Wednesday, April 23, 2008
STUPID BIG BOX
Brian McInnis sent a message to the members of "NO BIG BOX POWER CENTRE IN LESLIEVILLE!".
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Subject: Please watch Goldhawk Live this evening
Dear Friend,
The East Toronto Community Coalition asked me to pass the following two notes along.
1- Tonight, at 9pm on Rogers cable 10 and 63, investigative journalist Dale Goldhawk will have a panel discussion about the "Big Box"development on Eastern. The panel will consist of 2 people for the"pro" side - and two members from the "No Big Box" side They will be taking calls so if you have a little bit of time this evening please call in with your comments about how this development will impact our community! The number is 416 446 7090.
2- (ETCC response to province's refusal to declare provincial interest) We tried. Mayor Miller asked. The Film Board asked. Over 4500 residents, Film Workers and concerned Torontonians asked. The answer is No, the Province will not make a declaration of Provincial Interest in the Smart!Centres OMB hearing.
Perhaps the writing was on the wall when a group of us had the
opportunity to speak with Gerald Butts, D.McGuinty's top advisor. We pointed out that this development was at the access point to Lake Ontario Park and perhaps a similar Lower Don Lands study could be done on this adjacent land. Mr.Butts replied with a laugh and a statement that went something like 'how could we justify that when we still dump raw sewage into the Lake'.
We also pointed out how the Province's Places to Grow policy, which protects employment lands and discourages auto-centric development, will not be a deciding factor as this application went in before the policy came into play. We pointed out that this development will impact the lands set aside for the film industry and there is still a need and a demand for smaller, lower-end sound stages. We told them that we already have enough retail with Queen St., the Beach, China Town, Gerrard Square, 4 large Grocers and the Eatons Centre. We couldn't even move them with a letter about the health impact of
14,000,000 car trips a year in a community already suffering from some of the highest incidents of lung related infections and disease.
In the end, Butts told us that they were afraid that if they gave us the declaration, they would have to give it to the hundreds of other community groups fighting developers in Ontario. They also said they will be watching the OMB proceedings very closely. I guess we should all find comfort in that and the fact that the Province will now allow us to hang our underwear outside to dry. By the way, this bad news came with the first smog warning in Toronto.
Brian McInnis sent a message to the members of "NO BIG BOX POWER CENTRE IN LESLIEVILLE!".
--------------------
Subject: Please watch Goldhawk Live this evening
Dear Friend,
The East Toronto Community Coalition asked me to pass the following two notes along.
1- Tonight, at 9pm on Rogers cable 10 and 63, investigative journalist Dale Goldhawk will have a panel discussion about the "Big Box"development on Eastern. The panel will consist of 2 people for the"pro" side - and two members from the "No Big Box" side They will be taking calls so if you have a little bit of time this evening please call in with your comments about how this development will impact our community! The number is 416 446 7090.
2- (ETCC response to province's refusal to declare provincial interest) We tried. Mayor Miller asked. The Film Board asked. Over 4500 residents, Film Workers and concerned Torontonians asked. The answer is No, the Province will not make a declaration of Provincial Interest in the Smart!Centres OMB hearing.
Perhaps the writing was on the wall when a group of us had the
opportunity to speak with Gerald Butts, D.McGuinty's top advisor. We pointed out that this development was at the access point to Lake Ontario Park and perhaps a similar Lower Don Lands study could be done on this adjacent land. Mr.Butts replied with a laugh and a statement that went something like 'how could we justify that when we still dump raw sewage into the Lake'.
We also pointed out how the Province's Places to Grow policy, which protects employment lands and discourages auto-centric development, will not be a deciding factor as this application went in before the policy came into play. We pointed out that this development will impact the lands set aside for the film industry and there is still a need and a demand for smaller, lower-end sound stages. We told them that we already have enough retail with Queen St., the Beach, China Town, Gerrard Square, 4 large Grocers and the Eatons Centre. We couldn't even move them with a letter about the health impact of
14,000,000 car trips a year in a community already suffering from some of the highest incidents of lung related infections and disease.
In the end, Butts told us that they were afraid that if they gave us the declaration, they would have to give it to the hundreds of other community groups fighting developers in Ontario. They also said they will be watching the OMB proceedings very closely. I guess we should all find comfort in that and the fact that the Province will now allow us to hang our underwear outside to dry. By the way, this bad news came with the first smog warning in Toronto.
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