The following is in response to Mr. Andrew Watts' letters to the editor of July 22 and July 31.
While I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Watts that our planners need to plan with the best interests of their communities in mind for both current and future generations, and that our politicians’ responsibilities are to the voters and taxpayers who support our municipalities, regions, provinces and country, I fail to see how the tone and content of either letter, or similar commentary from any source, moves these important ideals forward, or helps the process in any way.
As strongly as those generating this type of commentary may feel the need to share their thoughts, I feel equally strongly that at this time there is an urgent need for factual representation of issues, civility during discourse, and respect for the complexity of governing a population and country with such diverse interests and needs as ours, in a positive manner that advances the collective good.
We do not have to look far in today’s world to understand that poorly or unsubstantiated, broad-brushed commentary can be counter-productive.
The letter of July 22 indiscriminately smears all municipal and Regional planners in Niagara by blaming them for being “the real problem in planning today”, insinuating that as a group planners are untrustworthy by lamenting they are, “given free rein to meet and work with potential developers over months and even years, without any council oversight,” and alleging they “put in place planning recommendations that conflict directly with existing Official Plans and Zoning Bylaws and without any regard to existing neighbourhoods and communities”.
I despair that during a time when many people working within the public sector are doing the best they can to fulfill their mandates under intense pressure and confusing direction we choose to make such broad and prejudicial statements. I have no doubt there are individuals who put their own interests above that of their employers and clients in any field, but I fear such a rebuke of a profession at large hinders collaboration and may be a disincentive for future cooperation.
Broad-brushed commentary can be counter-productive
A similar theme of indiscriminately tarnishing a group of people is seen in the letter of July 31, in which it is stated that “I can’t think of a single politician at any level of government that I trust to do the right thing anymore.” No one can know every single politician in Canada with a depth of understanding that would corroborate a statement that every single one of them is untrustworthy. Where is the accountability for statements like this, and how can we hope to attract capable and community-minded leaders to serve when we subject them to such comments?
On May 1, 2024, Pam Damoff, current MP for Oakville North – Burlington, Parliamentary Secretary for the Minister of Foreign Affairs and previous multi-term local councillor, announced she would not seek re-election. Her letter of intent cited the significant deterioration in the tone and tenor of public discourse, and general toxicity, as one of the reasons.
And as reported in PelhamToday last week, when Niagara-on-the-Lake Councillor Erwin Wiens was asked about protesters’ conduct outside NOTL Town Hall during an anti-Parliament Oak development march, he responded that it was “abhorrent behaviour,” and that “staff and councillors were ‘intimidated’ and ‘bullied.’”
In the same issue of PelhamToday, Regional Councillor and twice-elected member of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Diana Huson remarked in a letter to the editor that, “I've been a Regional Councillor for six years now. I have never experienced the level of incivility I'm seeing now — both online or in Council Chambers.”
We are fortunate to live in a country in which we are all free to voice our opinions and concerns. I believe it is the responsibility of those of us who offer comments and criticisms to present factual information in a respectful manner; and likewise the responsibility of those of us who engage with any such information to educate ourselves and critically evaluate what we consume if we hope this privilege to continue.
John Swart
Fonthill
