Posted by Al Marshall at 8:39 AM 0 comments Thursday, January 20, 2011
A WARNING TO CITIZEN GROUPS AND ACTIVISTS (The Elmira Lesson)
Do join together. There is strength in numbers.
Do not delegate all responsibility/authority to only one or two members. Disaster lies in this route.
Do demand accountability and transparency of the other stakeholders such as M.O.E., local government etc..
Demand twice as much accountability and transparency from your own members. Outside dishonest forces can damage your group but inside dishonest forces can tear you apart.
The standard operating procedure for dishonest forces is mock or psuedo public consultation. The ONLY way they will agree to and participate in it is if they've got it rigged to start with. Why do you think Uniroyal/Chemtura came back to the CPAC table in 2000 after storming out a year earlier? They stormed out over criticism of their unacceptable air emissions particularily affecting the Duke St. residents. The CPAC Chair in private discussions convinced them that CPAC would be a happier place for them. At the time as a CPAC member I questioned why concessions or negotiations were necessary to bring them back. Why do you think since that time both Chemtura and the Ministry of the Environment have publicly stated that CPAC is one of the best and most knowledgable public advisory committees in the province? Do you really think it's because CPAC have held their feet to the fire? I don't think so. Here is my prediction. Within six months of the first public CPAC meeting in 2011, Chemtura will either threaten to walk out or will do so. This for me will be a strong indication that we are on the right track to actually clean up Elmira and restore our drinking water aquifers. Chemtura will come back but this time without CPAC selling the farm.
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5 comments:
Suggestion for what is likely the stall - money: municipality issues bonds for local people to buy. The corporation can borrow the money from the municipality (at low interest rates) to make the necessary environmental improvements. The people make back a little bit of money on their investment and save the water supply and the community.
An interesting proposal. If I'm understanding it correctly however it sounds as if the Municipality are paying to cleanup the mess left by Chemtura. You certainly are right that as usual the issue is money and who pays how much.
Nope, the Municipality would be the "middle-man" or issuer of the bond to raise money.
See also:
http://murraydobbin.ca/2011/01/17/the-ceo-and-the-new-feudalism/
The above article may help to put some perspective on the issue at hand - which is always about money.
The only change I would have liked to have seen in this article is the mention of the general public's role in this economic mess. The shareholders and investors are not innocent and that is "us" with our RRSP's, GIC's, stocks and other investments. We DEMAND high returns on our investments ergo, we see corporations and CEO's acting contrary to their honour and integrity as people.
Municipalities can step into a broker role and raise investment through the issuance of municipal bonds. The municipality may not (Municipal Act) be allowed to lend money directly to a business, but may be able to through an adhoc agency such as CPAC. If the result is ultimately to benefit the community, the municipality could probably find a way.
Municipal bonds are making a come back as local governments across the U.S. struggle to fill deficits.
Lots of good information about this subject is available on the internet.
Good luck and remember that if the door is shut and locked - don't be afraid to throw open a window and crawl out!
Sorry! I reread comment one and by the "corporation" you are referring to Chemtura. This makes your idea even more interesting.
Speak to a council member and peruse through the Municipal Act asking; "why not?" and go from there.
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