Last night was Grand Opening of Library Week in Ontario. Aurora's Library was chosen for the Formal event by the Minister of Culture and Community Services.
Our library is often chosen for such affairs. I think because it's handy for those from northern parts and the south, We had a Councillor, Librarian and trustee from Georgina Island there last night.
We have the space and it's probably handy for officials who live close by. The Minister lives in Markham.
So, at six- thirty, special guests hoping for a word with the Minister about library needs were there in strength.Every library except Richmond Hill was there at the time of the roll call.
There was a beautiful flower arrangement on a table. Cheese and crackers and vegetables and dips were artistically arranged by Sue Matheson a library staff member on tables in the Magna Room.
Cake, chocolate and vanilla, and Coffee was served later in the library for the public audience. The cakes were donated by Longo's, as it was last year in the same week.
But at seven o'clock, the Minister had not yet shown.
It turned out, the Mayor and select Councillors were meeting with the Minister in the Church Street Culture Centre.
Now...there could not have been a mistake. The Mayor had previously declared a proclamation for Library Week in Ontario. Invitations were sent out.
But last week, an e-mail from the Mayor's office was circulated asking Councillors, had they received invitations to the library event. One response was circulated from Councillor MacEachern with the simple answer "No"
So the hammer fell again.
The Minister was hijacked from the Formal Opening of Library Week in Ontario to the Culture Centre in Aurora on the same evening at an over-lapping time.
To which event, no doubt an oversight, neither Councillor Collins Mrakas nor myself were invited.
Fortunately none of our guests from other library communities seemed to notice. Ministers are often held up by votes in the house or traffic or a dozen other normal circumstances.
Who would ever guess the Mayor of Aurora would stoop to revenge by sabotaging Grand Opening of Library Week in Ontario, by hijacking the Minister on the way to the forum?
Typical!
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Evelyn:
ReplyDeletePossibly the Minister, whose own government will soon be facing the electorate, felt it advantageous to mingle with Aurora's 'power structure', while it lasts, in order to meet and greet, kiss and shake, some of those whose votes will be solicited when his turn comes.
A fundamental rule, and particularly so in politics, is never break an appointment without at least calling well in advance to apologize with full explanation and in the course of so doing establish another appointment date, possibly for double the time of the first.
No politician who is considered successful, and mormac certainly do not fall into this category, will go out of his or her way to offend any person who might one day render or return a favour.
If I say that I'm not surprised by this, but I am shocked at how ridiculous the whole thing is, am I going to be hunted down by lawyers trying to squeeze some money out of me for having an opinion? (Along the same lines, perhaps if 4 of the GOS HAD an opinion they wouldn't feel the need to sue people that DO have one).
ReplyDeleteI do hope and pray that after this election is over both councillors Collins-Mrakas and McRoberts reveal some truths about how it has been to serve on this council under this regime. Perhaps it would finally squash the delusions of 'functional council" that the mayor continues to insist on.
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