Reply to J. Gilmore’s letter:
Jess, thanks for sharing your perspective on the recent OCP public hearing. Respectfully, Iʼd like to offer another view as someone who was also in the room.
I was struck by the language in your letter — words like mob, chaos, and conspiracy nonsense. Those are powerful terms that create a picture many of us wouldnʼt recognize. What I witnessed was a large group of residents who felt unheard and used their democratic right to express that frustration — sometimes passionately, but always within reason.
One of the first speakers, a soft-spoken woman, was interrupted repeatedly by the chair, which clearly rattled her. That moment set the tone for the audienceʼs reaction. People clapped after speakers, yes, but they also clapped for those who supported the plan. That felt like respect, not hostility.
You mention “social-media echo chambers.ˮ What Iʼve seen are open community discussions — sometimes messy, often spirited — where people share research, ask questions, and learn from each other. That isnʼt an echo chamber, thatʼs civic engagement. Youʼre welcome in those conversations.
Iʼm sorry you didnʼt feel safe to speak. I was nervous too, speaking in front of elected officials who hold real influence is intimidating. But thatʼs the price of participating in democracy, and Iʼm grateful so many did.
In my own remarks I referenced provincial funding and international policy frameworks that shape the OCP. Those are documented facts, not conspiracies, and Iʼd be happy to share the sources with anyone whoʼs curious.
A few outbursts from the crowd donʼt make a mob. Words matter, and I hope we can use them carefully. True Canadian civility isnʼt silence or forced agreement — itʼs the ability to disagree openly and respectfully.
The people who filled that room were farmers, small-business owners, volunteers, and parents. They are our community. Anyone interested can watch the full recording of the hearing and decide for themselves what tone prevailed.
We can disagree on policy, but letʼs not lose sight of one another in the process. That, to me, is what Canadian civility really looks like.
Francis Hall
Honeymoon Bay
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