I would like to thank The Banner for keeping the public informed about the ongoing debate concerning the Third Line in Mulmur. While the debate centres on the possible sale of the road allowance, it is the deviation road that the public has been travelling on for well over 100 years. This is the road that the council minutes state was purchased in two stages in 1910 and 1913 (they had voted to purchase it in 1905, but lacked the funds to do so). As of this writing, the current ownership of this road remains unclear. I am glad that the township clerk has pointed out that the deviation road, and the public's access to it, will cease to exist if the road allowance is sold.

It is important that the public understands that John Thomson has offered to deed a trail only on the 66-foot wide road allowance, two-thirds of which is undeveloped, travelling constantly up and down the Mulmur Hills through a thick forest, and that it is not guaranteed that this trail will continue uninterrupted -- as it now does ---for the final scenic 20-minute walk to 15th Sideroad along the rest of the road allowance.

Although it would make for a beautiful but very challenging trail, the township does not need to sell the road allowance to have a trail built within its confines, but it would make a wonderful looped addition if combined with the more relaxing walk (or bike ride) along the deviation road, which follows the natural contours of the land along the valley floor.

Deputy Mayor Sue Snider points out accurately that this wouldn't be the first time a road allowance was sold in Mulmur. In my opinion they were practically "given out like candy" in the early part of the decade, when five were sold in a little more than three years. This road allowance may have shared the same fate if not for a lawsuit that postponed the sale of the property, which contains the entranceways to both the road allowance and the deviation, for over two years.

I would like to invite the public and members of council to join me on Saturday and Sunday May 10 and 11 at 11 a.m. for a guided walking tour of the Third Line so they can better decide for themselves how they would prefer to see this issue resolved. The Third Line South is about two kilometres east of Terra Nova on 20th Sideroad (River Road).

Carl Tafel, Mulmur

Dear Editor,

Our Member of Parliament, David Tilson, has once again proven himself unfit to represent Dufferin-Caledon.

Yes, the motion before Parliament to express confidence in Elections Canada was a nuisance motion introduced by the Bloc, but so what?

There was absolutely no reason why all parties should not have supported the Bloc motion. We all know that the Conservative Party has a disagreement with Elections Canada, but now they have chosen to make that disagreement the matter of public non-confidence for what is undoubtedly the best election agency in the world.

Many of the people in Dufferin-Caledon have worked for Elections Canada. We all know how absolutely diligent they are, and how steadfastly they work toward the highest degree of accuracy. Their ethical standards are strict and adhered to by all regardless of party affiliation.

Tilson, you and your party should be deeply ashamed to have refused to give your confidence to Elections Canada. I can only hope when the next election comes, that the people of this riding will seriously consider revoking the confidence they put in you.

Janet Rosenstock, Dundalk