Tensions between Three Rivers councillors and some residents spill over at planning meeting
CBC
Tensions are spilling over in the municipality of Three Rivers over land use, draft development bylaws and concerns about foreign ownership connected to a group of Buddhist monks and nuns who have settled in eastern Prince Edward Island.
Words were exchanged again this week between residents and the chair of the town's planning board during a nearly three-hour meeting — a meeting that saw one person storm out.
Blair Sorrey of Brudenell, a pastor at the United Pentecostal Community Chapel in Montague, started his presentation talking about how he is "appalled and sickened" by the state the community is now in. He then proceeded to talk about the increase in immigration in the region.
That touched off a fiery exchange between Sorrey and Anne Van Donkersgoed, chair of the planning board with Three Rivers.
Van Donkersgoed made it clear at the start of the meeting that the discussion had to be focused on proposed changes to the development bylaw, not immigration or land owned by the Great Enlightenment Buddhist Institute Society (GEBIS) or the Great Wisdom Buddhist Institute (GWBI).
"So you are not going to let me speak?" said Sorrey.
Van Donkersgoed responded: "If you have something to contribute to the bylaw changes, go for it."
"Well, there you have it folks — shut down."
Many of the 25 or so people in attendance then began to applaud.
Two security guards were posted outside the meeting, which was held at Three Rivers Town Hall in Montague.
Last week, the town moved one of its full council meetings online, instead of holding it in person, after somebody posted on social media that it was "time to get the guns out and sharpen those knives" with regard to land issues in the municipality.
RCMP have confirmed that they are investigating that online post.
At the planning meeting, Victoria Cross resident Janice MacBeth rose to speak about zoning issues — in particular, concerns about institutional zoning in areas where the Buddhist and nuns are living in communal settings.
"Our provincial government and our municipality is supporting the development of gated communities not open to the general public," MacBeth told planning board members.
A holiday event that began in 2020 during the pandemic with three floats on pickup trucks has now become one of Kelowna’s big winter events, drawing thousands to the city’s downtown core.
WARNING: This story details allegations of child abuse.
It’s been hard to keep track of how many legal challenges and active court proceedings the United Conservative government has tried to quash or pre-emptively block in the last six weeks, but let’s try to tally:
Margaret Walker, the emcee of a Waterloo vigil commemorating the victims of the Montreal massacre, doesn't feel enough is being done to reflect on the killings and address gender-based violence.
The P.E.I. Humane Society says it is doing far more fundraising than it used to, and rising expenses — including the cost of animal medications — are a big reason why.
Ottawa is staring down a court-ordered deadline to submit a new plan to reform the on-reserve child welfare system, as a group of First Nations leaders and children’s advocates prepare a competing proposal.
An underpass revitalization project that was meant to pay tribute to the people of Parkdale has instead deteriorated into “a garbage dump,” according to nearby residents.
A young man has been charged with criminal negligence causing bodily harm after a fire at a frat party near Western University that injured five sorority sisters, including two seriously, late Tuesday night.
The massive deal to combine one of Hollywood's oldest studios with a streaming giant hasn't even been approved yet, but it's already riling multiple related industries and politicians concerned about monopolies and media concentration.
Mi'kmaq chiefs and a former Nova Scotia justice minister are criticizing the provincial government for directing police to crack down on illegal cannabis, saying the order undermines relations with Indigenous Peoples.
For years, there has been “glaring inequity” in the way the province has allocated the millions of dollars in its county roads budget, according to Department of Transportation Minister Chuck Chiasson.
Six months after passing a law aimed at making it easier for new grocery stores to open, Manitoba's premier says lower grocery bills could be on the horizon.
Timothy Smith was acting in self-defence when he punched Landon Waddell, and shouldn't be found guilty of manslaughter, his lawyer says.