"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

Saturday 21 February 2015

Silence Is Golden

Comments of  Toronto 's. Mayor  and Councillors on thebudget  have been  interesting. Particularly  reference to the impact on taxpayers.

Staff are conspicuous in their absence.

Unlike Aurora. Opening statement on Thev budget  was delivered by  CAO. Neil Garabe

A hundred people  responding to an on- line invitation had it dubbed "Citizens Budget"

The main u request was to spend less on culture.

Manager of Communications  MIchael Kemp noted difficulty interpreting  because programming is provided by the Town and  the Culture Centre. Programs provided  by the town are not money grabbers. Revenues are derived.

Mr. Kemp's difficulty clearly derived from lack  of knowing whereoff he spoke.

Mr Elliott, Chief Financial Officer , was quoted the  "input" proved  "we are on the  right track"

Nary a word was heard from the Mayor or any Aurora  Councllor of  impact on taxpayers .

Never  a dicky bird quoted on  these or any aspect of the town budget.

Like silence on the failure to apply  within deadline for funding available  from the feds for severe winter storm damage from last year .

Mum's  the word on the barn we bought  for half a million dollars from the feds that turns out to have been a pig in a poke.

Structure  and site are contaminated. Cost of remediation unknown.

A comment has informed us the Mayor and two councillors went to Markham to see clear bags collected at the roadside to satisfy themselves the program was viable.

It explains how things were done in the last term. The close knit relationship with staff.
Exclusionary practice towards Council.

It's one way to ensure things get done with least public discussion.

It's just not what we are in the habit of thinking of as participatory democracy.







6 comments:

Anonymous said...


Most people don't participate because they no longer give a damn. They end up getting screwed every-which-way and no one seems prepared to take responsibility.

A budget is the document that spells out how taxpayer money is to be spent. Surely it should be up to the Mayor to deliver the opening statement. The CAO is simply a high-priced bureaucrat.

Participatory democracy only exists when the majority participate and express their opinions by voting.

No vote - unlikely to participate.

Anonymous said...

Maybe Mr Garbe should give the Key-Note speech at the Chamber. He is certainly being the point man with the press.

Anonymous said...

If it were not for the Hydro Funds, I do not think the Mayor would have anything to say. He seem to believe that it is his destiny to spend that nest-egg.
That was not on the ballot......

Anonymous said...

17:50 - well said

Anonymous said...

It's always fun spending other people's money.

Anonymous said...

"Is that whole in your pocket" is Christopher best post.