Everyone wonders why the plebiscite question was asked...and so you are not alone in this!
There had been no dissatisfaction ever publicly expressed about ward voting and so it is a mystery why the politicians ever felt it necessary to put the plebiscite question on the ballot.
The rationale given for asking the question was very juvenile..."I thought it was just about time the question was asked."
When pressed, the councillor stated that he felt, "Oshawa was just getting too large for ward voting." This is ludicrous!
The councillor was dead wrong! The general vote that he wants to introduce into Oshawa is only useful in smaller communities of about 25,000 maximum (or about the size of an average Oshawa ward).
The fact that he responded with this answer proves that he didn't think out the idea at all.
More likely though...he did think out the rationale but it was one he could not use to justify the change to the public. You can hardly say publicly that you want an electoral system that virtually guarantees your council seat as long as you live. That just wouldn't "wash" with the public.
Every sensible person knows that the larger a jurisdiction is, the more it must be broken down into smaller units called wards to allow voters to have a chance of becoming informed about the merits of candidates, to insure that all areas of the city are represented on council, to keep election costs at a level that allows for funding of campaigns by "ordinary" people, and to keep politicians accountable. Ward voting allows for the removal of politicians if they are not adequately serving the people.
Oshawa's history with the general vote was that no Oshawa resident living south of King Street was elected to Oshawa for seven consecutive councils and that all change on council took place through the death or resignation of members.
Because all general vote councillors were competitors for city wide votes, council became a fractious and unproductive place as members competed for press to promote their name as name recognition was the only determinant in getting elected. Some politicians even took holidays in Florida during election campaigns and still got elected.
Because of council's unproductive nature, outsiders came to recognize that Oshawa was an unprogressive backwater where nothing happened. We developed a negative reputation and so the community was seen as being an undesireable place to live. With reduced markets for real estate, prices plummeted and developers of high end housing avoided us like the plague. The only development we could attract for many years was downscale and subsidized housing...again contributing to Oshawa's reputation.
We are just overcoming the bad reputation problem now and have been successful in attracting a lot of high end housing and a building boom as one of the fastest growing regions in Canada. This goes along with our "highest income" place in Canada according to stats released by Revenue Canada. We don't want to return to our sleepy past with the return of the general vote.
Oshawa's last general vote ballot was 11"X17" and contained close to 100 names. It was an impossible task for voters to make informed choices among the vast number of candidates and so they simply went down the ballot marking names they'd heard of...and these were the incumbents who had spent the entire term promoting their name recognition.
When we won ward voting in 1985, half of the general vote council got defeated because it takes a different kind of politician to be elected in ward voting. It takes a politician that relates to people and serves them.
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Presentation to City Hall, Feb. 5, 2005
Oshawa city council was considering its strategy to avoid an OMB appeal regarding its plans to change to the general vote.
According to Provincial Legislative changes, city staff advised them that they could avoid appeal by switching to the general vote as long as they kept the existing wards without revision.
A "loophole" in the legislation allows councils to determine the composition of council but not to revise the wards without the possibility of appeal.
Since wards are associated with voting throughout Ontario and in Oshawa since 1985, VOTES still feels that it can appeal to the OMB once the city passes its bylaw since funtionally seven wards are being reduced to one for voting purposes. VOTES has also developed two additional arguments of appeal.
VOTES feels that the changes to the Provincial Municipal Act opens up a "can of worms" unanticipated by the Province, but beyond this, just because council can do something doesn't make it right or just for the people.
Without a daily newspaper that is circulated by paid subscription to people who are really interested in Oshawa, City Council was able to slip their moves to the general vote below the public radar screen without any public discussion or debate. And in everything it did, Council flew its planes low.
They failed to provide any information to the public about the change. So to this day, we have not been told of Council's rationale for putting the plebiscite question on the ballot, what was wrong with the ward system to consider change, or what benefits the general vote is expected to bring to Oshawa.
The result? People were confronted for the first time in the voting booth with a convoluted "trick" question that they had never discussed, considered, heard about...and had to vote "NO" to retain the ward system that they had used for many years.
The entire stategy and systems city politicians put in place to move toward the general vote was democratically flawed to the extreme. Democracy requires an "informed" public and city politicans did everything in their power to keep public information to a minimum on this important issue. Council's communication strategy is completely different when they want you to know something...then no expense is spared!
Since no public dissatisfaction had ever been expressed about any shortcomings of the ward system, one has to assume it was supported by the people.
The issue has been completely thought up and fabricated by the politicians who know that the general vote guarantees them lifetime seats on council. At term salaries and benefits of close to $500,000, there is plenty of motivation for politicians to risk their integrity in making the change.
It is extremely unethical for politicians to gerrymander the system for their own benefit at the expense of the citizens of Oshawa.
We need a system that serves the people, not the politicians.
According to Provincial Legislative changes, city staff advised them that they could avoid appeal by switching to the general vote as long as they kept the existing wards without revision.
A "loophole" in the legislation allows councils to determine the composition of council but not to revise the wards without the possibility of appeal.
Since wards are associated with voting throughout Ontario and in Oshawa since 1985, VOTES still feels that it can appeal to the OMB once the city passes its bylaw since funtionally seven wards are being reduced to one for voting purposes. VOTES has also developed two additional arguments of appeal.
VOTES feels that the changes to the Provincial Municipal Act opens up a "can of worms" unanticipated by the Province, but beyond this, just because council can do something doesn't make it right or just for the people.
Without a daily newspaper that is circulated by paid subscription to people who are really interested in Oshawa, City Council was able to slip their moves to the general vote below the public radar screen without any public discussion or debate. And in everything it did, Council flew its planes low.
They failed to provide any information to the public about the change. So to this day, we have not been told of Council's rationale for putting the plebiscite question on the ballot, what was wrong with the ward system to consider change, or what benefits the general vote is expected to bring to Oshawa.
The result? People were confronted for the first time in the voting booth with a convoluted "trick" question that they had never discussed, considered, heard about...and had to vote "NO" to retain the ward system that they had used for many years.
The entire stategy and systems city politicians put in place to move toward the general vote was democratically flawed to the extreme. Democracy requires an "informed" public and city politicans did everything in their power to keep public information to a minimum on this important issue. Council's communication strategy is completely different when they want you to know something...then no expense is spared!
Since no public dissatisfaction had ever been expressed about any shortcomings of the ward system, one has to assume it was supported by the people.
The issue has been completely thought up and fabricated by the politicians who know that the general vote guarantees them lifetime seats on council. At term salaries and benefits of close to $500,000, there is plenty of motivation for politicians to risk their integrity in making the change.
It is extremely unethical for politicians to gerrymander the system for their own benefit at the expense of the citizens of Oshawa.
We need a system that serves the people, not the politicians.
Friday, April 6, 2007
Video...Where's Council's Loyalty to the People Who Put Them In Power?
Where does loyalty stand in the hierarchy of human qualities you value.
Loyalty is a fundamental value…the most basic requirement of all human relationships.
It is the quality we want most in our friends…without it, friendship cannot exist.
Politics is a human relationship…a trust of leadership between the leader and the led.
The Leaders ascend to the “throne of leadership” in a free society because we place our trust in them to make decisions for us and in our interest. We expect their loyalty to their supporters and in the broader sense to the whole society. After all it was our loyalty to them that gave them their positions.
When we feed politicians our votes…we don’t expect to be bitten. We don’t expect them to bite the hands that feed them…we expect loyalty…a reciprocal and beneficial relationship to both parties.
When we vote for our politicians…we expect them to be loyal in their service to us. We expect them to work in our best interests.
Unfortunately this is not what is happening in Oshawa.
Politicians want to return to the general vote knowing full well that huge sections of the city will grow to be unrepresented.over time. The south end (anywhere in Oshawa below King Street) couldn’t elect one resident from their community in seven successive general vote councils, a total of 109 seats leading up to the change to ward voting in 1985.
Ward Voting has guaranteed the south end 4½ councillors so the ward system has given voice to their concerns. This has brought important benefits to the south end…a new library, senior’s center, ambulance dispatch station, and a new recreation center.
With the ward system, no longer is it possible to have a “Have Not” section of Oshawa because ward voting has guaranteed equality of representation to all.
Ward politicians have been loyal to their voters in insuring progress for their neighbourhoods.
This is about to change.
Long time counciillor Joe Kolodzie who represented the south end for ages is supporting taking away guaranteed community council representation for the south end.
Long time councillor Nester Pidwerbecki who represents a large part of the south end is supporting taking away guaranteed south end community representation.
Councillor Maryanne Sholdra who represents the south end on local council recently made a speech where she stated that she was “honoured” to be the south end representative on council…yet she too is supporting yanking guaranteed south end representation from the south end.
Councillors John Henry, Tito Dante Marimpietri, and Louise Parkes also want to yank your south end guaranteed council representation from you. They are joined by Mayor Gray.
Why don’t these politicians want all areas of Oshawa to have fair and equal guaranteed representation on council? That question has never been answered.
If Council is able to bring in a general vote, all of Oshawa will have to work to defeat these politicians who are stealing local community council representation from the people…not just from the south end…but from all parts of Oshawa. Under the general vote no politician will be responsible for looking after your ward concerns.
For those in the south end…for sure don’t support those politicians who have proven their disloyalty to you.
For all others in Oshawa…you’ll lose your guaranteed representation on council too and there will be no one responsible for handling your ward concerns either. You’ll have to remember to defeat the “thieves” who are stealing your ward representatives too.
After all…loyalty is the highest personal quality you expect in someone you support, isn’t it?
And why ever would you support someone who has proven to be disloyal to you and your interests?
Loyalty is a fundamental value…the most basic requirement of all human relationships.
It is the quality we want most in our friends…without it, friendship cannot exist.
Politics is a human relationship…a trust of leadership between the leader and the led.
The Leaders ascend to the “throne of leadership” in a free society because we place our trust in them to make decisions for us and in our interest. We expect their loyalty to their supporters and in the broader sense to the whole society. After all it was our loyalty to them that gave them their positions.
When we feed politicians our votes…we don’t expect to be bitten. We don’t expect them to bite the hands that feed them…we expect loyalty…a reciprocal and beneficial relationship to both parties.
When we vote for our politicians…we expect them to be loyal in their service to us. We expect them to work in our best interests.
Unfortunately this is not what is happening in Oshawa.
Politicians want to return to the general vote knowing full well that huge sections of the city will grow to be unrepresented.over time. The south end (anywhere in Oshawa below King Street) couldn’t elect one resident from their community in seven successive general vote councils, a total of 109 seats leading up to the change to ward voting in 1985.
Ward Voting has guaranteed the south end 4½ councillors so the ward system has given voice to their concerns. This has brought important benefits to the south end…a new library, senior’s center, ambulance dispatch station, and a new recreation center.
With the ward system, no longer is it possible to have a “Have Not” section of Oshawa because ward voting has guaranteed equality of representation to all.
Ward politicians have been loyal to their voters in insuring progress for their neighbourhoods.
This is about to change.
Long time counciillor Joe Kolodzie who represented the south end for ages is supporting taking away guaranteed community council representation for the south end.
Long time councillor Nester Pidwerbecki who represents a large part of the south end is supporting taking away guaranteed south end community representation.
Councillor Maryanne Sholdra who represents the south end on local council recently made a speech where she stated that she was “honoured” to be the south end representative on council…yet she too is supporting yanking guaranteed south end representation from the south end.
Councillors John Henry, Tito Dante Marimpietri, and Louise Parkes also want to yank your south end guaranteed council representation from you. They are joined by Mayor Gray.
Why don’t these politicians want all areas of Oshawa to have fair and equal guaranteed representation on council? That question has never been answered.
If Council is able to bring in a general vote, all of Oshawa will have to work to defeat these politicians who are stealing local community council representation from the people…not just from the south end…but from all parts of Oshawa. Under the general vote no politician will be responsible for looking after your ward concerns.
For those in the south end…for sure don’t support those politicians who have proven their disloyalty to you.
For all others in Oshawa…you’ll lose your guaranteed representation on council too and there will be no one responsible for handling your ward concerns either. You’ll have to remember to defeat the “thieves” who are stealing your ward representatives too.
After all…loyalty is the highest personal quality you expect in someone you support, isn’t it?
And why ever would you support someone who has proven to be disloyal to you and your interests?
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Video...So What Difference Does Oshawa's Election System Make to You?
What difference does our election system make anyway?
Many people have asked how the whole issue of the ward/general vote came up and why?
People indicate that they were quite happy with the ward system that seemed to be working well..and no one recalls any dissatisfaction ever being expressed with it.
On the contrary, they point out many positives that have happened in Oshawa over recent years…the growth of new industry, the housing and development boom, the rapid expansion of Oshawa and all of the retail alternatives that has spawned, the expansion of new recreational facilities, libraries, and senior’s centers, attracting new residents which has resulted in the Oshawa area having the highest average annual incomes in the country and the fastest growing place in the GTA, etc. and we could go on…but you get the drift.
No one seems to know why we needed a change from ward elections...and the politicians have never told us the reason why the plebiscite question was asked, what was wrong with the ward system such that they would consider change, and what they feel the general vote will accomplish for the city to make it better than ward voting.
We can think of many advantages of ward voting and Oshawa's history with the general vote prior to 1985 demonstrated that as a very deficient system.
The ward distribution of politicians around the city resulted in an even and fair distribution of city facilities …this was a godsend to the south end which had been neglected for too long under oshawa’s former general vote which blocked the south end from city council representation. The ward system brought the south end the first representatives on council that it had in decades.
Under the ward system, the south end is guaranteed 4.5 members of council accountable to them. They have 3 Regional Councillors and 1.5 Local Councillors responsible to South End voters. Under the general vote, for 7 successive councils totaling 109 seats, not one of those 109 elected lived south of king street. Without representation on council, the south end couldn’t and didn’t get any attention from city council. Now with guaranteed representatives, they cannot be neglected any more as long as we have the ward system.
The general vote contributed to a negative reputation for all of Oshawa because of the lack of attention paid to parts that had no political representation. The result…no one wanted to live here and so development stifled and house prices were the cheapest in the GTA. Commuters from Toronto would even bypass Oshawa in favour of Bowmanville, Port Perry and Newcastle where the house prices were higher but the communities were more desireable.
The fact that ward politicians are directly accountable to specific neighbourhoods in the city and will lose their council seats if they don't effectively represent their constituents, they must be productive in doing things for Oshawa.
Under the general vote, a different kind of politician got elected...those who were good at promoting their name. Because name recognition is the determinant in general vote success, that becomes the main effort in everything they do. They backbite, bitch, bicker, and grandstand on council to grab the press. Because all councillors are competitors for the same city wide votes, council becomes very competitive and fractious at the expense of council productivity.
The people of Oshawa must decide...do they want politicians whose main goal is to promote their name or do they want politicians whose main goal is to provide service to people?
If you think service to people is important...you need ward voting.
Email the mayor and council and tell them so and please sign our petition at the top right sidebar of this site if you have not yet done so.
It will take a major effort from everyone if we are to preserve ward voting for Oshawa.
Many people have asked how the whole issue of the ward/general vote came up and why?
People indicate that they were quite happy with the ward system that seemed to be working well..and no one recalls any dissatisfaction ever being expressed with it.
On the contrary, they point out many positives that have happened in Oshawa over recent years…the growth of new industry, the housing and development boom, the rapid expansion of Oshawa and all of the retail alternatives that has spawned, the expansion of new recreational facilities, libraries, and senior’s centers, attracting new residents which has resulted in the Oshawa area having the highest average annual incomes in the country and the fastest growing place in the GTA, etc. and we could go on…but you get the drift.
No one seems to know why we needed a change from ward elections...and the politicians have never told us the reason why the plebiscite question was asked, what was wrong with the ward system such that they would consider change, and what they feel the general vote will accomplish for the city to make it better than ward voting.
We can think of many advantages of ward voting and Oshawa's history with the general vote prior to 1985 demonstrated that as a very deficient system.
The ward distribution of politicians around the city resulted in an even and fair distribution of city facilities …this was a godsend to the south end which had been neglected for too long under oshawa’s former general vote which blocked the south end from city council representation. The ward system brought the south end the first representatives on council that it had in decades.
Under the ward system, the south end is guaranteed 4.5 members of council accountable to them. They have 3 Regional Councillors and 1.5 Local Councillors responsible to South End voters. Under the general vote, for 7 successive councils totaling 109 seats, not one of those 109 elected lived south of king street. Without representation on council, the south end couldn’t and didn’t get any attention from city council. Now with guaranteed representatives, they cannot be neglected any more as long as we have the ward system.
The general vote contributed to a negative reputation for all of Oshawa because of the lack of attention paid to parts that had no political representation. The result…no one wanted to live here and so development stifled and house prices were the cheapest in the GTA. Commuters from Toronto would even bypass Oshawa in favour of Bowmanville, Port Perry and Newcastle where the house prices were higher but the communities were more desireable.
The fact that ward politicians are directly accountable to specific neighbourhoods in the city and will lose their council seats if they don't effectively represent their constituents, they must be productive in doing things for Oshawa.
Under the general vote, a different kind of politician got elected...those who were good at promoting their name. Because name recognition is the determinant in general vote success, that becomes the main effort in everything they do. They backbite, bitch, bicker, and grandstand on council to grab the press. Because all councillors are competitors for the same city wide votes, council becomes very competitive and fractious at the expense of council productivity.
The people of Oshawa must decide...do they want politicians whose main goal is to promote their name or do they want politicians whose main goal is to provide service to people?
If you think service to people is important...you need ward voting.
Email the mayor and council and tell them so and please sign our petition at the top right sidebar of this site if you have not yet done so.
It will take a major effort from everyone if we are to preserve ward voting for Oshawa.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Video...Oshawa City Council is Undermining Canada's Basic Democratic Values, and I'm Mad as Hell! How about You?
Oshawa City Council is taking one of Canada's most basic values away from voters---the meaningful vote that determines Oshawa's political leadership.
Council refused to provide adequate public information about the ward/general vote issue before the plebiscite question and still refuses to provide public information about the change to the general vote.
Aren't voters entitled to know why the plebiscite question was asked when there was not one whimper of dissatisfaction expressed with ward voting?
Aren't voters entitled to know what was wrong with the ward system when it seemed to be working so well?
Aren't voters entitled to know the benefits council expects from the general vote?
Aren't voters entitled to be reminded of Oshawa's history with the general vote when all of council came from a few of the wealthier areas leaving most of Oshawa unrepresented?
Aren't voters entitled to know that all political change under Oshawa's general vote took place through death or resignation of members?
Aren't voters entitled to know that the general vote is virtually unused in Canada and is not used in any city as large as Oshawa without the use of political parties?
Aren't voters entitled to know all these things?
So why does council continue to deny us the information?
Council's actions hardly remind us of the way governments are supposed to act in Canada.
Why are they not providing the information. Are they trying to hide something? Do they have some hidden agenda? Are they afraid that people will discuss and analyze the change and discover that the politicians themselves are the greatest beneficiaries since the general vote will guarantee them a lifetime seat on the "gravy train" of city council.
So how do you feel Oshawa being taken for a patsy and a fool?
I for one am damn mad and am doing something about it. How about you?
The greatest danger to a democratic society is that voters become lethargic and sit back and do nothing...and then it's too late.
And I don't like council trying to take away the meaningful vote that our armed forces fought for in the great wars and many people are still fighting and laying down their lives for in many regions of the world.
Oshawa is blessed with large populations of Eastern European ancestry. Didn't their forebearers come to Canada to escape the very thing that Oshawa City Council is pulling on the people?
What council is trying to do is remove one of the most basic values of our society and our way of life...the meaningful vote which determines our political leadership.
I believe in the basic values of a Democratic Canada...don't you? And I'm doing something about that too! How about you?
The politicians have to hear your feelings and your attitudes about this change. You have to email the mayor and council and express your view.
Council refused to provide adequate public information about the ward/general vote issue before the plebiscite question and still refuses to provide public information about the change to the general vote.
Aren't voters entitled to know why the plebiscite question was asked when there was not one whimper of dissatisfaction expressed with ward voting?
Aren't voters entitled to know what was wrong with the ward system when it seemed to be working so well?
Aren't voters entitled to know the benefits council expects from the general vote?
Aren't voters entitled to be reminded of Oshawa's history with the general vote when all of council came from a few of the wealthier areas leaving most of Oshawa unrepresented?
Aren't voters entitled to know that all political change under Oshawa's general vote took place through death or resignation of members?
Aren't voters entitled to know that the general vote is virtually unused in Canada and is not used in any city as large as Oshawa without the use of political parties?
Aren't voters entitled to know all these things?
So why does council continue to deny us the information?
Council's actions hardly remind us of the way governments are supposed to act in Canada.
Why are they not providing the information. Are they trying to hide something? Do they have some hidden agenda? Are they afraid that people will discuss and analyze the change and discover that the politicians themselves are the greatest beneficiaries since the general vote will guarantee them a lifetime seat on the "gravy train" of city council.
So how do you feel Oshawa being taken for a patsy and a fool?
I for one am damn mad and am doing something about it. How about you?
The greatest danger to a democratic society is that voters become lethargic and sit back and do nothing...and then it's too late.
And I don't like council trying to take away the meaningful vote that our armed forces fought for in the great wars and many people are still fighting and laying down their lives for in many regions of the world.
Oshawa is blessed with large populations of Eastern European ancestry. Didn't their forebearers come to Canada to escape the very thing that Oshawa City Council is pulling on the people?
What council is trying to do is remove one of the most basic values of our society and our way of life...the meaningful vote which determines our political leadership.
I believe in the basic values of a Democratic Canada...don't you? And I'm doing something about that too! How about you?
The politicians have to hear your feelings and your attitudes about this change. You have to email the mayor and council and express your view.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Video...Oshawa Council Shows Profound Disrespect For Voting Public
To the Mayor and Council
Oshawa City Hall,
c/o Oshawa City Clerk
cc: Letters to the Editor
I addressed the Budget and Audit Committee today with a request for a partnership grant to have an information brochure regarding Oshawa's proposed change to the general vote prepared and distributed to all residence doors in Oshawa. Unfortunately, the committee did not support my request.
I continue to believe that information must be circulated to the public regarding this very important issue.
It is difficult to understand that city council would place such a high priority on communicating some items like "Stephen Colbert Day--the Mayor's birthday celebration", and a multitude of very professional, glossy paper, full colour brochures on topics ranging from "A Walking Tour of Oshawa's Natural Areas", The Grand Opening of GM Place, Communities in Bloom Brochure, Amazing Facts Promotional Brochure, Oshawa Winter Celebrations, Oshawa's Pest Management Plan, A walking Tour of Oshawa's Gardens, 2006 Inside Oshawa, etc., etc., etc. but refuse to provide any information about the change to the general vote. This is serious misplacement of priorities.
If council wants you to know, they spare no expense...if they don't want you to know, they photostat "the minimum" and pitch it in your garbage. You can tell what they want you to know by the quality of their communication to you. So why do they not want us to know about the change to the general vote? What are they hiding? Is there a hidden agenda in their lack of communication? I think there is!
In comparison to the very professional brochures listed above, the flyer sent to all residences informing the public of the meeting in respect of the change to the general vote was a cheaply printed flyer that could have been photostated on cheap letterhead paper. It looked so unimpressive that it could have been mistaken for a mass mailing advertising flyer and thrown in the garbage before attracting any attention whatsoever. It simply gave date, purpose, location, time of the meeting along with a legalese bylaw that would not promote any interest whatsoever. It certainly is a different style from the fancy colour brochures that the city prepares when it wants to promote something or wants something to be noticed.
The question has to be asked..."Why did Oshawa refuse to provide information and why are they still refusing to do so?" Is this failure to disclose necessary information some part of a hidden political agenda? Is the failure to disclose information an attempt to dampen public debate on the issue? Is it the mushroom strategy, "Feed the people sh-t and keep them in the dark?
In any case, this failure to properly inform the public demonstrates a severe disrespect for the taxpayers of Oshawa.
Democracy is a basic value of our society and the "Free World" knows that a democracy is dependent upon an informed public. Council, however, has refused to provide the necessary public information. Therefore the whole plebiscite process was seriously flawed and cannot be considered a gauge of public opinion by any reasonable person.
The citizens of Oshawa needed to know what the general vote was, what deficiencies there were with the ward system to precipitate putting the plebiscite question on the ballot, and what benefits the general vote would be expected to bring to Oshawa.
Without answers to those questions, voters could not and cannot give an informed opinion...therefore the plebiscite result is inconsequential. If council was unwilling to provide the information, they should not have asked the question.
Council members who state that they believe the ward system is best but continue to support the plebiscite result should be reasonably expected to rethink their position. They should be voting against the plebiscite result as a flawed strategy that can not at all pretend to reflect public opinion.
Despite all external variables, voters certainly expect councillors as informed experts to vote for what they believe to be best for the city.
The majority of council by publicly stating that they support ward voting are in the same breath saying that the people were wrong in their vote to change to the general vote and these council members should start thinking about the reasons for the discrepancy between their personal view and that of the public as expressed on the plebiscite. Perhaps they may come to the conclusion that the plebiscite process was flawed.
In any case, I believe that public information continues to be important and thus still feel that a professionally prepared brochure needs to be prepared and distributed to the public.
Because the committee did not support this request, I would request to address the full city council when the committee recommendation re my partnership grant is considered.
Please advise me of this date and confirm that I am on the council agenda as a delegation.
Oshawa City Hall,
c/o Oshawa City Clerk
cc: Letters to the Editor
I addressed the Budget and Audit Committee today with a request for a partnership grant to have an information brochure regarding Oshawa's proposed change to the general vote prepared and distributed to all residence doors in Oshawa. Unfortunately, the committee did not support my request.
I continue to believe that information must be circulated to the public regarding this very important issue.
It is difficult to understand that city council would place such a high priority on communicating some items like "Stephen Colbert Day--the Mayor's birthday celebration", and a multitude of very professional, glossy paper, full colour brochures on topics ranging from "A Walking Tour of Oshawa's Natural Areas", The Grand Opening of GM Place, Communities in Bloom Brochure, Amazing Facts Promotional Brochure, Oshawa Winter Celebrations, Oshawa's Pest Management Plan, A walking Tour of Oshawa's Gardens, 2006 Inside Oshawa, etc., etc., etc. but refuse to provide any information about the change to the general vote. This is serious misplacement of priorities.
If council wants you to know, they spare no expense...if they don't want you to know, they photostat "the minimum" and pitch it in your garbage. You can tell what they want you to know by the quality of their communication to you. So why do they not want us to know about the change to the general vote? What are they hiding? Is there a hidden agenda in their lack of communication? I think there is!
In comparison to the very professional brochures listed above, the flyer sent to all residences informing the public of the meeting in respect of the change to the general vote was a cheaply printed flyer that could have been photostated on cheap letterhead paper. It looked so unimpressive that it could have been mistaken for a mass mailing advertising flyer and thrown in the garbage before attracting any attention whatsoever. It simply gave date, purpose, location, time of the meeting along with a legalese bylaw that would not promote any interest whatsoever. It certainly is a different style from the fancy colour brochures that the city prepares when it wants to promote something or wants something to be noticed.
The question has to be asked..."Why did Oshawa refuse to provide information and why are they still refusing to do so?" Is this failure to disclose necessary information some part of a hidden political agenda? Is the failure to disclose information an attempt to dampen public debate on the issue? Is it the mushroom strategy, "Feed the people sh-t and keep them in the dark?
In any case, this failure to properly inform the public demonstrates a severe disrespect for the taxpayers of Oshawa.
Democracy is a basic value of our society and the "Free World" knows that a democracy is dependent upon an informed public. Council, however, has refused to provide the necessary public information. Therefore the whole plebiscite process was seriously flawed and cannot be considered a gauge of public opinion by any reasonable person.
The citizens of Oshawa needed to know what the general vote was, what deficiencies there were with the ward system to precipitate putting the plebiscite question on the ballot, and what benefits the general vote would be expected to bring to Oshawa.
Without answers to those questions, voters could not and cannot give an informed opinion...therefore the plebiscite result is inconsequential. If council was unwilling to provide the information, they should not have asked the question.
Council members who state that they believe the ward system is best but continue to support the plebiscite result should be reasonably expected to rethink their position. They should be voting against the plebiscite result as a flawed strategy that can not at all pretend to reflect public opinion.
Despite all external variables, voters certainly expect councillors as informed experts to vote for what they believe to be best for the city.
The majority of council by publicly stating that they support ward voting are in the same breath saying that the people were wrong in their vote to change to the general vote and these council members should start thinking about the reasons for the discrepancy between their personal view and that of the public as expressed on the plebiscite. Perhaps they may come to the conclusion that the plebiscite process was flawed.
In any case, I believe that public information continues to be important and thus still feel that a professionally prepared brochure needs to be prepared and distributed to the public.
Because the committee did not support this request, I would request to address the full city council when the committee recommendation re my partnership grant is considered.
Please advise me of this date and confirm that I am on the council agenda as a delegation.
Monday, April 2, 2007
Why Stop at the General Vote...Oshawa should go all the way and disband Oshawa Civic Administration...Maybe Council is on to something!
I am jumping for joy at the announced tax increase of only 3.9%. Aren’t you?
Politicians used the tax collector’s ploy that has been used since the beginning of time. They highballed projected increases of over 6% and were able to come in a couple of points lower…whoopee!
And all of this comedic routine just to provide relief to the harried Oshawa taxpayer.
Interestingly, this 3.9% figure was mentioned in the press prior to budget approval. Politicians knew this as the “real” final figure all along.
Sort of like yard sale routines...ask higher but know you're going to settle for lower. And then the buyer (or taxpayer) knows he's getting a real deal.
I think Oshawa taxpayers are too smart to fall for this ruse.
The big question…what are we getting for the money?
The city tax is about the same as the regional tax and yet the region has all of the larger, more important, and costly functions.
The Regional responsibilities are 1) Strategic land use planning, 2) Subdivision and condominium approval, 3) Area Municipal Official Plans and Amendments, 4) Water supply, distribution and billing, 5) Sewage collection and treatment, 6) Police services, 7) Arterial roads, traffic lights and controls, 8) Garbage and refuse disposal, 9) Health and social services, 10) Emergency measures, 11) All borrowing of money for capital expenditures, and 12) Economic development and tourism.
The city only looks after 1) Local planning (zoning), 2) Local streets and sidewalks, 3) Garbage collection, 5) Fire protection, 6) Parks and recreation, 7) Tax collection, 8) Building inspection and permits and, 9) Licencing.
So why is Oshawa’s tax bill so large?
The local city government and the regional government have many overlapping functions and systems and many overlapping departments and bureaucracies that are often duplicating and doubling costs to the taxpayer.
Since Oshawa politicians want to wipe out your local ward representation with the general vote which will move local government further from the people, perhaps they should “go all the way” and wipe out Oshawa Civic Administration completely and hand Oshawa's few responsibilities over to the the region.
The Oshawa taxpayer would not see one iota of difference except for a decreased tax bill…and, Lord knows, as the highest taxed citizens in the GTA our shrinking Oshawa wallets need the tax relief.
Does it make sense to you that the Region looks after all of the main streets such as Grandview, Wilson, Harmony, Ritson, Simcoe, Centre, Park, Stevenson, Thornton, Phillip Murray, Farewell, Wentworth, Olive, Gibb, King, Bond, Adelaide, Rossland, Taunton, etc. and that city equipment runs over these roads with the same equipment to maintain, clean, and plow the local residential streets. Doesn't this sound like duplication and inefficiency to you with both levels having road maintenance/snow clearing, road cleaning equipmment going over each jurisdiction's roads to service their own?
And doesn't it sound inefficient to have city picking up refuse and garbage but the region disposing of it?
And doesn't it sound wasteful, costly, and inefficient if both jurisdictions have similar departments like human resources, planning, procurement, legal, accounting, municipal clerks, etc. all performing the same services at the different levels.
Amalgamation of services seems to be the sensible direction. Regional public transit systems are a case in point. Did it make sense before amalgamation a year or so ago that you couldn’t get to Oshawa from Whitby or Bowmanville on public transit? Yet recall how hard the politicians fought to retain their turf even at higher costs and inefficient delivery of service to the people.
When regional governments were formed in 1971, all of the major responsibilities were given to the region while the city was left with minor and incidental responsibilities. Yet the Oshawa taxpayer pays about as much for the minor responsibilities carried out by Oshawa as it does for the major responsibilities carried out by the region.
Provincial policy under the Harris government was to amalgamate municipalities to cut out overlaps and duplications of function to result in greater efficiencies and lower costs.. This worked out okay in Toronto where the former 5 cities were merged into one administration with no problem. The change didn’t make any difference to the people. People still say they live in Scarborough, or North York, or Etobicoke, etc. It’s just that they don’t pay taxes to those municipalities.
Oshawa taxpayers would still live in Oshawa even if our civic administration was disbanded. We just wouldn't pay taxes to Oshawa.
So the precendent has been set. Even expert efficiency and costing studies have been done. They just have to be implemented.
Amalgamation makes sense. We are already there with most of the important local government functions. We just have to add some minor changes to complete the process.
Go for it Oshawa politicians...fold complete amalgamation into your strategy to return to the general vote. A local government close to the people doesn't matter!
Politicians used the tax collector’s ploy that has been used since the beginning of time. They highballed projected increases of over 6% and were able to come in a couple of points lower…whoopee!
And all of this comedic routine just to provide relief to the harried Oshawa taxpayer.
Interestingly, this 3.9% figure was mentioned in the press prior to budget approval. Politicians knew this as the “real” final figure all along.
Sort of like yard sale routines...ask higher but know you're going to settle for lower. And then the buyer (or taxpayer) knows he's getting a real deal.
I think Oshawa taxpayers are too smart to fall for this ruse.
The big question…what are we getting for the money?
The city tax is about the same as the regional tax and yet the region has all of the larger, more important, and costly functions.
The Regional responsibilities are 1) Strategic land use planning, 2) Subdivision and condominium approval, 3) Area Municipal Official Plans and Amendments, 4) Water supply, distribution and billing, 5) Sewage collection and treatment, 6) Police services, 7) Arterial roads, traffic lights and controls, 8) Garbage and refuse disposal, 9) Health and social services, 10) Emergency measures, 11) All borrowing of money for capital expenditures, and 12) Economic development and tourism.
The city only looks after 1) Local planning (zoning), 2) Local streets and sidewalks, 3) Garbage collection, 5) Fire protection, 6) Parks and recreation, 7) Tax collection, 8) Building inspection and permits and, 9) Licencing.
So why is Oshawa’s tax bill so large?
The local city government and the regional government have many overlapping functions and systems and many overlapping departments and bureaucracies that are often duplicating and doubling costs to the taxpayer.
Since Oshawa politicians want to wipe out your local ward representation with the general vote which will move local government further from the people, perhaps they should “go all the way” and wipe out Oshawa Civic Administration completely and hand Oshawa's few responsibilities over to the the region.
The Oshawa taxpayer would not see one iota of difference except for a decreased tax bill…and, Lord knows, as the highest taxed citizens in the GTA our shrinking Oshawa wallets need the tax relief.
Does it make sense to you that the Region looks after all of the main streets such as Grandview, Wilson, Harmony, Ritson, Simcoe, Centre, Park, Stevenson, Thornton, Phillip Murray, Farewell, Wentworth, Olive, Gibb, King, Bond, Adelaide, Rossland, Taunton, etc. and that city equipment runs over these roads with the same equipment to maintain, clean, and plow the local residential streets. Doesn't this sound like duplication and inefficiency to you with both levels having road maintenance/snow clearing, road cleaning equipmment going over each jurisdiction's roads to service their own?
And doesn't it sound inefficient to have city picking up refuse and garbage but the region disposing of it?
And doesn't it sound wasteful, costly, and inefficient if both jurisdictions have similar departments like human resources, planning, procurement, legal, accounting, municipal clerks, etc. all performing the same services at the different levels.
Amalgamation of services seems to be the sensible direction. Regional public transit systems are a case in point. Did it make sense before amalgamation a year or so ago that you couldn’t get to Oshawa from Whitby or Bowmanville on public transit? Yet recall how hard the politicians fought to retain their turf even at higher costs and inefficient delivery of service to the people.
When regional governments were formed in 1971, all of the major responsibilities were given to the region while the city was left with minor and incidental responsibilities. Yet the Oshawa taxpayer pays about as much for the minor responsibilities carried out by Oshawa as it does for the major responsibilities carried out by the region.
Provincial policy under the Harris government was to amalgamate municipalities to cut out overlaps and duplications of function to result in greater efficiencies and lower costs.. This worked out okay in Toronto where the former 5 cities were merged into one administration with no problem. The change didn’t make any difference to the people. People still say they live in Scarborough, or North York, or Etobicoke, etc. It’s just that they don’t pay taxes to those municipalities.
Oshawa taxpayers would still live in Oshawa even if our civic administration was disbanded. We just wouldn't pay taxes to Oshawa.
So the precendent has been set. Even expert efficiency and costing studies have been done. They just have to be implemented.
Amalgamation makes sense. We are already there with most of the important local government functions. We just have to add some minor changes to complete the process.
Go for it Oshawa politicians...fold complete amalgamation into your strategy to return to the general vote. A local government close to the people doesn't matter!
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Video...The Way To Protest The General Vote To Council
In communicating to city hall, you want to do it in a way that provides a permanent record of your concern, a way that documents the receipt of your concern, and a way that results in some "official" action.
This requires a letter addressed "To The Mayor and Council," c/o Oshawa City Clerk.
When you write to your local councillor, there is no official record of your letter. A councillor could simply look at your letter and then throw it in the garbage. He may or may not give you a call acknowledging your letter but there is no "official" evidence of you ever having communicated in the first place. In any case, the individual councillor, has no "official" authority outside of his vote on council.
So the basic principle is, "An individual councillor has no authority on his own. The authority rests with council and a majority vote there."
Politicians, may at times, have some moral suasion in talking to bureaucrats and in knowing the ropes of city hall, knows who to talk to.
Since political authority is vested in council, the most effective way to get "official" consideration of your letter is to address it to the Mayor and Council, c/o the city clerk...in the case of emails to clerks@oshawa.ca.
Such letters to the mayor and council appear on the council agenda and council moves to receive the letter. The letter is public and can be viewed by those checking city agendas. An example of some of my letters to the Mayor and Council can be seen on pg 4 of the March 19 Council Agenda.
When a letter is sent to the mayor and council, it is "official" and "official" action follows. At times that official action is only to "receive and file" but by so doing a permanent record of your concern exists in perpetuity in the council minute archives. At times, your letter may result in a motion of council in which council takes specific action which is firm and official direction for action by city staff.
No such "direction" to staff is ever possible from a letter to your local councillor unless (s)he takes the issue to council by presenting a motion which is subsequently passed by council. The councillor may do this if he feels strongly about the issue but is not compelled to do so.
Any letters sent regarding your demands that the ward system be retained by city hall should be sent to the mayor and council so that your concern and your demands are officially received and archived in the council minutes.
Hopefully you will take the time to send an email to the mayor and council demanding that they retain ward voting for Oshawa.
If enough letters are received so that the politicians know voters are concerned and serious about this issue, council members would likely be motivated to rescind their moves to the general vote.
If the people are silent, council will rush headlong into the self-serving general vote...and all of Oshawa will suffer.
Get active Oshawa! Let us hear your voice!
This requires a letter addressed "To The Mayor and Council," c/o Oshawa City Clerk.
When you write to your local councillor, there is no official record of your letter. A councillor could simply look at your letter and then throw it in the garbage. He may or may not give you a call acknowledging your letter but there is no "official" evidence of you ever having communicated in the first place. In any case, the individual councillor, has no "official" authority outside of his vote on council.
So the basic principle is, "An individual councillor has no authority on his own. The authority rests with council and a majority vote there."
Politicians, may at times, have some moral suasion in talking to bureaucrats and in knowing the ropes of city hall, knows who to talk to.
Since political authority is vested in council, the most effective way to get "official" consideration of your letter is to address it to the Mayor and Council, c/o the city clerk...in the case of emails to clerks@oshawa.ca.
Such letters to the mayor and council appear on the council agenda and council moves to receive the letter. The letter is public and can be viewed by those checking city agendas. An example of some of my letters to the Mayor and Council can be seen on pg 4 of the March 19 Council Agenda.
When a letter is sent to the mayor and council, it is "official" and "official" action follows. At times that official action is only to "receive and file" but by so doing a permanent record of your concern exists in perpetuity in the council minute archives. At times, your letter may result in a motion of council in which council takes specific action which is firm and official direction for action by city staff.
No such "direction" to staff is ever possible from a letter to your local councillor unless (s)he takes the issue to council by presenting a motion which is subsequently passed by council. The councillor may do this if he feels strongly about the issue but is not compelled to do so.
Any letters sent regarding your demands that the ward system be retained by city hall should be sent to the mayor and council so that your concern and your demands are officially received and archived in the council minutes.
Hopefully you will take the time to send an email to the mayor and council demanding that they retain ward voting for Oshawa.
If enough letters are received so that the politicians know voters are concerned and serious about this issue, council members would likely be motivated to rescind their moves to the general vote.
If the people are silent, council will rush headlong into the self-serving general vote...and all of Oshawa will suffer.
Get active Oshawa! Let us hear your voice!
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