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Great Lakes Jam toast

There will not be a Great Lakes Jam in Meaford this summer -- and maybe forever.

Executive Producer Wolfgang Siebert tells Bayshore Broadcasting News the issue is stuck at the Ontario Municipal Board in a case between the municipality and the group opposing the concert.

Siebert says the OMB is not dealing with the case because they do not settle "temporary festival" issues.

Siebert says a planning meeting in November was postponed because the landowner asked for more money for the property because of the year-and-a-half delay.

He says the landowner upped the price of the land on Coffin Hill to 2.5 million dollars from 1.7 million.

Siebert adds they are not allowed to have a "Festival" in Meaford -- but wonders why a plowing match could be held in the municipality.

Siebert wanted to host an event with 60 thousand people -- but he says he was told by the municipality he couldn't have more than 30 thousand, and no more than 10 thousand under a new bylaw.

Siebert says had they limited the farm show or plowing show to that amount, the organisers wouldn't have held it in Meaford.

Siebert says concerns by Councillor Diane Hurlburt regarding traffic to the Great Lakes Jam were prejudiced.

He said she had no trouble with over 100 thousand vehicles for the plowing match, or closing Highway 26 for the recent Ronnie Hawkin's concert.