. At least Rick you don’t have to worry legally about what you posted and deleted now. I do agree that an investigation should be made because of the incompetence of “ some “ of our Region and ToM officials. When Hunter Harrison at CN pulled the plug on the new terminal the Region and ToM staff along with some area residents breathed a sigh of relief. ( in the video it’s funny how Carr forgot about Hunter Harrison and didn’t forget about the 6000 signatures on the petition ). At that time they knew that CN had a very good chance at building the terminal.

The incompetence I refer to is during and right after plug was pulled, can the Region/ToM show proof that they tried and tried to swap/broker a land deal with CN to the area north of the 401 by JSP ? IMO that they cannot but should have instead they left the elephant in the room and went full speed to get the lands around the CN property planned and hoped to have it built up before CN comes back down the road. By that point in time they would use the large mass of population new to the area to fight CN.

So yes an investigation should be made as to who knew what because some people at the Region / ToM purposely are using the new home owners as pawns in this battle against CN. Also as the video showed not all of our elected officials at the meeting knew of CN’s proposal last year.

As for our local newspaper's investigation into this, I am baffled as to why they haven’t written anything yet ?

opie