June 14, 2023

I met with Joanne Haley, Zoning Officer of the Township of South Glengarry. Very informative. In the Township there was a big debate a few years ago about the right of farmers to clear cut at their discretion, and they won. So the Township cannot stop the clear cutting.

The RRCA has power to stop clear cutting in the creek flood zone area, which the farmer has not reached yet.

The MNR has power re the Endangered trees. I am already in contact with the conservation officer from MNR.

Environment Canada has power re the Migratory birds. They have yet to contact me.

We've been contacted by an investigative journalist. More info to come. 

The clear cutting will likely continue until the farmer has cleared everything on his land up to the edge of the grays creek flood zone. I will send you a picture. The MNR may fine the farmer for the butternut cutting. I will reach out to Environment Canada again soon.

See image attached: This is the new Zoning of the Farmers Property. RRCA can control what happens in the FP zones. In the CG zone the Farmer can build Businesses or Houses as he wishes. The CG Zones are not within the Former Grays Creek Conservation Area. In the R1-19-H Zone the farmer has almost finished clear cutting. This is unlikely to be stopped now.

More images coming soon. Above is the new layout of Gray's Creek. Private Property 2 (Grays Creek Lease is still active) will still be accessible thru the FP Zone on Private Property 1 (where the clear cutting is happening). This access will likely be negotiated after the farmer is done removing the trees.

The farmer has clear cut 18 acres out of the available 25 in under 11 days. He is a professional and extremely efficient and timely. It is impossible for government organizations to react fast enough to stop him from what he has done, and he knows it!