In the 8 March '07 edition of the Pembroke Observer [www.thedailyobserver.ca] Tina Peplinskie wrote about the nonsense that residents of the Township have to put up with because both Provincial and Federal governments' bureaucracies refuse to recognize that this large township, which extends far beyond the municipality of pembroke is NOT in or related to pembroke.

However, Ontario Health authorities REFUSE to issue Health cards with a correct municipal address; they INSIST that our address is 'Pembroke'. This is nonsense and very confusing if you are using your health Card outside the area or for identification. In her article, Tina notes: "Council wants the provincial government to recognize Laurentian valley as an official municipality in Ontario. Council discussed a letter from resident Russell Merredew raising the concern that when he went to renew his driver's licence and health card, his Laurentian Valley address was not recognized and the documents instead still list his address as Pembroke, Ont. Councilor George Hodgkinson confirmed ... the same problem..."

The article indicates that Council will consider a Resolution to be sent to the governments to rectify this similar problems. Tina says: "It is Mayor Jack Wilson's hope that if the resolution receives enough support in the county, it can proceed to the Eastern Ontario Warden's Caucus where it can receive more attention.... In an attempt to bring the issue to the forefront, he encouraged residents of the municipality to use 'LAURENTIAN VALLEY', Ont. as their address when mailing personal correspondence."

I have been fighting this bureaucratic nonsense for years and am happy that the Council has taken up the battle. My particular concern is that bureaucracies everywhere, particularly since 9/11, have become very 'identity' conscious. Variously, bank security officials, immigration officials in other countries, and other bureaucrats in other situations, will NOT accept that I am the same person who lives at my municipal address at "xx West Brook Drive Laurentian Valley ON" as shown on my Drivers license and the same named person as shown on my passport and credit cards as 'Box bbbb Pembroke ON' even though the postal codes were the same. Similarly, what address do you give for courier companies who refuse "Box" numbers [for obvious reasons] but cannot find "Laurentian Valley" as a municipal address because it is not in Pembroke where they expect to find it using a postal code data base. The couriers have their own 'local knowledge' to assist them in making local deliveries, but that should not be necessary. Whatever data base stores your address, for whatever good reason, should have accurate, truthful [we are NOT in fact in PEMBROKE], consistent information. I hope other residents of Laurentian Valley and other 'identity' victims will show their support for Council's actions. Russ Merredew