Statement for the Record: Ancaster Wells
https://saveourspring.ca/
This website documents my personal experience advocating for the protection of the Ancaster Wells as a public, community-held water source. What follows is a factual account of events as I experienced them in 2017. It is shared in the interest of transparency and public accountability.
An Anonymous Disclosure
In the summer of 2017, shortly after I became involved with the community group Save Our Springs, I received an anonymous phone call. The caller stated they were a family member of an employee of the Hamilton Conservation Authority (HCA).
The caller told me their family member had attended an internal meeting in which the possible sale of the Ancaster Wells property for a nominal amount was discussed. The caller expressed concern and felt the information should be made public.
I was unable to verify this claim and received no documentation. I understood the seriousness of the information and treated it cautiously.
I raised the matter within the Save Our Springs group. I was advised not to repeat the information publicly due to its unverifiable nature.
While I understood this advice, I believed it was important to address the concern directly rather than allow rumours to circulate. I therefore contacted Lisa Burnside at the Hamilton Conservation Authority to report that I had received a concerning disclosure and to state my position that the Ancaster Wells should remain a public, community-protected resource.
Separately, I approached the Spring Valley Home Owners Association to explore whether a local community group could act as caretakers of the well. It was after that that Lisa Burnside would not reply directly to me again. Only lawyers at HCA reply to my emails since that interaction.
Since 2017, I have submitted multiple letters and formal communications to elected officials and authorities regarding the protection and governance of the Ancaster Wells. To date, these concerns have not resulted in substantive action or independent review.
I have repeatedly been assured that the well is protected, while at the same time observing continued development pressure and planning decisions affecting the surrounding area.
Recent investigations into Ontario’s Greenbelt land-use decisions have demonstrated that public assets can be placed at risk through opaque processes and political influence.
I am not alleging wrongdoing by any individual or institution.
However, in my view, the handling of the Ancaster Wells—particularly now in the context of Urban Boundary Expansion proposals and ongoing Ontario Greenbelt such as UBE-3—warrants independent scrutiny.
Water is a public trust. Decisions affecting its protection should be transparent, documented, and accountable to the community.
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