‘Bolton will change forever’ if Canadian Tire proposal passes

June 20, 2013 · 0 Comments

Regarding “Canadian Tire will be a benefit” (Citizen editorial of June 13):
I am by nature a very optimistic person, so when I read this above-noted headline, I thought I’d better read it right away, just to see the perspective that is presented. These are some of my impressions.
The editorial talks about Canadian Tire being a good corporate citizen, with a legacy in our communities that goes back many, many years. Taxpayers in Bolton and Palgrave are not opposed to Canadian Tire as an institution, and we have all patronized Canadian Tire stores. But, I would like to mention that Bolton is presently an ideal place to call home. Close enough to Toronto and all that it offers, in terms of culture and jobs, but away from the traffic congestion, pollution, overcrowding and other problems that beset a large metropolis. Bolton and Palgrave are scenic, with rolling hills, close to nature, among the safest communities in Canada and much cheaper housing costs than Toronto, making Bolton an ideal place to raise a family, to retire and so on. But, if this Canadian Tire venture goes through, and all indicators are that council really wants it, Bolton will change forever, and not in the best interests of those of us who call Bolton home. We will become known as a massive trucking distribution centre along an east-west corridor running from Guelph to Vaughan, with all the problems with pollution, noise and traffic congestion that would incur. This is a so-called “modern” facility, very high tech, massive in size and scope, that would totally destroy our town as an ideal place to live. Just doing a comparison to the editor’s praise of Canadian Tire as an ideal corporate citizen, with the community’s welfare front and foremost. Well, Bolton is currently an ideal place to live and that would all change.
As well, the “. . . likelihood of local jobs . . .” that is mentioned as being positive is surely misleading. Please remember that this is a merger and relocation of two Brampton facilities, therefore no new jobs for Bolton. Brampton employees will simply do the short commute north to Bolton. As well as being massive in size, this facility will be very high tech, therefore can operate with fewer employees than in the past. We are all familiar with this scenario. Therefore, no benefits to Bolton is this regard.
Caledon council is anxious to fulfill the directive of the province in having our industrial base completed, but at what cost to the taxpayers who currently call Bolton home? It would be preferable to have smaller facilities, many of them, to which Bolton residents have never objected, than one large massive site, which exceeds the existing industrial lands, having to annex prime farmland, to accommodate this venture. Of course, the 24/7 nature of this operation is another item that bothers Bolton taxpayers — no relief from noise, congestion, fumes — any day of the year! Absolutely disgusting to put this massive facility in a town of 30,000 where the effects will be devastating. I’m told that this will just be the first of such trucking facilities on Bolton lands. We will become known as a town servicing the trucking industry. I don’t think Bolton taxpayers want that.
The remaining comment “. . . Besides, we think there are a lot of other people out there who do want it.”
Well, I have been active since last August in opposition to this venture, collecting signatures, attending meetings, keeping informed, and I have only encountered one Bolton individual who is in favour of it — Ward 5 Councillor Rob Mezzapelli, who intends to vote against the expressed wishes of his constituents. Regional Councillor Patti Foley has remained silent in this regard, and of course, actions speak louder than words, so I would have to assume that she is a proponent of this venture, as well.
Sandra Clarke-Forester,
Bolton