See also CWCC web site: cwcc.info
"My prayers go out to you and your fine community. I read through the reports on the web of your dilemma and was left not a little incredulous. The fabric of any community rests on its ability to embrace 'the other' in truth. While this needs to function at all levels, it can only be successful when it is modeled from those in fiduciary power. From what I have read in the reports, your local council may have won a legal battle but it has sentenced itself to its own verdict of non-confidence in relation to its elected task of supporting and building community. In its hurried thirst for tax dollars your council is not only cutting the hand that feeds it, it has undermined its own raison d'etre. It is a fine example of the power of 'the ring'." Reverend Randy Holm, Bible College Professor, Winnipeg MB
"... no one should argue the group was not acting in the public interest. Its actions were not frivolous; members thought they were acting in good faith. They should not take another financial hit simply because they chose to test the democratic system. Despite getting their backs up over allegations of wrongdoing, Centre Wellington councillors should take the moral victory and waive the $86,000 in court-awarded costs." Woolwich Observer, July 30, 2002
"There's no justification for any municipality and any court to actually punish citizens who are exercising their democratic duty and expressing dissent," "It's just an example of a municipal government trying to flex its muscles at the expense of their own constituency." Guy Caron, national watchdog Council of Canadians, in The Press, Kitchener-Waterloo
"The members of this coalition probably had no idea that one day they would be asked to pay $85,000, simply for opposing something they did not want for their community. They had opposed the slots for what they considered very good reasons, not the least of which was the haste with which Centre Wellington embraced the proposal ... It is this kind of citizen upon which civilization is based: the kind of citizen who cares enough to speak out, to brave opposition, and to not count the cost." Gail Martin, Editor, Elmira Independent
"The proposal to sue 111 members of the Centre Wellington Citizens' Coalition for over $85,000 is an unacceptable affront to democratic principles. The same process that supports the election of the Mayor and Councillors also supports the democratic right of dissent from their decisions, including resort to the courts. To punish individuals financially for acting as public spirited citizens is an abuse of power." Dr. Alan Cairns, Waterloo-Political Scientist, past President of the Canadian Political Science Association and Officer of the Order of Canada.
"The anti-slots movement has already paid for legal costs for the OMB hearing in Elora, provincial court in Guelph, and the appeal in Toronto. ... Thanks to the input of the Citizens' Coalition, the design of the whole facility has been improved. ... Council should realize the benefits brought by the opponents of the racetrack. I am certain they will be more careful in the future to act accordingly, allowing democracy to be fair and equitable. ... I feel it is totally unjust for council to attempt to recover court costs, as it does not allow for democratic expression. I think all ratepayers in this area should be thankful that this group, whilst not successful in their aim, have definitely improved the appearance of the facility to be built and questioned whether the decision-making of council was democratic." Richard Taylor, Fergus resident, owner of Richlyn Nurseries, and Centre Wellington Citizen of the Year
"The Citizens' Coalition may not have had much of a legal case, but it surely had a responsibility to give voice to these human concerns. It shouldn't have had to pay a steep price for the privilege of doing so." Editorial, Guelph Mercury
"It's in the township's hands, They could say at any moment that, 'no we don't have to do this.' " Sheila Koop, Elora, Teacher, in The Press, Kitchener-Waterloo
"At first I couldn't agree with the people in our community who were so opposed to slots, but now something terribly wrong has happened. Council has just shut down opposing voices on this. They won't negotiate. They won't discuss it. It seems as though Council's goal is to simply destroy the Coalition because they spoke up. Freedom of Speech and the right to protest is an integral part of a democratic society. Citizens must have the right to oppose and be heard without fear of any repercussions whatsoever." Michael Forman, Elora resident and small business owner.
"In all my years of practicing and teaching law, I have never heard of a local government seeking such a huge costs award against a local citizens group -- particularly one pursuing issues of broad public interest. I find this shocking, as a lawyer and a citizen. This type of punitive action could effectively close the courthouse doors to citizens who want to raise legitimate questions about whether governments have acted lawfully. In a democracy, we should be encouraging this kind of responsible public scrutiny, not punishing it." Stewart Elgie, environmental lawyer and professor
"The court challenge to the slot machines was not a frivolous action launched by marginal group. The Coalition had broad and deep support in the community on an issue of vital importance to the character of long-term development in Centre Wellington. Council's pursuit of court costs against the Coalition is -- purely and simply -- vindictive. It's also clearly an effort to stifle future citizen action that challenges Council policy. Council's position discredits this community, and it should be reversed." Thomas Homer-Dixon, Fergus, Author of "The Ingenuity Gap", educator
"Council won in the courts. But now they are going too far. They are going to make Centre Wellington citizens pay through the nose for exercising their democratic and legal rights. This is cruel, unusual and unprecedented punishment." Geoffrey Stevens, Elora artist, businessman and longtime resident.
"Local democracy does not flourish through the influence of wealthy organizations with political connections, nor in the official pronouncements of appointed bodies. Democracy is always rooted in the willingness of informed and engaged citizens to express their freedom through community action. Rather than placing barriers to the public participation, we should be providing them support and thanking them for their initiative." David Crombie, former Mayor of Toronto, President and CEO, Canadian Urban Institute, and frequent visitor to Elora.
"...it is our opinion that you are sending the wrong message to the constituents of Centre Wellington and Wellington County whom you serve. We are indeed very concerned that such a decision on your part will be seen by the wider community as a punitive and a repressive attempt to deny the exercise of legitimate dissent, such as is indicative of a democratic system." From an open letter by 13 church leaders to Centre Wellington Council.
"To indirectly attempt to silence citizens when they question and challenge is no different in its effects than overt silencing. Council's threatened action deprives people of a central element of quality of life -- civic participation and reasoned protest. This elected council is risking a deep betrayal that will further harm an anxious and divided community." Laurette Larocque, psychotherapist and Fergus resident.
"Until the past few years, I always felt that this village was idyllic on many levels. The past year has been a wake-up call, alerting me to be much more vigilant. I feel the village is in peril through the loss of any realistic municipal process and the council's failure to listen to the differing viewpoints of it's citizens." Dorothy Ames, businesswoman and Elora resident.
"Because of many associations throughout Guelph and Wellington County during my 45 years in family practice, I recognize the names of many people who spoke in opposition both at that public meeting on March 29, and through a petition signed by some 2,000 people representing the Centre Wellington Coalition. I value these people (many of whom are respected friends and colleagues) for their sense of responsibility to the community. Again, with respect I urge council to reconsider its position." Dr. Edward Crispin, physician, Guelph.
"Forcing the CWCC to pay court costs and damages is a lot like watching the Frank Capra movie 'It's A Wonderful Life' but which ends with James Stewart, his friends and family all ruined by the tyrannical Mr. Potter." John Chalmers, Elora businessman, owner of the Gorge Cinema, Elora.
Council's empty promise. "Councillor outrage at this little surprise from the OLGC is both palpable and understandable. Council originally bought into the Woolwich Agricultural Society's proposal to move its harness track from Elmira to Elora on the rather clear understanding that somebody else would be paying for infrastructure improvements needed to accommodate the new facility. It helped sell the project to a highly skeptical public on that basis. It even went to court to fend off a challenge from a determined citizens' coalition. Had citizens known that the township's initial share of the gambling take would be so meagre, it is certainly possible that the proposal would have been dumped. There's only one good reason to have a slots operation located in the neighbourhood, and that reason is spelled money." Editorial, Guelph Mercury, June 7 '02.
"Decisions and actions undertaken by governments, however, can never be arbitrary. There must be good reasons for any move. These reasons must be well documented. The documents, all documents, must be made available to the public. And, finally, the representatives must be prepared to defend their positions. Officials, elected or otherwise, must meet all of these requirements before proceeding with any changes. Anything less is unacceptable. It is that simple." Editorial, Woolwich Observer, July 1 '02.
"...our take for the first year will only be $200,000, not the $1.5 million expected. That's partly because the racetrack will only be open for one season in its first year, but year two has no star rising either, with an expected take of $300,000. Hey, that's government in action for you. That's democracy. In the words of Oscar Wilde: 'Democracy means simply the bludgeoning of the people by the people for the people.' In Centre Wellington, we just got another whack on the head." Bonnie Ewen, managing editor of The Guelph Mercury, June 15 '02.
"We don't know how much 2.5 per cent is going to be. Therefore, we don't know how long it will take us to pay for that $840,000. Plus interest will be accruing every year. So we'll end up paying off a million or so and we don't know how long that will take us. I think it's absolutely outrageous." Jean Innes, Centre Wellington Councillor.
"It's so sad when you think of it. Not just all the wasted energy and leadership. But the money. It's all gone to lawyers instead of recreation, arts and education. It could have made Fergus-Elora a better place." David Earle, recipient of the Order of Canada, choreographer and Elora resident.
"It has taken two thousand people over two years to pay off $100,000 in legal debts. Following their disappointment in the courts they face council's decision to squeeze a further $100,000. Now Council has to pay another $800,000 to build the facility. This money is in short supply and now it can't be used for charitable contributions to the Elora Festival, or the Elora Centre for the Arts or The Theatre on the Grand or any of the other revenue -generating initiatives which make our community a tourist destination. This is bad for business." Riki Weiland-Smith, Chair, Elora Arts Council, and Fergus resident.
"Any asset derived from the racetrack in 2003 could be used to recruit health care professionals. Maybe we can heal the ideological wounds caused by this issue by healing our physical wounds." Walt Visser, Centre Wellington Councillor, Fergus Elora News
"The best incentive to attract new physicians to rural Ontario is to have a socially healthy and vibrant town... thats good to raise a family...that values tolerance and community spirit...that welcomes citizen participation and new community leadership." Dr. Kate Anderson, Family Physician, Fergus
"Regardless of ones personal opinion on this issue, one has to admire the conviction of coalition members. How many of us would be willing to take a stand on an issue to the extent that it may wreak personal financial hardship upon ourselves. This time it was the slots and you may have been on the pro side, or just didnt care. What happens next time when it is something that you do care about and you are on the other side of the fence?" Frank Peel, Fergus resident
"On my recent visit to Elora I was dismayed to learn of how bitterly divided the village had become as a result of the slot-machine issue and, more especially, because of the municipality's attempt to recover legal costs from those who had tried to stop the slots facility from going forward. Just about everyone I met talked about it. These kinds of issues have divided the village before - the bridge dispute in the 1970s is one I remember - but I don't think the victors in past disputes have ever been quite so mean-spirited in victory. The municipality's action against its own citizens goes against a long tradition of local democracy in Elora, and I hope council reconsiders before it's too late." Kenneth C. Dewar, former Elora resident; associate professor and chair, Department of History, Mount Saint Vincent University
"We were well-motivated. Perhaps idealistic and naive. We never dreamed that at the end of the day, council would turn on us and seek vengeance through the courts. It's a silent nightmare for us and a loud warning to others. Citizens groups throughout Ontario must now think twice." Carol Williams, Elora resident.
"Council has chosen to ignore the controversy that it has created. The silence from Mr. Pinkney is deafening. Citizens should ask him some serious questions. This is 'Enron' accounting at its best." Harry Panjer, Elora resident.
"The attempt by both Township and County Councils to force citizens acting in the public interest to pay Council's own legal costs is a brazen effort to intimidate citizens from exercising their democratic right of dissent. It represents a deliberate assault on the democratic principles which are essential in a free society." John Cairns, former Director of Literacy, UNESCO, Paris, retired Director, Centre for International Programs, University of Guelph, and Elora resident.
"The signal issue that evolves from this protracted travesty is the matter of civil dissent and its place in a democratic society. Forget the coalition and the slots. What would you have an individual or group do when they perceive an injustice being imposed on their community? Suppress their passions? Turn their backs and slink off like cowering pipsqueaks? Surely not. Then would you suggest that dissent is acceptable as long as it doesn't reach the courts? But then what would be the point of it all? So where does that leave us? Will the ability to pay be the deciding factor as to who will challenge government decisions? Would you like to explain that to the poor or the less affluent who have as much, if not more, right to fight for justice and the betterment of their communities?" Stan Jaychuk, Elora resident.
"Council is telling us, the media and the public that they can neither discuss the matter with us or at council meetings while it is in the hands of their lawyers. To whose advantage and what cost is it, to keep it in the hands of the lawyer? It's Council that is hiding behind their own legal staff. While it was before the courts this position had credibility. Now it does not. The public deserves answers." Ken MacLennan , Elora resident.
"Our Coaltion can't move forward to make a strong contribution to many issues facing our community until council removes this threat. We would very much like to cooperate with Council to support and foster participation in our community." Peter Scott, Elora resident.
"Frankly, I think we all would have liked it to be a five per cent agreement that became effective on day one. But it became quite clear that the Ag Society has not got deep pockets." George Pinkney, Mayor, Centre Wellington, Guelph Mercury, June 6 '02.
"Several (coalition members) could write the cheque for the entire amount without losing a minute's sleep." George Pinkney, Mayor, Centre Wellington, Wellington Advertiser, June 13 '01.
"Residents of Centre Wellington had the opportunity and took the opportunity to voice their objections through the OMB hearings. There were no costs assessed for that. It was the Superior Court cost and the accusation that Council had not acted properly that we're objecting to. The Coalition had the opportunity to be heard." Mayor Pinkney, Guelph Mercury July 23 '02
"As its been pointed out, it's very unusual for a township to ask for costs. But it's also very unusual for a citizen's group to take that additional step of going to the Superior Court to challenge council's right to decide." Mayor Pinkney, Guelph Mercury July 24, '02
"Anyone who uses the court process goes into litigation knowing that they not only have their own expenses to pay, but if they are unsuccessful they run the risk of having to pay some or all of the other side's costs. I don't think that is unduly restrictive in the democratic process. The statuatory right to appeal for those who wish is still there." Cavan Acheson, Centre Wellington Township Lawyer, Guelph Mercury July 24, '02.