We Get Letters

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="044785a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Speaking Out</B></FONT><B>    </B><B> |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Speaking Out"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Us"><U>About Us</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="News and Events"><U>News and Events</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Speak Out"><U>Speak Out</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Previous Issues"><U>Previous Issues</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U>Contact Us</U></A>   |   <B>We Get Letters</B>   |   <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Archive"><U>Archive</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Monthly Archive"><U>Monthly Archive</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="045d2b03.jpg"> <bR> <div> <B> <script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script>  </B></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>  <center> <form method="get" action="http://www.google.ca/custom" target="_top"> <table bgcolor="#ffffff"> <tr><td nowrap="nowrap" valign="top" align="left" height="32"> <a href="http://www.google.com/"> <img src="http://www.google.com/logos/Logo_25wht.gif" border="0" alt="Google" align="middle"></img></a> <label for="sbi" style="display: none">Enter your search terms</label> <input type="text" name="q" size="31" maxlength="255" value="" id="sbi"></input> <label for="sbb" style="display: none">Submit search form</label> <input type="submit" name="sa" value="Search" id="sbb"></input> <input type="hidden" name="client" value="pub-9903634354055726"></input> <input type="hidden" name="forid" value="1"></input> <input type="hidden" name="ie" value="ISO-8859-1"></input> <input type="hidden" name="oe" value="ISO-8859-1"></input> <input type="hidden" name="cof" value="GALT:#008000;GL:1;DIV:#336699;VLC:663399;AH:center;BGC:FFFFFF;LBGC:336699;ALC:0000FF;LC:0000FF;T:000000;GFNT:0000FF;GIMP:0000FF;FORID:1"></input> <input type="hidden" name="hl" value="en"></input> </td></tr></table> </form> </center>   </I></div> <bR> <div> <I>We Get Letters</I></div> <div> <I>March 07, 2010</I></div> <div> lesley says: </div> <bR> <div> I have a little story about how we allocate our taxpayer resources.</div> <div> I recently witnessed a car accident scene. It happened here in Simcoe County. The accident was relatively minor; one person went to hospital to be treated with a non life threatening injury.</div> <div> It was a 2 vehicle accident involving 3 people. The impact was at a relatively low speed as it happened in town and no air bags went off.</div> <div> Now, about 10 minutes after the impact, this huge shiny firetruck comes screaming up to the accident. Four fire fighters jump out. </div> <div> I realize that this is the ’system’…humour me. </div> <div> The first thing I noticed about this was that…there was no fire. There was no smoke. No lives were threatened; yet here was this huge new shiny firetruck loaded with 4 personnel.</div> <div> Next comes a brand new police cruiser with 2 officers. </div> <div> Then up comes a new police SUV with 2 more officers.</div> <div> Then, up comes a brand new shiny ambulance with 2 paramedics.</div> <div> So, there we were: 10 response personnel and about, what, $500,000 worth of vehicles for a 3 person low speed accident with no life threatening injuries.</div> <div> It gets better (or worse, depending how you look at it).</div> <div> So, this one person gets whisked away to the hospital to get ‘treated’ (ahem). As I happen to know this person, I went to the hospital some 2 hours later to follow up on the status of the injury and see how this person was doing. </div> <div> I found out that this person sat, injured (broken bones in a hand) for over 2 hours in an emergency room; and not one person was available to offer so much as a cup of water, an ice pack, or a pain killer; because they were so short staffed.</div> <div> I know that things even worse than this go on; but this was the first time I had witnessed such a sequence of events. </div> <div> Is it just me, or is there something really fundamentally wrong with this picture?</div> <div> That we apparently have the resources to blindly dispatch a half a million dollars worth of manpower and equipment to a fender bender, but don’t have enough in the budget to hire a human being to supply simple assistance to ease the suffering of another is greatly disturbing to me.</div> <bR> <div> Excellent observations lesley. We need more people like you tell it like it is.</div> <div> jim tolnai</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I>Feb. 18, 2010</I></div> <div> <I>Forward this to the world</I></div> <div> customer serves </div> <div> what is customer serves </div> <div> well its not anything future shop has </div> <div> i went there 1 year ago to by my daughter a Wei fit they said we dont have one in</div> <div> stock but would have one next week and if i liked i could buy it now by getting a</div> <div> prepaid card and when it comes in they would let me know sound good right so i went</div> <div> back on the day they said it would be in and they said sorry but they sold out again</div> <div> i said but i paid for mine why did you sell mine they said they don't hold them for</div> <div> any one </div> <div> so my prepaid Wei was up for grabs every week they come in.</div> <div>  i went back to them 12 times every time the same story</div> <div> now its 1 year later and i still don't have this Wei fit so to day i went to the</div> <div> store and asked when am i going to get my prepaid wie and they said sorry we cant</div> <div> get them the manufacturer is not shipping them so i said ok this has gone on long</div> <div> enough i would like my money back and they said sorry but no we don't give back your</div> <div> money its against are policy so future shops police is to rip you off when i asked</div> <div> for the manager some little child like person came out and said he was the top dog</div> <div> to talk about this problem </div> <div> he looked to be just out of school and had no idea about customer serves </div> <div> and preceded to tell me to bad its just the way it is </div> <div> can you imagine going any where else and prepaying for a product and when they cant</div> <div> deliver the just say sorry nothing we can do you will have to buy something you</div> <div> don't want instead so there you have it ripped off and they dont care i hope this</div> <div> email goes around the world 100000000000 times bastards so the next time you are</div> <div> thinking of future shop remember they have no customer serves and you can get your</div> <div> money back </div> <div> richard fallows </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I>Feb. 18, 2010</I></div> <div> The following letter identifies MoE observations of Lake Simcoe and Orillia's lakeside landfills, which may be useful if you plan to comment or attend upcoming public meetings regarding the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan. Attention: Lake Simcoe inhabitants – the plume has entered Lake Simcoe! The Ontario Ministry of the Environment reported the following observations to the City of Orillia in November 2009. “1. The old landfill under the baseball and soccer fields located to the east of the active landfill is producing a strong concentrated leachate plume, as shown by water and soil EC and EM31 data, that is entering Lake Simcoe. 2. No monitoring is being carried out on the old landfill. 3. Leachate from the operational landfill is loading Lake Simcoe with phosphorus. The consultant did not carry out any phosphorus loading calculations for these landfills. 4. Nutrient loading from the Orillia landfills has created high populations of zebra mussel and an associated freshwater shrimp community along the Lake Simcoe shoreline adjacent to the landfills (Figure 11). 5. Aquatic vegetation rooting systems in the area of leachate discharge penetrated deep into sediments (45 cm). This was absent in non-leachate discharge sediments. 6. The surface water sampling points for the active landfill that are located in Lake Simcoe are improperly situated. Our analysis showed several specific discharge points along the shoreline where monitoring should be carried out. 7. Storm event sampling showed observable yellow coloration of Lake Simcoe shoreline water. This coloration was not successfully characterized during the 2009 assessment by MOE. 8. During the summer 2009 field study, it was noted that gas was often released from the sediments along the lakeshore in the three areas that were studied in detail.” This is an important public health and environmental protection issue. Orillia’s drinking water comes from Lake Couchiching, which is fed by Lake Simcoe. People eat fish from both lakes. People of all ages swim in these lakes, and other species live in and around these lakes. It is time for the City of Orillia to address this serious problem. Contamination from Orillia’s lakeside landfills has been reported for at least 19 years. Before any further contamination enters the lake the city must allocate the necessary funds to construct the recommended leachate collection systems at both landfills on the shore of Lake Simcoe. While weighing city finances our City Council needs to budget for this significant capital investment immediately. If you’re concerned about this issue please voice your concerns to City Council members, the Minister of the Environment, provincial representatives, and anyone with a vested interest in protecting our lakes and water quality. Thank you. </div> <bR> <div> IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE FOLLOWING PLEASE EXPRESS YOUR CONCERN ABOUT ORILLIA'S LAKESIDE LANDFILLS THAT ARE CONTAMINATING THE LAKE.</div> <div> The Ontario government is asking residents to comment on key pieces of its plan to restore the health of Lake Simcoe and its watershed. As part of implementing the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan, the government is seeking public input on: -- a proposed phosphorus reduction strategy that looks at setting targets and options for reducing loading from all sources around the lake; -- a study on the feasibility of using water quality trading as a tool to reduce phosphorus: and -- a discussion paper on regulating shoreline protection. The documents are posted for comment on the Environmental Registry at www.ontario.ca/environmentalregistry. The Ministry of the Environment is holding public information sessions in Newmarket on Feb. 17, Barrie on Feb. 22, Uxbridge on Feb. 25 and Ramara on March 3. The Lake Simcoe Protection Plan's long-term goal is to reduce the phosphorus loading from 72 to 44 tonnes a year to improve water quality. The Lake Simcoe Protection Plan came into effect in June 2009, following the passage of the Lake Simcoe Protection Act, 2008. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Kelly Clune (705) 327-2100 </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I>Feb. 16, 2010</I></div> <div> Dear Mr. Tolnai: We are so pleased that this bill has passed through its second reading and are grateful for your continued support while the Bill is referred to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy. I will continue to support my colleague Garfield Dunlop, member for Simcoe North, in his efforts as the Bill goes to Third Reading in the House. I understand that this is not only an environmental issue but a quality of life issue important not just to the Township of Tiny but many other municipalities in the area. I thank you for your correspondence and support on Bill 32. </div> <bR> <div> Sincerely, </div> <div> Joyce Savoline </div> <div> MPP Burlington </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I>Thunder Bay Jan. 21,2010</I></div> <div> <I>Bruce Hyer MP  Thunder Bay Superior North</I></div> <div> Mr. Tonlai, </div> <div> Thanks for your recent email concerning Stephen Harper's cynical decision to unilaterally suspend Parliament through to the introduction of a new Federal Budget on 3 March 2010. Please excuse the slight delay associated with this response, as I felt it prudent to await several developments before giving yourself and other constituents a definitive commitment as to what my personal response to this outrage will be. I want to begin by assuring you that I will be in Ottawa on Monday morning as originally scheduled, doing the important work the people of Windsor-Tecumseh re-hired me to do in the 2008 election. My NDP colleagues and I have agreed to proceed with our normal Monday morning caucus meeting as usual, and to maintain a strong body of MPs in Ottawa continuously during the several weeks that Parliament will remain prorogued. Last week, we in the NDP made a strong and reasonable offer to the Prime Minister which promised to allow all the Government to save face politically while permitting Parliament to get back to the Canadian people`s business without delay. We offered to support a motion to immediately restore all legislation presently before Parliament to the procedural state it had attained prior to Prime Minister Harper`s New Year`s Eve surprise. This would allow both Government and Private Members` legislation to proceed in a timely fashion, and permit the resumption of important Committee business similarly shelved by the Conservative Government`s decision to lock MPs out of their workplace. This represented a balanced, if not charitable offer which would have accorded considerable legislative concessions to the Government considering the origins of this crisis and the lack of good faith which the Conservatives have demonstrated in their recent dealings with the opposition. We will also be using this unexpected lull in the legislative schedule to reach out to Canadians in Windsor and across the country. From EI reform to pension security, environmental sustainability to building an economy capable of providing the secure jobs of tomorrow, we will be listening to the opinions of Canadians and harnessing their tremendous wisdom in formulating a program of action to address the broader challenges Canada faces moving forward. In the coming days, we`ll also be outlining several important proposals for reform of our democratic institutions, with the goal of ensuring that incidents like this aren`t repeated in future, whatever party the PM of the day happens to represent. I urge you to closely follow these developments and help us make the case that Stephen Harper`s latest abuse of process painfully demonstrates how Canada`s model of executive power is in desperate need of modernization. On 23 January 2010, at demonstrations spanning more than 30 communities from coast to coast to coast, Canadians will make a forceful non-partisan statement in defence of Parliament and our proud democratic traditions. I hope you`ll make every effort to be in contact with the organizers of Windsor`s own local march and add your voice to the countless citizens speaking out against this fundamentally undemocratic prorogation of Parliament. Details can be found at www.noprorogue.ca or on the national Facebook group "Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament," which now boasts nearly a quarter million members. It is remains a great honour to serve in Parliament on behalf of the strong and diverse people of Windsor-Tecumseh, who've proven their character and resilience again and again through the present economic crisis. Though like my opposition colleagues from across the country I`m saddened the Prime Minister`s opportunism has made it temporarily impossible to conduct that service in the appropriate forum of the House of Commons, rest assured I will to the very best of my ability continue to represent your interests, values and concerns at the national level now, when the House resumes in March, and for as long as I`m privileged to serve you. Thank you again for writing on this important subject, and don't hesitate to follow up with my office on this or any other matter. Feel free to forward this correspondence to any friends or neighbours who may have questions as to what is happening in Ottawa and my response. Please permit me to close by extending the very best wishes to you and your family. Sincerely, Joe Comartin, M.P. Member of Parliament for Windsor-Tecumseh Justice Critic and Deputy House Leader, New Democratic Party of Canada www.joecomartin.ca </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Ottawa, January 20, 2010 Dear </div> <bR> <div> Mr. Tolnai and family: </div> <bR> <div> Thank you for your recent letter regarding the prorogation of Parliament by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Stephen Harper's latest tactic to cover up his government's role in the Afghan detainee scandal is to stop the business of parliament dead. We've seen this tactic before. Just last year, rather than face a confidence vote he was going to lose, Mr. Harper asked the Governor General to prorogue parliament - before passing even a single bill. Just like last time, Mr. Harper has prorogued again in the hopes of avoiding the scrutiny of Parliament. It is the fourth time in just three years that he has shut down Parliament in order to wriggle his way out of a bind. This time, he is abusing the traditions of the parliamentary system in order to avoid accountability when his government is facing tough questions about its conduct in covering up the Afghan detainee scandal. The opposition wanted to keep parliament working. We are still determined to find out what the Conservative government knew - and when - in allowing Afghan detainees to be transferred out of Canadian custody where they could face torture or abuse. Getting to the truth is essential to restoring Canada's human rights reputation and ensuring that, from this point forward, our soldiers are guided by the right policies on the battlefield. By shutting Parliament down, Mr. Harper is acting like he has something to hide. He wants to escape the scrutiny of elected MPs and the motion passed by Parliament demanding the government release evidence concerning the transfer of these detainees. This comes as Canadian diplomat Richard Colvin revealed that he informed the Clerk of the Privy Council - the highest civil servant directly responsible to the Prime Minister - of the abuses occurring in Afghanistan. Mr. Harper must have known about these abuses - and yet he did nothing. In fact, stalling parliament is only the latest tactic his government has used to cover up its role in the Afghan detainees scandal. They started by discouraging reports mentioning torture, and then by censoring them. Now they're trying to cover it up by intimidating witnesses, attempting to discredit Mr. Colvin, refusing to release unredacted documents, and boycotting parliament's Afghanistan committee. Instead of doing the honourable thing and calling a public inquiry to get to the bottom of this matter, Mr. Harper is cutting off parliament again. In the process, he's shown again that he is all too willing to put his own political interests ahead of the interests of Canadians, and that he will stop at nothing to prevent the truth about his government's actions from coming to light - even going so far as to derail all of the nation's business. Normally, parliament is prorogued when all of the goals in the Speech from the Throne have been met. That is hardly the case here, when the nation still has considerable unfinished business. Canada is struggling to recover from the sharpest recession in generations. MPs were elected to do the job of putting this country back on track. Liberals have worked with other MPs to debate dozens of pieces of legislation. Whenever legitimate debate "delays" the progress of a single piece of government legislation, Stephen Harper is the first to blame the opposition. But now, in a move of paramount hypocrisy, he is killing 35 pieces of legislation currently in progress. Stephen Harper will tell you that he's stopping parliament so Canadians can enjoy the Olympics. In so doing, he is wasting the millions of dollars taxpayers spent to keep parliament's lights on all year. It just goes to show how much of a bind he's really in. Rather than showing true leadership by facing the issues that plague his government, Mr. Harper's solution is to avoid the Canadian people. But this underestimates the people of Canada and their elected representatives. If Mr. Harper thinks that he can make the torture scandal go away just because Parliament isn't sitting, he's wrong. If he thinks the Canadian public won't see through his tricks the second time around, he's wrong. Our democracy deserves better, and the Liberal Party will continue to press for accountability and responsibility whether Mr. Harper likes it or not. Best wishes to you and your family for 2010. Sincerely, The Honourable Marlene Jennings, P.C., M.P. Deputy House Leader for the Official Opposition and Liberal Critic for Government Ethics and Democratic Reform </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I>Jan. 14, 2010</I></div> <div> Thank you for your previous message about Stephen Harper`s decision to</div> <div> close down Parliament. New Democrats also share the outrage and</div> <div> disappointment that you and many other Canadians have expressed about</div> <div> this suspension of Parliament.</div> <bR> <div> I have called on Prime Minister Harper to re-convene Parliament on</div> <div> January 25. If he agrees, our Party will accept the re-instatement of</div> <div> all pending legislation before prorogation - a common practice used in</div> <div> past Parliaments. That said, we would continue to vote for or against</div> <div> these Bills, based on whether they are good for Canada and Canadians.</div> <bR> <div> I have also been clear that the work of the NDP caucus will not stop as</div> <div> a result of Mr. Harper`s decision. We are going ahead with our January</div> <div> 18 winter strategy meeting and New Democrat MPs will be:</div> <bR> <div> - participating in the January 23 protest rallies organized by citizens</div> <div> across Canada</div> <div> - returning to Ottawa on January 25 to hold our regular Caucus meeting</div> <div> - working on parliamentary reform proposals including measures to ensure</div> <div> that prorogation cannot be misused again</div> <div> - holding the government's feet to the fire on the economy, climate</div> <div> change, the war in Afghanistan, retirement security, and consumer</div> <div> protection</div> <bR> <div> Parliament has vital work to do. Canadians can't prorogue their credit</div> <div> card bills, their pension shortfalls, their unemployment, or their</div> <div> worries about the future. We think MPs should be working on these issues</div> <div> and representing the priorities of their constituents and communities in</div> <div> the annual pre-budget work.</div> <bR> <div> Again, I appreciate your desire to stand up for democracy. Feel free to</div> <div> pass along my message to anyone who may be interested. All the best.</div> <bR> <div> Sincerely,</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Jack Layton, MP (Toronto-Danforth)</div> <div> Leader, Canada's New Democrats</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I>Jan. 08, 2010</I></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="637" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="123"><div> <B>Subject: </B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 WIDTH="497"><div> RE: Shutting down Democracy</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER ROWSPAN=6 BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 WIDTH="7"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="7" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="123"><div> <B>From: </B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 WIDTH="497"><div> DewarP@parl.gc.ca</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="123"><div> <B>Date: </B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 WIDTH="497"><div> Fri, January 8, 2010 12:27 pm</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="123"><div> <B>To: </B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 WIDTH="497"><div> speakingout@speakingout.biz</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="123"><div> <B>Priority: </B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 WIDTH="497"><div> Normal</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="123"><div> <B>Options: </B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 WIDTH="497"><div> <U>View Full Header</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > | </FONT><U>View Printable Version</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER COLSPAN=3 BGCOLOR=#FFFFFF HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="629"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="629" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="626" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 561 WIDTH="622"><div> Dear Jim,</div> <bR> <div> Thank you for your email.</div> <bR> <div> It is indeed unconscionable for the government to dismiss all the work that's gone</div> <div> on in this session, and to pre-empt the ongoing work of parliamentarians, all for</div> <div> political expediency.</div> <bR> <div> Please be assured that my colleagues and I will continue to attend to the nation`s</div> <div> business, and keep the government accountable, despite this flagrant abuse of</div> <div> parliamentary privilege by the Prime Minister.</div> <bR> <div> If you would like to sign a petition against the prorogation, please go to</div> <div> <U>http://www.pauldewar.ca/en/component/content/article/15-story/165-speak-out-against-prorogation.html</U></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Best wishes,</div> <bR> <div> Paul</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Paul Dewar, MP | Député Ottawa Centre</div> <div> NDP Foreign Affairs Critic</div> <div> Porte-parole du NPD pour les affaires étrangères</div> <div> Tel: 613.996.5322 www.pauldewar.ca</div> <div> CEP 232 </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I>Jan. 07, 2010</I></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="637" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="123"><div> <B>Subject: </B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0><NOBR><div> New Democrats: Prime Minister Harper can't run from accountability</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER ROWSPAN=6 BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 WIDTH="7"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="7" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="123"><div> <B>From: </B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 WIDTH="497"><div> laytoj@parl.gc.ca</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="123"><div> <B>Date: </B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 WIDTH="497"><div> Thu, January 7, 2010 12:44 pm</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="123"><div> <B>To: </B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 WIDTH="497"><div> laytoj@parl.gc.ca</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="123"><div> <B>Priority: </B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 WIDTH="497"><div> Normal</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="123"><div> <B>Options: </B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 WIDTH="497"><div> <U>View Full Header</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > | </FONT><U>View Printable Version</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER COLSPAN=3 BGCOLOR=#FFFFFF HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="629"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="629" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="626" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 896 ><NOBR><div> Thank you for your comments regarding Stephen Harper's unilateral</div> <div> decision to prorogue Parliament. By locking out Members of Parliament,</div> <div> Mr. Harper is shutting down democracy and preventing us from doing the</div> <div> important work Canadians elected us to do.</div> <bR> <div> I believe that Canadians value our democratic system. They are telling</div> <div> the Prime Minister that he can't simply shut down our democratic</div> <div> institutions just because he doesn't like what they're asking or doing. </div> <bR> <div> Here are some facts:</div> <bR> <div> - This is the second time in 12 months that he has prorogued Parliament</div> <div> - This is the fourth time in 3 years he has abruptly ended a session of</div> <div> Parliament</div> <div> - He consistently fails to comply with the Access to Information Act</div> <div> - He is ignoring an order by Parliament to provide access to all</div> <div> documents relating to the Afghan torture issue.</div> <bR> <div> Canadians also expect their MPs to work together and find solutions for</div> <div> the challenges facing our country. There is a pension's crisis in</div> <div> Canada. Many individuals are struggling to find work and need help to</div> <div> recover from the economic recession. Yet, Stephen Harper chose to lock</div> <div> the doors of Parliament rather than letting MPs work on these concerns.</div> <bR> <div> Prime Minister Harper has adopted a blatant "run from accountability"</div> <div> approach to governing. While he promised increased accountability, he</div> <div> has done everything in his power to avoid the tough questions. At the</div> <div> same time he is blocking elected MPs from Parliament, he is making plans</div> <div> to stack the Senate with unelected Conservative Senators-something he</div> <div> promised he would never do.</div> <bR> <div> For more information on our position on this matter, please visit:</div> <div> <U>http://www.ndp.ca/press/statement-on-prorogation-by-libby-davies</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> For our part, the New Democratic Caucus will be going ahead with our</div> <div> scheduled January 18 strategy meeting and will discuss our plans for the</div> <div> next few months. We will continue to advance our policies on issues such</div> <div> as pension reform, jobs, the environment and health care while working</div> <div> hard in our individual ridings.</div> <bR> <div> Again, I appreciate having the benefit of your comments. Feel free to</div> <div> pass along my message to anyone who may be interested. All the best.</div> <bR> <div> Sincerely,</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Jack Layton, MP (Toronto-Danforth)</div> <div> Leader, Canada's New Democrats</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I>Jan. 06, 2010</I></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="637" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="123"><div> <B>Subject: </B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 WIDTH="497"><div> RE: Shutting down Democracy</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER ROWSPAN=6 BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 WIDTH="7"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="7" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="123"><div> <B>From: </B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 WIDTH="497"><div> SavoiD@parl.gc.ca</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="123"><div> <B>Date: </B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 WIDTH="497"><div> Wed, January 6, 2010 1:30 pm</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="123"><div> <B>To: </B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 WIDTH="497"><div> speakingout@speakingout.biz</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="123"><div> <B>Priority: </B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 WIDTH="497"><div> Normal</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="123"><div> <B>Options: </B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 WIDTH="497"><div> <U>View Full Header</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > | </FONT><U>View Printable Version</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER COLSPAN=3 BGCOLOR=#FFFFFF HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="629"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="629" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="626" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 1102 ><NOBR><div> January 6, 2010</div> <bR> <div> Thank you for taking the time to write me regarding the second annual prorogation of</div> <div> Parliament by the Conservative government. I share your outrage at what is</div> <div> essentially a suspension of Canadian democracy for two months: the people's elected</div> <div> representatives have been barred from meeting and holding the appointed (minority)</div> <div> government to account.</div> <bR> <div> This episode is the latest display by this prime minister and government of utter</div> <div> disrespect for the democratic system. Over the past four years I have watched them</div> <div> disregard majority votes in the House of Commons, ignore legislation (including</div> <div> their own law on election dates), and forcibly shut down committees and the whole of</div> <div> Parliament to avoid defeat or embarrassment.</div> <bR> <div> They are betting that Canadians don't notice or care, and they win when Canadians</div> <div> become cynical and disengage from the political process.</div> <bR> <div> I hope you'll join me in proving them wrong. I am prepared and committed to return</div> <div> to Ottawa on January 25th, to continue representing Victoria should there be an</div> <div> initiative to ensure that Parliament will meet in one form or another. </div> <bR> <div> Parliament has an incredible amount of work on its docket, from the economic</div> <div> recovery and pension reform, to torture allegations and tackling child poverty.</div> <div> Important and urgent bills sponsored by my New Democrat colleagues on climate change</div> <div> and affordable housing are close to becoming law. The Conservatives are even killing</div> <div> their own "tough on crime" legislation that they constantly accuse the opposition of</div> <div> stalling, preferring instead to rush through the imposition of the HST on Ontario</div> <div> and BC before proroguing.</div> <bR> <div> The government's rationale for prorogation is insulting: if they want to "consult</div> <div> Canadians" about the next phase of their economic action plan, they should consider</div> <div> consulting the MPs who are elected and paid to represent Canadians to the</div> <div> government.</div> <bR> <div> Meanwhile, their true motivations are clear: avoid accountability over the Afghan</div> <div> detainee issue, stack the undemocratic Senate in their favour, and try to convince</div> <div> Canadians that Parliament is unworkable and irrelevant. They argue that only 22</div> <div> sitting days are lost; however, much work can be done in 22 days in the House of</div> <div> Commons if the government were to take a cooperative approach that has been entirely</div> <div> lacking. Committees that could have met outside official sitting days have been</div> <div> dissolved, preventing all oversight of the government's work over the next two</div> <div> months. This underhanded tactic begs the questions: What is the prime minister</div> <div> afraid of? What is he hiding on the issue of Afghan detainees? What does he know</div> <div> that he doesn't want the world to know before the Olympics?</div> <bR> <div> This prorogation may be technically legal under our system, but it is morally an</div> <div> affront to our democracy. If any other Olympic host government were to unilaterally</div> <div> suspend its elected legislature to avoid democratic oversight of its activities,</div> <div> there would be a massive boycott by the world's nations. </div> <bR> <div> I ask you to join me in telling the prime minister that he can't simply shut down</div> <div> our democratic institutions just because he doesn't like what they're asking or</div> <div> doing.</div> <bR> <div> Together we can take back our democracy.</div> <bR> <div> Sincerely,</div> <bR> <div> Denise</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <I>Jan. 05, 2009</I></div> <div> Mr. Bruce Stanton</div> <div> MP Simcoe North</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Dear Bruce</div> <bR> <bR> <div> I understand that the prime minister is once again considering proroguing </div> <div> parliament to avoid certain issues and responsibilities.I am writing this </div> <div> evening to ask you to show up to work on January 25th, when parliament </div> <div> should be resuming. I strongly believe that elected representatives, </div> <div> yourself included, are elected and accept very generous</div> <div> salaries to work for and on behalf of the Canadian people, and I fail to see </div> <div> how you can do that if you don't go to work.Mr. Harper fails to see that </div> <div> everyone, including himself, has to go to work. If we all decided to simply </div> <div> stay home whenever we didn't like our jobs, or when we had done our work </div> <div> badly, or when we were expected to work overtime or to push the envelope of </div> <div> our capabilities, the country would be in dire straits in record time.The </div> <div> alternative, of course, is to give notice and quit. That, too, would be </div> <div> preferable to staying home.</div> <div> Please do go to work on January 25th. Canadian voters supported you with the </div> <div> expectation that you would go to work and do your job to the best of your </div> <div> ability. To do anything less would break the unwritten promise you made to </div> <div> Canadians when you accepted their support during the last election, and </div> <div> would make a mockery of Canada's democratic process.</div> <div> Bruce in the last 3 days the facebook group against what you and Harper are </div> <div> doing has grown to over 41,000. This maybe what will sink the Harper ship of </div> <div> fools for following this man. We can only hope.</div> <div> For all you Opposition members please show up for work and go ahead with the </div> <div> work we have hired you to do. If the government members do not show up then </div> <div> we the people will deal with them once and for all during the next election </div> <div> which we hope will be sooner than later.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=260348091419" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group."><U><U>http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=260348091419</U></U></A></div> <bR> <div> jim tolnai and family, 5 disgruntled voters</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <U>Dec. 16, 2009</U></div> <div> Discovery of loaded gun, drugs worries apartment dweller </div> <div> I want to thank the officers who were involved in the recent drug bust at 26 Fittons Rd. E. </div> <div> Since this happened in the apartment across from me, I still shudder to think that there was a loaded gun there as well as drugs that were being sold, found in this residence. </div> <div> A frantic call to 911 by me before 1 a. m., when all this was going down, bothers me still today. Little did I know until the following day when I saw the broken door, what had happened. </div> <div> What has happened to the enjoyment of our home? We have a mix of young and older people here, and I worry when this person is released from jail. </div> <div> I do hope that the justice system will deal with this situation appropriately. Orillia has a battle with drugs. </div> <div> Residents need to be vigilant and report any suspicion of illegal activity to the OPP. </div> <div> Jeannette Barlow, Orillia</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U>Nov. 09, 2009</U></div> <div> Attention: Mr. Harper </div> <div> Please make Canada proud - make a serious commitment to combat climate change. </div> <div> Inaction on climate change comes with a huge price tag<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>By David Suzuki with Faisal Moola</I></div> <bR> <div> It’s interesting to see the reaction to a report just released by our foundation and the Pembina Institute. The Globe and Mail called our analysis of the costs of fighting climate change “unsaleable and dangerous”.</div> <div> But the Globe and Mail’s John Ibbitson wrote that “The Pembina Institute and the David Suzuki Foundation have had the courage to uncover and to tell us the truth. Now Canadians must decide what to do.”</div> <bR> <div> Yes, it is up to Canadians to decide what to do. Do we plug our ears and close our eyes and go about business as usual while the world strains under the damage we are inflicting? Do we leave our children and grandchildren a world of misery? Or do we pull together to confront this challenge, as we have with other major threats the world has faced?</div> <bR> <div> Keep in mind that the report, Climate Leadership, Economic Prosperity, while pointing out that reducing the impact of climate change will come with some costs, also concludes that our economy will remain healthy. In fact, the analysis, conducted by M.K. Jaccard and Associates, says that Canada’s gross domestic product would continue to grow even if we adopted the stronger measures that environmental organizations are calling for rather than the weak measures the federal government has proposed.</div> <bR> <div> Still, comments in the news, and from people who post their reaction to news sites, show that many people aren’t willing to make tough decisions for the sake of our collective future – for the sake of our children and grandchildren.</div> <bR> <div> Let’s be clear. Resolving a global problem like climate change will cost money. But doing nothing will cost much more. The very survival of people, not to mention many other plants and animals that we share this small planet with, may well be at stake.</div> <bR> <div> Former World Bank chief economist Lord Stern has estimated that to keep heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions below levels that would cause catastrophic climate change would cost up to two per cent of global GDP, but failure to act could cost from five to 20 per cent of global GDP. </div> <bR> <div> And those are just numbers. In the real world, runaway climate change could have devastating impacts on our water and food supplies, could lead to waves of refugees escaping uninhabitable drought-stricken areas or vanishing islands, and could wreak havoc on the world’s oceans and cause major extinctions of plants and animals. Some of this is already happening.</div> <bR> <div> And consider what will become of our economy if we continue to fuel it with nonrenewable resources like oil and coal while the rest of the world switches to renewable energy. The demand for fossil fuels will dry up as the reserves become depleted. Where will that lead us?</div> <bR> <div> And yet, we still have people saying it would cause too much hardship to act, or that it would be dangerous or divisive. Are we really that selfish? Well, not everyone is. It’s been heartening to see so many people, especially young people, taking to the streets and Parliament Hill, writing to MPs and prime ministers, and joining campaigns to urge governments to be part of the solution to global warming.</div> <bR> <div> Millions of people turned out recently for more than 5,000 International Day of Climate Change events in 180 countries. The message was loud and clear: We expect our political leaders to work for the benefit and security of all of the world’s people when they meet in Copenhagen in December to work on a climate change agreement to continue and strengthen the Kyoto Protocol.</div> <bR> <div> What these people realize is that the price we will pay to fight climate change is a good investment in a healthy and prosperous future. Some of the costs include investments in public transit and renewable energy, in programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in other parts of the world, and in helping people cope with higher transportation and home-heating costs during the time of transition.</div> <bR> <div> The Globe and Mail, and others, may think all of this is “unsaleable and dangerous”, but it’s only dangerous to those who insist on staking their future on polluting, unsustainable non-renewable resources, and it’s only unsaleable to those who don’t care about the future. We can’t afford not to take action. We can’t afford to let our leaders let us down. We must continue to tell them that we expect them to work for us in Copenhagen.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Oct. 21, 2009</div> <div> <B>Subject:</B> Fw: Ontario 's New 13% Harmonized Sales Tax - What It Will Mean To You</div> <div> Subject: Ontario 's New 13% Harmonized Sales Tax - What It Will Mean To You </div> <bR> <div> Hello. Next summer (2010) the Ontario Government is set to put into force its </div> <div> new harmonized GST/PST sales tax which will apply a 13% sales tax to </div> <div> everything we purchase. </div> <bR> <div> Things That Were Not Subject To The Current 8% PST Will Be Now Taxed</div> <div> As a result, things that were not previously taxed under the current Ontario </div> <div> Provincial Sales Tax (PST) will be taxed at 8%. </div> <bR> <div> The new 13% tax will therefore apply to things like your electric bill, your </div> <div> gas bill, your water bill, condominium fees, insurance premiums, and every </div> <div> other good and service you purchase. There are almost no exemptions.</div> <bR> <div> The current Ontario PST tax does not apply to services, nor does it apply to </div> <div> the purchase of certain goods. The new 13% tax will therefore extend the old </div> <div> 8% PST tax rate to the purchase of all goods and all services. </div> <bR> <div> The New 13% Tax Will Apply To The Puchase of All New Homes</div> <div> The new harmonized GST/PST will also apply to all purchases of all new homes. </div> <div> If a person were to purchase a new $1 million dollar home in Toronto , they </div> <div> would have to pay roughly $200,000 in taxes as a result of the Ontario land </div> <div> transfer tax, the new city of toronto land transfer tax, and the new </div> <div> harmonized 13% GST/PST. </div> <bR> <div> Think about that and what that would do to real estate values in Toronto .. </div> <bR> <div> It will cause property values to fall and kill the new home construction </div> <div> industry and the jobs it creates. </div> <bR> <div> And it won't be long before you'll hear our elected representatives telling us </div> <div> that, because of the harm that has been inflicted to the new home </div> <div> construction industry by the new 13% tax, it would be "fair" to extend the new </div> <div> 13% tax to sales of existing homes.</div> <bR> <div> The New 13% Tax Is An Assault On Your Primary Residence</div> <div> Canadians have had two things that they have always been able to count on as </div> <div> being tax free - things that they could use to save money and accumulate </div> <div> wealth. They are your: (a) primary home; and (b) RRSP. That's it.</div> <bR> <div> The extension of the new 13% GST/PST to homes is simply a tax assault by the </div> <div> government on your primary home. They want to tax your primary home and you </div> <div> will suffer because of it. </div> <bR> <div> Why? Because if a purchaser has to pay almost $200,000 in taxes to buy your </div> <div> $1 million dollar home, the purchaser is going to pay less to you for your </div> <div> home. The purchaser will reduce the amount he or she is willing to pay to you </div> <div> in order to pay all the taxes.</div> <bR> <div> The New 13% Tax Will Effectively Raise Your Income Taxes</div> <div> Currently, the combined Federal/Ontario income tax rates are roughly 25% on </div> <div> the first $20,000 of taxable income, 42% on the next $40,000 of taxable </div> <div> income, and 46.5% on each dollar of taxable income over $60,000. On top of </div> <div> that you have to add the "Fair Share Health Tax" of up to $1,000 each of us </div> <div> has to pay.</div> <bR> <div> If the Ontario Government gets away with implementing their new harmonized </div> <div> GST/PST sales tax of 13%, the top effective income tax rates in Ontario will </div> <div> be as follows (since you can't spend any of your tax paid dollars without </div> <div> paying the new harmonized 13% GST/PST tax):</div> <bR> <div> 38% on the first $20,000</div> <div> 53% on the next $40,000</div> <div> 59.5% on every dollar over $60,000</div> <bR> <div> On top of that, you have to pay your Ontario Fair Share Health Tax, your city </div> <div> realty taxes, your city garbage fees, your city water fees, your city street </div> <div> parking permit fees, your annual Ontario and new city of toronto vehicle </div> <div> license plate fees, your Ontario land transfer tax, your new city of toronto </div> <div> land transfer tax, your gasoline taxes, your liquor taxes, your air departure </div> <div> taxes, your entertainment taxes, and so on.</div> <bR> <div> OF ALL THE MONEY YOU WORKED HARD TO EARN, WHAT PERCENTAGE ARE YOU REALLY </div> <div> KEEPING FOR YOUR OWN USE? 25%? 20%? 10%? </div> <bR> <div> ENOUGH IS ENOUGH - FIGHT BACK</div> <div> THIS HAS GOT TO STOP HERE OR WE WILL ALL SOON BE WORKING FULL TIME FOR THE </div> <div> VARIOUS LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT IN ONTARIO . </div> <bR> <div> YOU CAN ALREADY SEE HOW ARE LIFESTYLES ARE DECLINING BECAUSE OF THE ENORMOUS </div> <div> TAX LOAD WE BEAR. </div> <bR> <div> AS A RESULT, I URGE YOU TO TAKE THIS ISSUE SERIOUSLY AND TO FILL AND AND SIGN </div> <div> THE PETITION AT <A HREF="http://www.unfairtaxgrab.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.unfairtaxgrab.com"><U>http://www.unfairtaxgrab.com</U></A> AGAINST THE NEW HARMONIZED GST/PST </div> <div> TAX SET OUT BELOW. </div> <bR> <div> I WOULD ALSO ASK YOU TO SEND THIS E-MAIL ON TO OTHERS THAT YOU KNOW AND ASK </div> <div> THEM TO DO THE SAME.</div> <bR> <div> IF WE DON'T WORK TOGETHER ON THIS ISSUE THE NEW HARMONIZED 13% SALES TAX WILL </div> <div> BECOME A REALITY NEXT SUMMER.</div> <bR> <div> THANK YOU. </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Oct. 07, 2009</B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>We Need New Way to Handle Garbage</B></div> <div> Durham hasn't even received approval to build an incinerator, and already communities are rushing to dump on Durham. </div> <div> Along with financial costs to build an incinerator, Durham residents might also pay for costs associated with damaging the environment, destroying resources, and lost jobs. </div> <div> Environmental costs of incineration and landfill usually get passed onto taxpayers. </div> <div> Short and long-term environmental costs of disposal must be factored into the equation, so taxpayers have a true account of what it costs to burn and/or bury waste. Disposing of mixed waste destroys resources and jobs. Putting people and resources back to work is possible with programs that collect wasted materials separately, producing clean resources for reuse and building jobs. </div> <div> Considering the costs involved, municipalities should stay out of the garbage business and instead adopt positive programs that respect our resources, generate employment, and build local economy. </div> <div> With strong political leadership, we can develop responsible solutions to our waste, which promise a better future for our children. </div> <div> Incineration and landfill are things of the past. Let's not repeat past mistakes in Simcoe County or Durham Region. </div> <div> Kelly Clune </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Aug. 28, 2009</div> <div> I was wondering what the next sneaky, sleazy, underhanded, unethical, despicable, repugnant, short-sighted, irresponsible, arrogant County action was going to be...and apparently here it is, before the week is out. </div> <bR> <div> Now the County may be looking into whether they can just sell the land to a private landfill company? The same landfill company that has, no less, insulted and ignored the public and possibly threatened the Information and Privacy Commissioner? </div> <bR> <div> Apparently Tony Guergis is is not accepting the majority decision. Evidently he does not have any respect for democratic process or democracy itself. Evidently he is scheming, plotting and searching for a way to get 'revenge' on the people who pay his wages and who hired him in good faith to do the right thing.</div> <bR> <div> Why? Is it because the people, in the absence of ANY reasonable evidence, have the 'audacity' to insist that building a dump over a precious and rare life sustaining resource is wrong? </div> <bR> <div> We cannot rest, we cannot be satisfied that there is a 1 year moratorium: we have to ensure that this dump does not happen at all, and there needs to be immediate and swift action to that effect. </div> <bR> <div> Unfortunately it is becoming more and more evident that Mr Guergis must be removed from public office - sadly, he seems obsessed with getting this dump into operation and will stop at nothing to make it happen. It is high time that we have a grown up with some leadership skills as Warden. Springwater Township also deserves the same in their mayor.</div> <bR> <div> The best interest, welfare and wishes of the electorate and his peers, the responsible care of the environment, and consideration for future generations all appear to be of no consequence to Mr. Guergis in his relentless pursuit of a landfill that any intelligent person who is not in a coma can see has serious flaws. </div> <bR> <div> It certainly seems that Mr Guergis has declared war on the residents of Simcoe County and beyond. </div> <bR> <div> It is time to put a stop to this once and for all. Stay tuned.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Lesley</B></I></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> August 24th, 2009 </div> <div> The <A HREF="http://www.hollandmarshgold.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.hollandmarshgold.com/"><U>Holland Marsh Growers Association</U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U> </U></FONT>sent a <A HREF="http://stopdumpsite41.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/HMGA-dump-2.pdf" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://stopdumpsite41.ca/wp-content/uplo"><U>strongly worded letter</U></A> today to members of Simcoe Council in opposition to DS41. The Holland Marsh is the most productive farmland in North America, contributing upwards of $500 million a year to the Canadian economy. The recent Carrot Fest in Bradford West Gwillimbury (Mayor Doug White and Deputy Mayor Roughley will be voting this week at Simcoe Council) showed just how vital agriculture can be to a local town’s economy as well as to its identity. Executive Director Jamie Reaume wrote:</div> <div> “Put in place the moratorium – not because it will make all of the bad publicity go away for a year or so but because it is the right thing to do; because it preserves farmland at a time when farmland is becoming a premium and a finite resource; because it protects the water that will nurture our society and our agricultural industry – providing two of the four basic essentials for human beings to survive (air and shelter being the other two); and because it shows to your constituents that governments are not just focused on today but are innovative enough to plan for the future while avoiding the mistakes of the past….”</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <U>Open letter to a county councillor: we can achieve Zero Waste</U></div> <div> August 24th, 2009 </div> <div> A special event held on Saturday in Elmvale welcomed as many as 1,000 visitors throughout the day. This event had 15 vendors, including 2 food vendors. The exciting thing about this festival was that the organizers supported a zero waste event to divert as much as possible from disposal.</div> <div> <B>At the end of the day – 1 bag of garbage was disposed of.</B></div> <div> The reason for bringing this to your attention is to demonstrate the possibilities that are available to reduce waste. Unfortunately, many opportunities to divert or reduce waste are ignored either because of a lack of information or regulations.</div> <div> We can significantly reduce our waste, but we need political leadership to do so.</div> <div> All levels of government can take immediate action to implement Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs, including Deposit/Returns; increase waste reduction education; and develop enforcement policies so we can strive to eliminate the need to dispose of our resources.</div> <div> We have to stop building more dumps/incinerators to increase the incentive to move forward with sensible, front-end solutions to our waste; sensible solutions that increase local jobs, build local economies, and reduce negative impacts on our environment and our resources.</div> <div> I implore you to support a 1-year moratorium on Dump Site 41 to allow for a full review of the positive opportunities available to our communities.</div> <div> Thank you for considering this information.</div> <div> Sincerely,</div> <div> Kelly Clune</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Aug. 23, 2009</B></div> <div> Hi everyone</div> <bR> <div> I am asking everyone that has not already done so, to please sign the online petition to stop Dumpsite 41. Just click on the link below. You can elect to not have your name displayed if you wish. We are over 8,100 signatures towards the goal of 10,000.</div> <bR> <div> The county is getting more and more desperate, even to the point where now they are using your tax money to advertise on the radio accusing people who are trying to protect the water of being scare mongerers.</div> <bR> <div> One line in their propaganda BS is 'would the MOE appove this if it wasn't safe?"</div> <bR> <div> The landfill approval process does not consider environmental effects nor does it consider costs and consequences to society. </div> <bR> <div> So the answer to the question is, yes they would, yes they do, and yes they have approved sites that are not safe, including Site 41!!</div> <bR> <div> Every dump leaks. Yes this one will have a liner. The warranty on the liner is not worth the paper it is written on. I can email you a copy if you would like to read it. </div> <bR> <div> When this dump starts belching its poison into the aquifer, everyone from Georgian Bay to Lake Ontario will be affected. That is what we know. What we don't know is how much further it will go.</div> <bR> <div> Already the water is showing signs of being contaminated by the construction. Our beautiful, clean, benchmark-for-other-water-tests is being ruined. Ruined!!! </div> <bR> <div> In close proximity to this dump is the Wye Marsh and other wildlife sanctuaries. There are also numerous streams and rivers where wildlife of all kinds depend on the water.</div> <bR> <div> The 'science' that they are 'relying' on is evidently top secret because they will not share it. The 'scientists' who apparently say this is 'viable' are nameless and faceless. </div> <bR> <div> Dr. David Suzuki is a scientist also (but perhaps they haven't heard of him), and his advice is, in a nutshell, this is crazy and don't do it. </div> <bR> <div> So who are these world-class scientists who have evidence that this will work and why haven't they come forward to share their incredible science with the unenlightened?</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/stop-dump-site-41" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/stop-du"><U><U>http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/stop-dump-site-41</U></U></A></div> <bR> <div> You can also go to <A HREF="http://www.stopdumpsite41.ca " TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.stopdumpsite41.ca "><U>http://www.stopdumpsite41.ca </U></A>There you will find all kinds of information, including a list of County Councillors and provincial politicians to write or email to.</div> <bR> <div> Thanks!</div> <div> Lesley Spence</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Aug. 19, 2009</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Gerretsen: your ministry promised the dewatering would not affect anyone outside the dump. Now it has. Close it down</B></div> <div> To Minister John Gerretsen,</div> <div> Regarding: Complaint: non compliance Site 41 with Permit To Take Water and Certificate of Approval – “Explanation sought for filthy spring water at Adjacent properties to Site 41?</div> <div> On Saturday August 15th , 2009 the flow that had been identified as the worlds cleanest water ever tested and scientifically verified has been forever altered. We had been told that the dewatering at Site 41 would not affect anyone outside of the property boundary of Site 41 by the Ministry of the Environment and by the County of Simcoe. The CMC and public were told if there was such a change in anyone’s well or things were different than the Permit To Take Water had suggested, the Ministry of the Environment would shut The County of Simcoe down-immediately. Ministry Staff did not shut down the County of Simcoe yesterday.</div> <div> Instead yesterday you send out a hydrologist who has no history with Site 41. Though it was admitted by the MOE by inspector Greg Athron that the County of Simcoe has not received approval on the amendments the MOE is allowing the County to continue to build these portions of the Landfill.</div> <div> If the Ministry of the Environment does not shut this project-Site 41 down today you have failed the people of Ontario and the residents of Simcoe County will have no faith in the MOE.</div> <div> I would like a prompt reply to this email of any action your ministry will be taking. This letter is releasable to the public.</div> <div> Anne Ritchie-Nahuis</div> <div> CMC member</div> <div> Simcoe County Federation of Agriculture Director</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Aug. 10, 2009</B></div> <div> <B>Question#2</B></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="626" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 341 WIDTH="622"><div> Dear Simcoe County Councillors: </div> <div> As a concerned citizen of Simcoe County, it is my responsibility to be active in my community, advocate for healthy decisions and support that by living that way myself. </div> <div> As a responsible citizen, I have a question for each of you councillors. I am curious about how many phone calls, how many emails and how many letters have you received at each office in opposition to dumpsite 41. I know that you are required to keep track of these things, it's tied into being accountable, responding to your constituents and keeping track of the pulse of the community. I would appreciate knowing these tallies please and the timeframe of which these numbers exist. It would be interesting to know the tallies for the past 24 years, however, I recognize that realistically this number may not be easily found, so I am happy to receive numbers from the past few years or even for 2009. </div> <div> I thank you for providing this information to me. </div> <div> For the next seven generations, </div> <div> Shelley Essaunce </div> <div> Waubaushene, ON</div> <bR> <div> <B>Penetanguishene Mayor should revisit science </B></div> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> Attention: Mayor Anita Dubeau, The rally last Saturday was so inspirational. We are so fired up to fight this issue that I feel for the people who voted for this dump. </div> <div> Almost 2,000 of us came together applauding the front runners. How special are people who will give of their time and money to fight something they know in their hearts is so wrong. Just once we would like to be treated like adults. Provide this so called proof that this dump is safe. No one but no one will answer that question. Where is the proof? Why will no one produce the proof! </div> <div> I can't imagine how you sleep at night knowing the legacy you are leaving your family. </div> <div> This is about common sense. What did you see that made you decide to vote yes for this dump? </div> <div> Take a trip through the website <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>http://stopdumpsite41.caan</U></FONT>d see all the people who have signed the petition, made comments about the fear they have for the water. How can you ignore our pleads to at least have another look at the science. What will that cost? You would gain the respect of the community and be our hero. </div> <div> Everyone who voted for this site is not very popular right now and as time goes by, our feeling will only get worse. </div> <div> Donna Thompson</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Aug.09, 2008</B></div> <div> <B>Question#1</B></div> <div> To Various Media: </div> <div> I am forwarding you a letter I sent to Simcoe County Councillors regarding decisions made by the County and about the decision making process. </div> <div> I am offering this letter to the media for further circulation, </div> <div> Thank you very much </div> <div> Shelley Essaunce </div> <div> Waubaushene, ON </div> <div> Advocate for Water </div> <div> Peaceful Protestor across from Dumpsite 41</div> <div> Hello Simcoe County Councillors </div> <div> I am a concerned and proactive citizen who cares about my family, my neighbourhood and my community. I volunteer to help make our community a better place and generally help the wheels of good living where there is no funding to do so. I enjoy the privilege of living in this beautiful region and I take my responsibility to care for it seriously. </div> <div> There has been many questions around the process for the on going work at dumpsite 41. Many questions that are going unanswered. I have many questions for you but will limit it to one question for today. Who authorized court action against Site 41 protestors? I am most curious about this decision as it appears that many of you were not included in the decision making nor informed of this decision. You all got together in a meeting to discuss the new parking by law that would affect the dumpsite 41 area, but not on the decision to impose a $160,000 injunction on two people, Jane Doe, John Doe and Persons Unknown. So my question is, who, in this democracy that we live in, authorized the court action against Site 41 protestors? </div> <div> As a citizen who has heritage in Georgian Bay that predates European contact and cares about living in a safe community, I look forward to receiving responses from you. </div> <div> Thank you </div> <div> For the next seven generations, </div> <div> Shelley Essaunce </div> <div> Waubaushene</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Aug. 07, 2009</B></div> <div> 325 Peter St. N. </div> <div> Orillia, ON </div> <div> L3V 5A4 </div> <div> August 7, 2009 </div> <div> Premier McGuinty </div> <div> Queen’s Park </div> <div> Toronto, Ontario </div> <div> Open letter to Premier McGuinty </div> <div> <U>Re: Criminal Charges at Dump Site 41</U> </div> <div> It is completely outrageous that members of our community are being charged with criminal offences in an attempt to protect an important source of pure water in Ontario. What would we do without those brave troops at the front-line? </div> <div> It’s hard to believe that this is actually happening in our province, let alone our country. Corrupt government is the image that comes to mind with the recent arrests of the elders in our community. Charging these people with a criminal offence is completely unacceptable and heavy handed. </div> <div> It is appropriate for you to take action now by implementing a one year moratorium to allow time for public review and discussion of this destructive plan. </div> <div> Please stop the outrageous arrests and intervene to stop dump Site 41. </div> <div> Awaiting your reply, </div> <div> Kelly Clune</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="626" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 151 WIDTH="622"><div> August 7, 2009 </div> <div> Dear Mr McGuinty, </div> <div> Your staff has advised me that it is necessary to request an opportunity to meet with you in writing. Therefore, please accept this as a formal request to meet with you to discuss the issue of Dump Site 41 in Simcoe County. Please indicate the time and place we can meet. </div> <div> Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter. </div> <div> Sincerely, </div> <div> Kelly Clune</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Mar. 09, 2009</B></div> <div> Dear Tim Lauer: </div> <div> I'm afraid I have to be out of town tonight on business, but I really wish I could be there. This is a very important issue to me. If someone could please read aloud tonight the following on my behalf, I would greatly appreciate it: </div> <div> <I>"I, Russ Hutchings, owner of 48 Stanton Drive, strongly object to the classification of my home, 48 Stanton Drive, as heritage, in any way shape or form. I have no intentions of demolishing this home however, this designation would, without doubt, strongly affect today's property value by a minimum of $300,000 by limiting it's potential future use. </I></div> <div> <I>It will also limit it's value as an existing structure by forcing a set of guidelines required by the heritage designation for renovations and updates. It is a very expensive home to run, never mind continually maintain and update to heritage designations. I have been in the real estate business for almost 23 years, and have seen the negative impact a heritage designation has on value, and saleability. Most buyers will not even consider a heritage home.</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>It is a sad day when our property rights are stripped at the personal whim of someone temporarily in power who wishes to preserve old buildings as heritage, regardless of their true historical significance or the affect it may have on the homeowner/ taxpayer. </I><I><B>The road to hell is paved with good intentions</B></I><I>. In a perfect world where economics are not a factor, there are many nice things we'd like to do. But that is not reality. At what cost do you, The City of Orillia, permit my rights as a homeowner to be removed, just to make a local councillor "feel good" about having "saved" an old building. Some on this list , like the Satellite, were an eyesore from conception and should be long gone.</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>I'm afraid I was under the misguided notion that Canada was a relatively free society where property rights were respected. This wreaks of totalitarianism. It's wrong. Please don't let it happen.</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>All that being said, if the City wishes to purchase my home, we can discuss the numbers. Then it will be your property to do with as you wish.</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>Thanks very much for taking my rights and wishes as a homeowner, and tax payer into consideration.</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>Yours very truly,</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>Russ Hutchings"</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> Thanks for reading this tonight. </div> <div> 705-327-0634</div> <bR> <div> <B>Jan. 30, 2009</B></div> <div> <B>Letter from Jack Layton</B></div> <div> Thank you for your previous email regarding the proposed New Democrat</div> <div> and Liberal coalition. I appreciate having this opportunity to detail</div> <div> why New Democrats can't support this budget.</div> <bR> <div> In the past months I have heard from many Canadians who share the view</div> <div> that they do not trust Prime Minister Harper to put in place the</div> <div> measures needed to help with this economic crisis. And, with good</div> <div> reason. Mr. Harper has broken his commitments to Canadians before. </div> <bR> <div> He said he opposed holding snap elections - then he called one. He said</div> <div> he opposed unelected senators - but recently appointed eighteen. He said</div> <div> he opposed budget leaks - then he ordered them.</div> <bR> <div> This is not only a question of the content of the budget; it's a</div> <div> question of confidence in this Conservative government. Mr. Harper`s</div> <div> budget proposes to implement policies that he has spent a lifetime</div> <div> opposing.</div> <bR> <div> New Democrats do not have confidence in Prime Minister Harper. And so,</div> <div> because a budget vote is a confidence vote, we will be voting against</div> <div> it.</div> <bR> <div> On the matter of content, Harper's budget plan fails to deliver on many</div> <div> fronts - it fails to protect the vulnerable, to safeguard the jobs of</div> <div> today and to create the jobs of tomorrow.</div> <bR> <div> Some of the more glaring budget faults are:</div> <bR> <div> - $60 in corporate tax giveaways for every dollar to unemployed workers</div> <div> - Not one single additional unemployed worker is eligible for EI </div> <div> - Attacks pay equity for women</div> <div> - Fails to build social housing</div> <div> - No money for childcare spaces </div> <div> - Post-secondary education is less accessible</div> <div> - Lacks funding for research</div> <div> - Changes to equalization payments will hurt Newfoundland and Labrador</div> <div> and Quebec</div> <div> - Infrastructure program requires matching funds from provincial and</div> <div> municipal governments - even if they're broke.</div> <bR> <div> Michael Ignatieff railed against these same budget faults. Yet, he plans</div> <div> to vote in support of the Harper budget! New Democrats and Liberals</div> <div> proposed cooperation in a stable government-and Mr. Ignatieff is turning</div> <div> his back on that. By missing this chance to replace Mr. Harper and his</div> <div> political agenda, Mr. Ignatieff is giving him a free reign to continue</div> <div> with his politics of division. </div> <bR> <div> I'm inviting you to join the New Democrat Opposition today so we build</div> <div> an alternative to Stephen Harper and the Conservatives - once and for</div> <div> all. For more information, please visit: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>http://www.ndp.ca/home</U></FONT>.</div> <bR> <div> Again, I appreciate hearing from you. Feel free to share my reply with</div> <div> your contacts. All the best.</div> <bR> <div> Sincerely,</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Jack Layton, MP (Toronto-Danforth)</div> <div> Leader, Canada's New Democrats</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>May 26,2009</B></div> <div> Jim;</div> <bR> <div> I was listening to the Midland radio station Dock FM on Monday May 26, and just about fell off my chair when their news director Brian Wicks read his commentary. In a nutshell he identified that Orillia's Murf project was dead and it was about time the town stopped wasting the millions on a "toxic cancerous site", ... and that it will never be built this decade, ... and that the Council should go back to the drawing board, ...and that it will only benefit sports teams and charity groups..? It was a good 2 minute listen...</div> <bR> <div> Wait a minute it's Monday, time for another council meeting ... time to find out how many more dollars the City will throw at this environmental cesspool tonite! </div> <bR> <div> Bill Woodside </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>April 02, 2008</B></div> <div> The Editor</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Stevens should be impeached. I never thought that I could get mad enough that I would utter those words. What a disappointment. What gall.</div> <div> Transparency is not a word this man understands. This man has repeated again what he did before. He has knowingly and wantonly withheld valuable information from his councilors until his interests are selfishly satisfied.</div> <div> Most people will recall when the public meeting was held at the Leacock Center where the long withheld information on the pollution of the Molson site was being released. This after the site had been purchased from Molson's and the infamous transfer agreement signed. I watched with astonishment at the reaction of counselors who were, for the first time, learning that they had purchased a nightmare.</div> <div> Now six years later the same thing has happened again.</div> <div> The Mayor knew on March 7<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> that the “the content of the risk assessment report does not comply with a requirement specified in Section 4 or 5 of Schedule C of Ontario Regulation 153/04.” In other word no approval to move on. On Mar 17<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT>, 10 full days after he learned this information and without their knowledge, some councilors passed a vote to add another 5.5 million dollars of taxpayer's money to the cost of this project. </div> <div> On Mar 27<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> the results of the MOE report was released to the councilors.</div> <div> This is a flagrant abuse of power by the Mayor and is tantamount to fraud.</div> <div> The taxpayers elect councilors to act for them. The councilors are, for all intents and purposes , our “Board of Directors”. If any company undertook to spend 5.5. Million dollars without the Board being fully cognizant of all the facts the president would probably be fired. </div> <div> In this case Mayor Stevens has accepted full responsibility. </div> <div> He <B><U>should</U></B> be fired.</div> <bR> <div> Dick Sleep</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>April 02, 2008</B></div> <div> Open Letter to Honorable John Gerretsen, Minister of the Environment, and to the Editors, Orillia Packet and Times & Orillia Today</div> <div> <B>What to do after the Mayor confesses “I Take Full Responsibility” for Withholding MURF Reports from public?</B></div> <div> At the Orillia Council Committee Meeting last Monday, Councillor Fogarty persistently demanded to know why the City Manager and Staff had not informed Councillors until March 18<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> of three very important, critical reports dated Feb 14<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT>, Feb 21<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >st</FONT> and March 7<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> from the Ministry of Environment detailing further serious problems with the MURF Assessment Review. Councillor Fogarty pointed out that a concerned citizen had alerted him to the existence of the reports from the MoE to the Cit, and Fogarty himself had denied to his constituent that any such correspondence existed, having naturally trusted that City Staff would brief him. When confronted about the matter by Councillor Fogarty, the City Manager and attending staff member attempted speciously to baffledegab past the issue but Fogarty hung tough. Eventually the Mayor came to the City Manager’s support, saying that “I Take Full Responsibility” for “withholding” the information, with the implausible excuse that “The purpose was that I felt it was critical to meet with the MoE as soon as possible, to go over their letter with them. This has been done”. </div> <div> As if <I><B>that</B></I> weren’t bad enough, these reports from the MoE had not been released to the Councillors until the day <U>after</U> Council had voted to bloat the MURF budget by <U>another</U> $5.5 million, to $63 million. In other words, our elected Councillors had had to make their difficult decision without access to critical facts withheld from them by the City Manager, Staff and Mayor. The Mayor himself had cast the deciding vote on the $5.5 MURF hike, himself having full knowledge of the reports but improperly withholding them from our elected Councillors. </div> <div> Withholding key information from our elected representatives by this ‘ITFR’ Mayor who in the meantime had cast the deciding vote on multi-million dollar hikes for an already troubled project, needs full examination. This project is not the Mayor’s alone, and it is not for him alone to decide what information to release to Councillors, nor when to release it, nor what to withhold from them. All residents and taxpayers have a stake in this MURF matter, and – to be blunt - in some circumstances the mere words “I take full responsibility” are just not enough. This ‘ITFR’ Mayor has had a lot of experience in the business and public arenas, and can’t be excused on the grounds that he doesn’t know the difference between a simple oversight because of lack of experience, and an INTENTIONAL cover-up of information from the public eye. Many wonder what else is he withholding presently, and what else would he withhold from our elected representatives in the future?? </div> <div> Three troubling questions emerge:</div> <div> i) Why didn’t the other Councillors back up Councillor Fogarty’s lead and also jump all over this ‘ITFR’ Mayor and render him right on the spot? </div> <div> ii) Are the mere words “I take full responsibly” by this Mayor enough, or – having been caught out and having had to publicly confess - will he now do the honourable thing and resign as Mayor?? [or does his resignation have to be demanded of him by outraged citizens]?</div> <div> iii) Shouldn’t the actions of the City Manager and any Staff implicated in this cover-up be critically reviewed?? While their actions are admittedly politically sourced from the ‘ITFR’ Mayor, City staff should <U>never</U> be engaged in political manipulations; such actions constitute a clear violation of their duty to serve the public interest. Never should they have allowed themselves to be coerced into endorsing the politically partisan interests of this ‘ITFR’ Mayor, nor any other elected person.</div> <div> Ironically, Councillor Fogarty is the youngest and most junior member of Council – he has relatively recently moved to our Fair City, and we can thank Providence that Michael Fogarty hasn’t been here long enough to have drunk the ‘Old Orillia’ water. He is to be commended for his consistently principled stand, and for his having courageously brought this most troubling issue into the open. </div> <div> Keith and Marnie Elliott</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>April 02, 2008</B></div> <div> Jim;</div> <bR> <div> Maybe I misunderstood when watching the March 31st council meeting, but Ralph Cipolla made a comment like - "if we don't build on the West Street site the city isn't liable to clean it up." You got to be kidding - here is a councillor so concerned that the Murf be built on the West Street site, that he stated his blood pressure was boiling over at last nights meeting. Then he went on to say that the MURF had to be built there due to his concern for the children in order for them to walk or take their bikes there, yet when it comes to cleaning up the site states that the city isn't liable? I guess it is OK for the city to poison the kids!</div> <bR> <div> As an aside with all the BS about having the MURF located on West Street so the kids and other people can walk to it, why is it when any event happens at the Lions Oval site we don't see a piles of bikes or walkers, but rather the parking lot is filled with cars that people drive there. Using MURF supporters logic, the lions oval shouldn't have any cars there during hockey games, figure skating, or other events. The existing Lions Oval is closer to the downtown than the West Street Site.</div> <bR> <div> Good news - talked to another friend today and they are putting their house up for sale also and leaving Orillia, told him after 30 years we are leaving too. Same as us they think this town is a dead end joke and getting worse!</div> <bR> <div> Bill Woodside</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Mar. 26, 2008</B></div> <div> Gentlemen, </div> <div> I read Mr Browns report with some enthusiasm because he has covered all the salient points and has made many thoughtful recommendation. </div> <div> In view that the rear section of the site can only be opened with the express permission of the Minister and cleaning up the front section to meet ministry guidelines is and will be expensive may I make the following suggestions. </div> <div> 1. By all means consult the public (taxpayers) </div> <div> 2. Consider Mr Orsi's original proposal to build a MURF. </div> <div> 3. Fast track Mr Orsi's proposal for a double pad arena in conjunction with the indoor soccer pitches.(At least consult with him re: timelines) </div> <div> 4. Seriously consider Option 6 </div> <div> 5. Pull out all the stops to get Government funding to clean up the site ASAP as the hot spot continues to move downstream </div> <div> 6. Once clean as indicated by Mr Brown, locate the outdoor amenities there including incorporating some of Colin McKim's ideas about a quiet parkland as well as resurrecting the pond. Should the occasion arise the surcharged soil could be piled to create a winter toboggan run . </div> <div> A little common sense gentlemen because there is no guarantees interested parties may not seek leave to appeal the resultant Certificate of Property Use to the Environmental review Tribunal. </div> <div> You may also wish to peruse the toxicnation.ca website . They allude to Environmental Defence who tested the blood of 11 Canadians across Canada and found up to 60 contaminants in the blood of the volunteers. In a signal that you want to make sure that the people of the south ward are not suffering long term effects from the VOC's in the ground and to show good faith consider having blood from identified residents tested for contaminants. </div> <div> I would suggest Brian Hare to be a good first start. </div> <div> The rate of cancer high in Orillia. Can any one of you say that these chemicals are NOT contributing. </div> <div> Regards as always, </div> <div> Dick Sleep</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Feb. 29, 2008</B></div> <div> <B>Open Letter to Councillor Don Evans re: "regretted vote on MURF"</B></div> <div> Another gutsy stand, Sir, as reported in Tuesday's Packet. Not being indoor jocks ourselves, and our kids all being up and out long ago, we have been reticent about weighing in on this MURF matter. But between thee and me, and calling on my hard-earned experience as a career development banker wherein I was certainly not known to be over-cautious, I'm <U>very</U> concerned as to what the City appears to be sleep-walking into. And it is well known that – on the MURF – there are several on Council who are up to their necks in commitment, and rah-rah photo-op jingoism – so your solitary stand of sanity is all the more admirable. Specifically:</div> <div> We in Orillia, as in other parts of Canada, have been on a 'roll' for over 15 years now. Permanent Prosperity always has been, is, and probably always will be, a Utopian dream. The US and Britain are teetering on the economic abyss, and even by pumping their war based industries for 'perpetual war' can't forestall the onrushing major correction. I can't recall <U>one</U> instance of a major US reversal in the last 100 years that hasn't caught Canada in its mesh. The saying “When the elephant catches cold, the mouse develops pneumonia” is all too well known. Major write-downs over the past 2 days by the CIBC and BMO attest to the forces lurking domestically. The Federal Budget struck this week is a 'batten-down-the-hatches' warning to all that it is a time for prudence. </div> <div> On Feb 13th, the Packet and Times ['Red Flag' raised at Orillia Budget Talks] referred to city manager Ian Brown's warning that taxpayers deeper in arrears this year were a harbinger of an economic slowdown. City tax arrears have increased to$4.3 million currently, as opposed to $3.65 million a year ago - a <B>17.8%</B> increase, which is a <U>major</U> leading indicator of downturn. </div> <div> On Feb 22nd, again the Packet and Times drew attention to little known budgetary facts behind the numbers associated with a 'Sources' and 'Needs' schedule as of Jan 8th to which the reporter’s attention had been recently directed. According to the schedule, in order to fund the 'needs' related to MURF (at $56,640.000, since ballooned by <B>another</B> $5.5million), Library ($15,340,000), University ($9,700,00), Emergency Services ($12,500,000) and Volatile Organic Compounds ($1,200,000) - the citizens' Major Capital Facilities Reserve will be completely wiped out, all OPC Dividends and Interest income until year 2024 will be absorbed, the city plunged into $47,237,000 debt, with the interest portion of the debt service alone requiring $24,000,000 from the tax-payers to year 2024. I'm sure that none of this is news to you or to other Councillors, but frankly it was a shock to many. Especially at this most fragile moment in the economic cycle.</div> <div> It is very good to see you, at least, drawing a line in the sand on the MURF expenditures, Don. A very gutsy position, which others must either be too inexperienced, confused or frightened to realize for themselves - as yet - the forces emerging through the hard, factual numbers !!</div> <div> Keith Elliott (325-3592) </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Dec. 15, 2007</B></div> <div> <B>From Keith Elliott</B></div> <div> Tim : re your website notes on the Nov. 29 council meeting (below), we also initially thought Cipolla had voted <I><B>for</B></I> the ratepayers and <I><B>against</B></I> the developers' application and you can imagine our surprise when we reviewed the Rogers taping of the 22-10-07 session. Cipolla hestitated, but then shot his hand up in support of the Gardy-Spears motion to approve. Further, we had heard that the Sattlers were really pissed off at Cipolla, and we couldn't understand why, since he had voted for their deal. It was only after he came out mealy-mouthing about the OMB fees and need for a backroom deal, that we could see where he was coming from - to put himself back in favorable optics with the developers by muddying the waters. I'll drop off a DVD copy of the 22-10-07 session and you can see poor Ralphie sweatin' and squirmin' and then his hand pops up. All the more reason for <B><U>recorded</U></B> votes, eh? </div> <div> As a thought on the Morano flap (Dec 10), and the related Packet & Times 13-10-07 editorial <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>http://www.orilliapacket.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=816156</U></FONT> referring to the Mayor's <I><B><U>direct</U></B></I> selection of a former pro-development councilor to the Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) without going through the normal, transparent public input selection process, many of us are wondering about this whole "in camera" process. The question - How - under the Municipal Act - does decree appointment of a member of the public to the PAC become a subject for a Council closed meeting? This cult of elected reps becoming addicted to the secrecy elixir is starting to get a lot of teeth on edge, and it is good to see that some of you on Council are resting such blatant cronyism and deck-stacking. </div> <bR> <div> <I><B>For What It’s Worth </B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><I><B><U>http://www.timlauer.ca/ctw.htm</U></B></I></FONT><I><B> </B></I></div> <div> <I>The moment an appeal is made to the OMB the issue becomes judicial. I strongly object to the legal aspects of this issue being compromised in Public. Having a member of Council running around-weak at the knees- just because an appeal has been filed with the OMB shows no respect for taxpayer’s dollars. If Councillor Cipolla is </I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>wavering in his support of the Orchard Point Ratepayers</B></I></FONT><I> and he wishes to throw in the towel, he should first do it behind close doors so that he does not aid the appellants by undermining Council’s position. If he can win the argument in closed session then the City can publicly opt out. If he can not win the argument then he should follow the same rules that apply to all legal matters and not disclose any confidential information that may compromise the City’s case and the costs that will be incurred.</I></div> <div> <I>As to the $250,000 price tag: a check of recent OMB hearings that the City has recently been involved indicate costs much less than this “sky-is-falling” number. </I></div> <div> <I>As mentioned, Council, </I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>including Councillor Cipolla</B></I></FONT><I> turned the original and subsequent applications down. Because the planning function is quasi-judicial there is an appeal process. Every Municipal Councillor in the Province is aware that decisions he or she makes at a Planning Meeting can be appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board and that there will be a cost. If a Councillor doesn’t realize this or is not willing to follow through with the defense of that appeal then he or she is in the wrong business. </I></div> <div> <I>As to mediating a compromise ; the proponents as mentioned have already passed on that option. It is important to note as well that the OMB process involves opportunity for mediated results but again having a member of Council publicly capitulating undermines the community’s position.</I></div> <div> Keith and Marnie's website can be found at ~remedy"<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>http://web.ionsys.com/~remedy</U></FONT> </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>