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City councillors in Stratford, Ont., should not have voted behind closed doors to seek a controversial land zoning order from the province, an independent investigator found. The order fast-tracked a since-cancelled proposal for a controversial glass factory.

Article content Opponents of a suspended proposal to build a controversial glass factory in southwest Stratford say city officials omitted critical details from a public planning report to hide the true purpose of its annexation of nearby farmland. During a noon-hour rally at the city’s Market Square Monday, musician and activist Loreena McKennitt revealed a planning document she said was kept from the public’s attention last year when Stratford annexed 130 hectares of privately owned land ...

Article content The Chinese glass company that planned a $400-million factory in Stratford has decided to “indefinitely suspend” the proposal, blaming the city for dragging its feet. “In light of the continued deferral of approval by Stratford city council, Xinyi Canada has decided to suspend the project indefinitely to avoid further financial loss and unfounded attacks on its reputation,” said a statement released Tuesday by Xinyi Canada Glass. We apologize, but this video has failed t...

Fifth public rally planned opposing proposed glass manufacturing facility SHARE ON: A fifth public rally is being held taking aim at a proposed glass manufacturing facility in Stratford. The rally is being organized by citizen’s group Wise Communities for noon Monday in Market Square, behind Stratford City Hall. The group who oppose the proposed Xinyi Canada glass manufacturing facility say the themes of Monday’s rally will centre around First Nations, agriculture and youth. The rally is ta...

Last Updated: Wednesday, December 16, 2020 16:00 The small central Ontario city of Stratford Ontario, is widely known for its Shakespearean theatre and annual festival. As such there is also a vibrant arts community that has grown there over the decades in the otherwise mostly agricultural region. However it’s now becoming the site of an international battle. A multi-national Chinese firm, Xinyi Canada Glass Limited wants to build a huge ‘float glass’ plant on prime agricultural lan...

Posted: Dec 15, 2020 5:00 AM ET | Last Updated: December 15, 2020 Xinyi Glass Holdings provides glass products to the Canadian and northern U.S. markets. (Submitted photo) A Stratford, Ont., citizens group is demanding the federal Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology conduct a review of glassmaker Xinyi Canada, alleging the Chinese-owned company behind a proposal to build a float glass factory in the community is a threat to national security.  In an open letter to Innovation, Sci...