"Cowardice asks the question...is it safe? Expediency asks the question...is it politic? Vanity asks the question...is it popular? But conscience asks the question...is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because it is right." ~Dr. Martin Luther King

Friday 17 October 2014

The last all-candidates meeting  has been held.  Hosted  by "Sport Aurora"

A substantial audience in attendance to hear  Sport Aurora President Ron Weese made introductory remarks

Mayoralty  candidates had time to speak. Council candidates responded to questions based on positions on sport in Aurora provided by candidates beforehand and distributed at the meeting.

Mr Weese made a couple of surprising references. He said the town has a  three figure deficit in parkland needs and referred to statistics of clinically obese children with a reduced  life span as a consequence.

No opportunity presnted to challenge either statement. One can never be quite sure who might worry about situation like that.

I am not a fan of statistics.

If a murder happened in Aurora in 2014 and none in 2013, statistics could be used to prove one hundred per cent increase in homicide in our community.

If we had none in 2015, statistics could again be used to prove  a hundred ore cent decrease and crime wrestled to a standstill.

The reality would be completely different.

So...even if obesity in  children is endemic....reduced lifespan may not be presumed.

Nor is it easy to make the connection to shortage of park space. Even if that was true.

Mr Weese used a figure of 178 hectares or acres.  Doesn't mater. Neither are accurate.

A Master Recreation Plan is the instrument of measurement to calculate development charges and  it is required by a regulation.

The current plan was completed  by a consultant and presented to Council early last term and
promptly whisked away into obscurity  from whence an edited version emerged twelve months later.

The percentage of parkland required by the plan had never been achieved and wasn't a remote possibility.

The Planning Act permits municipalities to require  a fixed percentage of land for parks to serve development. Acreage available for development therefore determines the amount that can be taken for parks.

The shortfall identified at the time of the Master Recreation Plan adopted five years ago is a fraction of the figure cited by Mr. Weese ,President of Sport Aurora. It was not realistic then and is still not

At the meeting last night the word "transparency "was tossed about will nilly by all and sundry.

How much infirmation is too much when an agency takes authority upon itself  to provide with all solemnity information substantially different from the facts.




10 comments:

Anonymous said...

There were some very strange " facts " floating around at that debate. In our family such events are known as " cultural experiences " in that the facts you pick up are seldom those being presented on a platter.

Anonymous said...

This may go back to a problem that I believe you've (Evelyn) had with the whole idea of Sport Aurora running out of the Town address. (Correct me if I am wrong but I believe they have free office space). I wasn't at last night's meeting and I don't know if you could call it a conflict of interest or "don't bite the hand that feeds you". Sport Aurora as a separate entity has all the right to speak its mind concerning the Town, the current councillors and the possible future councillors. But doesn't it seem that the optics are just not right when they do so when the Town is giving offices rent free. Kind of like the relative living rent free in your house and then being critical of what you do in your house and life. Like I said it's the optics.

It's a question asked perhaps to others but it makes me wonder about Sport Aurora as to why the Aurora Youth Soccer Club and the Aurora Minor Hockey Association (being 2 of the largest youth sports clubs in Aurora) are not members of Sport Aurora. (Any commenters have an idea on that one?)

Anonymous said...

I think Sport Aurora should move their address to another location. As Evelyn pointed out " If you cannot do it for everyone, you do not do it for anyone. "
A different address can still be marked Aurora even if it goes through Newmarket PO now,

Anonymous said...

Thank heavens it was the last debate.
13:22
The entire thing is available on tape in 2 parts & you can take it in small doses. It's even on the Region with a nasty slant. Worth your while to hear the list of wants, needs & give-mes.

Anonymous said...

AYSC and AMHA must feel they have enough clout by their sheer size to not need Sport Aurora. Also, wasn't Sport Aurora organized in the wake of Mr Weese's ouster as president of AYSC? So, AYSC wouldn't be affiliated with Sport Aurora if there is still some acrimony there.

What is the governance model of Sport Aurora? It seems like they've only had one leader - does anyone know if they hold elections?

Anonymous said...

Do they have a constitution ?
Do they have a Code of Conduct ?

Anonymous said...

Who cares if they use the address for mailing purposes only?

Anonymous said...

15:16
Not true

Anonymous said...

I do not know Mr Weese but his #s are wrong when he inferred Aurora had a problem with obesity and were short of park space. It is an election so he can say whatever he wants. He is not running for office.

Anonymous said...

@15:16
We have a post office box. It costs money, we have to drive to collect our mail and staff is not on site to handle our phone calls or to lobby on our behalf.