Ancaster, Ontario

Ancaster Coun. Lloyd Ferguson investigated if restrictions could be imposed on Ancaster resident Bob Maton after he accused him of providing “misinformation” after council approved the relocation of the Marr House for a proposed residential and commercial development on Wilson Street.

Ferguson questioned staff during council’s Oct. 27 meeting if the city could take any action against Maton, who is also president of the Ancaster Village Heritage Community, over written comments he has made through letters and opinion columns in the Hamilton Spectator over several months about heritage issues.

“He takes positions on issues and regularly appears on Op-eds and letters to the editor. I find he is putting in misinformation and not correct. I let it go up to now because of freedom of speech because you can say whatever you want even if it is not true,” said Ferguson. “I think he crossed the line.”

In an Oct. 29 opinion column in the Hamilton Spectator, Maton states that when council approved the relocation of the Marr House to the rear of the property, it “raises troubling issues.”

He states the process “leading to the vote was an abuse of the council decision-making process, city bylaws and the Ontario Heritage Act.”

He said the decision to allow the relocation is based on “flimsy evidence.”

Maton states that council’s decision to relocate the structure will put the Marr House’s survival at risk.

“The heritage act quite correctly calls this a demolition,” he states.