Clarification: Knox Henry a mediator, not a lobbyist

AWARE Simcoe October 25 2011

Knox Henry has advised that a recent headline on an article on this website incorrectly described his actions as lobbying, and that in fact he is a professional  mediator. 

The word was used in its traditional sense, describing an action by any individual to inform, change or influence the decisions of officials and was not meant to imply that Mr. Henry is a professional lobbyist. AWARE Simcoe regrets any confusion. 

It has been brought to my attention today that a recent article on your website “Oro-Medonte intent on conservation authority levy reduction, hires consultant to lobby NVCA” contains some factual errors, the most serious of which is to purport that I am a lobbyist. 

First, the Township of Oro-Medonte (“O-M”) hired Henry Dispute Solutions Inc., of which I am a principal, to mediate a dispute between Oro-Medonte and the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (“NVCA”) that has been on-going since 2003, respecting environmental services also provided to O-M by the Severn Sound Environmental Association (“SSEA”).  In my capacity as a mediator/facilitator have had several meetings over the past several months with the staff of O-M, the NVCA and the SSEA  —  both individually with the parties and jointly.

 As a Fellow of the International Academy of Mediators and also, a member of the ADR Institute of Ontario, I am recognised for my professional skills in assisting disputing parties to resolve their differences without recourse to expensive alternate actions.  The term “lobbyist” refers to a different profession and requires registry with the Ontario Lobbyist Registry. 

 I would ask, that as a responsible news organization, you publish a retraction of this factual error.

 Your sincerely,

Knox M. Henry

Henry Dispute Solutions Inc