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Partisan politics at play in homestead issue

December 20, 2006 18:12

Open letter to Premier Dalton McGuinty:

This is a letter to everyone concerning Private Members Bill 20 introduced in the Ontario Legislature by Jim Wilson, MPP (Simcoe-Grey) in 2005. This Bill has passed second reading and is now awaiting third reading, crucial to the bill becoming law. It is about the designation of the Banting Homestead being declared an Ontario Heritage Site under the provisions of the Ontario Heritage Act which would ensure no future development.

The homestead, located in the Town of New Tecumseth (Alliston), is the birthplace and ancestral home of Dr. Frederick Banting, discoverer of insulin with Dr. Charles Best in 1921. Getting Bill 20 on the agenda and passed at third reading stage is at the will of the government of Ontario, headed by Premier Dalton McGuinty who has shown no real interest in dealing with Bill 20, moving it forward or ensuring fair treatment.

It appears that partisan politics has once again reared its ugly head to the dismay of everyone.

In our long, tough battle to preserve the birthplace of Dr. Banting, who saved the lives of countless millions, we have encountered many cruel and hard-to-deal-with events.

The foremost being the very recent sale of this stately old homestead by the Ontario Historical Society for about $2 million to a residential land developer. Edward Banting, last owner of the 100-acre farm willed the property to the OHS at the time of his death in 1999, believing the 100-year-old organization would honour his wish of preserving this historic place to commemorate the memory of his beloved uncle, Sir Frederick Grant Banting, world famous scientist and humanitarian.

On behalf of the late Edward Banting, we ask everyone to join us in this campaign to save an important part of our national heritage. Please contact your local member of parliament (provincial and federal) to stand up and be counted.

This wonderful man gave his life-giving insulin patent to the University of Toronto, ensuring treatment for diabetes would be available to all mankind. He died as a result of a tragic plane crash over Newfoundland (1941), on his way overseas to serve in the Second World War. As a brave young Canadian soldier (Medical Corps) in the First World War, he was badly wounded in France and then decorated for valour in the service of his country. May we all honour and respect the heroic memory of our greatest Canadian, Dr. Frederick Grant Banting.

Bill Smith,

Save the Banting

Birthplace/Homestead group

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