|
City of Toronto Loses at the Ontario Municipal Board; MPRA Loses at Superior Court Hearing in Their Opposition to Mount Pleasant Cemetery's Proposed Visitation Centre:
Update as of March 18, 2007
What Can You Do? Read On….!!
For a NEW Lawn Sign Call 416-440-1177!
|
Hon. George Smitherman, MPP
120 Carlton Street, Suite 413
Toronto, Ontario M5A 4K2
Phone: 416-972-7683
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
Premier Dalton McGuinty
Legislative Building
Queens Park
Toronto, Ontario M7A 1A1
Phone: 416-325-1941
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
Please cc
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Examples of Other Existing Visitation Centres by
Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries
  
Photos of existing Visitation Centres in North York, V.C. and Scarborough, ON. Click on the thumbnails for full but a less than scenic view.
(Hit your browser's back button to return.)
What’s been going on?
Although the Community had major wins in September ’06 at both Community Council and City Council as a whole – voting to stop the Visitation Centre and the Tree Destruction/Removal Application Plans, the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) decided in November to overturn the Municipality’s decision. (The amended plan presented by MPGC at the OMB now includes permission to broadcast funerals from the Visitation Centre – a detail never included in any previous site plans.)
This past January 8th and 9th, the MPRA was represented in a “judicial interpretation,” an action initiated by some local funeral homes, seeking a definition of the G-Zone (green space) by-law. City Council had voted to provide the MPRA with $70,000 of funding to represent our shared position in court. Unfortunately the judge did not find in our favour, deciding the phrase in the by-law, “associated uses,” was vague enough that she could not disallow a building such as a visitation centre.
What’s Next? Tree Removal/Destruction/Transplantation of 71 Trees.
MPGC must fulfill some conditions set by the OMB decision – such as soil testing, etc. Upon the completion of these conditions MPGC will apply to the City for building permits. Unfortunately, due to the OMB decision, the City cannot refuse their application. The MPGC will be free to go ahead when they receive their permits.
It has been suggested by residents that they would like to attend the cutting of the 39 trees and register their sadness at this unnecessary tragedy. It is unlikely that MPGC will share their schedule with us, as of course, tree destruction is not a publicly favoured activity. Should you see anybody starting to cut the trees, please alert us. You may phone MPRA members as follows:
Cemetery Committee Chair: Margot Boyd (416) 440-1177 or (416) 871-1417 Cemetery Committee: Chris Thompson (416) 488-8913 or (416) 574-0469, or MPRA Co-President: Cindy Gareau (416) 488-4909
Please inform your friends and neighbours and head to the site immediately to show your lack of support for the tree destruction.
Is There Anything Else We Can Do? YES, Absolutely.
As a result of the two year struggle and learning experience with MPGC the MPRA has come to the bold decision to ask the Province to update the 136-year old Charter which still governs MPGC today.
The original issues of importance to MPGC were how to bury indigent people and those with no religious affiliation. The Charter reflects this. Today the issues for “the citizens” for whom the MPGC Trust is to be managed are the preservation of historical treasures, green space and the concept of environmental sustainability. Understandably, none of these concepts held any relevance to those living in the 1800s and are nowhere reflected in the Charter.
What Action is Required From You?
The Province needs to hear from you the same way that the City heard from you. Last time you did a record-setting job. Please help us again! Please write/email/phone MPP George Smitherman and Premier Dalton McGuinty.
The key messages for your emails, phone calls and letters are:
1) This issue is broader than the City of Toronto, as Mount Pleasant Cemetery is a national historic treasure.
2) MPGC is a “public trust” that manages a substantial asset base “in trust for the citizens.” There is a serious accountability issue, as the MPGC Board publicly denied in the National Post, May 11, 2006, any accountability to the public.
3) MPGC’s 136-year old governing Charter addressed issues of the 1800s, but does not address the important issues of “the citizens” today. A serious disconnect has developed between the priorities of the Board and the priorities of “the citizens.”
4) Reaffirm the original Trust.
5) Restore public accountability.
6) Restore the open process of recruiting MPGC Board Members which has been made private.
7) Institutionalize a governance mechanism to ensure the preservation of history and the environment.
Contact Information:
|
Hon. George Smitherman, MPP
120 Carlton Street, Suite 413
Toronto, Ontario M5A 4K2
Phone: 416-972-7683
|
Premier Dalton McGuinty
Legislative Building
Queens Park
Toronto, Ontario M7A 1A1
Phone: 416-325-1941
|
Examples of Other Existing Visitation Centres by
Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries
Photos of existing Visitation Centres in North York, V.C. and Scarborough, ON. Click on the thumbnails for full but a less than scenic view.
(Hit your browser's back button to return.)
|
Home 
Mount Pleasant Cemetary Dispute
