The Sky is Falling

2024-2027 Strategic Plan Draft for the COKL

Thank you an opportunity to object to the Strategic Plans origin, basis and implementation; and address key principles of good government which appear to be lacking. 

It is our belief that this strategic plan is based off of the UNs 1994 Municipal Primer on Agenda 21 which is subtitled, "promoting sustainable development through local strategic action."  

Is it a practice of good government to base strategic plans off 30-year-old documents, from unelected international organizations?

We request a motion that Council review the flow chart on page 9 to see examples of how Agenda 21 is being implemented through Canadian Municipalities

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Secondly, it is our belief that Strategic Plans should be drafted by those who were elected and be based on input from those who live in the geographical area of implementation.

This strategic plan was drafted by three, unelected city staff and public consultation consisted of an online survey. Pick your top three Sustainable Development Action Items! This survey was designed to steer feedback in favor of implementing Agenda 21. 

Is it a practice of good government to undermine public consultation with rigged surveys?

We Request a motion that the Strategic Plans be drafted by the mayor and council and be based on input from those who live in this geographical area.

The foundation of Agenda 21, is found in the pages of municipal primer, stating “Global warming is a result of human activities…; therefore, (they) call for a reduction in greenhouse gases.”

This is an outdated theory. I submit the 2023 World Climate Declaration. A consensus of over 1800 scientists who stated, that there is No Climate Change Emergency. That natural causes outweigh manmade, that IPCC models are inaccurate, CO2 was is not a pollutant, it is plant food and the basis of all life, that CO2 does not increased natural disasters and that they strongly oppose netzero policies for 2050, which they found to be harmful. Indeed, they are harmful..

Last year, you voted against natural gas infrastructure. Pat Warren’s reasoning? That “climate change moves around, causing huge atmospheric rivers in the sky, that will rain down on us and cause great floods.” She then referenced your Healthy Environment Plan, another plan based off the Municipal Primer and everyone except Councilor Ron Ashmore voted against natural gas infrastructure.

Is it a practice of the good government to rely on outdated scientific theories as the basis of its strategic action items?

We Request a motion that council, review page 3 of this declaration, in accordance with your value of respect and promise to actively listen to better understand others perspectives.

So, what’s the harm of implementing this plan? Lets look at the action items for Goal 1: Reducing greenhouse gases, discouraging automobile use, transitioning to an "electric" municipal fleet and preparing to respond to unpredictable weather events.

It costs time and money to monitor greenhouse gas emissions and report the data to the council. Restrictions on automobile use is a violation of our mobility rights and is  not practical in cold, rural counties like Kawartha Lakes. Upgrading the municipal fleet to electric vehicles is unnecessary, costly, and risky. See this article on the recent explosion of two “green” municipal fleet vehicles. (alarming-two-electric-buses-spontaneously-explode-entire-fleet-taken-off-road-city) And as for unpredictable weather events like Noah's Flood, that would be an act of god, not man.

Is it a practice of good government to waste taxpayer money, council and staff time, and make risky investments with significant assets like a municipal fleet?

We Request a motion that all action items based on climate change be removed from the Strategic Plan.

I will summarize by stating, this strategic plan is not a local plan. This plan is based on outdated scientific theories. This plan is costly, time-consuming and potentially harmful.

Good government, is founded on two core principles. That all people have certain rights that can not be violated, and that governments were created to protect those rights. This strategic plan does not align with those core principles.  A Statement of Principles has been included your package.

We request a motion that Council, review this Statement and respond to the email provided (MaggieHopeBraun@gmail.com) with the results of these motions and whether you agree with the Statement of Principles. The questions are for you to think about. We request your response within one month of today. (March 15, 2024)

Thank you for your consideration. I am prepared to answer any questions.

UPDATE: the deputation(s) went very well!

Check out all the deputations here.

How I Prepared for this Deputation