City addresses Milligan’s Pond encampment following second fire in two weeks. Barrie Fire has responded to nearly 30 fires at encampments in the last 6 months. – By City of Barrie
(Barrie, ON) – Today, the City of Barrie, in collaboration with the County of Simcoe took coordinated action to address the encampment at Audrey Milligan Park & Pond (Milligan’s Pond). These efforts are focused on providing individuals with alternate shelter and support, while ensuring public safety and restoring the natural area.
Barrie Fire and Emergency Services responded to a large fire last night at Milligan’s Pond, making it the second fire at the site in the last 2 weeks.
“Fires in encampments pose a serious risk to the people living there, as well as to nearby properties and first responders,” said Eric MacFadden, Deputy Fire Chief. “Encampments like the one at Milligan’s Pond tend to have a number of hazardous materials on site. Open flames and makeshift heating devices create a high risk of fires spreading quickly. When our Fire crews got on scene last night, the Fire was about 60 feet by 30 feet.”
Despite the fire last night, the City continued its work with community partners today to support the transition of individuals from the Milligan’s Pond encampment to shelter.
“It’s incredibly sad to see a place that I used to walk through to see swans, beaver dams, and all the beautiful things the outdoors had to offer turn into a place of encampment where suspected arson and crime is happening,” said Mayor Alex Nuttall. “We are thankful that no one was injured in the recent fire. Fires like these put lives in danger and destroy the natural spaces our community values. We are working every day with our partners to connect people to shelter, support, and safety, because no one should be living in these conditions. We are here to help if you want help. If not, it is time to move on and allow this area to be restored for the safety of everyone.”
The encampment situated throughout Milligan’s Pond has presented health risks and environmental challenges. Through consistent outreach and collaboration with the County of Simcoe, the City has successfully transitioned a number of individuals indoors to safe accommodations and is starting the work of cleaning up the natural environment. The cleanup at Milligan’s Pond will take weeks, and the park will be closed to the public until further notice.
Earlier this week, the County of Simcoe announced a 40-bed modular home facility is expected to open in the coming weeks that will ease system and capacity pressures for those living unsheltered in Barrie. The modular building will immediately be utilized to support the County of Simcoe’s winter response strategy; providing a 24/7 40 bed program for those currently living unsheltered. This supportive bridge housing program will also provide 24/7 on-site supports and services for unsheltered individuals to secure sustainable and permanent housing outcomes.
Mayor Alex Nuttall declared a State of Emergency on September 9 to address encampments across the City of Barrie as the number and size continued to grow and cause significant risk and harm. For more information and updates on the City’s approach to addressing encampments, visit barrie.ca/AddressingEncampments.
Receive Site for National Defence’s Arctic Over-The-Horizon (A-OTHR) project[1] Clearview Township Ontario
Prime Minister Carney, et al
This document/email is for informational purposes only. It is your decision to accept this information and it is your decision to act to ensure the Department of National Defence (DND) operates in an accountable and transparent fashion. It contains information on:
Environmental issues, including potential undermining of/for climate change mitigation
The removal of “prime agricultural lands” from production
Economic harms
Security issues
From DND documents it has been expressed that DND needs approx., 4,000 acres of land to construct the Receive Site for National Defence’s Arctic Over-The-Horizon (A-OTHR) project.[2] It is stated, on DND web-site, that this installation “will be located south of the 46th parallel north (as a frame of reference, this latitude roughly aligns with the Trans-Canada Highway) within the provincial border of Ontario.”[3] The statement of using the 46th parallel north is misleading even with the caveat of “south of the 46th parallel.”
With the lacking information, as to exactly which latitude is needed, this misleads Canadians to envision that this site should be on-or-about the Trans-Canada highway, instead of the 44th parallel. What is now becoming very obvious is that the lands DND wishes to expropriate is not the proper location for this site. This is an unnecessary placement on/in Clearview Township.
As your government has stated a number of times you will be “pragmatic” in your decisions, therefore it is only based on logic and solid information that you/your government can determine if, in fact, DND does need to expropriate 4,000 acres of privately owned lands/property.
Environmental, including climate change
DND has expressed that they have already purchased some 700 acres for a preliminary site. DND has also set out “strict requirements” for these installations. Those being:
- “located in a remote, flat, and dry area
- have limited environmental constraints
- a suitable distance from radio noise sources
- close to electrical power sources”[4]
The original 700 acres do not meet the requirements stated by DND.
“The Minesing Wetlands is a vital, sensitive part of the Nottawasaga River Watershed
It provides water for irrigation of crops, cleans our drinking water, helps control flooding of surrounding areas
This natural flood control includes protecting the 25,000 residents of Wasaga Beach and provides recreational and economic benefits to the region
The Minesing Wetlands is as internationally significant as the world-renowned Florida Everglades National Park for its diverse and rare flora and fauna and is an important area for migratory birds.”[5]
With the previously purchased lands, by DND, considering the amount of fill, to meet the requirements, will be astronomical, not to mention, once filled there will be a further potential cause of flooding. This increases government emergency spending and undermines the protections to mitigate climate change.
Removing prime agricultural lands from production – economics
DND, with set-backs, are stating they require approx., 4,000 acres of “prime agricultural lands.” According to the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) there will be +/- $10,500,000.00[6] total business revenue removed from the economy in this community.
“The other point is that, if this is all concentrated in Clearview, these numbers are much more significant than compared to the entire county. $9 million[7] in lost business revenue is likely a much bigger loss for the town of Clearview than the county of Simcoe.[8]
The information obtained, from this group, may not have included “spin off employment” in their estimations, therefore we have sought out other numbers, from StatsCan.
According to StatsCan there is a greater impact, to the entire community, than merely $10+ million dollars. According to StatsCan there is the potential of 220 to 470 jobs lost in this area.[9] With the average employment income “for full-year full-time workers in 2020 ($)70,500.00“ for “12,255” persons. [10] This could remove an additional $3,899,318.18, of personal income from the economy on top of the business revenues, from this local economy. Given the numbers, based, on conservative averages of 220 employees (spin off) affected and the removal of $10 million +/-, this small community will be losing over $13 million +/- from its economy.
With “Clearview Township budget breakdown: Total Corporate Budget: $137 million; Operating Budget: $36.8 million; Capital Budget: $123.2 million,”[11] removing the potential incomes/revenues/disposable incomes, etc., of $13+/- million, from the over-all budget inputs (percentages of), including disposable income will have an extremely detrimental effect on this entire community.
There are superior options of which you and your ministers, etc., may not have been made aware of.
OPTIONS
The site promoted, by DND, is 20.5 kilometeres or 12 miles from Base Borden.[12] CFB Borden “is comprised of 21,000 acres of land, including a 6,000 acre training area. The Commander of CFB Borden is also Commander of the Military Personnel Generation Training Group (MPGTG), the headquarters of which are also located at CFB Borden.”[13] With Base Borden consisting of 21,000 acres and only using 6,000 acres for training purposes, this facility has the capacity to be far more advantageous for the A-OTHR project.[14]
The document pertaining to requires location, from DND, states:
“What the A-OTHR will look like
The A-OTHR sites located in Southern Ontario will consist of four antenna sites (two transmit and two receive sites) and supporting infrastructure. The program is expected to be accommodated on lands acquired for this program and existing DND sites.”[15]
With DND having made the statement of the location being on “existing DND sites,” one would expect that CFB Borden would be a far superior site, compared to having these facilities placed on land removed from DND security/scrutiny.
Meaford Tank Range
To ensure clarity.
Stayner – 44°25’0” N, 80°5’5”W[16]
Camp Borden[17] 44°18’N 79°56”W
Meaford 44°36’N 80°35”W
CFB Borden and Meaford are on the same latitude as the proposed expropriations. “In 1942, the Department of National Defence purchased 800 km2 (200,000 acres)[18] of private lands along Georgian Bay in the St. Vincent Township…. The facility was administratively an annex to Camp Borden…. The integration of the modern-day Canadian Forces saw the transfer of the Combat Arms School from CFB Borden to CFB Gagetown in 1969–1970, dramatically reducing the requirement for Camp Meaford. In 1970, it was decided to mothball the entire facility, reducing staffing from 153 military and civilian personnel to a five-person security staff of Commissionaires.
“…when Meaford Range is dormatized…it will no longer be used for military purposes, including Regular Force and Militia exercises, training and field firing.” (April 1970 DND internal communication).
During the early 1970s, units of the Canadian Forces Primary Reserve began to make unofficial use of this DND property only 180 kilometres (110 mi) north of Toronto, rather than face the 380-kilometre (240 mi) drive to CFB Petawawa for training.”[19]
Of course, there will be statements of unexploded ordnances, on the base, and yet there would be ample acreage south of the target zone to facilitate this array installation. Based on various documents, from DND, it would seem there are improvements taking place at Meaford, including the Cassino Grenade Improvements – 4th Canadian Division Training Centre (Meaford),[20] therefore Meaford is a very viable option.
Either base would have the ability to mitigate any ordnances. This removal could also facilitate training purposes, as could the installation and operation of the radar arrays.
Security needs
CFB Borden has “approximately 3,250 military members and 1,500 civilians.”[21] According to DND it is only the “ground level for the transmit sites,” which emits “hazardous radiation zones” and “will be contained within the perimeter of the fences and away from human exposure. There are no known adverse human health effects associated with this type of technology at distances beyond the perimeter fence.”[22] That said, if nefarious actors do decide to interfere with this array would CFB Borden or Meaford site(s) not have better security, considering the installation would be on a military base, even if said base is a training facility? One would expect it would, not to mention the opportunities for training purposes involved with this installation, pragmatically speaking.
Aviation Issues
“Aircraft altitudes
Up higher (at aircraft altitudes), the program will work with transportation authorities to put in place guidance and restrictions for affected airspace to keep human exposure to electromagnetic fields within the safe levels per the Health Canada standards.”[23]
Has DND promoted and/or created a “no-fly zone” over the area DND is proposing to expropriate? The Collingwood Airport, shown on the map below, is a small regional training air-field. It is also used for local aircraft including hanger facilities, air shows, etc. Has DND taken into consideration the restrictions that may be placed on this air-field and does CFB Borden already have restrictions in place for specific aircraft altitudes? The Collingwood Airport is one reason why there cannot be wind turbines due to any negligence/interference that had the potential to occur with those installations, therefore this air-field, being within the 44th parallel requirements of DND, what exactly will the restrictions be and can this installation, if installed beyond CFB Borden, work in unison with this regional air-port? If not, this installation, to a pragmatist, has only one viable location – CFB Borden or Meaford. [24]
Other issues which have not been addressed. There is a main county road which goes through the centre of this proposed site. Will that road, or any other roads, be closed to residential/commercial traffic? See map below. This county road is a main commuter route to and from Barrie, CFB Borden, to Hwy 400 to Toronto, etc. This is also a used route for agricultural equipment to cause less interference with the provincial Hwy 26, including all concession/sideroads. If these are closed, traffic will be blocked during some of the busiest times of the travelling year. Emergency vehicles, etc., will be forced to lose precious time getting to and from calls, etc.
NATO 2-5%
If this is merely an exercise to show the increase in military spending, it defies logic. Canadians are expecting the increase in spending for the benefit of our military personal; increases in spending for naval, aircraft, ground forces; equipment to secure our North, etc. Canadians do not contemplate wasted funding, for the expropriation of prime agricultural lands, merely to put in a radar array that would be best served and more advantageously placed on a military base. The security of our nation is not served by reducing agricultural lands/businesses when there are far better facilities available. Each base noted, in this document, has ample acreage. With the amount of fill, removal of buildings, tile-drainage, road closures, civilian disruption, lost business (plus spin-off businesses) this does not fit with any aspirations, of Canadians, to ensure NATO spending is supported by Canadians. For government, pragmatically and strategically, placing these installations on privately owned land is a lose-lose proposition.
In conclusion, economically this initiative will be harmful to all Canadian tax-payers and military personnel, if not installed on a pre-existing military facility – CFB Borden which meets the required 44th parallel and/or its sister Camp – Meaford. It will cause security issues as it will be a “stand alone” facility in the middle of farm country. It will have a huge environmental impact and as we are looking to more extreme weather events, through climate change, placing this installation on/in/near the Minesing Wetlands, removes protections for 25,000 residents. With the impacts on the over-all community financially, economically, culturally, this facility must be placed at its most advantageous location(s) – CBF Borden/Meaford.
On behalf of thousands
Elizabeth Marshall, Author, Director of Research – Ontario Landowners Association, Past Chair – Canadian Justice Review Board, Legal/Legislative/General Researcher – MPs, MPPs, Senators, Municipal Officials, Lawyers, etc.
I am not a lawyer and do not give legal advice.