The Oak Ridges Moraine Trust

Is an organisation that created itself. The Ontario Heritage Trust was created pretty much for the same purpose. Original reason for being was to receive donations of property in return for its appraised value to be paid in  tax rebate to the affluent  who pay taxes  sufficient to the extent  money is saved by donating property to the government.

They  get to be hailed as benefactors while  pocketing  the loot and the goody-goody among us, chant the chorus  of  songs of praise while basking in the  reflective warmth of human kindness.

A municipality  can't give tax rebates. A town is a tax collector. Not a charitable foundation.

Like most  non- government agencies, no sooner is life breathed into them  they swell and  expand and there's no stopping their growth and imagined importance.

The Oak Ridges Moraine Trust has come to believe they and they alone are responsible for saving the planet.

To that end, they have requested the Province provide them with eleven million dollars over the next  few years to realise their "mandate" .

The Town  has been  asked to endorse the request  and send messages of support  to our provincial masters.

It seems to  have escaped  notice, the Province is billions of dollars in debt and desperately seeking an idea  to distract voter attention  in time to win the next election.

Giving money away is a tried  and true political strategy.

It didn't work in Aurora in the last election.

But those  who won hardly seem to have noticed.