Guelph

Friday September 30, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Friday September 30, 2016 Ontario minister says opposition to NestlŽ water taking based on misinformation A senior Ontario cabinet minister is coming to NestlŽ's defence, suggesting public opposition to the renewal of the multinational company's water-taking permit in a small community is based on "misinformation.Ó There has been vocal opposition and protests against renewing NestlŽ's permit in Aberfoyle, after the area 110 kilometres northwest of Toronto suffered a drought this summer that forced residents to restrict their water use. Treasury board president Liz Sandals, who represents nearby Guelph, said Wednesday she finds it frustrating that many residents who have been criticizing NestlŽ are often armed with the wrong facts. "There's no doubt that there is a lot of concern, but my point to you is that many of the things that people will express a concern about actually turn out to be based on misinformation," she said. Sandals said many residents didn't know that NestlŽ agreed to reduce water takings from Aberfoyle because of the drought, and insisted it was routine to see so many people voicing opposition to the bottled water company's permit renewal. "It is actually always true that whenever there is a permit to take water (by NestlŽ) there are thousands of comments that go to the Ministry of the Environment," she said. "I think what is different this time is that it has caught more provincial media attention.Ó (Source: Hamilton Spectator)Êhttp://www.thespec.com/news-story/6884326-ontario-minister-says-opposition-to-nestl-water-taking-based-on-misinformation/ Ontario, Guelph, water, bottled, Nestle, Liz Sandals, koolaid, corporation

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday September 30, 2016

Ontario minister says opposition to Nestlé water taking based on misinformation

A senior Ontario cabinet minister is coming to Nestlé’s defence, suggesting public opposition to the renewal of the multinational company’s water-taking permit in a small community is based on “misinformation.”

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Thursday August 25, 2016 New permit for Nestle water-taking at low rate 'inappropriate': Wynne Bottled water companies in Ontario may soon have to pay more and take less water as public outcry over revelations that the province charges them just $3.71 for every million litres triggered a government review. There is a difference between taking water for agricultural or industrial use and taking it to sell bottled water, Premier Kathleen Wynne said Wednesday. Some of the conditions of the permits for bottled water use are outdated, she said. "There's the issue of the quantity of water that's taken, there's the issue of the cost of that water," Wynne said. "Also, there's an issue around the timing. As we all know, it's been a dry summer and so I think we need to look at what are the right triggers in place in terms of quantities that are allowable given the conditions.Ó Wynne has asked Environment Minister Glen Murray to review permit conditions for bottled water companies. It will look at whether there is a sufficient price on removing water, he said. "I think for some of the folks that are removing it and taking it away, that they got a really sweet deal," he said. "Maybe too sweet a deal.Ó Environmental group Wellington Water Watchers is urging Ontario not to renew a permit for Nestle Waters in Aberfoyle, Ont., that expired on July 31. It's upset that the company has been allowed to keep extracting water from a local well in the midst of a severe drought in the province. A water-taking permit remains in force if a renewal application is made at least 90 days before it expires. "Quite frankly, that window gives us an opportunity to look at what should change, rather than issuing a new permit under the same parameters as the former permit, which I think would not be appropriate," Wynne said. Times have changed, she said. "Thirty years ago, we wouldn't have envisioned an industry that took water a

August 25, 2016

There has been vocal opposition and protests against renewing Nestlé’s permit in Aberfoyle, after the area 110 kilometres northwest of Toronto suffered a drought this summer that forced residents to restrict their water use.

Treasury board president Liz Sandals, who represents nearby Guelph, said Wednesday she finds it frustrating that many residents who have been criticizing Nestlé are often armed with the wrong facts.

“There’s no doubt that there is a lot of concern, but my point to you is that many of the things that people will express a concern about actually turn out to be based on misinformation,” she said.

Sandals said many residents didn’t know that Nestlé agreed to reduce water takings from Aberfoyle because of the drought, and insisted it was routine to see so many people voicing opposition to the bottled water company’s permit renewal.

“It is actually always true that whenever there is a permit to take water (by Nestlé) there are thousands of comments that go to the Ministry of the Environment,” she said. “I think what is different this time is that it has caught more provincial media attention.” (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

 

Saturday July 12, 2014

Saturday July 12, 2014By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday July 12, 2014

Killing two birds with one sign

For SaleIt turns out a block-letter “Hamilton” highway sign faces some pricey road blocks.

City councillors officially pulled the plug Monday on a fast-tracked, $230,000 effort to build a “civic gateway” along Highway 403 that would be ready in time for the 2015 Pan Am Games.

Cost-leery councillors learned fabricating the metal sign would probably only cost $40,000. But design and archeological studies, road-building for access, utilities and traffic management could pump the total beyond $230,000.

City manager Chris Murray also said it isn’t worthwhile soliciting donations for the project until detailed cost and design information is available.

Gobsmacked councillors referred the report to the 2015 budget debate, but gave staff permission to use up to $36,000 in reserve cash to do geotechnical and design studies on a Highway 403 site near Old Guelph Road.

Detailed project costs will be considered as part of 2015 budget discussions.

Councillors initially supported an online “#time4sign” campaign spearheaded by local pundit and public relations expert Laura Babcock, but later balked at the high price.

A similar block letter Stoney Creek sign erected years ago cost close to $300,000, noted area Councillor Brad Clark.

“We can’t rush this,” said Clark, who suggested council has been “flying by the seat of our pants” in pushing the project for a Pan Am deadline.

“I appreciate the desire to get it done quickly, but I’m not sure we can.” (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

Friday, June 14, 2013Meanwhile, the storied City Motor Hotel sign has come down — for now.

The city will dismantle and store the tarnished, towering sign “with the hope of resurrecting it sometime down the road,” said ward Councillor Sam Merulla.

Merulla said the vintage sign is an important piece of Hamilton’s history, but added it will take some work — and possibly up to $50,000 — to restore.

There are no concrete plans to reuse the sign, he added, “but we’re looking.” (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

 

LETTERS to the EDITOR

Hamilton welcome sign (Editorial cartoon, July 12)

Graeme MacKay’s cartoon is just plain brilliant. Thank you to him for thinking outside of the box and for the great suggestion for the use of the old City Motor Motel sign.

Why not restore the sign at a cost of $50,000 instead of the proposed $200,000 plus, plus for a Welcome to Hamilton sign? A welcome sign has been needed for years and we still do not have one. How difficult can it be?

Hamilton is a unique city and this sign would be perfect. As shown in the cartoon, it looks like the right size, and positioned on the pillars, it looks like a big H. I love the arrows directing tourists to our wonderful city.

Hey, City Council, you gotta love it. Look at the money you would be saving the taxpayers and actually recycling for better use.

I can’t wait!

J. Campbell, Hamilton

 

City Motor Hotel sign (Editorial cartoon, July 12)

We know the City of Hamilton has other challenges, yet Graeme MacKay’s editorial cartoon offers a bright idea, one not so far-fetched — the maintenance, preservation-in-place and reuse of the city’s neon signs as 20th-century historical artifacts and pieces of art. Consider Hamilton’s neon signs as a reflection of a modern “coming-of-age” for the city.

In Colorado, Denver’s 26-mile long Colfax Avenue, known as one of the longest commercial streets in the U.S., has a glimmering array of neon signs, the earliest installed in the 1930s. Advertising local businesses such as motels, auto shops and ice-cream parlours, 12 of them are on Colorado Preservation’s list of endangered places.

The city of Burnaby, B.C., has purchased and restored several neon signs considered “rare civic heritage landmarks,” including one from an iconic hamburger stand. My guess would be that many area residents would miss the Hutch’s-on-the-Beach neon sign if it was changed to a different style. Recently it was announced that the Sam the Record Man sign will be reinstalled on the side of a university building in downtown Toronto.

Here’s a thought — maybe the City of Hamilton could use the City Motel’s neon sign as a welcoming sign where it is currently located or a new development or business could reuse the sign. By considering such signs in a different light and frame of time, we can create ways that existing businesses could keep them in use and new businesses can coexist with these “old” signs rather than lose such signposts from the urban landscape.

 Marsha Paley, Burlington

 

SOCIAL MEDIA

 

From Scott Thompson, CHML, July 14, 2014

We all know the history involving the saga of the Welcome sign for Hamilton.

Some well-meaning movers and shakers in town thought it would be a good idea to have a sign ready for the 2015 Pam Am games.

Little did we remember this was all dealt with over a decade ago but nothing was ever done by council to complete the project. Surprised?

Now the mad dash to get something up in time, may prove fruitless as more consultation has to be done.

Forget about a stadium, we can’t even get a sign up in time for the games.

Although one aimless councillor thought the old City Motor Hotel sign was worth saving so it can be restored.

The councillor lamented it’s a piece of Hamilton history and wants it stored to be resurrected again.

Really, I thought we were trying to rid ourselves of the run down, derelict, backwards city image.

Seems some at council still refuse to get out of the past.

Perhaps like Spec cartoonist  Graeme MacKay captured in his weekend drawing, maybe the City Motor Hotel sign can be retrofitted and used as a Welcome to Hamilton sign.

 I’m Scott Thompson.

Well said Scott, it really makes you wonder where the Council’s priorities are when we see this type of thing happen and the cartoon that reveals what a laughing stock our Council is when they make these types of statements. I was laughing so hard when I was this picture in the Sat Spec, my wife thought I was loosing it….. Election time is around the corner, lets hope we get some needed changes at City Hall to move forward as you say.

Like Alan, I was nearly spitting up breakfast with my laughter…what a great cartoon and how fitting. When the article said about restoring the sign at $50,000, I nearly spit up my coffee too. When O WHEN is this City Council of ours going to do something Right, for a change ? Worse than Mr. Dithers from the Dagwood comic strip. They debate a simple issue to death and nothing gets done until it’s too late. No wonder we have so much voter apathy and little faith in those who are supposed to be running this Town with some vision….anyways it was a great cartoon. I wonder if anyone on City Council “got it”

 

 

Wednesday November 21, 2012

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Wednesday November 21, 2012

Tiger-Cats to play at University of Guelph in 2013

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats will play CFL home games next season at the University of Guelph while their new stadium is being built, team president Scott Mitchell said Tuesday.

The university stadium has 7,500 seats. Mitchell couldn’t say exactly how many might be added next year, but insisted there should be enough to accommodate all season-ticket holders.

“We’re working with the university right now to get to that final detail,” he said. “I think any facility we were looking at, obviously, for 2013 was going to require some temporary facilities and infrastructure.”

A new 24,000-seat field is built on the site of Ivor Wynne Stadium, the team’s home for the past 84 years. The new stadium will also be used as a soccer venue for the 2015 Pan American Games. Ivor Wynne had a capacity of 29,600.

Guelph is a 45-minute drive from Hamilton, in an area where the Ticats have been looking to raise their profile.

“We’re really focused on two things. One is to provide a solution to all our season ticket holders — this will clearly do that — as well as enable a lot of new fans in Guelph and around the region to get to some games and . . . this accomplishes both,” Mitchell said.

He wouldn’t say how many season-ticket holders they have, but added that most will likely renew for 2013.

“We’re really focused on two things. One is to provide a solution to all our season ticket holders — this will clearly do that — as well as enable a lot of new fans in Guelph and around the region to get to some games and . . . this accomplishes both,” Mitchell said. (Source: Toronto Star)