Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Extreme Contrast":
21:20 Ever think this might be smoke and mirrors.They know about the registered dump site on the moraine, in our Town, but have stayed silent.They want to look like they care about the enviornment.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 20 February 2015 at 11:28
***************************
I am not sure who "they" are. The dump referred to is probably the one closed more than forty years ago.
It was probably opened eighty years ago. Long before there was a Region Planning Department, before geological studies were undertaken and the Oak Fidges Moraine identified. That happened in the seventies.
It took the Province forty years to pass the Oak Ridges Moraine Act, a long and arduous process . Not made easier at the end by the nincompoopery brigade who arrived at the end and leaped nimbly on to the bandwagon.
They claimed discovery of the moraine for themselves like they had just climbed Mount Everest
and planted a flag.
Ever since they have been claiming beautitude status as opposed to all the other villains who keep silent about a dump closed for years and constantly monitored.
Toronto's garbage is being trucked to London.. A daily cavalcade of diesel trucks trundle down the 401 spewing out black exhaust from tiny chimney's with asshat lids above the drivers' heads contributing mightily to the grey pall of pollution that hovers over the city and creeps ever further north into York Region.
It can be seen resting like a blanket over entire the metropolis.iT used to be just over the highways.Yet no-one complains
Regions of York and Durham have invested mega millions in an incinerator to burn garbage produced by the denizens of the north.
Now proposed are see through garbage bags to prevent undesirable waste from reaching the incinerator. IF it does, the private company contracted to operate,the public facility can refuse to accept it.
We don't know if that has happened.
It has not been reported.
All we know is that from reporting initial phenomenal success of garbage separation and the green bin program ,we are suddenly advised of the need to examine the contents of garbage bags.
It looks to me like we have reached the tipping point.
The program requires public co-operation
By my reading, that is not going to happen.
The natives are restless ,Bwana
Friday, 20 February 2015
Wednesday, 18 February 2015
Extreme Contrast
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Meandering Down Memory Lane":
We have to house them and others of their ilk because we not longer have the death penalty. And we no longer have the death penalty because so many mistakes were made in the past that resulted in innocent deaths . It is a circuitous argument but we really do have to continue to warehouse our monsters.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 17 February 2015 at 15:38
*************************
It's a long time since I was an immigrant. Brits then had voting rights from moment of entry.
Citizenship was a simple matter of application for a Brit. On the other hand, certain qualifications for landed immigrant status applied
Good health and character were a requirement. A criminal record would automatically negate an application.
A significant change occurred in the Trudeau years. Brits had to go through the same process for citizenship as people from outside the Commonwealth.
I recall,maybe forty years ago, a news account of a man being deported to Britain. He was brought to Canada as an infant. The story involved a finding of guilt in a criminal offence.He had no ties to the U.K. and was desperate to stay in the only place he had ever known as home but he was not a citizen and back he went.
It wasn't the worst fate. Many Canadians opted to stay in the U.K. after the war. As British subjects they had the right to vote and live and work in the U.K. Just as Brits had in various Commonwealth Member countries.
A number of years ago a fellow named Enoch Powell picked up a lot of public support for change.
Last time I was at London Airport, I felt like a stranger.
I have wondered about records of criminality in places with vastly different values reflected in their laws and sentiment and culture.
How easy can it be to determine acceptability,as a landed immigrant to Canada? What would differentiate individuals who wanted to escape barbaric medieval practice and prejudice for a better life for their children from those determined to maintain the oppression in Canada, outside the laws of Canada?
How well does a national policy of multi-culturism serve Canada?
At the week-end, Stephanie and a friend went swimming in a Richmond Hill aquatic facility.
A family, mother, father and children were enjoying the pool. Father and kids wearing regular swimwear. Mother wearing a Burka in the pool.
Stephanie's friend, third generation removed from myself, had an immediate and strong negative reaction that surprised both.
Although the battle for women's rights was before her time, Stephanie's friend was suddenly concious of how hard it had been.
So well accustomed is she to visible minorities, minorities are no longer visible.
Until the incongruous sight of a woman in a swimming pool hiding behind a garment designed for the purpose.
We have to house them and others of their ilk because we not longer have the death penalty. And we no longer have the death penalty because so many mistakes were made in the past that resulted in innocent deaths . It is a circuitous argument but we really do have to continue to warehouse our monsters.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 17 February 2015 at 15:38
*************************
It's a long time since I was an immigrant. Brits then had voting rights from moment of entry.
Citizenship was a simple matter of application for a Brit. On the other hand, certain qualifications for landed immigrant status applied
Good health and character were a requirement. A criminal record would automatically negate an application.
A significant change occurred in the Trudeau years. Brits had to go through the same process for citizenship as people from outside the Commonwealth.
I recall,maybe forty years ago, a news account of a man being deported to Britain. He was brought to Canada as an infant. The story involved a finding of guilt in a criminal offence.He had no ties to the U.K. and was desperate to stay in the only place he had ever known as home but he was not a citizen and back he went.
It wasn't the worst fate. Many Canadians opted to stay in the U.K. after the war. As British subjects they had the right to vote and live and work in the U.K. Just as Brits had in various Commonwealth Member countries.
A number of years ago a fellow named Enoch Powell picked up a lot of public support for change.
Last time I was at London Airport, I felt like a stranger.
I have wondered about records of criminality in places with vastly different values reflected in their laws and sentiment and culture.
How easy can it be to determine acceptability,as a landed immigrant to Canada? What would differentiate individuals who wanted to escape barbaric medieval practice and prejudice for a better life for their children from those determined to maintain the oppression in Canada, outside the laws of Canada?
How well does a national policy of multi-culturism serve Canada?
At the week-end, Stephanie and a friend went swimming in a Richmond Hill aquatic facility.
A family, mother, father and children were enjoying the pool. Father and kids wearing regular swimwear. Mother wearing a Burka in the pool.
Stephanie's friend, third generation removed from myself, had an immediate and strong negative reaction that surprised both.
Although the battle for women's rights was before her time, Stephanie's friend was suddenly concious of how hard it had been.
So well accustomed is she to visible minorities, minorities are no longer visible.
Until the incongruous sight of a woman in a swimming pool hiding behind a garment designed for the purpose.
WE ARE ALL BLESSED
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Meandering Down Memory Lane":
"Does the Oath of Allegiance required for Citizenship mean something or nothing?" It did for my parents when they immigrated here in 1964. Where bunnies at Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving even some Christmas customs were all a little odd, but embraced happily. One of their happiest memories was the day they became citizens. They remember what they wore and that it was a beautiful sunny spring day. They had their picture taken that day and it has been in a frame on a wall ever since.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 18 February 2015 at 09:22
"Does the Oath of Allegiance required for Citizenship mean something or nothing?" It did for my parents when they immigrated here in 1964. Where bunnies at Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving even some Christmas customs were all a little odd, but embraced happily. One of their happiest memories was the day they became citizens. They remember what they wore and that it was a beautiful sunny spring day. They had their picture taken that day and it has been in a frame on a wall ever since.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 18 February 2015 at 09:22
Tuesday, 17 February 2015
Meandering Down Memory Lane
The Ten Commandments:1
Thou shalt love the Lord,Thy God withThy whole heart and thy whole soul.; thou shalt not worship false gods
Thou shalt keep the sabbath holy
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself .
Honour thy father and thy mother.
Thou shalt not steal.
Thou shalt not kill.
Thou shalt not commit adultery,
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour
Thy shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's goods.
To my recollection that's how I learned them all those years ago. I can't answer for the text. It was being taught to five year olds.
Religion was first lesson of the day from first day of school, It wasn't read of course..
It was learned by repetition. As time went by meaning was expanded.
By the age of seven and "use of reason " ,ability to discern good and evil, was assumed and therefore capability of SIN was established. Sacraments of Penance and Communion became the practice.
The sacraments and tenets of our religion, Faith Hope and Charity were known to us.
I got on to this tack wondering why any religion would have rules to make women invisible ?
I read something in a missal (prayer book) once that wasn't taught in class. Giving birth was
walking through the valley of death and women's punishment for original sin. Eve made
Adam eat the Apple.
That was the biggie that got the pair of them cast out of the Garden of Eden.
Well ye know ...Much can be said that can also be left unsaid.
Despite what is said, we can reasonably contend the Ten Commandments are the principles of common law, the basic principle of civil law in the U.K., Canada and United States of America and for all intents and purposes, any Christian Society.
It means common understanding of law and order in western and some eastern society is based on Christian principles.
As noted in a comment, four people are in Canadian prisons for murdering four female family members according to their understanding of rules to live by.
They are being housed at a cost of a million dollars a year or thereabouts to Canadian taxpayers.
Does the Oath of Allegiance required for Citizenship mean something or nothing?
Thou shalt not commit adultery
Thou shalt not bear false witness agajnst they neighbour.
Thou shalt not covet they neighbour's wife
Thou shalt not covet they neighbour's goods.
To the best of my recollection , the Ten Commandments were the first lesson in region Al those many years ago.
Thou shalt love the Lord,Thy God withThy whole heart and thy whole soul.; thou shalt not worship false gods
Thou shalt keep the sabbath holy
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself .
Honour thy father and thy mother.
Thou shalt not steal.
Thou shalt not kill.
Thou shalt not commit adultery,
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour
Thy shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's goods.
To my recollection that's how I learned them all those years ago. I can't answer for the text. It was being taught to five year olds.
Religion was first lesson of the day from first day of school, It wasn't read of course..
It was learned by repetition. As time went by meaning was expanded.
By the age of seven and "use of reason " ,ability to discern good and evil, was assumed and therefore capability of SIN was established. Sacraments of Penance and Communion became the practice.
The sacraments and tenets of our religion, Faith Hope and Charity were known to us.
I got on to this tack wondering why any religion would have rules to make women invisible ?
I read something in a missal (prayer book) once that wasn't taught in class. Giving birth was
walking through the valley of death and women's punishment for original sin. Eve made
Adam eat the Apple.
That was the biggie that got the pair of them cast out of the Garden of Eden.
Well ye know ...Much can be said that can also be left unsaid.
Despite what is said, we can reasonably contend the Ten Commandments are the principles of common law, the basic principle of civil law in the U.K., Canada and United States of America and for all intents and purposes, any Christian Society.
It means common understanding of law and order in western and some eastern society is based on Christian principles.
As noted in a comment, four people are in Canadian prisons for murdering four female family members according to their understanding of rules to live by.
They are being housed at a cost of a million dollars a year or thereabouts to Canadian taxpayers.
Does the Oath of Allegiance required for Citizenship mean something or nothing?
Thou shalt not commit adultery
Thou shalt not bear false witness agajnst they neighbour.
Thou shalt not covet they neighbour's wife
Thou shalt not covet they neighbour's goods.
To the best of my recollection , the Ten Commandments were the first lesson in region Al those many years ago.
Monday, 16 February 2015
"Aye ..there's the rub ". "This conscience doth make cowards off" us all"
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Canada Deserves Better":
Canada does deserve better...unfortunately only one third of the people believe that.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 15 February 2015 at 13:55
*************************************Y
Aye. There 's the rub.
Canadian politics have been functioning on pure artifice for several decades now.
Since Paul Martin was left with the sponsorship scandals and paid the ultimate penalty.
Or since the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was taken over by the religious right -wing
from Alberta.
Maybe further back to P.E.Trudeau. We gazed at our navels and debated ad nauseum whether Canadian Culture existed.
The leaders decided not and in the race to win immigrant votes promptly declared open sesame and
a multi-culture society.
Country Canada surrendered without a single shot being fired.
All the cultures of the world rushed in to fill the void created by our leaders to accommodate them.
Candidates were no longer nominated from the grass roots. They were parachuted in and appointed by party big-wigs to ensure the visibility of the highly visible.
There were other changes as well. Women and girls were murdered by male family members; husbands, fathers,brothers.cousins.
Bombs were planted in planes leaving Vancouver airport. Hundreds of travellers returning to visit
families were blown to pieces and scattered into oblivion.Nothing but a baby shoe or a favourite little
doll or blanky left to identify the victims.
Men wearing turbans were prosecuted in Canadian courts.
A former cabinet minister was brought back from a patronage post in Italy to face the music for the sponsorship scandals.
A Mayor of London Ontario, refused to resign is office despite evidence he paid for his son's wedding with a government cheque drawn against the department he headed as Minister of the
Crown.
More recently still a woman and girl child were spotted in a news clip going to a service for the mother and two sons viciously murdered by a violent husband. He was out of jail on bail despite
being in jail for brutal assault of his wife.
The victim was an exceptional human being who obtained two degrees while nurturing two sons despite living in appalling circumstance.
The mother and daughter clambering over snow piles to honor the victim were wearing great clumsy Canadian winter boots with straps flapping and puffy winter jackets over long cloaround their ankles
and heads wrapped in fabric.
The interviewee a Muslim spokesperson vowed murder was not what Muslim faith is about.
If it's not ,why does it happen regularly ? Why do Muslim women and little girls wrap themselves
from head to foot in cloth and cover ghemselves with tent-like garments when they are out and about.
Three murdered young girls and a young aunt were found in a car submerged in a lock near Peterborough. They wanted to wear western clothing. Their father and brother are in jail for their murder .
How many more Muslim women and girls will be murdered before it becomes the norm in our culture?
How much corruption does it take for a country's culture to be corrupted?
Canada does deserve better...unfortunately only one third of the people believe that.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 15 February 2015 at 13:55
*************************************Y
Aye. There 's the rub.
Canadian politics have been functioning on pure artifice for several decades now.
Since Paul Martin was left with the sponsorship scandals and paid the ultimate penalty.
Or since the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was taken over by the religious right -wing
from Alberta.
Maybe further back to P.E.Trudeau. We gazed at our navels and debated ad nauseum whether Canadian Culture existed.
The leaders decided not and in the race to win immigrant votes promptly declared open sesame and
a multi-culture society.
Country Canada surrendered without a single shot being fired.
All the cultures of the world rushed in to fill the void created by our leaders to accommodate them.
Candidates were no longer nominated from the grass roots. They were parachuted in and appointed by party big-wigs to ensure the visibility of the highly visible.
There were other changes as well. Women and girls were murdered by male family members; husbands, fathers,brothers.cousins.
Bombs were planted in planes leaving Vancouver airport. Hundreds of travellers returning to visit
families were blown to pieces and scattered into oblivion.Nothing but a baby shoe or a favourite little
doll or blanky left to identify the victims.
Men wearing turbans were prosecuted in Canadian courts.
A former cabinet minister was brought back from a patronage post in Italy to face the music for the sponsorship scandals.
A Mayor of London Ontario, refused to resign is office despite evidence he paid for his son's wedding with a government cheque drawn against the department he headed as Minister of the
Crown.
More recently still a woman and girl child were spotted in a news clip going to a service for the mother and two sons viciously murdered by a violent husband. He was out of jail on bail despite
being in jail for brutal assault of his wife.
The victim was an exceptional human being who obtained two degrees while nurturing two sons despite living in appalling circumstance.
The mother and daughter clambering over snow piles to honor the victim were wearing great clumsy Canadian winter boots with straps flapping and puffy winter jackets over long cloaround their ankles
and heads wrapped in fabric.
The interviewee a Muslim spokesperson vowed murder was not what Muslim faith is about.
If it's not ,why does it happen regularly ? Why do Muslim women and little girls wrap themselves
from head to foot in cloth and cover ghemselves with tent-like garments when they are out and about.
Three murdered young girls and a young aunt were found in a car submerged in a lock near Peterborough. They wanted to wear western clothing. Their father and brother are in jail for their murder .
How many more Muslim women and girls will be murdered before it becomes the norm in our culture?
How much corruption does it take for a country's culture to be corrupted?
Sunday, 15 February 2015
Guest Post
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Canada Deserves Better":
Sometimes one simply shouldn't check the Canadian news on-line.
Let's begin with a story in both the Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail, from Andy Blatchford of The Canadian Press datelined Ottawa, dated February 15.
'OTTAWA SPENT $376,000 TO REPATRIATE MAGNOTTA IN 'NATIONAL INTEREST,' DOCS SHOW.
"The big-ticket military mission to fetch fugitive Luka Rocco Magnotta from Germany in 2012 was ordered by a senior Conservative cabinet minister who considered it a matter of "national interest," The Canadian Press has learned.
In June 2012, the Air Force made a $376,128 decision to dispatch one of its largest aircraft to collect the accused killer in Berlin, where local police had collared him to end an international manhunt that made global headlines.
After Magnotta's conviction, National Defence released more than 1,700 pages of emails documenting the cost of repatriation, the debate over options and the scramble to which him home after he agreed to extradition, lest he change his mind.
The messages, obtained under the Access to Information Act, also offer a rare look behind the curtain at the government's efforts to keep details of the "sensitive" mission out of the public spotlight.
Peter MacKay, defence minister at the time, ordered then-general Walt Natynczyk to lend a hand "as soon as possible" after Montreal police asked for federal help"
I won't quote anymore but would point out that the story mentions other same-model aircraft (CC-150) have been configured to accommodate the prime minister, the Governor General and members of the Royal Family.
There's a lot more information in the CP story so go look for it. Makes me want to puke.
And then The Globe and Mail has an article by Roy MacGregor headed OTTAWA'S TRIBUTE TO THE CANADIAN FLAG IS EMBARRASSING
Today is the 50th anniversary of our flag. Did anyone know that? Did anyone know that the "federal government has allocated a mere $50,000 to celebrate the flag's birthday. That's less than 15% of what WE PAID to bring an ultimately convicted murderer and butcher back from Germany on the say-so of the minister of defence.
You know, it's high time that we had all government documents out in the open so we can have a forensic audit of all its SCREW-UPS. And in the meantime the entire governing party, and especially the Cabinet and its head should spend some solitary time in confinement, prior to their trials for running an humungous PONZI SCHEME with our money
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 15 February 2015 at 22:15
Sometimes one simply shouldn't check the Canadian news on-line.
Let's begin with a story in both the Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail, from Andy Blatchford of The Canadian Press datelined Ottawa, dated February 15.
'OTTAWA SPENT $376,000 TO REPATRIATE MAGNOTTA IN 'NATIONAL INTEREST,' DOCS SHOW.
"The big-ticket military mission to fetch fugitive Luka Rocco Magnotta from Germany in 2012 was ordered by a senior Conservative cabinet minister who considered it a matter of "national interest," The Canadian Press has learned.
In June 2012, the Air Force made a $376,128 decision to dispatch one of its largest aircraft to collect the accused killer in Berlin, where local police had collared him to end an international manhunt that made global headlines.
After Magnotta's conviction, National Defence released more than 1,700 pages of emails documenting the cost of repatriation, the debate over options and the scramble to which him home after he agreed to extradition, lest he change his mind.
The messages, obtained under the Access to Information Act, also offer a rare look behind the curtain at the government's efforts to keep details of the "sensitive" mission out of the public spotlight.
Peter MacKay, defence minister at the time, ordered then-general Walt Natynczyk to lend a hand "as soon as possible" after Montreal police asked for federal help"
I won't quote anymore but would point out that the story mentions other same-model aircraft (CC-150) have been configured to accommodate the prime minister, the Governor General and members of the Royal Family.
There's a lot more information in the CP story so go look for it. Makes me want to puke.
And then The Globe and Mail has an article by Roy MacGregor headed OTTAWA'S TRIBUTE TO THE CANADIAN FLAG IS EMBARRASSING
Today is the 50th anniversary of our flag. Did anyone know that? Did anyone know that the "federal government has allocated a mere $50,000 to celebrate the flag's birthday. That's less than 15% of what WE PAID to bring an ultimately convicted murderer and butcher back from Germany on the say-so of the minister of defence.
You know, it's high time that we had all government documents out in the open so we can have a forensic audit of all its SCREW-UPS. And in the meantime the entire governing party, and especially the Cabinet and its head should spend some solitary time in confinement, prior to their trials for running an humungous PONZI SCHEME with our money
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 15 February 2015 at 22:15
Canada Deserves Better
Twelve comments to the last post. That's not bad for a small circle on a freezing cold Saturday night.
The one that discounted the rumour came from Ottawa. It claimed to know for sure Mrs. Harper is not living in Chateau Laurier because of walking past the hotel every morning and never seeing the lady.
Several people didn't care as long as the arrangement wasn't costing tax dollars.
No surprise noted. Considering my reaction, that seemed odd. I think we may take it the rumour had spread farther afield than the Capital. The chances the PMO was not aware of the chatter are remote.
Modern politicians do tend to showcase families. What action might have been expected from the PMO when the rumour became extant For most people and for some time previous, there's nothing extraordinary about a marriage ending and a new relationship.
In politics it's an occupational hazard.
So, no reason to pretend it hadn't happened and that could be the argument to prove it didn't.
On the other hand, rumours are like wild fire. If it isn't put out it spreads until it finally it reaches sleepy little hollows like Aurora.
A dignified public statement one way or t'other was called for.
But that's not the style of this PMO. Last week we learned from a local editorial of a media photographer being handcuffed for shouting a question at the Prime Minister against the rules of engagement laid down by PMO POWA!!!!!!!!
That degree of control suggests things the common people are not entitled to know.
I remember a night during the FLQ crisis. Hundreds of Quebecers were taken into custody.
Prime Minister Trudeau was asked if he was prepared to proclaim the War Measures Act.
He said without cracking a smile. " Just watch me "
The media made Pierre Elliott Trudeau into something he was not. Then expected to share the giddy romance of it. When he made it clear he did not appreciate their presence in every aspect of his life the relationship turned sour.Oh Yes. Dear MeYes . It was a bitter ending.
But I digress .
I think,whether or not the Prime Minister's marriage to Fair Laureen is over is not a matter of national significance. Details are not ours to know.
But rumour is unseemly.
Blowing smoke to deflect attention does the opposite.
Skulking around the country, popping up in unexpected places, handcuffing media and dictating the message inspires neither trust nor confidence.
It generates foreboding.
It is reminiscent of a form of government opposite to democracy; fascism .
The one that discounted the rumour came from Ottawa. It claimed to know for sure Mrs. Harper is not living in Chateau Laurier because of walking past the hotel every morning and never seeing the lady.
Several people didn't care as long as the arrangement wasn't costing tax dollars.
No surprise noted. Considering my reaction, that seemed odd. I think we may take it the rumour had spread farther afield than the Capital. The chances the PMO was not aware of the chatter are remote.
Modern politicians do tend to showcase families. What action might have been expected from the PMO when the rumour became extant For most people and for some time previous, there's nothing extraordinary about a marriage ending and a new relationship.
In politics it's an occupational hazard.
So, no reason to pretend it hadn't happened and that could be the argument to prove it didn't.
On the other hand, rumours are like wild fire. If it isn't put out it spreads until it finally it reaches sleepy little hollows like Aurora.
A dignified public statement one way or t'other was called for.
But that's not the style of this PMO. Last week we learned from a local editorial of a media photographer being handcuffed for shouting a question at the Prime Minister against the rules of engagement laid down by PMO POWA!!!!!!!!
That degree of control suggests things the common people are not entitled to know.
I remember a night during the FLQ crisis. Hundreds of Quebecers were taken into custody.
Prime Minister Trudeau was asked if he was prepared to proclaim the War Measures Act.
He said without cracking a smile. " Just watch me "
The media made Pierre Elliott Trudeau into something he was not. Then expected to share the giddy romance of it. When he made it clear he did not appreciate their presence in every aspect of his life the relationship turned sour.Oh Yes. Dear MeYes . It was a bitter ending.
But I digress .
I think,whether or not the Prime Minister's marriage to Fair Laureen is over is not a matter of national significance. Details are not ours to know.
But rumour is unseemly.
Blowing smoke to deflect attention does the opposite.
Skulking around the country, popping up in unexpected places, handcuffing media and dictating the message inspires neither trust nor confidence.
It generates foreboding.
It is reminiscent of a form of government opposite to democracy; fascism .
Saturday, 14 February 2015
At Least The Message Should Be Straight
When Robyn casually mentioned Mrs Harper is in a lesbian relationship, I was stunned.
Robyn ,in her early twenties ,was not engaging in salacious gossip. Homosexuality is not an issue to her generation The Honorable Kathleen Wynn's relationship is most prominent
The Blog had received a comment the Harpers are not to-gether.Not sure I published it.
On Friday I read a Globe editorial recommended in another comment.
A news story about Oregon Governor Kitzhaber having to resign because of questionable financial dealings by his fiancee caught my attention.,He will be replaced by Kate Brown,currently Oregon Secretary of State . The story noted Ms Brown will be the first openly bi-sexual Governor ever in the History of America. None have been elected to office.
The bi-sexuality bit seemed oddly irrelevant but it was included in The Globe story.
I called Robyn this morning to ask how she came by the Harper story. She couldn't remember.
So I went to Wikipedia and asked the question point blank.
The Greeks had The Oracle .We have Wikipedia.
Apparently in 2010. a story was submitted by Norman Spektor to the Globe about the Prime Minister
and his wife being together for an hour long Christmas interview with Lloyd Robertson and Robert Fife while they are understood to be livimg apart. It was entitled Lost Opportunity.
The story was pulled by The Globe and Mail.Then published on Spektator's Report from whence it sallied over to The Reeves Report a political and environmental web site
So..now you know what I know.
Apparently the rumour has been out there since before the last election that Ms Harper lives at Chateau Laurier and is in a relationship with a female R.C.M.P. Officer.
The Globe and Mail is a Canadian newspaper with gravitas
They could logically argue right to privacy for public figures.
But y'know, I think there really needs to be consistency.
If it's O.K. to refer to the sexual proclivity of an American Governor why is it not O.K. for a Canadian public figure
And in this enlightened age why should it be hidden .Isn't that the very opposite of what it's all about
these days?
Robyn ,in her early twenties ,was not engaging in salacious gossip. Homosexuality is not an issue to her generation The Honorable Kathleen Wynn's relationship is most prominent
The Blog had received a comment the Harpers are not to-gether.Not sure I published it.
On Friday I read a Globe editorial recommended in another comment.
A news story about Oregon Governor Kitzhaber having to resign because of questionable financial dealings by his fiancee caught my attention.,He will be replaced by Kate Brown,currently Oregon Secretary of State . The story noted Ms Brown will be the first openly bi-sexual Governor ever in the History of America. None have been elected to office.
The bi-sexuality bit seemed oddly irrelevant but it was included in The Globe story.
I called Robyn this morning to ask how she came by the Harper story. She couldn't remember.
So I went to Wikipedia and asked the question point blank.
The Greeks had The Oracle .We have Wikipedia.
Apparently in 2010. a story was submitted by Norman Spektor to the Globe about the Prime Minister
and his wife being together for an hour long Christmas interview with Lloyd Robertson and Robert Fife while they are understood to be livimg apart. It was entitled Lost Opportunity.
The story was pulled by The Globe and Mail.Then published on Spektator's Report from whence it sallied over to The Reeves Report a political and environmental web site
So..now you know what I know.
Apparently the rumour has been out there since before the last election that Ms Harper lives at Chateau Laurier and is in a relationship with a female R.C.M.P. Officer.
The Globe and Mail is a Canadian newspaper with gravitas
They could logically argue right to privacy for public figures.
But y'know, I think there really needs to be consistency.
If it's O.K. to refer to the sexual proclivity of an American Governor why is it not O.K. for a Canadian public figure
And in this enlightened age why should it be hidden .Isn't that the very opposite of what it's all about
these days?
Friday, 13 February 2015
It's Not That Complicated
KA-NON has left a new comment on your post "INCOMPREHENSIBLE INOMPETENCE":
"Poople (sic) bringing in revenue to pay the exorbitant increases in costs of particular government service are shamelessly short-changed"
Evelyn, are you arguing that the (government monopoly) LCBO store managers should be paid more based on their (exclusive) sales amounts, on the premise that their efforts create the funding for other
Social Services.
Posted by KA-NON to Our Town and Its Business at 13 February 2015 at 15:23
*********************
Welcome back Ka-non. I have missed you.
No, I am not making such a convoluted argument.,I am simply saying people who work for the government should be treated fairly by their government.
For purely political advantage. this government and others ,have catered solely and shamelessly to associations with the greatest clout and visibility at the expense of all others.
Public service employees .should be treated equally. They are not.
As a consequence, in certain sectors government is brought into disrepute.
People lose respect for the principle of public integrity.
When that's gone...what's left.
How hard it is to win back? Can it be done?
"Poople (sic) bringing in revenue to pay the exorbitant increases in costs of particular government service are shamelessly short-changed"
Evelyn, are you arguing that the (government monopoly) LCBO store managers should be paid more based on their (exclusive) sales amounts, on the premise that their efforts create the funding for other
Social Services.
Posted by KA-NON to Our Town and Its Business at 13 February 2015 at 15:23
*********************
Welcome back Ka-non. I have missed you.
No, I am not making such a convoluted argument.,I am simply saying people who work for the government should be treated fairly by their government.
For purely political advantage. this government and others ,have catered solely and shamelessly to associations with the greatest clout and visibility at the expense of all others.
Public service employees .should be treated equally. They are not.
As a consequence, in certain sectors government is brought into disrepute.
People lose respect for the principle of public integrity.
When that's gone...what's left.
How hard it is to win back? Can it be done?
INCOMPREHENSIBLE INOMPETENCE
Home Care nurses are on strike. They have no contract.
The last three year contract froze salaries for the first two years and gave a. 2.75 % increase in the third year. You can't chisel a contact much cheaper than that.
Directors by contrast were very much more generously compensated.
Two, years without an increase in wages and increase in cost-of -living meant a reduction in
compensation. 2.75% in the third year did not represent catch up let allne keep up.
Recipients of the program are also short changed by reduction in minutes of setvice provided.
The program allows people in need of care to receive it at home. It saves the government billions of dollars in institutional care and is a hundred times more preferable .
But the sick,and the elderly are not visible in their homes. Hardly a dot on the radar screen.
Liquor Control Board preovides the government with billions of dollars annually to finance hospital and other services. The government says how much they need. And that's what they get.
Store managers wages have been frozen for six years. They are worse off to-day than six years ago..
Liberals have been in charge all that time.
Hospital Directors, Education Directors, Policce, Firefighters and sundry others are the new millionaires of our society.
While their compensation takes gigantic is tribes. Less and less is available for social housing, home care for sick and elderly.
People bringing in revenue to pay exorbitant increases in costs of particular government service
are shamelessly short-changed in compensation.
One might argue it's all about politics. One would not be partially correct.
It is all about a lack of political skill coupled with a total lack of leadership.
It's the difference between then and now.
The last three year contract froze salaries for the first two years and gave a. 2.75 % increase in the third year. You can't chisel a contact much cheaper than that.
Directors by contrast were very much more generously compensated.
Two, years without an increase in wages and increase in cost-of -living meant a reduction in
compensation. 2.75% in the third year did not represent catch up let allne keep up.
Recipients of the program are also short changed by reduction in minutes of setvice provided.
The program allows people in need of care to receive it at home. It saves the government billions of dollars in institutional care and is a hundred times more preferable .
But the sick,and the elderly are not visible in their homes. Hardly a dot on the radar screen.
Liquor Control Board preovides the government with billions of dollars annually to finance hospital and other services. The government says how much they need. And that's what they get.
Store managers wages have been frozen for six years. They are worse off to-day than six years ago..
Liberals have been in charge all that time.
Hospital Directors, Education Directors, Policce, Firefighters and sundry others are the new millionaires of our society.
While their compensation takes gigantic is tribes. Less and less is available for social housing, home care for sick and elderly.
People bringing in revenue to pay exorbitant increases in costs of particular government service
are shamelessly short-changed in compensation.
One might argue it's all about politics. One would not be partially correct.
It is all about a lack of political skill coupled with a total lack of leadership.
It's the difference between then and now.
A Day Like Any Other...Yet Not
We passed through Perth three weeks ago on the way to Dwyer Hill. A place outside Richmond which is outside Perth.
Dwyer Hill doesn't have a population figure because it's not so much a place as an area. Our destination was St Claire's Catholic Church in Dwyer Hill, congregation between sixty- five and seventy families.
On that day, it seemed everyone was present to celebrate the life of Tom Brown who was born and raised among them.
Tom was married to Susan my neice and father to Cindy and Kristopher .
Susan and Tom had been together for twenty years. She waited a long time to find the right man.
Their lives were recently blessed with Zoe,a six month old carbon copy of her mother Cindy.
Tom was re-living the joy of daily life with Zoe and her mother.
Then suddenly he was gone.
No warning. No goodbye. He sat down at table to enjoy a coffee and never had the first swallow.
The church that day was full of light. Statues of all the familiar saints were in situ. Plus one other.
St Patrick was larger than all the rest, clad in full bishop regalia complete with Staff.
Stations of the Cross were framed pictures on the walls. Affluence was conspicuous in its absence.
The parish priest was not far short of retirement.. I often think it must be hard to think of something original to comfort each grieving family after thirty or fortty years in the business.
He told of going to the funeral of a friend's son, younger than Tom who died after a long and terrible battle. He needed fresh inspiration and to hear how another priest might find the words .
He came up with an image of Tom arriving at the Gate, being asked for documentation to prove right of entry, producing his Certificate of Baptism and being ushered right on through.
I am paraphrasing.
My children ,Sue's cousins ,were present and three grandchildren,none of them children. We occupied a pew and dared not meet each other's eyes.
We had a good visit in the parish hall.
With tears streaming, Sue took the stage and raised her arm in a toast (in single malt) "to Tom, a
Hell of a Lover "
The women of the parish spread a nice table. The brownies had just the right moistness with
walnuts. Date squares, lemon slices, lemon loaf and banana loaf were all to hand
Andy brought a supply of single malt for anyone who felt the need. We drank it in a single swallow
out of small paper butter cups. We hugged and talked and shared the moment and when all was said, left for the long drive home , feeling glad to have been in Dwyer Hill on that wintry Saturday afternoon.
We drove back as we went on Highway 7.
Andy and Heaher seldom out of sight in their vehicle.
Theresa driving mine.
Stephanie in the back seat exchanging texts with Heather and Robin.
The brothers took the 401. We were home first.
Dwyer Hill doesn't have a population figure because it's not so much a place as an area. Our destination was St Claire's Catholic Church in Dwyer Hill, congregation between sixty- five and seventy families.
On that day, it seemed everyone was present to celebrate the life of Tom Brown who was born and raised among them.
Tom was married to Susan my neice and father to Cindy and Kristopher .
Susan and Tom had been together for twenty years. She waited a long time to find the right man.
Their lives were recently blessed with Zoe,a six month old carbon copy of her mother Cindy.
Tom was re-living the joy of daily life with Zoe and her mother.
Then suddenly he was gone.
No warning. No goodbye. He sat down at table to enjoy a coffee and never had the first swallow.
The church that day was full of light. Statues of all the familiar saints were in situ. Plus one other.
St Patrick was larger than all the rest, clad in full bishop regalia complete with Staff.
Stations of the Cross were framed pictures on the walls. Affluence was conspicuous in its absence.
The parish priest was not far short of retirement.. I often think it must be hard to think of something original to comfort each grieving family after thirty or fortty years in the business.
He told of going to the funeral of a friend's son, younger than Tom who died after a long and terrible battle. He needed fresh inspiration and to hear how another priest might find the words .
He came up with an image of Tom arriving at the Gate, being asked for documentation to prove right of entry, producing his Certificate of Baptism and being ushered right on through.
I am paraphrasing.
My children ,Sue's cousins ,were present and three grandchildren,none of them children. We occupied a pew and dared not meet each other's eyes.
We had a good visit in the parish hall.
With tears streaming, Sue took the stage and raised her arm in a toast (in single malt) "to Tom, a
Hell of a Lover "
The women of the parish spread a nice table. The brownies had just the right moistness with
walnuts. Date squares, lemon slices, lemon loaf and banana loaf were all to hand
Andy brought a supply of single malt for anyone who felt the need. We drank it in a single swallow
out of small paper butter cups. We hugged and talked and shared the moment and when all was said, left for the long drive home , feeling glad to have been in Dwyer Hill on that wintry Saturday afternoon.
We drove back as we went on Highway 7.
Andy and Heaher seldom out of sight in their vehicle.
Theresa driving mine.
Stephanie in the back seat exchanging texts with Heather and Robin.
The brothers took the 401. We were home first.
Thursday, 12 February 2015
Guest Post
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "So Many Questions ..So Few Answers":
Money and wealth never hurt anyone seeking elected office. I'm not sure if we have a ceiling on what an individual candidate can spend in his/her riding. Nor am I sure if there is a limit on what political parties can spend.
Until recently there were certain limits in the Unites States but these were struck down by the Supreme Court.
According to a September, 2012, article in the New York Times, Barak Obama and the Democratic Party raised $1072.6 and spent $985.7, both million of dollars. The opponent Republican candidate and party raised $992.5 and apparently spent it all.
Successful New York three-time mayor Michael Bloomberg spent over $100 million in his last campaign, Senatorial candidates in the U.S. have spent many multiple millions of dollars seeking an election victory - California seems like a popular state for these people.
What does this tell us? Money talks and it talks BIG.
In a speech in the House of Commons Winston Churchill said: "Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all those others forms that have been tried from time to time."
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 12 February 2015 at 14:06
Money and wealth never hurt anyone seeking elected office. I'm not sure if we have a ceiling on what an individual candidate can spend in his/her riding. Nor am I sure if there is a limit on what political parties can spend.
Until recently there were certain limits in the Unites States but these were struck down by the Supreme Court.
According to a September, 2012, article in the New York Times, Barak Obama and the Democratic Party raised $1072.6 and spent $985.7, both million of dollars. The opponent Republican candidate and party raised $992.5 and apparently spent it all.
Successful New York three-time mayor Michael Bloomberg spent over $100 million in his last campaign, Senatorial candidates in the U.S. have spent many multiple millions of dollars seeking an election victory - California seems like a popular state for these people.
What does this tell us? Money talks and it talks BIG.
In a speech in the House of Commons Winston Churchill said: "Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all those others forms that have been tried from time to time."
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 12 February 2015 at 14:06
So Many Questions ..So Few Answers
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The Horns Of A Dilemma":
22:22
Maybe not. If they just let the system run its course, Adams will be unable to find a riding & everyone will move on to the next mess. It is not as if Harper were running a clean ship with his most recent cabinet shuffle. He has his hands full too.
*******************************
Since when have the main party leaders allowed the system to run its course
Not since it was decided more women and ethnic groups had. to be represented in places of power and authority.
How is that accomplished ?
What did Justin Trudeau trade?
Well, you know ...in politics...nudge nudge,wink,wink.
I went into Wikipedia yesterday to check status of Senators Duffy and Wallen.
Senator Wallen earned $1million in stock options through being appointed to a number of boards after being appointed to the Senate.
Senator Hab ,also caught up in the expense scandal ,retired and
took up his Senate pension of $122, 000 a year.
It made me think of something read when Belinda was a candidate for leadership of the Reform Party after it swallowed up the Conservative Party. kind of like The Tea Party and
The Republican Party in the States .
Two former Conservative Premiers of Ontario were Board members of Magna I. They supported Belinda's bid though as far as anyone knew, the candidate had no experience whatsoever in politics.
What do we know of what it costs to become Leader of a political party.?
Are there limits to spending? Do financial statements have to be filed with an elections officer? Where does the money come from?
What do we know of nomination to be candidate of a riding. Of course it helps if no-one else wants it. Then it's a slam dunk.
But can it be bought? If a candidate can pay for memberships to be given away and they represent votes ,does that mean a nomination can be bought and sold.
It's not how things used to be. In fact a candidate buying and giving away memberships to acquire votes would have been a scandal at one time. Now it seems to be an accepted practice.
As innocent as selling Girl Guide cookies.
So, if a candidate can buy nomination in a safe Conservative or Liberal seat and has sufficient
resources to do the same in a leadership contes
Is it conceivable a person or group could buy their way into the Prime Minister's office?
If a Prime Minister can arrange campaign style events ,here, there and everywhere on some pretext or other when an election has not yet been called...is that taking unfair advantage?
If the youth vote of a Party can choose a Leader who might become Prime Minister and do what
Justin Trudeau did on Monday morning.
Just how well does this system serve ?
Eve Adam's partner was a high placed operative in the Conservative party. Could he use insider information to undermine the Conservative candidate in the riding of their choice.
22:22
Maybe not. If they just let the system run its course, Adams will be unable to find a riding & everyone will move on to the next mess. It is not as if Harper were running a clean ship with his most recent cabinet shuffle. He has his hands full too.
*******************************
Since when have the main party leaders allowed the system to run its course
Not since it was decided more women and ethnic groups had. to be represented in places of power and authority.
How is that accomplished ?
What did Justin Trudeau trade?
Well, you know ...in politics...nudge nudge,wink,wink.
I went into Wikipedia yesterday to check status of Senators Duffy and Wallen.
Senator Wallen earned $1million in stock options through being appointed to a number of boards after being appointed to the Senate.
Senator Hab ,also caught up in the expense scandal ,retired and
took up his Senate pension of $122, 000 a year.
It made me think of something read when Belinda was a candidate for leadership of the Reform Party after it swallowed up the Conservative Party. kind of like The Tea Party and
The Republican Party in the States .
Two former Conservative Premiers of Ontario were Board members of Magna I. They supported Belinda's bid though as far as anyone knew, the candidate had no experience whatsoever in politics.
What do we know of what it costs to become Leader of a political party.?
Are there limits to spending? Do financial statements have to be filed with an elections officer? Where does the money come from?
What do we know of nomination to be candidate of a riding. Of course it helps if no-one else wants it. Then it's a slam dunk.
But can it be bought? If a candidate can pay for memberships to be given away and they represent votes ,does that mean a nomination can be bought and sold.
It's not how things used to be. In fact a candidate buying and giving away memberships to acquire votes would have been a scandal at one time. Now it seems to be an accepted practice.
As innocent as selling Girl Guide cookies.
So, if a candidate can buy nomination in a safe Conservative or Liberal seat and has sufficient
resources to do the same in a leadership contes
Is it conceivable a person or group could buy their way into the Prime Minister's office?
If a Prime Minister can arrange campaign style events ,here, there and everywhere on some pretext or other when an election has not yet been called...is that taking unfair advantage?
If the youth vote of a Party can choose a Leader who might become Prime Minister and do what
Justin Trudeau did on Monday morning.
Just how well does this system serve ?
Eve Adam's partner was a high placed operative in the Conservative party. Could he use insider information to undermine the Conservative candidate in the riding of their choice.
Wednesday, 11 February 2015
The Horns Of A Dilemma
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Who Can You Believe .?":
Wow!..Suspended for lying...Now if we can only get that to happen with politicians.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 11 February 2015 at 08:09
***********************
"If you can't say anything nice about a person, don't say anything at all." A homily from childhood
delivered by people not neccessarily being very nice.Teachers and elders and sundry other adults.
It's amazing how the intelligence of children is undervalued. Experts claim children learn more in their first three years of life than all the rest. I believe that's true. They are like sponges. They absorb details.
If they don't understand immediately, they store away for future reference.
I long ago replaced the childhood homily ; if you can't say what you believe to be true, don't say anything at all.
It was like that yesterday. Watching Eve Adams take a seat at a table beside Justin Trudeau and listening to the pair read on cue what they obviously .believed would convince viewers of their superior moral principles was, at one and the same time, nauseating and worrisome.
I did not want to say anything yesterday.
What if they're right. We have seen it before . Enough people willing to swallow bilge in an election and not enough politicians with sufficient integrity to make a difference.
Conservatives or Liberals.
Last week's Auroran carried a photo of a grinning trio of Harper Party Jokers at another table with York Region Police Chief.
They were at YRP headquarters . Text attached indicated the Prime Minister was glad to be in the command centre venue speaking to "lawmakers"
But something was out of sinc. A link was missing .I read the story twice.
The police are not lawmakers, One might reasonably expect the Head Honcho of All Lawmakers in Canada to understand that .
York Region's Police Department is a local institution not Federal.
The Federal Government has a National Security vastly -underutilized facility in Aurora. Why was the Intrepid Englishman Armouries not used for whatever was the occasion?
Who gave permission to use the police headquarters.
When and how did it happen without public awareness?
Were secret meetings held to firm up arrangements?
Finally what was the occasion? Was it just another contrived photo opportunity using local public
resources to conduct a campaign event?
I turned to The Aurora Banner hoping for a clue
There was no picture. No text. Only an editorial.
It seems Harper's Party has been managing the message for some time.
The National Press Gallery have refused to attend press conferences which do not permit journalists to ask questions. One photographer has been taken away and handcuffed for shouting a question to the Prime Minister against the rules.
Number One Son Stephen visited yesterday. We talked about this. He reads the Gobe and Mail.
Told me something I had not heard before about the Prime Minister. He is said to be a right-wing Fundamentalist Christian .
It would explain a lot.
Wow!..Suspended for lying...Now if we can only get that to happen with politicians.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 11 February 2015 at 08:09
***********************
"If you can't say anything nice about a person, don't say anything at all." A homily from childhood
delivered by people not neccessarily being very nice.Teachers and elders and sundry other adults.
It's amazing how the intelligence of children is undervalued. Experts claim children learn more in their first three years of life than all the rest. I believe that's true. They are like sponges. They absorb details.
If they don't understand immediately, they store away for future reference.
I long ago replaced the childhood homily ; if you can't say what you believe to be true, don't say anything at all.
It was like that yesterday. Watching Eve Adams take a seat at a table beside Justin Trudeau and listening to the pair read on cue what they obviously .believed would convince viewers of their superior moral principles was, at one and the same time, nauseating and worrisome.
I did not want to say anything yesterday.
What if they're right. We have seen it before . Enough people willing to swallow bilge in an election and not enough politicians with sufficient integrity to make a difference.
Conservatives or Liberals.
Last week's Auroran carried a photo of a grinning trio of Harper Party Jokers at another table with York Region Police Chief.
They were at YRP headquarters . Text attached indicated the Prime Minister was glad to be in the command centre venue speaking to "lawmakers"
But something was out of sinc. A link was missing .I read the story twice.
The police are not lawmakers, One might reasonably expect the Head Honcho of All Lawmakers in Canada to understand that .
York Region's Police Department is a local institution not Federal.
The Federal Government has a National Security vastly -underutilized facility in Aurora. Why was the Intrepid Englishman Armouries not used for whatever was the occasion?
Who gave permission to use the police headquarters.
When and how did it happen without public awareness?
Were secret meetings held to firm up arrangements?
Finally what was the occasion? Was it just another contrived photo opportunity using local public
resources to conduct a campaign event?
I turned to The Aurora Banner hoping for a clue
There was no picture. No text. Only an editorial.
It seems Harper's Party has been managing the message for some time.
The National Press Gallery have refused to attend press conferences which do not permit journalists to ask questions. One photographer has been taken away and handcuffed for shouting a question to the Prime Minister against the rules.
Number One Son Stephen visited yesterday. We talked about this. He reads the Gobe and Mail.
Told me something I had not heard before about the Prime Minister. He is said to be a right-wing Fundamentalist Christian .
It would explain a lot.
Monday, 9 February 2015
Something Nice And Heartwarming
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Who Can You Believe .?":
Good Samaritans do exist, right today and here in Aurora.
I had pulled over in front of the old post office building where there are two mailboxes that still work.
The snow plows had done a good job and the snow was well over two feet up onto the sidewalk.
I took a couple of runs at clearing the obstacle but each time slid back to the street.
Suddenly there were three or four honks and I looked back to see a pick-up truck with a plow mounted in the front.
A tall young man jumped out of the truck and asked if I was trying to mail some letters at the mail box? I said yes. He took them and jumped easily over the snow and banged them into the mailbox.
I thanked him very much.
His parting words: "Some day the person needing help is going to be me and I hope that someone like myself comes along."
We shook hands and off he went.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 9 February 2015 at 14:22
Good Samaritans do exist, right today and here in Aurora.
I had pulled over in front of the old post office building where there are two mailboxes that still work.
The snow plows had done a good job and the snow was well over two feet up onto the sidewalk.
I took a couple of runs at clearing the obstacle but each time slid back to the street.
Suddenly there were three or four honks and I looked back to see a pick-up truck with a plow mounted in the front.
A tall young man jumped out of the truck and asked if I was trying to mail some letters at the mail box? I said yes. He took them and jumped easily over the snow and banged them into the mailbox.
I thanked him very much.
His parting words: "Some day the person needing help is going to be me and I hope that someone like myself comes along."
We shook hands and off he went.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 9 February 2015 at 14:22
Sunday, 8 February 2015
Who Can You Believe .?
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The View Is A Bit Scrambled":
Your blog is making me dizzy.
Perhaps you could take a couple of days off and catch up on all the television you must be missing.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 7 February 2015 at
**************************
If the blog makes you dizzy that calls for a decision in your own interest.
I watch the TV channel that gives news headlines. Then I decide what to follow.
I think those who heard Brian Williams tell a story on late night comedy about being on a helicopter hit by a missile might have guessed it was a tall tale.
To-night, I heard an instructor of journalism at Scarborough U of T. solemnly state on CP 24 how serious for society if people could no longer believe people who deliver the news.
i had a hard time believing he said that.
People don't believe their President, Prime Minister, Premier or the Mayors of their towns and cities.
They have the right to vote but they don't because there are no valid choices.
Why should the crisis be about personable, good-looking, smooth-tongued ,well tailored and styled
individuals who look good on camera read news from cards and get paid $12 million a year.
We have a crisis of confidence alright. Brought about by an affluent society almost completely lacking in conscience.
By special interest groups with the greatest clout taking the biggest bite of the apple.They control everything,in their path.
Devil take the hindmost.
Brian Wiliams did lots of things on Letterman's show not in keeping with his pontificate image If it
didn't suit the purpose of his station bosses ,it would no doubt have been prohibited in his contract
Your blog is making me dizzy.
Perhaps you could take a couple of days off and catch up on all the television you must be missing.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 7 February 2015 at
**************************
If the blog makes you dizzy that calls for a decision in your own interest.
I watch the TV channel that gives news headlines. Then I decide what to follow.
I think those who heard Brian Williams tell a story on late night comedy about being on a helicopter hit by a missile might have guessed it was a tall tale.
To-night, I heard an instructor of journalism at Scarborough U of T. solemnly state on CP 24 how serious for society if people could no longer believe people who deliver the news.
i had a hard time believing he said that.
People don't believe their President, Prime Minister, Premier or the Mayors of their towns and cities.
They have the right to vote but they don't because there are no valid choices.
Why should the crisis be about personable, good-looking, smooth-tongued ,well tailored and styled
individuals who look good on camera read news from cards and get paid $12 million a year.
We have a crisis of confidence alright. Brought about by an affluent society almost completely lacking in conscience.
By special interest groups with the greatest clout taking the biggest bite of the apple.They control everything,in their path.
Devil take the hindmost.
Brian Wiliams did lots of things on Letterman's show not in keeping with his pontificate image If it
didn't suit the purpose of his station bosses ,it would no doubt have been prohibited in his contract
Saturday, 7 February 2015
The View Is A Bit Scrambled
I am more familiar with Brian Williams as a guest on Letterman than as news Anchor . That 's not saying a lot.
It seemed he enjoyed playing an opposite role of raconteur; a story teller adding and embellishing
as he spins the yarn. He was entertaining in a show increasingly lacking in wit. It can't be easy churning that stuff out five days a week
So now Rosie O'Donnel says he's a liar and Tom Brokaw says acording to the Gospel of St.John, he ought to be fired from his $12 million a year gig as an Icon.
Big Bill O'Reilly has something negative to say about Rosie O' Donnel.
Tom Brokaw was a guest on Letterman a while ago. He struck a negative knell although
Letterman appeared to enjoy the conversation.
I went into Facebook this morning looking for pictures and videos of my grandchildren and great grandchildren. A little video of two-year old Isla holding one year old Maeva 's hands, helping little sister to walk has entertained me since day before yesterday.
Robyn and Adam and Adam's friend Brent are in photos enjoying the sun in Fort Myers.
Kari Chung is getting excited about an upcoming trip with to the U.K. Kari went to school in
Hong Kong. After Hong Kong was returned to China, Kari and school friends scattered all over. They have reached the marrying age and attend each others's weddings as good friends should.
The one upcoming is in Finland but there's a stopover in London. Today's insert was seventeen great walks in Llndon. I took them all.
This morning Isla and Maeva and Grandson Myles are at Fresh Co, in Cambridge wearing green plastic hats and having something to do with potatoes and a food bank. Mary is busy with the camera. A new sibling is due any minute and Mary, a nurse in the Home Care program is on strike and has to attend union meetings .
I don't know how Facebook took me into all the troubles and problems experienced by American media celebrities.
Rosie O'Donnel's legendary wit has escaped me since her fracas with Tom Suleck about the NRA.
She has been through two marriages and a near fatal heart attack since.
Big Bill O'Reilly has a product to sell and sells it well in his market.
I had drops in my eyes yesterday for certain measurement to be taken. Couldn't see for a while.
Didn't care much for that experience.All I could do was look at pictures and not even that very well.
It seemed he enjoyed playing an opposite role of raconteur; a story teller adding and embellishing
as he spins the yarn. He was entertaining in a show increasingly lacking in wit. It can't be easy churning that stuff out five days a week
So now Rosie O'Donnel says he's a liar and Tom Brokaw says acording to the Gospel of St.John, he ought to be fired from his $12 million a year gig as an Icon.
Big Bill O'Reilly has something negative to say about Rosie O' Donnel.
Tom Brokaw was a guest on Letterman a while ago. He struck a negative knell although
Letterman appeared to enjoy the conversation.
I went into Facebook this morning looking for pictures and videos of my grandchildren and great grandchildren. A little video of two-year old Isla holding one year old Maeva 's hands, helping little sister to walk has entertained me since day before yesterday.
Robyn and Adam and Adam's friend Brent are in photos enjoying the sun in Fort Myers.
Kari Chung is getting excited about an upcoming trip with to the U.K. Kari went to school in
Hong Kong. After Hong Kong was returned to China, Kari and school friends scattered all over. They have reached the marrying age and attend each others's weddings as good friends should.
The one upcoming is in Finland but there's a stopover in London. Today's insert was seventeen great walks in Llndon. I took them all.
This morning Isla and Maeva and Grandson Myles are at Fresh Co, in Cambridge wearing green plastic hats and having something to do with potatoes and a food bank. Mary is busy with the camera. A new sibling is due any minute and Mary, a nurse in the Home Care program is on strike and has to attend union meetings .
I don't know how Facebook took me into all the troubles and problems experienced by American media celebrities.
Rosie O'Donnel's legendary wit has escaped me since her fracas with Tom Suleck about the NRA.
She has been through two marriages and a near fatal heart attack since.
Big Bill O'Reilly has a product to sell and sells it well in his market.
I had drops in my eyes yesterday for certain measurement to be taken. Couldn't see for a while.
Didn't care much for that experience.All I could do was look at pictures and not even that very well.
Thursday, 5 February 2015
What IS it All About?
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The Thrill Of The Chase":
"Maintaining two bands ,Fife and Drum,I believe , is probably expensive but also a likely source of revenue."
Oh My God!!!
There is ONE band. It is the QYR PIPE AND DRUMS... that means it has bag pipes and drums in it!
They get NO revenue from it.
**************************
For Goodness Sake. We are just chatting here. No need to throw a knipschen fit.
I took my information from the QYR web site.
Just above where he signs as Councillor of the Town of Aurora ,in his letter soliciting funds, your
Events Chairman,Christopher Ballard refers to "bands " in the plural.
I had the pleasure of watching a QYR Fife and Drums band perform in a ceremony at Fort York Armouries .I assumed it would be one of two.
Any band is expensive to maintain and it's not unusual to be paid a fee wherever they may be asked to perform. It's the biggest expense of a parade.
If you are looking for misinformation maybe you should check your own source .
When you write about a regimental family asking $300 a ticket for an event serving snacks and opportunity to meet with high officials , the concept of financial hardship takes on a different connotation to the norm.
AND...if the outfit in our Hydro Building and the Fund-raising Foundation are not connected,perhaps someone would like to explain the difference. And why their base of operation is Aurora.
Why Aurora business ,Town Officials and citizens were asked to buy those phoney baloney sponsorships at a cost of thousands?
Pray tell !
"Maintaining two bands ,Fife and Drum,I believe , is probably expensive but also a likely source of revenue."
Oh My God!!!
There is ONE band. It is the QYR PIPE AND DRUMS... that means it has bag pipes and drums in it!
They get NO revenue from it.
**************************
For Goodness Sake. We are just chatting here. No need to throw a knipschen fit.
I took my information from the QYR web site.
Just above where he signs as Councillor of the Town of Aurora ,in his letter soliciting funds, your
Events Chairman,Christopher Ballard refers to "bands " in the plural.
I had the pleasure of watching a QYR Fife and Drums band perform in a ceremony at Fort York Armouries .I assumed it would be one of two.
Any band is expensive to maintain and it's not unusual to be paid a fee wherever they may be asked to perform. It's the biggest expense of a parade.
If you are looking for misinformation maybe you should check your own source .
When you write about a regimental family asking $300 a ticket for an event serving snacks and opportunity to meet with high officials , the concept of financial hardship takes on a different connotation to the norm.
AND...if the outfit in our Hydro Building and the Fund-raising Foundation are not connected,perhaps someone would like to explain the difference. And why their base of operation is Aurora.
Why Aurora business ,Town Officials and citizens were asked to buy those phoney baloney sponsorships at a cost of thousands?
Pray tell !
Huff And Puff
Little piggy ,little piggy, will you let me in
Not by the hair on my chinny chin chin
I will huff and puff and blow your house down.
You can huff and you can puff but you won't blow my house down
The big bad wolf huffed and he puffed
But little piggie had built his house well...it did not blow down .
So wolf climbed on the roof and down the chimney head first into the pot of boiling water waiting for him on the fire.
It's not certain how the story came to an end....if the little piggy ate up the big bad wolf instead of the other way about for a change.
One thing is certain, the scraggly old bag of beans came to no good in the end.
The Thrill Of The Chase
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "A Marvel,Of The Age":
You are never going to nail that one down, Evelyn. There was too much staff-shuttling and paper-shredding initially. It does seem that you were deliberately kept out of the loop but clearly you were not the only one. Hopefully we can do better.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 4 February 2015 at 20:05.
***********************
The second lease was extended to thirty years and signed by the Mayor,Dawe .
The only staff change at the administrative level was the Town Clerk,second signatory to the agreement who also informed Council the lease could not be fully disclosed because of the national security factor
His job disappeared in a rather odd circumstance the week before Christmas in the year before the election.
Shredding files and documents in the Mayor's office happened at the end of the previous term before the new Council took office.
Though Mayor Dawe obviously knew the terms of the lease ,I would be surprised if they were kept secret because of me. It was my motion to direct staff to produce the lease but Council approved it.
The pattern of undermining Council authority was not yet established . The situation was still fluid.
We have learned more about QYR affairs since yesterday . Links forwarded by Something Fishy produced a cornucopia of information and insight.,
The rude comment published on second thought also produced a raft of information and more
questions.
The fund-raising to buy "blues" that Matthew disputed was documented. Sure enough, former Councillor Ballard was the source.
I had been earlier privately informed by a staff person that the Federal government was planning to shut down Fort York Armouries . It seemed to be offered as the reason Aurora had to act to provide an option.
The former reservist told how reservists, when "activated" were sent to Petawawa to be trained to find Eds.
Someone else volunteered information no artillery range exists in our Hydro building .
That prompts the question; if the Federal government closed down the Armouries because modern warfare requires a. military bases for appropriate training, would that not mean traditional Armoury facilities have become obsolete.
QYR web site indicates in various theatres of conflict in at least the last two decades QYR has sent 40 reservists to join regular forces abroad. That doesn't seem like many.
What if, Fort York and Aurora Armouries disappeared and QYR Squadrons A and B no longer had a home.
Would that mean Queens York Rangers might also,be consigned to history? I think the question is valid.
The sudden bustle of activity of fund-raising and promotion may just be a last desperate attempt to survive.
Matthew Maddocks referred to the noble purpose of the fund-raising and criticized myself for belittling same.
I was doing no such thing.
But links subsequently provided and Matthew's challenge compelled me to look closer.
In 2011, $300 was the price of a ticket for a Levee with the Lieutenant Governor at Church Street School and the ribbon -cutting at the new Armouries re-named for an earlier L.G. Colonel John Graves SImcoe.
Art was to be displayed at the Levee venue and snacks provided.
Funds raised would be used to,assist past and present members of QYR in "financial hardship ". That presents an interesting image. Too many nights at the casino perhaps.
That fellow Simcoe and his wife went back to England when his tour of duty ended. Canada was never more than a short term posting. Although he did good stuff and Mrs Simcoe wrote an excellent diary while living in a tent. The Rangers spent years trying to get a holiday named for him.
They finally did got a day but it was named Family Day. Another purpose for fund-raising is to celebrate Family Day.
Care packages are listed as a reason for fund-raising. Certainly no criticism can be made of that.
Maintaing two bands ,Fife and Drum,I believe , is probably expensive but also a likely source of revenue .
None of which is any of my business of course and if the people,of Aurora had not been shafted by
having a six million dollar property shifted out from under them by two councils elected to,protect their interest, I would be having nothing to say about it at all,at all.
Don't look to me for Huzzahs and to buy $300. tickets to mix with the gentility.
Look to those who reamed you right out.
I do believe neither the Colonel nor his Mrs would have thought much of it.
You are never going to nail that one down, Evelyn. There was too much staff-shuttling and paper-shredding initially. It does seem that you were deliberately kept out of the loop but clearly you were not the only one. Hopefully we can do better.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 4 February 2015 at 20:05.
***********************
The second lease was extended to thirty years and signed by the Mayor,Dawe .
The only staff change at the administrative level was the Town Clerk,second signatory to the agreement who also informed Council the lease could not be fully disclosed because of the national security factor
His job disappeared in a rather odd circumstance the week before Christmas in the year before the election.
Shredding files and documents in the Mayor's office happened at the end of the previous term before the new Council took office.
Though Mayor Dawe obviously knew the terms of the lease ,I would be surprised if they were kept secret because of me. It was my motion to direct staff to produce the lease but Council approved it.
The pattern of undermining Council authority was not yet established . The situation was still fluid.
We have learned more about QYR affairs since yesterday . Links forwarded by Something Fishy produced a cornucopia of information and insight.,
The rude comment published on second thought also produced a raft of information and more
questions.
The fund-raising to buy "blues" that Matthew disputed was documented. Sure enough, former Councillor Ballard was the source.
I had been earlier privately informed by a staff person that the Federal government was planning to shut down Fort York Armouries . It seemed to be offered as the reason Aurora had to act to provide an option.
The former reservist told how reservists, when "activated" were sent to Petawawa to be trained to find Eds.
Someone else volunteered information no artillery range exists in our Hydro building .
That prompts the question; if the Federal government closed down the Armouries because modern warfare requires a. military bases for appropriate training, would that not mean traditional Armoury facilities have become obsolete.
QYR web site indicates in various theatres of conflict in at least the last two decades QYR has sent 40 reservists to join regular forces abroad. That doesn't seem like many.
What if, Fort York and Aurora Armouries disappeared and QYR Squadrons A and B no longer had a home.
Would that mean Queens York Rangers might also,be consigned to history? I think the question is valid.
The sudden bustle of activity of fund-raising and promotion may just be a last desperate attempt to survive.
Matthew Maddocks referred to the noble purpose of the fund-raising and criticized myself for belittling same.
I was doing no such thing.
But links subsequently provided and Matthew's challenge compelled me to look closer.
In 2011, $300 was the price of a ticket for a Levee with the Lieutenant Governor at Church Street School and the ribbon -cutting at the new Armouries re-named for an earlier L.G. Colonel John Graves SImcoe.
Art was to be displayed at the Levee venue and snacks provided.
Funds raised would be used to,assist past and present members of QYR in "financial hardship ". That presents an interesting image. Too many nights at the casino perhaps.
That fellow Simcoe and his wife went back to England when his tour of duty ended. Canada was never more than a short term posting. Although he did good stuff and Mrs Simcoe wrote an excellent diary while living in a tent. The Rangers spent years trying to get a holiday named for him.
They finally did got a day but it was named Family Day. Another purpose for fund-raising is to celebrate Family Day.
Care packages are listed as a reason for fund-raising. Certainly no criticism can be made of that.
Maintaing two bands ,Fife and Drum,I believe , is probably expensive but also a likely source of revenue .
None of which is any of my business of course and if the people,of Aurora had not been shafted by
having a six million dollar property shifted out from under them by two councils elected to,protect their interest, I would be having nothing to say about it at all,at all.
Don't look to me for Huzzahs and to buy $300. tickets to mix with the gentility.
Look to those who reamed you right out.
I do believe neither the Colonel nor his Mrs would have thought much of it.
Wednesday, 4 February 2015
A Marvel Of The Age
Any reference to the former Mayor and decisions made during her term results in querulous response Obvious preference is for me to cease and desist. Unfortunately issues this Council and the community have to deal with do not permit the luxury.
Today I'm face to face with a shocking realization of my own gullibility.
It has been claimed the lease with the Department of Defence for the Hydro Property is secret for reasons of national security. Council was so informed by staff.
It never occurred to me that I might be misinformed.
And yet....Two leases had to be signed by two Mayors and two Clerks. Four people privy to the secret.
At least one solicitor wrote the legal agreement. Maybe two law clerks and a secretary engaged in
production of documents. Five more people privy to the terms.
Initially Councillor Gaertner commended the Chief Administrator for successfully negotiating the first lease. Probably with a secretary. Therefore two,more aware of terms.
In total eleven people could have been completely aware of the terms.
The Ontario Municipal Act allows a Council to deal in confidence with the buying and selling of real
Estate.
Leases are not referenced .In fact it's my understanding the Province does not favour a municipality in the role of landlord. A municipality either needs the property it owns or not. If not,,logic would indicate a sale to realize the asset .
A thirty year lease does not indicate municipal need.
The last Council directed the administration to produce a copy of the lease. It was produced . With blacked out sections and an explanation the whole could not be revealed for reasons of national security.
At least eleven people within the municipality know or could have known the terms of the lease. Two of the signatories were elected representatives.
Eight elected representatives required to approve the lease were not informed of its terms .
No documentation were produced, no Act was ever cited to support the requirement for secrecy.
Apart from how badly the town's interest was served by the deal, what kind of sense does it make that terms of the lease must be secret to protect the nation's security.
Zip,...Zilch.....Zero...Nada ...Nil ... None at all.
The property was slid right out from under just like Church Street School.
Political pandering to an extreme never before encountered.
On Second thought
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "What's that you say.?":
Well Ev, what have you done lately?
Leslie Frost? How many people here have heard of him? Paulie McGibbon? Holy crap, she was LG in the late '70s.
The QYR are not cadets. Ipperwash was closed years ago - I know, I was there in the summers of 1978 and 1979.
The life of a reservist is a hell of alot different than a cadet. Especially when you get activated and next thing you know, you are being trained in Pettawawa how to find IEDs.
Did you ever attend an event at the former Hydro buildings for QYR?
I didn't think so.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 3 February 2015 at 13:45
***********************
Note the date of the above comment. Initially I deleted it.
Occasionally I publish samples of the personally offensive. They add nothing to the conversation.
But they do reveal a level of intellect.
Without a crystal ball , I'd say the author is a reservist and was a cadet adding up to lengthy involvement with the militia which in Aurora we associate with Queens York Rangers.
I always felt there were positive aspects of the cadet program. Like the Canadian Legion was the source to advise on protocol, I believed kids learned to be respectful and feel better about themselves at a time in their lives when they needed it most.
It appears the advantage may not have been universal.
BTW I may not have read documentation about fund-raising being for dress uniforms for QYR.
But it certainly was first indication of it's purpose. Former Councillor now MLA Ballard was
probable source. I believe it was his friendship with the former Mayor made the connection that allowed the Hydro building to be spirited out from the town's use just like Church Street school was pirated away.
Well Ev, what have you done lately?
Leslie Frost? How many people here have heard of him? Paulie McGibbon? Holy crap, she was LG in the late '70s.
The QYR are not cadets. Ipperwash was closed years ago - I know, I was there in the summers of 1978 and 1979.
The life of a reservist is a hell of alot different than a cadet. Especially when you get activated and next thing you know, you are being trained in Pettawawa how to find IEDs.
Did you ever attend an event at the former Hydro buildings for QYR?
I didn't think so.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 3 February 2015 at 13:45
***********************
Note the date of the above comment. Initially I deleted it.
Occasionally I publish samples of the personally offensive. They add nothing to the conversation.
But they do reveal a level of intellect.
Without a crystal ball , I'd say the author is a reservist and was a cadet adding up to lengthy involvement with the militia which in Aurora we associate with Queens York Rangers.
I always felt there were positive aspects of the cadet program. Like the Canadian Legion was the source to advise on protocol, I believed kids learned to be respectful and feel better about themselves at a time in their lives when they needed it most.
It appears the advantage may not have been universal.
BTW I may not have read documentation about fund-raising being for dress uniforms for QYR.
But it certainly was first indication of it's purpose. Former Councillor now MLA Ballard was
probable source. I believe it was his friendship with the former Mayor made the connection that allowed the Hydro building to be spirited out from the town's use just like Church Street school was pirated away.
Tuesday, 3 February 2015
Political Expediency ?
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "A Variation On The Theme":
Baird quits in the midst of government tensions.
Reuters
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 3 February 2015 at 21:01
************************
Years after Queens' York Rangers abandoned the musty smelly old shed on the north -east corner of the town park , the sign outside was promoting the great life the military had to offer.
Every time I passed I wondered how the government would manage without the young people who sign up in response to the slogan.
The last several months the Honourable Member John Baird seems to have been on the road constantly on behalf of the government.
It seems a plan to make Canada a player in International affairs is part of the government's political strategy.
A former Prime Minister of Australia is reported to be seeking Mr. Baird's support to bring the WHO organization of the United Nations up to scratch.
The question occurs if Mr. Baird committed to being thousands of miles from home on a regular basis when he campaigned for his Nepean seat in the last election.In all his twenty years in office he has never been far from home.
Knowing something of Prime Minister Harper's proclivity for control ,one wonders if Mr Baird
was given a choice.
If not, his sudden and unexpected resignation from a Cabinet post and exit from politics would make perfect sense.
.
Hmmm. Now we wait for the other shoe to drop.
Baird quits in the midst of government tensions.
Reuters
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 3 February 2015 at 21:01
************************
Years after Queens' York Rangers abandoned the musty smelly old shed on the north -east corner of the town park , the sign outside was promoting the great life the military had to offer.
Every time I passed I wondered how the government would manage without the young people who sign up in response to the slogan.
The last several months the Honourable Member John Baird seems to have been on the road constantly on behalf of the government.
It seems a plan to make Canada a player in International affairs is part of the government's political strategy.
A former Prime Minister of Australia is reported to be seeking Mr. Baird's support to bring the WHO organization of the United Nations up to scratch.
The question occurs if Mr. Baird committed to being thousands of miles from home on a regular basis when he campaigned for his Nepean seat in the last election.In all his twenty years in office he has never been far from home.
Knowing something of Prime Minister Harper's proclivity for control ,one wonders if Mr Baird
was given a choice.
If not, his sudden and unexpected resignation from a Cabinet post and exit from politics would make perfect sense.
.
Hmmm. Now we wait for the other shoe to drop.
A Variation On The Theme
This morning's conversation reminded of a story in The Auroran a few weeks before Christmas. A dinner was held at the Legion to honour soldiers on active service.
Dignitaries were on hand to bask in the glow of heroism and make speeches commending their courage and commitment and debt owed by the community.
The smiling young faces of three uniformed soldiers in the front page photo would make any mother's heart melt.
They put the lie to the whole event. Told the dinner guests they were not heroes. They just heard from somebody they would be allowed to shoot guns and throw hand grenades if they joined.
So they did.
From the Swartzenegger video game generation that sounded exactly right.
I know a young man who went through the process. Came back from Afghanistan with a few thousand dollars and promise from the Government of Canada or representatives of a job opportunity
No job or opportunity for training materialized.
Little of the Afghanistan experience lends itself to civilian life.
Lesson learned. Don't trust your government.
Dignitaries were on hand to bask in the glow of heroism and make speeches commending their courage and commitment and debt owed by the community.
The smiling young faces of three uniformed soldiers in the front page photo would make any mother's heart melt.
They put the lie to the whole event. Told the dinner guests they were not heroes. They just heard from somebody they would be allowed to shoot guns and throw hand grenades if they joined.
So they did.
From the Swartzenegger video game generation that sounded exactly right.
I know a young man who went through the process. Came back from Afghanistan with a few thousand dollars and promise from the Government of Canada or representatives of a job opportunity
No job or opportunity for training materialized.
Little of the Afghanistan experience lends itself to civilian life.
Lesson learned. Don't trust your government.
What's that you say.?
Matt Maddocks has left a new comment on your post "No Kidding....Camouflage...Sabotage...???":
Evelyn; while you most often publish insightful and researched posts creating healthy debate and discussion, I take exception with your comment "While Aurora's high society attend high-priced fund-raising dinners to provide dress uniforms for the Rangers... Is there a less salubrious aspect to the activities of the militia?"
Unless I am mistaken, I believe the event(s) you refer to are held to raise funds for veteran educational grants, "care packages" for those reservists currently deployed, and counselling support for those in need, among other worthy endeavours.
To have you belittle and incorrectly interpret these commendable events, detracts from your traditional level of respectfulness and honesty, in my opinion.
Thank you,
Matt Maddocks.
Posted by Matt Maddocks to Our Town and Its Business at 3 February 2015 at 09:
*********************************
Matthew,if I told you I view politics with clinical objectivity I doubt you would accept that. You would be correct. It's only partly true.
If I said I don't research; my insight comes from long personal experience that would be mostly true.
If you concluded my objective is to ring bells and wave flags and shout and scream to make people pay attention to issues I think should concern them, you would not be wrong.
On my path through politics, I have found few attend to calm and deliberate. Quiet and thoughtful gets drowned out in the cacophony. Loud and obstreperous does not guarantee attention either.
One does what one must.
To your point Matthew, when I read of Queen's York Rangers expensive fund-raising dinner, the need to replace dress uniforms was the pitch that leaped out. Put that down to personal bias or slant of the promotion whichever you please.
Your nobly stated list of objectives do not persuade me.
In the same way food banks in self-proclaimed affluent communities are a shame and a
disgrace, I would be equally disgusted to discover the federal government does not provide for the
needs you list.
Except for one.
You mention counselling for returning soldiers,Matthew.
I do not believe services exist to overcome the shock and horror of seeing a comrade blown to pieces by a device hidden in the sand.Being splattered by his blood. Carrying his horribly mutilated body to a field hospital.Or the image of a young woman with the rank of Captain being hit by missiles from both sides of the road.
In the Name of God, what would it take to wipe such an image from a survivor's mind?
Nichola Goddard was wholesome twenty-six years old , recently married. looking forward to end of tour to come home and start a family.
She was standing in a moving armoured vehicle.
Everyone inside the vehicle survived.
Physically.
What could ever erase the horrifying reality of killing and being killed in such a manner ?
I surely do not see Stephen Harper or John Baird being much of a comfort or inspiration.
Neither am I persuaded a fancy dress-up dinner to raise funds to buy custom-tailored dress uniforms
for Historic Queen's York Rangers, attended by those who can afford the tickets lends much to the effort.
All of which I submit to your respectful attention.
To the thread comment that I have never set foot in the Armouries to see what goes on there. You are full of it.
My son Frank was a cadet.
I visited Ipperwash summer camp for the passing out parade.
My grand-daughter Stephanie was a sea cadet . An instructor at Kingston mIlitary Institute summer camps.
I attended passing out parades there too.
My great-grand-daughter Cheyenne is currently a navel cadet .
I have officiated at several passing-out parades in Aurora. in the 2003/2006 term.
I was a guest at a passing out parade at Fort York Armouries when the Honourable Pauline McGibbon was Lieutenant - Governor. I visited Queen's York Rangers' Museum there.
I shook hands at Aurora Armouries with Honourable Leslie Frost,former and most outstanding Premier of Ontario and Honorary Colonel of Queen's York Rangers.
I have been a regular guest in the Officers' Mess at the Armouries on many a cheerful occasion.
World War 2 is part of my life experience.
Now then.....is there anything else you need to know?
Evelyn; while you most often publish insightful and researched posts creating healthy debate and discussion, I take exception with your comment "While Aurora's high society attend high-priced fund-raising dinners to provide dress uniforms for the Rangers... Is there a less salubrious aspect to the activities of the militia?"
Unless I am mistaken, I believe the event(s) you refer to are held to raise funds for veteran educational grants, "care packages" for those reservists currently deployed, and counselling support for those in need, among other worthy endeavours.
To have you belittle and incorrectly interpret these commendable events, detracts from your traditional level of respectfulness and honesty, in my opinion.
Thank you,
Matt Maddocks.
Posted by Matt Maddocks to Our Town and Its Business at 3 February 2015 at 09:
*********************************
Matthew,if I told you I view politics with clinical objectivity I doubt you would accept that. You would be correct. It's only partly true.
If I said I don't research; my insight comes from long personal experience that would be mostly true.
If you concluded my objective is to ring bells and wave flags and shout and scream to make people pay attention to issues I think should concern them, you would not be wrong.
On my path through politics, I have found few attend to calm and deliberate. Quiet and thoughtful gets drowned out in the cacophony. Loud and obstreperous does not guarantee attention either.
One does what one must.
To your point Matthew, when I read of Queen's York Rangers expensive fund-raising dinner, the need to replace dress uniforms was the pitch that leaped out. Put that down to personal bias or slant of the promotion whichever you please.
Your nobly stated list of objectives do not persuade me.
In the same way food banks in self-proclaimed affluent communities are a shame and a
disgrace, I would be equally disgusted to discover the federal government does not provide for the
needs you list.
Except for one.
You mention counselling for returning soldiers,Matthew.
I do not believe services exist to overcome the shock and horror of seeing a comrade blown to pieces by a device hidden in the sand.Being splattered by his blood. Carrying his horribly mutilated body to a field hospital.Or the image of a young woman with the rank of Captain being hit by missiles from both sides of the road.
In the Name of God, what would it take to wipe such an image from a survivor's mind?
Nichola Goddard was wholesome twenty-six years old , recently married. looking forward to end of tour to come home and start a family.
She was standing in a moving armoured vehicle.
Everyone inside the vehicle survived.
Physically.
What could ever erase the horrifying reality of killing and being killed in such a manner ?
I surely do not see Stephen Harper or John Baird being much of a comfort or inspiration.
Neither am I persuaded a fancy dress-up dinner to raise funds to buy custom-tailored dress uniforms
for Historic Queen's York Rangers, attended by those who can afford the tickets lends much to the effort.
All of which I submit to your respectful attention.
To the thread comment that I have never set foot in the Armouries to see what goes on there. You are full of it.
My son Frank was a cadet.
I visited Ipperwash summer camp for the passing out parade.
My grand-daughter Stephanie was a sea cadet . An instructor at Kingston mIlitary Institute summer camps.
I attended passing out parades there too.
My great-grand-daughter Cheyenne is currently a navel cadet .
I have officiated at several passing-out parades in Aurora. in the 2003/2006 term.
I was a guest at a passing out parade at Fort York Armouries when the Honourable Pauline McGibbon was Lieutenant - Governor. I visited Queen's York Rangers' Museum there.
I shook hands at Aurora Armouries with Honourable Leslie Frost,former and most outstanding Premier of Ontario and Honorary Colonel of Queen's York Rangers.
I have been a regular guest in the Officers' Mess at the Armouries on many a cheerful occasion.
World War 2 is part of my life experience.
Now then.....is there anything else you need to know?
Monday, 2 February 2015
No Kidding....Camouflage...Sabotage...???
Hey! I just had an alarming thought.
If the activities of the militia contaminated the old shed in the town park... Will the same activities of the militia have already contaminated our hydro building?
Is that the secret of the lease that could be shared with staff but not the people's representatives?
Is that why they needed a thirty year lease?
What problems are being created for future residents of our town.?
While Aurora's high society attend high-priced fund-raising dinners to provide dress uniforms for the Rangers... Is there a less salubrious aspect to the activities of the militia?
What have they really been hiding from us?
If the activities of the militia contaminated the old shed in the town park... Will the same activities of the militia have already contaminated our hydro building?
Is that the secret of the lease that could be shared with staff but not the people's representatives?
Is that why they needed a thirty year lease?
What problems are being created for future residents of our town.?
While Aurora's high society attend high-priced fund-raising dinners to provide dress uniforms for the Rangers... Is there a less salubrious aspect to the activities of the militia?
What have they really been hiding from us?
Camouflage..Sabotage..Smash and Grab
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Prada":
You're really chugging along this morning. Must make you feel good, possibly great.
The thought that runs through my mind is how much of this stuff originated with councillors only or with a combination of staff and councillors?
Can you shed any light here?
Thank you.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 2 February 2015 at 13:14
******************************
Much of the stuff originated with the Mormac administration.
Staff did not advise Council there was no benefit to becoming involved in development of a Heritage Park. Considerable staff time and resources and council,maneuvering was expended reporting and promoting the idea.
Then community opposition made itself felt. A consultant was retained to provide the advice that allowed them to back off the crazy scheme while still looking like responsible.adults.
Mayor Dawe contended the idea was sound even after the consultant's report.
He had to. His name was first on the list supporting the daft notion. It encouraged all other people of status to add their names.
First rule of a scam. Claim support of the establishment and lesser lights will follow...or not...it doesn't matter.
This time it didn't work . Figuratively speaking, it took yelling and shouting, strong and forthright language, jumping up and down , smoke signals from the hills and bonfires on the beach but the message got through. The insanity was stopped.
Quiet satisfaction was my reward.
Knowing something is wrong ,being unable to stop it and being proven right in the end is not a comfort.
That last term was full of that level of numb-nut stupidity. I have never seen anything like it.
The town had ample payroll sufficient to provide the professional advice needed to keep business on an even keel.
In eight years ,I was never able to assure taxpayers of full value for taxes paid.
I believe the message was not lost . Most frequent comment heard during the election ;
"Evelyn ,I can't vote for either candidate for Mayor"
I believe many did not. They stayed home .
At the transfer of ownership of the corner of our town park and half-million dollar charitable contribution to federal coffers , Council were informed of the presence of asbestos in the building.
$514,000 and $120,000 to clean up the asbestos was understood as full cost of that smelly old dump.
I believe it is illegal to offer a contaminated site for sale without full disclosure.
Whether the town was informed by the Department of National Defense .Whether that was the reason Queen's York Rangers abandoned the building to be given the gift-wrapped tied with a ribbon building needed for our own purposes, I do not know.
We are certainly entitled to an explanation.
Prada is a fashion house. It is also the name of a movie about brittle, artificial relationships within an industry that caters entirely to the rich and famous and bears little resemblance to real life.
It popped unbidden into my head as I finished the post.
You're really chugging along this morning. Must make you feel good, possibly great.
The thought that runs through my mind is how much of this stuff originated with councillors only or with a combination of staff and councillors?
Can you shed any light here?
Thank you.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 2 February 2015 at 13:14
******************************
Much of the stuff originated with the Mormac administration.
Staff did not advise Council there was no benefit to becoming involved in development of a Heritage Park. Considerable staff time and resources and council,maneuvering was expended reporting and promoting the idea.
Then community opposition made itself felt. A consultant was retained to provide the advice that allowed them to back off the crazy scheme while still looking like responsible.adults.
Mayor Dawe contended the idea was sound even after the consultant's report.
He had to. His name was first on the list supporting the daft notion. It encouraged all other people of status to add their names.
First rule of a scam. Claim support of the establishment and lesser lights will follow...or not...it doesn't matter.
This time it didn't work . Figuratively speaking, it took yelling and shouting, strong and forthright language, jumping up and down , smoke signals from the hills and bonfires on the beach but the message got through. The insanity was stopped.
Quiet satisfaction was my reward.
Knowing something is wrong ,being unable to stop it and being proven right in the end is not a comfort.
That last term was full of that level of numb-nut stupidity. I have never seen anything like it.
The town had ample payroll sufficient to provide the professional advice needed to keep business on an even keel.
In eight years ,I was never able to assure taxpayers of full value for taxes paid.
I believe the message was not lost . Most frequent comment heard during the election ;
"Evelyn ,I can't vote for either candidate for Mayor"
I believe many did not. They stayed home .
At the transfer of ownership of the corner of our town park and half-million dollar charitable contribution to federal coffers , Council were informed of the presence of asbestos in the building.
$514,000 and $120,000 to clean up the asbestos was understood as full cost of that smelly old dump.
I believe it is illegal to offer a contaminated site for sale without full disclosure.
Whether the town was informed by the Department of National Defense .Whether that was the reason Queen's York Rangers abandoned the building to be given the gift-wrapped tied with a ribbon building needed for our own purposes, I do not know.
We are certainly entitled to an explanation.
Prada is a fashion house. It is also the name of a movie about brittle, artificial relationships within an industry that caters entirely to the rich and famous and bears little resemblance to real life.
It popped unbidden into my head as I finished the post.
You Don't Say
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Think About It":
If some of you would stick your heads above the Aurora level for a while you would have read about the project that is underway with the DND.
The DND is going back to EVERY facility that they ever owned to review a possible contaminations. The big issue at most DND sites - especially militia used facilities - is LEAD.
LEAD, you say? Yep. What do you think is at the tip of most every rifle, sub-machine gun, and side-arm ammunition? That's right a lead bullet. During the WWII training facilities included small calibre rifle ranges (0.22 cal). The concept was simple, you shot from one end to the other where the targets were - the bullets went through the paper targets, hit the backwall and stayed there. In some cases they were scopped up, others - they were left.
This is the soil contamination.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 2 February 2015 at 11:34
******************
Thank you. This blog is always open to new and useful information. The explanation makes sense.
That we should have been aware of DND activities doesn't quite . Our experience is the department tends to secrecy. Even to terms of a lease where staff are taken into confidence but not the people's representatives.
Are we to understand lead is lodged in the walls of the building . Or shot through walls and into the soil beyond. How is there ground water contamination as stated in the listing.?
Do we understand the federal government (vendor )was under no legal obligation to inform the municipal government (purchasor) before they fixed and exacted a price of $514,000.on a
property that had no value to the private sector?
Perhaps our eager beaver can provide these answers as well.
If some of you would stick your heads above the Aurora level for a while you would have read about the project that is underway with the DND.
The DND is going back to EVERY facility that they ever owned to review a possible contaminations. The big issue at most DND sites - especially militia used facilities - is LEAD.
LEAD, you say? Yep. What do you think is at the tip of most every rifle, sub-machine gun, and side-arm ammunition? That's right a lead bullet. During the WWII training facilities included small calibre rifle ranges (0.22 cal). The concept was simple, you shot from one end to the other where the targets were - the bullets went through the paper targets, hit the backwall and stayed there. In some cases they were scopped up, others - they were left.
This is the soil contamination.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 2 February 2015 at 11:34
******************
Thank you. This blog is always open to new and useful information. The explanation makes sense.
That we should have been aware of DND activities doesn't quite . Our experience is the department tends to secrecy. Even to terms of a lease where staff are taken into confidence but not the people's representatives.
Are we to understand lead is lodged in the walls of the building . Or shot through walls and into the soil beyond. How is there ground water contamination as stated in the listing.?
Do we understand the federal government (vendor )was under no legal obligation to inform the municipal government (purchasor) before they fixed and exacted a price of $514,000.on a
property that had no value to the private sector?
Perhaps our eager beaver can provide these answers as well.
Prada
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Modern Day Politics and the Game of Monopoly":
20:00 - He was correct. All those years of zero tax increases under Tim Jones didn't do us any favours, long-term.o
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 31 January 2015 at 20:09
************************
Former Mayor Jones probably appreciates the reminder of years (17) without tax increases. It 's not a bad legacy. Councils past considered zero tax increase a job well done.
It was no feat of magic. Growth brought new revenues and the coat was cut according to the cloth.
The town was still a good place to raise a family without all the frills and dol-de-rolls.
Odd the comment skips the term between Mayors Jones and Dawe when how taxes were spent was not much appreciated by the electorate. They changed the Council.
Little changed with the new Council. Growth continued but taxes already inflated by previous Council not only stayed artificially high ,they increased further year by year. Water and sewer rates, also a tax, multiplied several times. Spending swallowed up grants and land sales and still taxes
ballooned outward.
Mayor Dawe, in his first year clearly parroting proclaimed water is "the best bargain"of any municipal service. Necessity of tax increases became the new mantra of city hall.
The building became a hive of crazy schemes and promotions to turn the town into a capital of one thing or another..As if all that had been needed all along was great imagination at the Council table,
We had that by the bucketful.
Resources flowed smoothly and easily out of town coffers and just as slickly came to nothing.
Expensisve annual memberships in Institutes of Excellence at handing out meaningless awards
$300.000 worth of preparation for a city hall addition that never happened.
Culture continued to be purchased at an escalated scale from the initial cost rent-free public-space maintenance provided and $347,000. to a self-appointed board committed to secrecy.
Legal advice financed for simple but politically awkward decisions.
Chicanes removed from public rights-of-way at substantial cost and no improvement in traffic flow.
Consultant studies average cost $65,000. proliferated .
Senseless severance packages continued to be paid out and kept secret from Council.
The hydro property , needed for town purpose continued to be leased to the federal government ,term extended to thirty years, at the expense of local taxpayers.
Joint Facility estimates spiralled upwards even before construction.
A contract awarded under- specified by $900,000. With completion five months late.
A continual rush to purchase properties taking staff time while pending decisions on properties already owned remain pending.
Now there's a budget before Council with 6.5 increase not including water and sewer rate increases.
Artifice to create the illusion of politicians wrestling the budget down to an acceptable level to sell to a self and frequently proclaimed affluent community
20:00 - He was correct. All those years of zero tax increases under Tim Jones didn't do us any favours, long-term.o
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 31 January 2015 at 20:09
************************
Former Mayor Jones probably appreciates the reminder of years (17) without tax increases. It 's not a bad legacy. Councils past considered zero tax increase a job well done.
It was no feat of magic. Growth brought new revenues and the coat was cut according to the cloth.
The town was still a good place to raise a family without all the frills and dol-de-rolls.
Odd the comment skips the term between Mayors Jones and Dawe when how taxes were spent was not much appreciated by the electorate. They changed the Council.
Little changed with the new Council. Growth continued but taxes already inflated by previous Council not only stayed artificially high ,they increased further year by year. Water and sewer rates, also a tax, multiplied several times. Spending swallowed up grants and land sales and still taxes
ballooned outward.
Mayor Dawe, in his first year clearly parroting proclaimed water is "the best bargain"of any municipal service. Necessity of tax increases became the new mantra of city hall.
The building became a hive of crazy schemes and promotions to turn the town into a capital of one thing or another..As if all that had been needed all along was great imagination at the Council table,
We had that by the bucketful.
Resources flowed smoothly and easily out of town coffers and just as slickly came to nothing.
Expensisve annual memberships in Institutes of Excellence at handing out meaningless awards
$300.000 worth of preparation for a city hall addition that never happened.
Culture continued to be purchased at an escalated scale from the initial cost rent-free public-space maintenance provided and $347,000. to a self-appointed board committed to secrecy.
Legal advice financed for simple but politically awkward decisions.
Chicanes removed from public rights-of-way at substantial cost and no improvement in traffic flow.
Consultant studies average cost $65,000. proliferated .
Senseless severance packages continued to be paid out and kept secret from Council.
The hydro property , needed for town purpose continued to be leased to the federal government ,term extended to thirty years, at the expense of local taxpayers.
Joint Facility estimates spiralled upwards even before construction.
A contract awarded under- specified by $900,000. With completion five months late.
A continual rush to purchase properties taking staff time while pending decisions on properties already owned remain pending.
Now there's a budget before Council with 6.5 increase not including water and sewer rate increases.
Artifice to create the illusion of politicians wrestling the budget down to an acceptable level to sell to a self and frequently proclaimed affluent community
Sunday, 1 February 2015
A Boat Without a Rudder. A Ship Without A Sail.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Batman ...Where Are You?":
You have consistently been sensitive with respect to negative comments directed to staff.
In the case now under discussion it is the town's CAO who is involved, as it was his very positive statement that made it appear the town had scored a slam-dunk. If it turns out following investigation that this was in fact the case, well done him and well done town.
I fully understand that councillors are directly responsible for what goes on in our town and are therefore accountable to the public.
But councillors get the vast majority of their information from town staff, from department Directors, and at the highest level, from the CAO.
Unless a member of the public can sit down with a senior member of staff in the company of a councillor, ask questions of the councillor who then relays them to the staff member and awaits the answers, without the presence of a consultant, we are being deprived of our right to obtain specific answers to specific questions, in many if not all cases involving the expenditure of taxpayer money.
This is neither transparent nor accountable. It is unsatisfactory.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 1 February 2015 at 15:22
*********************************
You do have absolute right of response from your elected representative.
Because public business is public you are able to watch Council meetings,read reports submitted to Council and hear staff responses to questions.
You must make the judgement whether an issue has been fully explored and a satisfactory decisions made.
The process calls for agendas to be published, initial discussion at Council -in -Committee and
recommendations ratified the following week in a Council Meeting.
In the intervening week several opportunities exist to influence the decision; by phone, by e-mail or by delegating to Council. Public forum is also an informal opportunity to inform Council of your position on any issue
The purpose of an election is to choose a Mayor and eight Councillors toast for you.
To retain professionally staff competent in various fields necessary. To direct.Staff .To consider staff
recommendations and make sound decisions.
Staff do not decide. They recommend.
Councillors debate issues in public, putting forward individual positions and attempting to persuade. Then the vote is called and the majority rules.
All instruments required for the system to function are on hand.
Council members are chosen. By those who choose to exercise their franchise and those who do not.
If it doesn't work there is opportunity for change. Only once in four years and limited by
choice of candidates. Seldom is there a lack of choice for Council seats.
Acclamation for Office of Mayor means a drop to as low as 20% in the vote.
The Mayor's office is pivotal.Municipal Act defines the role as providing leadership and guidance.
Confidence and trust are essential to the relationship. They have to be earned.
A Mayor can be elected by default.
No presence in the chair. No authority in the Council. The system fails.
A ship does not steer itself.
You have consistently been sensitive with respect to negative comments directed to staff.
In the case now under discussion it is the town's CAO who is involved, as it was his very positive statement that made it appear the town had scored a slam-dunk. If it turns out following investigation that this was in fact the case, well done him and well done town.
I fully understand that councillors are directly responsible for what goes on in our town and are therefore accountable to the public.
But councillors get the vast majority of their information from town staff, from department Directors, and at the highest level, from the CAO.
Unless a member of the public can sit down with a senior member of staff in the company of a councillor, ask questions of the councillor who then relays them to the staff member and awaits the answers, without the presence of a consultant, we are being deprived of our right to obtain specific answers to specific questions, in many if not all cases involving the expenditure of taxpayer money.
This is neither transparent nor accountable. It is unsatisfactory.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 1 February 2015 at 15:22
*********************************
You do have absolute right of response from your elected representative.
Because public business is public you are able to watch Council meetings,read reports submitted to Council and hear staff responses to questions.
You must make the judgement whether an issue has been fully explored and a satisfactory decisions made.
The process calls for agendas to be published, initial discussion at Council -in -Committee and
recommendations ratified the following week in a Council Meeting.
In the intervening week several opportunities exist to influence the decision; by phone, by e-mail or by delegating to Council. Public forum is also an informal opportunity to inform Council of your position on any issue
The purpose of an election is to choose a Mayor and eight Councillors toast for you.
To retain professionally staff competent in various fields necessary. To direct.Staff .To consider staff
recommendations and make sound decisions.
Staff do not decide. They recommend.
Councillors debate issues in public, putting forward individual positions and attempting to persuade. Then the vote is called and the majority rules.
All instruments required for the system to function are on hand.
Council members are chosen. By those who choose to exercise their franchise and those who do not.
If it doesn't work there is opportunity for change. Only once in four years and limited by
choice of candidates. Seldom is there a lack of choice for Council seats.
Acclamation for Office of Mayor means a drop to as low as 20% in the vote.
The Mayor's office is pivotal.Municipal Act defines the role as providing leadership and guidance.
Confidence and trust are essential to the relationship. They have to be earned.
A Mayor can be elected by default.
No presence in the chair. No authority in the Council. The system fails.
A ship does not steer itself.
Batman ...Where Are You?
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Think About It":
The Head Staff Honcho made a lot of very positive comments about that purchase. Claimed they paid a good price
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 1 February 2015 at 13:43
The property rightfully should have reverted to the town at a nominal fee of $1.00.
Just like the soccer bubble will revert at the end of it's lease.
The Head Staff Honcho made a lot of very positive comments about that purchase. Claimed they paid a good price
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 1 February 2015 at 13:43
*******************
The blog receives comments reflecting negatively on staff. I don't ask that you refrain from expressing your views. But I won't publish them.
I stand by my principle, Council is completely accountable for how the municipality functions.
The statement referred to above was the Mayor's to make.
Mayor and Council are elected to ensure the taxpayers interest is protected in all decisions.
Mayor Dawe's voice is too often conspicuous in it's absence.
Staff were directed by Council to pursue the possibility of the purchase.
It was a Council initiative.
It stands on what was originally town land. It would note be more appropriate for it to become private now than it would have been a hundred plus years ago.
The property rightfully should have reverted to the town at a nominal fee of $1.00.
Just like the soccer bubble will revert at the end of it's lease.
Our M.P. The Honorable Lois Brown certainly did not exerts herself on our behalf on the matter.
But then neither did our Mayor and Council. It was not as if the argument wasn't made.
I made it. It was like battling white cotton batting in a room full of the stuff from floor to ceiling.
By the way, though I dispute the federal soil and ground water contamination designation ,I believe such a property cannot legally be offered for sale without full disclosure to the purchasor.
So the deal may not be legal.
Let's see what our noble representatives make of that.
Will our tiny but mighty resident real estate mogul leap tall buildings to wreak justice on our behalf?
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