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The Glengarry Landowners’ Association had a busy year in 2007.
-The GLA was instrumental in starting the “Save My Land from McGuinty” campaign in response to the Endangered Species Act. More than 24,000 acres (100 sq. km.) of rural land has already been cleared or will be cleared.
-Jim Picken and Jamie MacMaster traveled to the Niagara Region to help set up the Niagara Landowners’ Association.
In April, during two meetings, members of the Landowners made presentations to a Senator from the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry. The Landowners identified property rights transgressions and excessive government intrusions, regulations and taxations as significant contributors to “rural poverty” - the subject being investigated by the committee.
On May 7th, a demonstration protesting the transgressions of private property rights within the Endangered Species Act, was held at the farm of Shawn McRae, near Bainsville. Tree felling and wood chipping skills were evident.
On May 15th, in Cornwall, at a meeting hosted by the St. Lawrence River Institute, Shawn McRae gave a presentation on property rights, and environmental legislation’s conversion of private property, to the public. Jim Picken delivered a great speech about how the cost of government environmental regulations and its intrusion was killing rural business.
-Ian Cumming keeps landowner concerns in the forefront, with numerous articles in the Ontario Farmer and the Glengarry News.
On June 9th (declared Landowners’ Day), a demonstration of chain saw skills was held at Jim Picken’s property, as members protested provincial legislation that inhibits their right to use their land. Another 20 acres of Glengarry countryside was cleared of hawthorns.
-Ken, Ilse and Christina Turnbull created the GLA website: www.glengarrylandowners.com
-The GLA sent a letter to the Minister of MNR, concerning the Endangered Species Act. The letter presented a critical legal review of the act, on behalf of the GLA membership and the Ontario Landowners’ Association.
August 15th, Shawn McRae was elected as one of the Agricultural Representatives, on the Source Protection Committee. Jim Picken and Bill McKenzie are sitting on the regional oversight committee, as well as being board members of the RRCA. The Raisin Region-South Nation Source Protection Committee has many members who appreciate rural sentiments and are amenable to property rights principles.
-Members of Glengarry and Prescott-Russell Landowners drove to Carden Plain, on the shore of Lake Simcoe, for another chain saw demonstration. The Landowners were protesting the negative impact of the Endangered Species Act upon the property rights of rural landowners. Are rural residents becoming an endangered species?
-Jamie MacMaster, as a member of the OLA’s Political Action Committee, met several times with senior Conservative Party members to push for the inclusion of property rights in the PC platform.
-Local Landowner Associations created a radio advertisement: Rural Ontario Gets the Acts. The ad ran for 2 weeks on CFRA, leading up to the provincial election.
-In November, with the provincial election looming, Landowners repeatedly questioned candidates on their property rights views. A hearty endorsement of said rights, was not extended.
-Randy Hiller was elected as the Conservative MPP for Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox-Addington. Shawn McRae and Jamie MacMaster were in Perth for the celebrations.
-In December a meeting was held with MP Pierre Lemieux , and MP Guy Lauzon, regarding Landowner conflicts with officials of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
-On December 19th, Landowners demonstrated their dam building abilities by closing down the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority office in Manotick. The action protested the removal of Landowners Merle Bowes and Terry Hale from the Rideau-Mississippi Source Protection Committee. Two beaver appeared to show their support for the protest.
2008
In February, Shawn McRae presented a draft of the Compensation Model to the Source Protection Committee. The draft was noted in the minutes. Since then, the draft has crossed the table at other SPC meetings.
In March, a meeting was held with John Tory , discussing the need to address property rights as a key component of the PC party platform. Shawn presented Mr. Tory with 200 year old land titles and a binder of relevant material.
-Glengarry has three regular contributors to the Landowner Magazine: Ian Cumming, Shawn McRae and Jamie MacMaster. As well, Jamie had three columns concerning property rights published in Real Estate Magazine – a monthly publication that is subscribed to by Canada’s 50,000 Realtors.
-GLA-endorsed members on North Glengarry council rolled back taxes for the second year in a row. North Glengarry decreased the amount of money given to the Raisin Region Conservation Authority.
In March, Ian Cumming was elected as president of the Glengarry Landowners’ Association.
-We thank Shawn McRae for his stellar work, during his tenure as president.
For more information, visit the rest of the GLA website right here.
And: Rural Revolution
We thank Fassifern General Store, Leroux’s Small Engines in Lancaster, Alexandria Milling, and Roy & Regina MacMaster, for their work selling GLA memberships.