Picton Gazette request to carry “Waterworks” piece
On Fri, Jun 20, 2025, 13:30 Karen Valihora wrote:
Hi — We’d like to print one of your research articles, the Waterworks piece, as an Op-Ed in an upcoming issue of the Gazette. We would, however, need a name to assign to County First/PECRA. While I think the project is excellent, and much needed, I am concerned the leaders of the organization are not public.
On Fri, Jun 20, 2025 at 6:11 PM County First wrote:
Dear Karen,
Thank you for your thoughtful note and for your interest in publishing the Waterworks article as an Op-Ed in the Picton Gazette. We appreciate the Gazette’s important role in fostering dialogue on development, infrastructure, and accountability in Prince Edward County.
We understand your request for attribution. The Prince Edward County Residents Association (PECRA) is a grassroots, non-partisan civic initiative composed of residents from across the County. Our work is collaborative, grounded in public records and planning policy, and undertaken by volunteers committed to transparency and responsible governance. While the initiative is not incorporated and does not identify formal leadership, all material is internally reviewed for factual accuracy, legal grounding, and civic relevance.
We would also respectfully note that the right to anonymous advocacy and expression is constitutionally protected in Canada. Under Sections 2(b) and 2(d) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, individuals are guaranteed the freedoms of expression and association. These rights include the ability to contribute to public discourse—particularly on matters of governance—without mandatory disclosure of identity.
Canadian courts have further recognized the legitimacy of anonymous public interest expression. In Grant v. Torstar Corp., 2009 SCC 61, the Supreme Court of Canada affirmed that commentary on matters of public importance—especially when grounded in fact and offered in good faith—deserves protection, even when critical of institutions or private entities. The Court underscored that open debate on public matters is a cornerstone of a free and democratic society.
We are mindful of the Gazette’s editorial standards and your responsibility to uphold journalistic integrity. To that end, we propose attribution of the article as either “A Contributor to www.CountyFirst.ca, the website of the Prince Edward County Residents Association” or “A Member of PECRA- the Prince Edward County Residents Association”. Alternatively, we would welcome the piece being run as a Letter from Prince Edward County Residents Association to the Editor if that offers more flexibility within your editorial framework.
We hope this strikes a fair and principled balance between your publication’s policies and the privacy rights of engaged citizens participating in civic life. We remain committed to fostering respectful and constructive dialogue and welcome the opportunity to collaborate with the Gazette in the future.
Warm regards,
Prince Edward County Residents Association (PECRA)
