Former CAO/Clerk Gary Long Faces New Allegations – 200 Potential Jobs Lost

Letter to the editor

I am a tenant administrator for Canada Banana Farms just outside of Blyth. I have been in a long dispute with North Huron in regards to the greenhouses that are on a property owned by Laurie Macpherson. In an email received by the previous CBO Dave Black he clearly states that there is no building permits required to put up the greenhouse/hoophouse we are using and currently putting up. We have a letter of agreement on file with the Township. I have had two conversations with the new CBO
Tim Lewis and CAO Gary Long. It seems that they are now going to ignore their own building bylaw and now force Ms. Macpherson to pay for permits that she did not require and still does not require and force her through a long process of red tape and countless meetings. Gary has on many occasions referred to Ms. Macpherson’s property as being illegal and has even slandered her good name. I have questioned Gary if their is anything illegal going on show me a court document stating that she is breaking the law.

As many of you may not know Ms. Macpherson is the driving force behind Canada Banana Farms. She has worked tirelessly for 4 years to bring this operation to North Huron. Initially Ms. Macpherson was going to bring in over 200 well paying year round jobs. We both had several meetings with Town staff to make this happen but the township turned her down. Even though they said no Ms. Macpherson continued to grow her tropical fruit and got permission to put up a greenhouse/hoophouse from Dave Black. Now that the Township has realized the potential of her operation they now want to charge her for having greenhouses/hoophouses up and force her to take down the greenhouses/hoophouses that are on the property. The alternative is to pay what she feels like extortion money to keep her tropical plants alive. They have threatened her with court action and lawsuits if she continues with her greenhouse/hoophouse operation.

Ms. Macpherson has not broken any laws she has worked to better her community and has brought to the area an idea that we all can grow food, any kind, year round. She believes that it is a new way to create many jobs and to help struggling farmers with a new crop. On the other hand the Township of North Huron has broken the law and has ignored their own building bylaw. They are cash strapped and are willing to break the law to get extra fees.

Ms. Macpherson will at all costs protect her property and operation. The higher ups have targeted this property and want to shut her down. Lets face it North Huron is more or less bankrupted and they can not get their finances under control so the next thing to do is screw over the ones who are prospering. I would like for everyone to think about it. If they can do it to her what stops them from doing it to you.

Help keep Canada Banana Farms in North Huron. The potential is endless.

Terry Brake

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