Bala Protest The Sign Of Times Coming

Christ Church – Anglican – Episcopal  Church – Windermere – The Beautiful  Anglican Church in Windermere with it’s beautiful architecture can boast some of the finest stained glass windows in the region.  The steeple and original church bell calls the worshippers to the churches morning services held on Sundays and Wednesdays. (Photo By Fred Schulz)

MUSKOKA NEEDS MORE PROTEST FROM ITS RESIDENTS - AND BALA IS SHOWING US ALL THE PRO AND CON OF OPPOSITION

MUSKOKA HISTORY FULL OF FIREBRANDS WHO DIDN'T BACK DOWN TO OPPOSITION


       IT IS SUPPOSED WRONGLY BY MANY CASUAL VOYEURS, AND EDITORIAL GENERALISTS, GETTING INK IN GLOSSY PUBLICATIONS THESE DAYS, THAT MUSKOKA IS A PASSIVE, CONGENIAL, WELCOMING AND HAPPY PLACE TO VISIT; INVEST IN, EITHER AS A PLACE TO DWELL, SEASONALLY OR PERMANENTLY, OR DEVELOP INTO A SMALLER URBAN REFLECTION OF THE BIG SMOKE. FUNNY THING, ABOUT THIS "HISTORY REPEATS," CLICHE. FROM THE BEGINNING OF PIONEER SETTLEMENTS, IN THIS REGION OF ONTARIO, MUSKOKANS HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED THIS WAY BY THE NAIVE AND UNTUTORED, ONLY TO BE RUDELY INTRODUCED TO THE TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT....WHEN TAKEN FOR GRANTED. IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE MUSKOKA REACTION, IS TO FIRST, LAY IN WAIT, FOR AN UNSUSPECTING INTERLOPER, COIL IN RESPONSE TO THE INTRUSTION, AND STRIKE A LETHAL BLOW, WHEN IN RANGE. BUT AS AN HISTORIAN, WHO HAS READ IT ALL BEFORE, AND WITNESSED A LOT OF MODERN HISTORY UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL, THERE IS A GREAT MISTAKE MADE, TAKING OUR CITIZENRY FOR GRANTED. IT COMES FROM A HISTORY OF BEING TREATED AS A POOR, BUT TOLERATED PARTNER IN THE PROVINCE; A HOSPITALITY REGION, AND STOMPING GROUND FOR THE RICH AND FAMOUS, AND OH YES, A PLACE FOR THE TOURIST INDUSTRY STAFF TO LIVE. THE UPHILL BATTLE FOR RECOGNITION, AS A LIVING, BREATHING ENTITY, BEYOND BEING MORE THAN JUST A TOURIST FRIENDLY POPULATION, IS AN ONGOING MISSION OF RE-EDUCATION. SOMETIMES WHEN IT APPEARS WE'RE MAKING GAINS IN THIS REGARD, WE ARE SET BACK IN TIME, WHEN AN EAGER INVESTOR, FROM ANOTHER REGION, INFORMS US, HOW OUR FUTURE IS GOING TO BE CHANGED.....FOR OUR BETTERMENT. THE "SAVING US FROM OURSELVES," POINT OF VIEW. IT'S BEEN AN ONGOING PROJECT OF SALVATION FROM THE LATE 1850'S, THAT MUSKOKANS HAVE LEARNED TO LIVE WITH, AND IN SOME CASES TOLERATE, AS A MATTER OF GETTING ALONG WITH THE ERA OF THE DAY.
     BUT FROM A GOODLY AMOUNT OF HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE IN THIS REGARD, I CAN ALSO OFFER FOR CONSIDERATION, THAT MUSKOKA, FROM ITS ORIGIN, HAS NEVER HAD A SHORTAGE OF FIREBRANDS, OLD COUNTRY AND NEW, WHO HAVE ALWAYS BEEN READY FOR A GOOD SCRAP, A POLITICAL TUG-OF-WAR, VIRTUALLY ANY CHALLENGE TO DEFEND THE HONOR OF A PARTICULAR CROSS ROADS SETTLEMENT, A HAMLET, VILLAGE, TOWN OR DISTRICT. THERE ARE NEAR-LEGENDARY POLITICAL TITANS, IN OUR PAST, WHO LED US TO SECURE WHAT WE, AS A DISTRICT, WERE OWED FROM THE REST OF CANADA.....AS A SMALL BUT FIREY POPULATION DETERMINED TO CLAW FOR ITS RIGHTS. THERE IS, AMONGST THE PRESENT POPULATION OF MUSKOKA, A RELUCTANCE TO QUOTE FROM THE PAGES OF HISTORY, OR DRAW FROM IT IMPORTANT PRECEDENTS, WHEN FACING TODAY'S ISSUES OF POLITICAL AND DEVELOPMENT IMPASSE. YET IT IS ALL THERE. THE GUTS AND DETERMINATION OF OUR FOUNDING MOTHERS AND FATHERS, WHO HAD TO FIGHT GREATER ADVERSITY AND DISADVANTAGE THAN WE CAN EVEN IMAGINE TODAY. SO IF THE BALA PROTESTORS FEEL THEY ARE PRECENDENT SETTING, OR A ROGUE WAVE ON A CALM SEA, THEY SHOULD THEN FAMILIARIZE THEMSELVES WITH THE POLITICAL BATTLES FOR RECOGNITION, CAPTAINED BY MANY OF MUSKOKA'S UNSUNG HEROES, WHO ROSE ROUTINELY, TO DEMAND FAIR TREATMENT AND RECOGNITION. THOSE WHO NEVER CONCERNED THEMSELVES ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCE OF MAKING A STAND, ON EITHER SIDE OF VOLATILE ISSUES, BECAUSE FOR THEM, CONSCIENCE WAS THE BETTER PART OF PRIVILEGE, AND DEMOCRACY, AND TO REMAIN SILENT, A BETRAYAL OF GOOD FAITH IN THE WELFARE OF THE HOME REGION.
       I SUPPORT CITIZEN ACTION. I LIKE IT VERY MUCH, WHEN THOSE USUALLY QUIET, UNINVOLVED, APATHETIC CITIZENS OF OUR REGION, GET GOOD AND PISSED-OFF ABOUT SOMETHING, ENOUGH TO CARRY SIGNS OF PROTEST, AND STAND DEFIANT OF AUTHORITY.....WHOEVER AND WHEREVER THAT MIGHT COME FROM AT ANY GIVEN TIME. A LOT OF CHANGES HAVE OCCURRED IN OUR DISTRICT, THAT WERE HURRIED-UP INTO DEVELOPMENT, BEFORE THE PUBLIC HAD MUCH TIME TO REACT, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. AS A LONG TIME POLITICAL WATCHER IN MUSKOKA, ONE WHO USED TO REPORT WEEKLY ON SOME OF THESE CONTROVERSIES, AND PUBLIC PROTEST, I KNOW THE ROLE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS IN THE WHOLE SCHEME OF THINGS....AND YES, WITH SOME SHAME ATTACHED, I'VE ALSO BEEN PLAYED LIKE A CHEAP VIOLIN. UNTIL I FIGURED OUT, HOW TO REPORT FAIRLY, FROM ALL SIDES OF AN ARGUMENT  AND PUT OUT A CLEVER COVER STORY THAT IS, AT THE VERY LEAST, EDITORIALLY RESPONSIBLE, REGARDLESS IF I COME TO SUPPORT A PARTICULAR SIDE OR NOT.
       AS I'VE WRITTEN ABOUT, PREVIOUSLY IN THIS BLOG, I HAVE BEEN IN THE MIDDLE OF SOME INTERESTING AND HIGHLY AGGRESSIVE PROTESTS IN MUSKOKA, IN THE PAST (AND A FEW ON THE CUSP TODAY) AND ALTHOUGH SOME CLAIM THE BALA FALLS DAM SITUATION, IS HUGE AND DISRUPTIVE, (ALLEGED TO BE ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS) IN MY OPINION, IT IS A JUNIOR ISSUE, COMPARED TO SEVERAL OTHERS, BOTH HAVING HAPPENED IN THE TOWNSHIP OF MUSKOKA LAKES IN THE RECENT PAST. THIS ISN'T TO MINIMIZE THE WEIGHT AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ISSUE, BUT THE RAMIFICATION TO THE ENTIRE TOWNSHIP, IS OF LESSER CONSEQUENCE THAN THE 1980'S BLOW-UP BETWEEN CONSTITUENTS. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PROTEST, IN MY OPINION AS A REPORTER, WAS THE CONTROVERSY OVER THE FORMER ROSENEATH PROPERTY, IN THE BEAUMARIS AND MILFORD BAY AREA, WHEN A GERMAN RAILWAY COMPANY, PLANNED TO RE-DEVELOP THE OLD RESORT INTO A LARGE SCALE, HIGH DENSITY HOTEL COMPLEX. IT DREW FIRE ALMOST FROM THE BEGINNING, WHEN THE PLANS WERE FIRST, AND VERY CASUALLY PRESENTED AT A MEETING OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MUSKOKA LAKES. AS AN EDITOR, HOW WOULD YOU HAVE HANDLED A COTTAGER'S RUDE COMMENT, IN OPPOSITION, LIKE, "WE DON'T WANT A THOUSAND GERMANS PISSING IN OUR LAKE!" THERE WERE A LOT WORSE THAN THIS, AND FROM BOTH SIDES. "WE DON'T TAKE OUR DIRECTIONS FROM COTTAGERS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH." LOTS OF THESE RETORTS, TO THE SUGGESTION, SEASONAL RESIDENTS WERE GOING TO STACK THE TOWNSHIP'S MUNICIPAL COUNCIL WITH THEIR CRONIES.
     I'VE WRITTEN ABOUT THIS MANY TIMES, BECAUSE TO ME, IT'S A PIVOTAL TIME IN HISTORY, IN THE PRECARIOUS RELATIONSHIP, BETWEEN COTTAGERS AND THE PERMANENT RESIDENTS OF MUSKOKA. THE PROTEST WAS SO AGGRESSIVE, THAT IT MADE ITS WAY INTO THE DAILY NEWSPAPERS, THE NIGHTLY NEWS, AND DEEP INTO THE EMOTIONS OF MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS, BUT NOT JUST AS AN AGENDA ITEM TO DEBATE. IT BECAME AN ELECTION BETWEEN THE RATEPAYERS, DIVIDED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCE OF RESIDENCY; PERMANENT OR SEASONAL. A SIDEBAR TO THIS STORY, IS THAT A FEW YEARS OR SO EARLIER, WAS WHEN I FIRST ENCOUNTERED AN UPRISING IN THE SEASONAL RESIDENT POPULATION, WHEN MEMBERS OF THE TOWNSHIPS OF THE ARCHIPELAGO, NORTH OF MACTIER, DECIDED THEY'D BEEN ABUSED LONG ENOUGH, AS RATEPAYERS, AND WERE GOING TO RUN THEIR OWN SLATE OF CANDIDATES IN THAT YEAR'S MUNICIPAL ELECTION. NEEDLESS TO SAY, SOME UNHAPPY CAMPERS FROM THE PERMANENT POPULATION, REARED-UP EXCITEDLY, BELIEVING THIS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED, AS COTTAGERS WERE ONLY IN THE TOWNSHIPS FOR A SHORT PERIOD. THEY COULDN'T POSSIBLY REPRESENT THE NEEDS OF THE PERMANENT POPULATION. IT WASN'T HARD TO UNDERSTAND THEIR FEARS ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE THERE WERE ENOUGH COTTAGE ASSOCIATION CANDIDATES RUNNING, THAT IF ELECTED, COULD POSSIBLY GIVE THE COTTAGER VOICE CONSIDERABLE VOLUME.
     I INVITED SOME OF THESE CANDIDATES TO MY NEWS OFFICE, IN MACTIER, FOR AN INTERVIEW, AS THE ELECTION DREW CLOSER. WHEN I ASKED THE PIVOTAL QUESTION OF THESE FOLKS, WHETHER IT WAS APPROPRIATE TO CREATE A (POLITICAL) PARTY CHARACTER, TO A MUNICIPAL ELECTION, I WAS FIRMLY BUT POLITELY PUT IN MY PLACE FOR ASKING SUCH A THING. IT'S KNOWN THAT THE POLITICAL STRIPE GETS INTO MUNICIPAL POLITICS ALL OVER THE PLACE, BUT TO THAT POINT, THE MUSKOKA POLITICAL SCENE HADN'T BEEN BRIGHTLY COLORED IN THAT FASHION. AS THEY POINTED OUT, IN UNISON, IT WASN'T FAIR TO CALL THEIR MISSION, TO ELECT COTTAGER (RATEPAYER) REPRESENTATIVES TO COUNCIL, A POLITICAL INITIATIVE......UNLESS I CONSIDERED THE TAXATION ISSUE ENTIRELY POLITICAL. I WAS A ROOKIE REPORTER SO I WAS SOMEWHAT SPEECHLESS, AS THEY CONTINUED TO HAMMER THE POINT, THAT THEY CARRIED A HUGE PORTION OF THE TAX BURDEN OF THE REGION, AND FELT IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH POLITICS, TO WANT THEIR RIGHTS RECOGNIZED AS STAKEHOLDERS. THE FACT THAT IT LOOKED LIKE PARTY POLITICS, WAS WHAT THE PERMANENT POPULATION ASSESSED OF THE COTTAGER UNREST, WHEN, AS THE CANDIDATES EXPLAINED, THE OPPOSITE HELD TRUE. THE ACTION WAS ACTUALLY THE LAST STRAW OF BEING EXCLUDED FROM PARTICIPATION, IN THE GOVERNANCE OF THE ARCHIPELAGO REGION.....AND HAVING TO LIVE WITH THE RULES OF THE PERMANENT POPULATION, THEY FELT WERE UNFAIR, ESPECIALLY WITH GROWING DEVELOPMENT CONCERNS AND TAXATION ISSUES. BOTH SIDES OF THE ARGUMENT HAD VALID POINTS AND CONCERNS, BUT IN THE END, THE ELECTION WENT AHEAD, WITH A LARGE COTTAGE (SECOND HOME OWNER) PARTICIPATION, AND I BELIEVE SOME OF THEIR MEMBERS WERE ELECTED TO THE INCOMING COUNCIL.
     IN THE TOWNSHIP OF MUSKOKA LAKES, A SIMILAR SITUATION OCCURRED, LATER, WHEN THE MUSKOKA LAKES ASSOCIATION SUPPORTED A SLATE OF CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION, WHO REPRESENTED THEIR VALUES AND CONCERNS. THE ROSENEATH DEBACLE HAD CERTAINLY AGITATED THE SEASONAL POPULATION, WHO I BELIEVE, FELT THAT TO APPROVE THIS MEGA PROJECT ON THE LAKE, WOULD BE AKIN TO OPENING THE DOOR TO HUNDREDS OF OTHER REDEVELOPMENT AND RESORT PROJECTS, POTENTIALLY MUSTERING IN THE WINGS. I THINK IT WAS THE PERIOD WHEN THE DESCRIPTION, "SECOND HOME OWNERS," CAME INTO VOGUE, AT LEAST IN MUSKOKA. THAT FALL, (EARLY 1980'S) THE ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP CAME TO MUSKOKA TO VOTE, IN SUBSTANTIAL NUMBERS, AND A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF MLA SUPPORTED CANDIDATES, WERE SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR BIDS FOR MUNICIPAL OFFICE. I DON'T RECALL HOW MANY WERE ELECTED, BUT THE POINT WAS NOW CEMENTED, THAT "WHETHER YOU THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A SAY IN MUNCIPAL GOVERNANCE OR NOT, WE'RE HERE TO STAY,.... SO GET OVER IT."
    IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS AFTER THE ELECTION, MANY LOCALS SEEMED PENSIVE, AND UNSETTLED IN ALL REACHES OF THE TOWNSHIP, AS SOME EXPECTED, THE COTTAGER SUPPORTED CANDIDATES, WOULD SOON BEGIN ANNOUNCING THE GROUP INITIATIVE, TO CUT FUNDING FOR MUNICIPAL SERVICES; THUS CLOSING AREA ARENAS, COMMUNITY HALLS AND REVOKING THE SCHOOL BOARD TAX ON SEASONAL RESIDENCES, BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T MAKE USE OF THESE SERVICES.....SO WHY FUND THEM? THE LOCALS FELT THAT THEY HAD BEEN DEFEATED IN THE ELECTION, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE STILL STRONGLY REPRESENTED WITH ELECTED CANDIDATES. I THINK FOR THAT FIRST YEAR OF THIS DIVERSE COUNCIL BACKGROUND, IT WAS ANTICIPATED A WAR WOULD ERUPT....BUT IF IT DID, I WASN'T THERE TO SEE IT, AND OUR NEWSPAPER NEVER REPORTED ANY MAJOR INCIDENT THAT TOOK PLACE.
    I CAN REMEMBER COVERING TWO OR THREE CONTENTIOUS ELECTIONS AFTER THIS, BUT THE HUGE RIFT THE PERMANENT RESIDENTS MAINTAINED, WOULD HURT THE AREA FOREVER AND A DAY, WAS EXTREMELY OVER THE TOP. WHAT WAS DISCOVERED HOWEVER, WAS THAT THE PERMANENT POPULATION AND SECOND HOME OWNERS, WERE AFTER THE SAME RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT AS THE OTHER. NO ONE WANTED HIGH TAXES. NO ONE WANTED TO HARBOR A ROGUE COUNCIL, ABUSING THEIR MANDATE. THERE WAS AS MUCH CONCERN, AS IT TURNED OUT, ABOUT DEVELOPMENT ON BOTH SIDES. THE ROSENEATH PROPOSAL JUST BROUGHT IT ALL TO A HEAD. TRUTH BE KNOWN, AND I WAS AT THE CENTRE OF IT AS EDITOR OF THE HERALD-GAZETTE, WE KNEW THAT A LOT OF PERMANENT RESIDENTS OBJECTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT, ALONGSIDE CONCERNED COTTAGERS.....THEY JUST DIDN'T KNOW HOW CLOSE THE TWO SIDES WERE. ONCE AGAIN, THE PERMANENT POPULATION OBJECTED STRENOUSLY TO COTTAGERS DICTATING TO THEM, HOW THE TOWNSHIP WAS GOING TO BE GOVERNED. THEN THE PERMANENT RESIDENTS HAD TO DEAL WITH THE STARTLING NUMBERS, OF JUST HOW MUCH MONEY SEASONAL RESIDENTS INFUSED ANNUALLY, INTO THE REGION EACH YEAR.....AND NOT JUST IN TAXES. AND THEY COULDN'T VERY WELL ARGUE THAT THE TOWNSHIP WOULD BE BETTER OFF WITHOUT THEM.
     AT THE END OF THE TEN YEARS OF UNEASE, THE TWO SIDES DID COME TOGETHER FOR THE COMMON WELFARE OF THE TOWNSHIP. IT HASN'T BEEN THE CASE THAT ALL DEVELOPMENT ISSUES HAVE PLEASED BOTH SIDES, OR THAT THE TRACK RECORD OF MUNICIPAL COUNCILS SINCE, GETS THEIR UNCONDITIONAL APPROVAL. THERE ARE STILL PROFOUND DIFFERENCES OF OPINION, AS THERE WERE BEFORE COTTAGERS TURNED-ON TO THE IDEA OF BEING REPRESENTED ON MUNICIPAL COUNCIL; AND THIS IS NORMAL FARE IN JUST ABOUT ANY MUNICIPALITY IN MUSKOKA THESE DAYS. BUT GENERALLY, AND IN MY OPINION OF THE PERIOD OF WHICH I WAS IMMERSED, SOME GOOD CAME FROM THE LENGTHY PROTEST. AND THAT WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO DESTROY THE TOWNSHIP'S ABILITY TO SURVIVE ECONOMICALLY, DIDN'T END AS A PROPHECY REALIZED. BUT BOTH SIDES WORKED OUT SOME ISSUES THAT I STILL BELIEVE ARE STILL MESHING IN SUPPORT OF THE MUNICIPALITY, VERSUS, AS AN UNDERMINING CURRENT. POSSIBLY I AM WRONG ABOUT HOW EVERYTHING IS GOING IN THE TOWNSHIP THESE DAYS, BUT I DON'T LUMP-IN THE CURRENT BALA CONTROVERSY, EVEN AS A FIBRE LEGACY OF THAT FAMOUS, EARLY 1980'S CIVIL DISRUPTION.
     I'VE PARTICIPATED IN QUITE A FEW PROTESTS WITH MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, IN THE PAST 30 YEARS, INCLUDING THE CONTROVERSIAL SALE OF BRACEBRIDGE'S JUBILEE PARK, FOR A UNIVERSITY / COLLEGE INSTALLATION; THE PLANNED SELL-OFF OF "THE BOG," A 20 ACRE WETLAND IN THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST; THE SCRAPPING OF THE STEPHENSON TOWNLINE BRIDGE, AND MANY RESORT AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT OPPOSITIONS, TOO NUMEROUS TO MENTION. I AM A HUGE SUPPORTER OF THE RIGHT TO PROTEST. I BELIEVE IT'S BENEFICIAL TO GOOD GOVERNANCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, TO HAVE A POPULATION OF STAKEHOLDERS, WHETHER YOU'RE A PROPERTY OWNER OR JUST A RESIDENT, WILLING TO EXERCISE THE DEMOCRATIC RIGHT TO OBJECT OR APPROVE A COUNCIL ACTION. GETTING INVOLVED AND STAYING INVOLVED MAY PISS SOME FOLKS OFF.....BUT THAT'S COUNTERED BY THOSE WHO FEEL EMPOWERED BY DEMOCRATIC PRIVILEGE. MAKING THEIR POSITIONS KNOWN, WHETHER IT SUPPORTS OR OPPOSES A PROPOSAL, IS THE PIVOTAL ISSUE, OF A DEMOCRACY THAT ACTUALLY WORKS WELL IN ALL ITS POTENTIAL FUNCTIONS.
     I HAVE OPTED, EVEN THOUGH I FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT THE BALA FALLS QUESTION, TO REFRAIN FROM CASTING AN OPINION. AS MUCH AS I WOULD LIKE TO DROP AN OAR INTO THE WATER, I DO FEEL VERY STRONGLY, THAT THE ISSUE HAS TO BE SETTLED BY THE CONSTITUENTS OF BALA SPECIFICALLY, AND THOSE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MUSKOKA LAKES GENERALLY. I SUPPORT THE RIGHT TO PROTEST AGAINST THE HYDRO-ELECTRIC PROJECT, AND ALTHOUGH IT HAS BEEN A PAIN TO THE PROPONENTS AND DEVELOPERS, IT HAS TO PLAY OUT AS DEMOCRACY PERMITS. AS IT HAS BECOME UNCOMFORTABLE FOR THE DEVELOPER TO PROCEED, THE RESULT OF OBVIOUS CIVIL UNREST, IT SHOULD ALSO BECOME CLEAR THAT THE MATTER IS BEING PUSHED, CLOSER AND CLOSER, INTO MUNICIPAL ELECTION TERRITORY. ONCE POTENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR COUNCIL, BEGIN DECLARING THEIR INTENTIONS, NOW WITH A YEAR TO GO IN THE PRESENT MUNICIPAL TERM OF OFFICE, IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE PRESENT BALA OPPOSITION, TO THE FALLS PROJECT, WILL BECOME A SIGNIFICANT BASE OF EVEN STRONGER PROTEST YET TO COME.....AS CANDIDATES SEEK ENDORSEMENT. THERE MAY BE COUNCIL HOPEFULS WITHIN THE LARGE GROUP OF PROTESTORS, WILLING TO MAKE THE DAM PROJECT THE CONSUMING ELECTION ISSUE IN THE TOWNSHIP.....AND ONE WOULD BE NAIVE NOT TO SEE THE TIDAL WAVE RISING IN THIS REGARD. GOOD, BAD OR UGLY? IF THOSE OPPOSED AREN'T BREAKING THE LAW TO STALL THE PROJECT, THEN IT'S HARD TO BLAME THEM FOR PUSHING AS HARD BACK, AS THEY'RE BEING PUSHED FORWARD.
     I PREDICT THE FORMER MUSKOKA CENTRE PROPERTY, IN GRAVENHURST, ON MUSKOKA BAY, WILL ALSO BECOME A HUGELY CONTENTIOUS ISSUE IN THE COMING YEAR OR TWO, AS THE PROVINCE MAKES PLANS TO SELL OFF THEIR STAKE IN THE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR ACREAGE. THE MUSKOKA BAY ASSOCIATION IS WATCHING THIS DEVELOPMENT-POTENTIAL CLOSELY, AND I ANTICIPATE IT WILL BE AN ELECTION ISSUE IN OCTOBER 2014. THERE ARE A FEW MUNICIPAL WATCHERS, HOPEFUL THE PRESENT TOWN COUNCIL WILL NOT OPEN THIS DEBATE, SHOULD THE PROVINCE LIST THE PROPERTY FOR SALE BEFORE THE NEXT ELECTION. THE UPCOMING BIA EXPANSION PLAN, IN GRAVENHURST, IS ANOTHER AREA OF HUGE CONCERN, LIKELY TO DRAW CONSIDERABLE OBJECTION, IF AND WHEN IT IS FOISTED UPON THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, ALONG THE MUSKOKA ROAD CORRIDOR. THE EXPANSION AREA ORIGINALLY PROPOSED COULD ALMOST THRIPLE THE SIZE OF THE PRESENT BIA ZONE. THERE IS AN UNDERCURRENT OF PROTEST MOUNTING ALREADY, EVEN BEFORE THE PLAN HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY PRESENTED, FOR PUBLIC INPUT....YET THE MEDIA HASN'T OFFERED ANY COUNTERPOINT WHATSOEVER, TO THIS DATE.....WHICH TO A NEWS HAWK LIKE ME, IS UNFORTUNATE. THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW. SPECULATION LEADS TO STRANGE FICTIONS, SO THE TRUTH OF THIS EXPANSION PLAN NEEDS TO BE ON THE STREET....PUBLISHED WHERE WE CAN ALL HAVE A GANDER.
     OUR FAMILY WAS READY, WILLING, AND SO COMMITTED TO SAVING "THE BOG," THAT WE WERE PREPARED TO CHAIN OURSELVES TO THE TREES OF ITS BEAUTIFUL FRINGE FOREST....IN THE EVENT THE CHAINSAWS WERE BEING PREPARED FOR A BIG CUT. SUZANNE AND I EVEN CARRIED PLACARDS TO SAVE BRACEBRIDGE'S JUBILEE PARK, ON A BITTER NIGHT ON WELLINGTON STREET, AND ATTENDED ALL THE MEETINGS, INCLUDING THE ONTARIO MUNICIPAL BOARD HEARING, TO MAKE OUR PROTEST KNOWN, ABOUT THE TOWN'S DESTRUCTION OF URBAN OPEN SPACE. WE SAVED THE BOG, AND LOST JUBILEE PARK. BUT EVEN WITH THE LOSS OF THE PARK, WE KNOW OUR RIGHTS WERE EXERCISED, EVEN IF WE SUFFERED ABUSE FROM THOSE CITIZENS IN FAVOR OF THE PARK SALE. IT GOT PRETTY NASTY. IT WAS WORTH IT TO BE A PART OF HISTORY, THAT THE TOWN OF BRACEBRIDGE CAN NEVER DIMINISH, OR DENY OCCURRED. SO AS FAR AS THE FOLKS FROM BALA.....LET BOTH SIDES OF THE ARGUMENT PLAY OUT.....UNTIL THAT FINAL RESOLUTION OF RESOLUTIONS, BETWEEN A HYDRO INTEREST AND THE CITIZEN PARTNERS, IT WILL HAVE FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. CAN IT BE RESOLVED PEACEFULLY, WITH A PRODUCTIVE, PROFITABLE OUTCOME, LIKE MANY OF THE OTHER PROTESTS AND CIVIL DISRUPTIONS THAT HAVE MANIFESTED IN MUSKOKA, IN ITS AMALGAMATED HISTORY? I THINK THE BALA PROTEST IS THE HARBINGER OF MORE PROTESTS TO COME, IN MANY OTHER AREAS INVOLVING FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.....AS THE CITY COMES TO CALL MORE REGULARLY, AND PROGRESS MANIFESTS IN ALL ITS URBANIZING UNDERTOW, ON THE ONTARIO HINTERLAND DIRECTLY IN ITS PATH.
     THE UNREST IN BALA IS INTERNATIONAL NEWS. REGARDLESS WHICH SIDE CONSIDERS ITSELF AS HAVING THE MOST COMPELLING ARGUMENT, FOR OR AGAINST, THE FACT THAT THE BATTLE RAGES ON, TO ME, A LOVER OF DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES, GIVES ME ENCOURAGEMENT THAT MUSKOKA IS WAKING UP TO SOME NEW REALITIES, AND GENERATING THE KIND OF CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT, MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS, ADMINISTRATORS AND DEVELOPMENT PROPONENTS, WILL HAVE TO CONTEND WITH IN THE FUTURE.....THROUGHOUT OUR DISRICT....WHERE ONCE, STILL, QUIET WATERS RAN DEEP!
     MUSKOKANS MAKE GOOD PARTNERS. THERE'S A LOT OF CORROBORATING EVIDENCE OF THIS FACT.
  

THANK YOU FOR JOINING TODAY'S BLOG. I HEAR IT'S GOING TO BE A WET WEEKEND. IN MUSKOKA, WELL SIR, IT DOESN'T BOTHER ME. I'M OUT IN ALL KINDS OF WEATHER, AND IT'S JUST AS WONDERFUL IN THE TEETH OF INCLEMENT WEATHER, AS IT IS ON A SPARKLING SUNNY DAY....WHEN YOU'RE IN SUCH A NICE PLACE AS THIS!