Dear Editor,
An open letter to the Mayor & Councillors for the Village of Merrickville-Wolford
Could any member of Council explain to me why the current Council for Village of Merrickville-Wolford has decided to still go ahead with the contentious fireworks on Family Day as of Monday night’s Council meeting? How can you justify being a Partner of the Merrickville-Wolford ECO Champions initiative and then release fireworks into a Federally protected Migratory Bird Sanctuary?
This raises the following concerns:
Did the Village of Merrickville-Wolford consult with their lawyer regarding the current Migratory Bird Sanctuary Regulations, as spelled out in the “Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994” (amended current to January 12, 2022), as to whether the lighting of fireworks in a Federally protected area will be seen, and have the same effect on disturbing wildlife, as discharging a firearm in a Federally protected area? And if so, do they need a permit from the multiple appropriate Federal departments prior to commencing with the lighting of fireworks?
Could the Village of Merrickville-Wolford be liable for not following the current Migratory Bird Sanctuary Regulations, as spelled out in the “Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994” (amended current to January 12, 2022)?
The Rideau River Migratory Bird Sanctuary was Federally designated and gazetted in 1957. It commences at the intersection of the northerly production of the westerly limit of Reed Street in the town of Merrickville. This means all Migratory Bird Sanctuary Regulations of the Federal designated Migratory Bird Sanctuary apply if the Village proceeds to light fireworks within that area. This boundary encompasses the whole Merrickville Agricultural Grounds and Public Library.
www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/migratory-bird-sanctuaries/locations/rideau.
laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/PDF/M-7.01.pdf.
Looking forward to your response,
Chuck Willemsen
Mr Willemsen
Hear hear. You are so right! Why stop with 15 minutes of fireworks in February? I dare say that you should inform the agricultural fair committee that it’s time to permanently cancel the fair because of the noise and traffic it brings. But why stop there! We should probably rethink the Makers Market and the kids soccer programs, not fireworks but noise nonetheless. I would imagine that local residents walking with their dogs there could be distressing for the birds so there should be signs preventing them from using the area. Perhaps you should contact École catholique Sainte-Marguerite-Bourgeoys to have them silence the recess bell. As the fire department is situated right next to the fair grounds, perhaps it’s time the municipality started looking for a new location because the sirens could be too loud.
I know there are people who are legitimately concerned about the Ospreys that have nested there but I also know there are a few disgruntled people in the village whose sole miserable purpose in life is to harass and complain about council for the sake of it…which one are you?