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On August 8, 2023, the community approved the BCO filing to appeal the NEC decision made on July 20, 2023. The appeal was submitted to the NEC August 9 by legal counsel. Eighteen appeals were made to the NEC that day regarding Manors. Once the appeal was submitted, the BCO was committed to follow this process through. The BCO participated at the Case Management Conference (CMC) for the Manors of Belfountain Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) hearing on February 1st, 2024. In a previous update, the BCO outlined what was involved in a CMC . Further to the CMC, The BCO retained experts to present our issues at the hearing which is now scheduled for February 10th, 2025, The steps that are laid out by the government in the Procedural Order that occur prior to the hearing and the reflective dates are:
The experts needed for these interim steps and the hearing itself include legal counsel, a planner, a hydrogeologist and an aquatic sciences expert. The cost for experts is sizable. The hearing is expected to last 14 days. The experts and legal fees will be paid from generous donations and participation of residents in various fund-raising events that involve the community. We would like to thank those of you who have donated already and encourage you all to spread the word that we need help financially. Thirty years ago, the Belfountain community and supporters fought to prevent a subdivision with fewer proposed houses on the same land for the same reasons we have today. The adjudicator ruled that something would be built on this land. No developer has been able to address the domestic water servicing issues for this development to date. The cost for the hearing in 1991 was $120,000. This is an urgent call for your donation please. The Belfountain hamlet is dependent on your generous donation. Every amount matters and helps. If you or someone you know would like to donate, you can do so by any of these methods some of which provide tax receipts as indicated: Donating directly to the B.C.O: 100% of donations made are used to pay legal fees, experts’ invoices, and administration costs. No tax receipts are available. The B.C.O. is an incorporated non-profit organization supported by volunteers. You can donate directly to the B.C.O. by cheque, cash or e-transfer by contacting treasurer@ belfountain.ca, or click on the link below to use PayPal at BCO to support the initiatives. 100% of donations made are used to pay legal fees, experts’ invoices, and administration costs. If you do not require a tax receipt, your funds can be directed directly to the BCO through etransfer to treasurer@belfountain.ca or via PayPal at this link https://www.paypal.com/donate. Alternatively, contact treasurer@Belfountain.ca or 289-541-6055 for cheque or cash pickup or delivery instructions. Cheques should be addressed to the Belfountain Community Organization. Donating through Small Change Fund:. Donations to Small Change Fund are used for legal fees. The project: (Manors of Belfountain Subdivision) Belfountain-needs-your-help When you donate $25 or more you will receive a tax receipt. SCF does retain a percentage of the funds donated to support the services they provide as outlined on their website. Here is the link to the Small Change Fund: https://smallchangefund.ca/project/belfountain-needs-your-help/. Donating through Ontario Streams: Donations to Ontario Streams are used for consulting experts who are developing and presenting the Belfountain community’s cases that Manors of Belfountain threatens the water. You will receive a charitable tax receipt. For sums greater than $500, a cheque made out to Ontario Streams can be dropped off at 670 Bush Street. For sums less than $500 donations can be through Canada Helps: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/ontario-streams/ (Choose Belfountain Wetlands, Groundwater and Watercourses Evaluation) We are urgently in need of donations to both prepare and pay for the hearing. We would greatly appreciate your donation being made within the next two weeks if that is possible. Please share this email and spread the word to everyone you can think of that can help us with this fight. The time is now. Let’s start telling people about this. Ask everyone interested in protecting Belfountain to register at www. Belfountain.ca so we can be sure to reach everyone and provide updates. Come out and join us in our fundraising efforts so we can win this hearing. There is nothing we can’t do together! |
| Belfountain may be small, but we are mighty when we work together! |