Monday, May 6, 2013

New "Open Air Burning By-Law" is on Woodstock's website

And so is the "Medical Relief" form, and the phone number for complaints.
The link is on the right, under "Woodstock".

The cost structure seems rather twisted:  the city will issue Open Air Burning Permits for free.
The person with the medical condition may have to PAY their doctor for a note for "relief" (e.g. our family doctor now charges $25.00 for notes).

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Lessons in hypocrisy, courtesy of Woodstock Council

Lesson #1
March 2013:  Endorse a strategic plan with a vision of a "green" city, and an objective to "Protect the quality of our air and water".
May 2013:  Pass an Open Air Burning By-Law to ensure lots of toxic wood smoke pollution.

Lesson #2
2012:  Spend taxpayers' money on a survey of public opinion for strategic planning purposes; learn that 81% of the population feels strongly that tax dollars should be spent on "air quality".
2013:  Pass an Open Air Burning By-Law that will require hundreds of hours of Fire Department staff time (= thousands of tax dollars) to be spent on issuing free burning permits.

Lesson #3
2003:  Pass a "Smoking in Workplaces and Public Places By-Law"; issue a brochure proclaiming "The public has the right to breathe clean air".
2013:  Pass an Open Air Burning By-Law, demonstrating that residents of Woodstock don't have the right to breathe clean air on their own private property.

It would be funny if it weren't so sad.