Comments From the Midhurst Ratepayers Association Questionnaire

Provincial Election June, 2014

All candidates have responded to our questionnaire. We have included the comments that
were also submitted with the questionnaire as per below.
If you have further questions or comments from the candidates about their comments or their
stance, we encourage you to contact them directly.

In Alphabetical Order (by Party)
Green Party of Ontario Jesseca Dudun
If elected, I will work with the citizens of the community to determine what development best suits the
community in line with economic growth and environmental protection. I feel it is extremely important
to listen to the citizens of Midhurst and work in their best interests now and for generations to come.

Liberal Party of Ontario Lorne Kenney
I would like to know more about the special rule and investigate it.

NDP - David Matthews
I emphasize that not only should Ontarios Class 1 farmland be protected but Class 2 and 3 farmland
should be protected as well. Classes 4 and 5 farmlands should be re-evaluated as there have been on-
going improvements to these classes of farmland and they could be upgraded. An environmental
impact study should also include the effects of the MSP on Willow Creek and the Nottawasaga River.

Progressive Conservatives Jim Wilson
The Midhurst Secondary Plan is a complex issue that requires more explanation than a check
box will allow. With that said, I would now like to elaborate on my answers. Firstly, I was
shocked as MPP that there was no consultation before the Ministerial Order was issued by the
Liberals that released part of the farmland for development before the environmental studies
were complete.
That said, I firmly believe that the future of the Midhurst Secondary Plan hinges entirely on the
environmental assessment. As a former Minister of the Environment, I can tell you that if the
plan is unable to ensure conditions will be met around storm water, source water and
wastewater it will not be permitted to move forward. If its true that untreated waste water
will damage the local watershed, it wont pass the environmental studies.
While I signed the petition against the development, I must emphasize the importance of
following proper process. This project has been going on for many years. If you outright cancel
it, the lawsuits will be in the tens of millions of dollars. We cannot afford another gas plant
type of scandal. We need to follow the rules.
With that said, I will continue to use the proper channels to stand up and fight for the
constituents of Simcoe-Grey. I have already raised this issue in the House at Queens Park,
voicing the concerns over prime agricultural land being approved for highly opposed non-
agricultural projects. My commitment to this project is to make sure that going forward every
rule is followed and if it doesnt pass the environmental component, it will not go forward.