Bill 26, The Strong Communities Act 2004, is intended to provide local municipal government more tools and more control over the planning of local growth and development of lands.

Local residents clearly have a better knowledge of the growth needs of their community than provincial government employees working out of an office in Toronto.

It is for this reason I find it so difficult to understand why the lands that contain the creeks needed to feed water into the ANSI (Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest) designated and protected Eramosa Karst in Upper Stoney Creek, are in the fate of the Ontario government and the Ontario Realty Corporation.

A large and growing group of local residents, along with councilor Brad Clark, have convinced the City of Hamilton to do the prudent thing and suspend the planning of these delicate lands until next April. In the mean time, the City of Hamilton has asked the province to transfer the lands that contain the karst feeder creeks to the City of Hamilton, rather than selling the lands on the open market to builders who will undoubtedly develop and damage the critical flow of water to the protected karst area.

The residents of this great city know what needs to be done with this land - that is to protect it for the education and enjoyment of future generations. The Eramosa karst area contains diverse geo logical features including underground drainage, caves and passages caused by dissolving limestone rock, making it one of the best sites in Ontario for education and research opportunities.

Protecting the Karst's network of features will ensure that students, naturalists and scientists can continue to enjoy this natural resource. No one wants to see it destroyed.

We ask that the Ontario government follow their own initiatives; listen to the local residents and allow them more control over the planning and protection of these significant lands.

Brian Lenart

Stoney Creek