Graydon Smith, M.P.P. for Parry Sound-Muskoka and newly appointed Ontario Minister of Natural Resources has been charged with violating Ontario’s Endangered Species Act. The charges were laid not by law enforcement, but by a private citizen, Michael Opara.
Smith, the former Mayor of Bracebridge was charged along with the municipality and two Town employees with destroying turtle’s nests and endangering the habitat of Turtles. The charges remain unproven, and a court date has been set for September 21st.
The charges arise from road grading undertaken by the Town of Bracebridge in 2021 on a road within the municipality.
According to a story written by CBC News reporter Mike Crawley, Sarah Hahn, a lawyer with the firm Barriston, Law, acting for the Town of Bracebridge, said that she is confident the charges will be thrown out. “It is unfortunate that town resources must now be used to respond to these baseless accusations,” Hahn said.
The complainant, Michael Opara, is a Bracebridge activist, who has appeared before Council on numerous occasions, at times accusing Council and then-Mayor Smith of inappropriate actions. Sources tell Doppler there has been an acrimonious relationship between Mr. Opara and Bracebridge Council for a significant period of time.
Graydon Smith has advised Doppler that he cannot comment on this matter at the present time.
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Bob Braan says
Not surprising.
Just like Doug Ford, Graydon Smith is all about development at any cost.
Pave the greenbelt and turn Muskoka forests into Mississauga barrens as fast as possible.
Obviously Muskoka Parry Sound should have gone Green.
It was close.
Toronto protects their trees better than Muskoka.
There are beautiful homes surrounded by large trees near downtown Toronto.
Muskoka? Neighbours and residents, conservation and turtles can GTH.
Forget zoning and planning rules.
That’s all just red tape.
Developers know rules will be changed to suit whatever they want.
Not the other way around.
Build anything, anywhere.
Starting with wiping out trees needlessly in many areas of Bracebridge, for example.
Leaving it completely barren for many years.
Across from Home Depot, near the new high school and most recently at Travelodge along the road where you can’t build anyway.
Disaster.
Bob Braan says
Graydon has many skeletons. First one out of the closet.
At the municipal level they can be easily be kept hidden.
Smith isn’t playing Little League any more.
Natural Resources and Forestry? Seriously?
Smith couldn’t care less about either one.
Richter would have great in that position.
It’s only been a few days and Smith is shown to be a liability for Ford.
Ronald Ritchie says
Tks to Grayson Bracebridge is getting more housing developed to help shelter more people in need of housing. This will also help out all the business in need of employees, at least those seriously looking for work. Too many concerns of self interest rather than being positive with better alternatives to this problem!
Robert Dyment says
Michael Opara isnt the only one going to sue Graydon Smith and councelers for doing exactly the same thing in another location near Bracebridge. Robert Dyment a turtle conservationist from Pine Lake will also sue if a project is carried out that Smith and district Councelers approved. This unnessesary devastating project will destroy a major turtle nesting area and habitat for hatchlings. This project is to take place this fall on the embankment of the South Muskoka River in Fraserburg.
For 1000 feet the Muskoka River shorline habitate thats been a safe heaven for turtle hatchlings forever will be totally removed from the pavement down the embankment to the river, and replaced with Concrete.
The Deputy Mayor, The Director of Transportation, and the commissioner of Puplic Works have been notified several times of this important nesting and habitate site. 12 turtle nests will be producing almost 300 hatchlings, including painted and Blandings that will be entering this habitat over the next several weeks that will most likely be killed during all the excavation.
A town hall meeting is scheduled for Friday 7pm Aug 26/22 at the Bracebridge Legion
For more information
Call 705 690 6824