I am writing to dispel the notion that the residents of Crystal Lake are somehow against the local Hutterite colony.
We have no issue with the colony, nor have we for the past several years that they have been our neighbours. We are, however, strongly opposed to an intensive livestock operation (ILO) three miles from the lake, one mile from the outdoor deck at Rawhides and situated over three fresh water aquifers.
The RM of Keyes and councillors have passed two readings of a bylaw that will allow collective living. The second part of the proposal involves a large poultry operation being built directly over the Fulton Lake aquifer. This aquifer supplies award-winning water to the Town of Canora, the villages of Buchanan and Rama, Canora Beach and many surrounding farms. I would hope that those communities would also be concerned, as it was e-coli contamination from manure that led to 2300 people falling ill and seven dying in Walkerton, Ont.
There is a great deal of anger and frustration felt by many residents of Crystal Lake, Stenen and surrounding area and it is directed at the reeve and the councillors. Despite much opposition and a call for a referendum, they have so far refused to allow for further study or to discuss an alternate location.
The developer has over 100 quarters of land. There is no need to build an ILO over the Fulton Lake aquifer.
