Site 41: a test of character for Guergis and other candidates

By Kate Harries AWARE Simcoe October 13 2010
“Let’s hope this is the last statement on Site 41,” Springwater Councillor Tony Hope told the Chamber of Commerce all-candidates’ meeting on Oct. 6.
Hope was the moderator of the event and his comment didn’t sit well with the man who had just stepped up to the mike, local vet Tim Henshaw, who asked sharply: “Is this open to the public or not?”
The crowd that packed into the Minesing Community Hall was with Henshaw.
For him and others who weren’t actively involved in the battle to Stop Dump Site 41, this issue offers clarity – a simple litmus test to judge a candidate’s character in a situation that propelled the township and its mayor onto the national scene.

That’s why it was so interesting to watch the contortions of Springwater Mayor Tony Guergis who is now trying to paper over the historical record that shows he promised to fight Site 41 at the last election and that he switched sides once elected.
He and a small group of county managers and other councillors decided – without reference to county council – to file suit against Anne Ritchie-Nahuis and Vicki Monague. They had staff collecting evidence (flimsy or incorrect, it eventually turned out from the court documents) to get people like Keith and Ina Wood arrested. They fought hard to stop county council from voting on the issue, and Guergis berated his fellow county councillors on the day of the moratorium vote for not having the courage to buy into his vision of putting garbage into the ground.
“I did vote to stop it, I did all I could,” he told the Minesing meeting, claiming that his hands were tied because the dump had been approved before he was elected mayor and that any mayor elected warden no longer represents his own municipality on county council.
“There was only one vote to stop it. In 2009. I voted in favour of that vote. I think you’re just misinformed,” he told a questioner.
In fact, the key vote to stop it came on June 26, 2007. Many Springwater residents were there and saw their newly elected mayor vote in favour of starting the preliminary on-site construction.
The public wasn’t alerted to the vote that gave full approval to the project because it was a line item buried in the 2009 budget. “Sorry, too late, it’s a done deal,” people were told when they woke up to what had happened.
Fortunately, a court hearing led to county council finally having a vote on the issue on August 25, 2009. When the moratorium vote passed, Guergis and his council clique turned on a dime. Notice was given of a motion to cancel the whole thing and yes, on September 22, 2009, Guergis for the first time voted to stop the dump.
At the Wards 1 and 2 all-candidates meeting last night in Elmvale (the community hall there was packed too), the candidates were asked to explain what they personally had done to Stop Dump Site 41.
Perry Ritchie (Ward 2) said he was was supportive and went to the protest.
Linda Fry (Ward 2) did research, visited S41, placed a sign on her lawn and signed the petition.
Reg Cowan (Ward 2) said he spent many days at the protest in support of the blockade, and as a councillor, he insisted that a motion sent out by Tiny Township in support of the moratorium be placed on the council agenda. He seconded it and it was passed.
Dan Clement (Ward 1) said he met with protestors and offered to arrange meetings with Tony Guergis and Mark Aitken.
Katy Austin (Ward 1) said she urged Maude Barlow to take a stand against Site 41, she accompanied Stephen Ogden and Danny Beaton on part of their walk, she sang, she arranged for Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath to attend a rally and walk to the site and helped get the NDP caucus to support Garfield Dunlop’s private member’s bill and she joined Zero Waste Simcoe.
Alison McLeod (Deputy Mayor) said she joined protestors at county council and Tiny Council, she had two signs and signed the petition.
Dan McLean (Deputy Mayor) said he was opposed to Site 41 but was not on the picket line.
Linda Collins (Mayor) said she did not attend the protest but she voted in favour of the moratorium motion at Springwater Council.
Bill French (Mayor) said he attended rallies, walked to the site, attended county council meetings, did research and started a blog.
A portion of this article appeared in the Springwater News.