Bills letter to council.
Quote:
November 4, 2014
Town of Lakeshore
Mr. Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Council
It is with great regret I could not be present with you this evening. I am in Kiev, Ukraine. As President & CEO of CEN Biotech, Inc, A subsidiary of Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc., I write you this letter regarding our projects in Lakeshore, Ontario.
Over the past two years, my team and myself have worked tirelessly to compile a world-class team and to build a world-class facility. The early support of Lakeshore is what led us to Lakeshore. We have been fortunate to have the choice of location by Steve Salmons, the Public support of Mayor Tom Bain at the WEED press conference and the reiteration of proper zoning by Kirk Foran and Steve Salmons to council; and most recently by Morris Harding’s letter commenting on our correct permits and zoning. We have held out since day one that we are properly zoned as confirmed by the Town.
We spent Millions of dollars to build our facilities and relied on your public statements and representations; as did our shareholders. We intended since day one and continue to desire to work closely with the Town. We have enjoyed our ongoing communication with the Town, whether through our Company’s representatives or our landlord. These facilities were not a surprise to The Town of Lakeshore or its neighbours. We have cooperated at all times with the Town, while preserving our legal rights.
Most of my team, including myself, are long time residents and taxpayers of Lakeshore. It was my intent to bring jobs with social responsibility to Lakeshore. To employ my neighbors with much needed high paying jobs. Losing a neighbor who committed suicide in his garage after losing his job at Ford years ago has hit close to home. Having the ability to support ones family with high paying, respectable jobs is important to our Company.
We purchased two properties in Lakeshore, considerably above market value and
desired to purchase more.
Your job as Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Council is to represent all of your constituents… not the minority voice of less than 10, many of whom we have been negotiating with for the purchase of their properties. In a concerted effort, represented by legal counsel, they wage a public war against us after our facilities were completed to renegotiate a better price for their properties. They requested financial compensation to support us tonight before council. Clearly we will not succumb to this type of behavior or negotiation.
In our efforts to continue on our path of success, it is my duty as President & CEO to continue to find opportunities and I have travelled at home and abroad doing such. Most recently, an amazing opportunity presented itself in Tecumseh, Ontario. We have an opportunity to locate there and we may do just that.
I have in the past and going forward indicated our desire to work hand in hand with Lakeshore. Litigation is always an option, but our preference is to build on the mutually beneficial relationship with The Town of Lakeshore. It is in this light that we aim to find an amicable solution that brings prosperity, a safe and secure community and medicinal benefits to all, and most importantly, the citizens of Lakeshore.
Yours truly,
Bill Chaaban
