Appearance of bribery in Muskoka Lakes part22

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Council rejects cheque from dam opponents

MUSKOKA LAKES — Muskoka Lakes council received, and promptly rejected, a $10,000 cheque from a group opposing the Bala Falls hydro project on Monday morning.

The cheque was given to council during a public delegation by Save the Bala Falls member Mitchell Shnier, who presented it on behalf of the organization as a token of appreciation for council’s opposition to the controversial project.

Can you believe it?

I have written much on the Bala Falls Hydro Project, I've even had friends e-mail me, now that I live far away, to ask me to publish guest posts. 

Bala Falls- A Guest Post

Jul 23, 2009

This diver was employed to check out the bridge supports

The company, Swift River Energy Ltd., will put in more supports for the bridges. I was at the bridge the day a company was inspecting the bridge underwater supports.

They said it didn't look good.
Swift River will invest a lot in the town. Perhaps the SaveTheBalaFalls lobby group could do the same, rather than trying to bribe council.

The falls aren't going anywhere!

The save the Bala Falls group (save it from what - development?) is filled with those who believe that the falls will no longer exist if the dam is redone to provide hydro power, something it did in the early part of the century.

2008 Save the Bala Falls group

They want the right to swim and play in the falls, despite the danger.

Moon River and Bala Falls

Moon River is a beautiful part of Muskoka. It is, also, dangerous.

The latest action is appalling. The Save the Bala Falls group  has been vocal and now it has gone too far. The newspaper has come out with editorial responses to this news item. Very interesting, as in this small town, many journalists live and work in the area.

Purk's Place: a business lobbying
signage by Norm Miller, MPP

Potential home buyers are staying away from the Moon River.
They fear this development.

This group has opposed the plan for years. The small town has been riddled with signage. They finally seemed to realize that the 'Save the Bala Falls' signs were ridiculous.
The Falls were developed years ago, to allow logging and exploitation of the water for tourism. Water levels changed 9' during the year before this dam was put in!

Now, summer residents down river (Moon River) opposing the development, fear the impact of the dam on their $800,000 properties. They don't want to see the construction.

Many do not respect the land and water. Bridge jumping is illegal. Drownings were very bad over the years in Muskoka.

We fight for tourism dollars in cottage country, yet developing this dam will not have a huge impact.

Having illegal bonfires with fires that get out of control is one dangerous part of cottage country, as well as noise and water pollution. Abuse our precious forests by citiots leads to fire bans and $600 fines. Muskoka doesn't have a good history of respect for the environment. Now this case demonstrate disrespect for the principle of saving the planet one project at a time.

The recent municipal election meant that the current mayor, Alice Murphy, was a long-time member of the Save the Bala Falls group. She should be awfully careful when dealing with this issue. She represent ALL stakeholders, and all constituents, not just the SaveTheBalaFalls lobbyists. If council toyed with the idea of keeping the $10,000 the lobbyists were trying to give to them, perhaps Swift River should match and raise the bid!?