FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - JANUARY 15, 2021 

It appears Stratford City Council has made a decision to pause the evaluation of Xinyi Canada Glass  Limited’s proposal to build a $400 million float glass facility in Stratford. 

“We welcome this pause” said Melissa Verspeeten of Get Concerned Stratford, “There are many  unanswered questions and issues that demand public scrutiny. The commitment to a thorough public  consultation is an important first step in restoring public confidence in the Mayor and Council. 

During  this pause Mayor and Council should also write to Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing  and ask him to revoke the Ministerial Zoning Order (MZO)” added Verspeeten. “The purpose of the MZO  was to deny public consultation, and now that Council appears intent on restoring public consultation making the MZO unnecessary”. 

“The community showed visible, persistent and principled opposition to the Xinyi proposal” said Mike  Sullivan of Get Concerned Stratford. “Residents flooded the Mayor and councillors with emails, and  phone calls, often bringing new information to their attention. 

Residents rallied for several consecutive  weeks at City Hall, put up lawn signs and hundreds attended weekly community information meetings  online. The community earned this concession through their efforts” added Sullivan. 

“Council has taken a prudent and necessary step but the issue is not resolved” said Sharon Collingwood  of Get Concerned Stratford, adding “in eight short weeks we have stopped what many thought was a  ‘done deal’ and created the conditions that may restore democratic public decision-making in Stratford.  We aren’t stopping, but we can catch our breath as we continue to make the case for why Council must  say no to Xinyi”.  

Get Concerned Stratford distributed a leaflet to every home, business and farm in Stratford last week  setting out a number of issues where Stratford Council has failed to exercise adequate due diligence. 

A public opinion poll commissioned by Get Concerned Stratford revealed two thirds of residents oppose  the Xinyi Glass Corporation's plan to build a factory in Stratford. Fewer than one in seven support this  plan (14%), while one fifth are either unaware of the plan, or don't have an opinion (21%).  

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About: Get Concerned Stratford is a citizens group who oppose the Minister’s Zoning Order which has been  issued by the Ontario provincial government to convert prime agricultural land into industrial land.