Happy Easter
MichaelHARRIS
from my family to yours
MichaelHARRISMPP.ca MPP KITCHENER-CONESTOGA 519.954.8679
04 | 19 | 2014 VOLUME 19 | ISSUE 16
GOING WITH TRADITION IN FLORADALE VENTURE PAGE 23
COMMENT PAGE 8
WOOLWICH GETS IT RIGHT WITH SIDEWALK DECISION
www.OBSERVERXTRA.com
Township, Competition Bureau at odds over No Frills Woolwich looking for clarification about the concept of moving the grocery store rather than closing it STEVE KANNON Could Loblaw close its No Frills store on Arthur Street South, move to another location and continue to operate in Elmira? That seems to be the case as Woolwich attempts to save the grocery store threatened by an order
from the federal Competition Bureau, the victim of the agency’s approval of Loblaw’s acquisition of Shoppers Drug Mart. Meeting this week, township council discussed a conference call held last week with the Competition Bureau in response to Woolwich’s concerns.
The conversation seemed to suggest it would be possible to simply close the store and move to another location, say to the former grocery store downtown (ironically, across the street from the Shoppers Drug Mart), under the No Frills or other Loblaw banner, chief administrative officer David
Brenneman reported. He noted that both Kitchener-Conestoga MP Harold Albrecht and his provincial counterpart MPP Michael Harris, also participants in the call, were left with the same impression. “We need to get some clarification from the Competition Bureau ... get this
in black and white,” said Brenneman. Having fired off a letter outlining its concerns that the federal agency’s decree would force the closure of one store in a market with only two grocers, the township also received a written response from the Competition Bureau last week.
The letter explains the agency’s rationale for ordering Loblaw to divest itself of holdings where its takeover of Shoppers Drug Mart would leave it in control of two operations that formerly competed, such as the No Frills store NO FRILLS | 2
OMB rules against Hunsberger pit
DOING THEIR PART TO TIDY UP
Conestogo residents ecstatic with decision, but will hold off the celebration until after appeal period STEVE KANNON
Kathy, Ben, 8, Andrew, 6, and Bob White made Elmira more beautiful last Saturday morning as volunteers participated in the Community Cleanup Day, part of Woolwich Healthy Communities Month [ELENA MAYSTRUK / THE OBSERVER]
They’re not ready to break out the champagne just yet, but it is chilling. Conestogo residents did have plenty to celebrate this week, however, as the Ontario Municipal Board quashed plans for a gravel pit on land near the Golf Course Road subdivision. With its decision released Monday, the OMB denied Hunder Developments’ bid to move the project forward over the objections of Woolwich
Township. The company has 30 days from the date of the decision, April 14, to launch an appeal. Reached Wednesday, Bob Hunsberger of Hunder Developments said he had not seen the OMB documents and, as such, was unable to respond to the board’s findings. “I can’t comment on the decision,” he said, adding that he would have to read the decision paper and look at the options before GRAVEL| 6
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2 Kitchener: 68 Webster Rd. (behind ToysRUs) 519.894.9997
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