A LITTLE ADVICE TO GRAVENHURST COUNCILLORS - REGARDING MUSKOKA CENTRE PROPERTY'S FUTURE
TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT…….BUT THEY SHOULD AT LEAST READ THIS WARNING
COLUMNISTS AND REPORTERS LIKE TO GET A RISE OUT OF POLITICIANS. NOW AND AGAIN. IT'S A RARE EXHIBITION OF JOURNALISM PROWESS, FOR A WEE LAUGH, TO SHAMELESSLY BAIT A SEASONED POLITICIAN WITH A LOADED QUESTION; TO GET AT LEAST A PARTIAL ANSWER. A RESPONSE TO AN INQUIRY THEY OTHERWISE REFUSED TO ANSWER. IF YOU'VE BEEN IN THE NEWSPAPER GAME FOR A FEW YEARS, AS A MEMBER OF THE REPORTING BRIGADE, CHANCES ARE YOU KNOW ALL ABOUT THE TRICKS OF THE TRADE, TO GET A POLITICIAN TO FUMBLE THE BALL. THEY'VE BEEN TRYING TO KNOCK THE FOOTBALL OUT OF TORONTO MAYOR, ROB FORD'S HANDS, EVERY CHANCE THEY'VE HAD, FROM THE DAY HE WAS ELECTED MAYOR. THE GUY CAN'T GO TO THE BATHROOM WITHOUT A CAMERA IN HIS FACE, OR A MICROPHONE UP HIS NOSE. I FEEL SORRY FOR THE GUY, HONESTLY, BECAUSE THE MEDIA CAN BE UNRELENTING AND RUTHLESS…..AND THEY JUST DON'T CARE ABOUT HOW THEY ARE PERCEIVED, AS LONG AS THEY GET THE STORY; OR THE SHADOW OF A STORY BASED ON THE MOST SHALLOW OF FACTS. ENOUGH TO ALLUDE TO WRONGDOING, SEEMS GOOD ENOUGH THESE DAYS. I'VE NEVER SEEN SO MUCH WILD SPECULATION, ON ANY ONE STORY, SINCE I BECAME A NEWS HOUND, WHICH GOES BACK TO THE EARLY 70'S,…..LONG BEFORE I BECAME A REPORTER MYSELF. I FEEL SORRY FOR ROB FORD BECAUSE HE'S BEING BRUTALIZED AND EVEN THOUGH I CAN BE A PERSISTENT SON-OF-A-BITCH, GOING AFTER A STORY, I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MODERATION AND RESPECT FOR PERSONAL SPACE.
NOW TRUTHFULLY, EVEN IF IT HURTS A LITTLE, THE COUNCILLORS I HASSLE, LOCALLY, ARE NOT POLITICALLY SAVVY, IN MY ESTIMATION, AND THEY COULDN'T HANDLE A HUNDREDTH OF WHAT ROB AND DOUG FORD ARE GETTING PUMMELED WITH, EVEN ON A SLOW DAY…..A SUNDAY. THEY HAVEN'T REALLY HAD TO MUCH EXPERIENCE WITH MEDIA SCRUMS HAVE THEY? BUT THIS MAY BE CHANGING.
I TRIED MY OWN LITTLE JOURNALISTIC FOREPLAY, TO SEE IF I COULD GET A RISE FROM GRAVENHURST COUNCIL, EARLIER THIS WINTER, WHEN I WROTE A BLOG ABOUT BUILDING A CASINO ON THE FORMER MUSKOKA CENTRE PROPERTY, NOW FORMALLY BEING CONSIDERED FOR DISPERSAL, AND REDEVELOPMENT BY THE PROVINCE. IT WAS WHEN THE PROVINCE ANNOUNCED IT WAS LOOKING FOR HOST COMMUNITIES TO JOIN A LIST OF CASINO-FRIENDLY LOCATIONS IN ONTARIO, THAT MIGHT QUALIFY SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE, FOR A GAMING FACILITY. OF COURSE I KNEW IN ADVANCE, THAT WITH OUR PROXIMITY TO CASINO RAMA, AND THE CONSERVATIVE NATURE OF OUR CONSTITUENTS, IT WASN'T LIKELY THE REGION WOULD OPEN ITS ARMS TO SUCH A DEVELOPMENT……WITHOUT A MONSTER RETALIATION BY ASSOCIATIONS AROUND THE LAKES, AND CITIZEN ACTION COMMITTEES; MUCH LIKE WE SAW RECENTLY, IN THE NOW REVOKED TORONTO BID FOR A CASINO DEVELOPMENT. I WANTED TO GET A LITTLE DEBATE GOING, (BECAUSE WE'RE REALL SHORT OF THAT IN TOWN) AND MY READERS PER DAY, HAD TRIPLED SINCE DECEMBER. IT WAS A DIRTY TRICK ON MY PART, BUT TO MY CREDIT, I JUST WANTED TO SEE IF MY READERS WERE FOR OR AGAINST, OR WOULD BASE IT ON ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, SUCH AS VEHICULAR AND MARINE TRAFFIC, DENSITY ISSUES, AND WATER QUALITY ISSUES. I DIDN'T GET A SINGLE EMAIL, PHONE CALL, OR DEATH THREAT….WHICH OF COURSE, WAS NICE.
I BASED MY ARGUMENT THUSLY. I SUGGESTED THAT THE TOWN SHOULD MAKE AN APPLICATION TO THE PROVINCE, TO BE INCLUDED IN THE LIST OF THOSE COMMUNITIES WILLING TO HOST A FUTURE CASINO. WHY NOT? THERE ARE A FEW POSITIVES THAT COME WITH CASINOS……AND THERE ARE A LOT OF MUSKOKA AREA CITIZENS WHO EITHER WORK AT CASINO RAMA, OR RESIDENTS WHO ARE FREQUENT GUESTS, ESPECIALLY FOR CONCERTS. MY POINT WAS, THAT I WOULDN'T VOTE FOR A CASINO, AND I WOULDN'T OFFER A SINGLE BLOG, BEYOND THE INITIAL FORAY, TO OFFER SUPPORT FOR THE APPLICATION, OR MAKE ANY ATTEMPT TO CRITIQUE IT, DURING THE PUBLIC PROCESS. IN OTHER WORDS, I ACTED IN A CONTRADICTORY MANNER, ACCORDING TO MY OWN BELIEFS ABOUT CASINOS, BUT STRESSED MY FIRM BELIEF, THAT THE CITIZENS OF OUR MUNICIPALITY, DESERVE A CRACK AT IT, REGARDLESS OF MY OPINION. I HAVE A LOT OF FAITH IN DEMOCRACY, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, FOR CONSTITUENTS TO FEEL LIKE THEY COUNT IN THIS TOWN….BECAUSE FRANKLY, DEMOCRACY HAS BEEN MORE OF A CAPTION TO THE PICTURE OF OUR TOWN, THAN SOMETHING INDIVIDUALS CAN GRASP-UP AND EMBRACE. DEMOCRACY HAS BEEN AN AMBIGUOUS HALF-REALITY, THAT WE THINK IS WORKING ON OUR BEHALF, BUT WE COULDN'T SWEAR TO IT. SO I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD MOBILIZE TWO SIDES, AND GET SOME SERIOUS DISCUSSION GOING ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE FORMER MUSKOKA CENTRE PROPERTY, ON MUSKOKA BAY. I DIDN'T REALLY THINK IT WAS A GOOD IDEA TO SLAP DOWN A CASINO THERE, IN THE FIRST PLACE, BUT THE FACT THAT GRAVENHURST COUNCIL IS MUTE GENERALLY, OF EVASIVE NORMALLY, ON ANYTHING CONTROVERSIAL, INSPIRED ME TO BAIT THEM WITH SOMETHING THEY'D HAVE TO QUELL BEFORE A RIOT GOT UNDER WAY. I'M PRETTY SURE THE COTTAGERS' ASSOCIATION WOULD HAVE PLENTY TO SAY ABOUT SUCH A PROPOSAL. GRAVENHURST COUNCIL, AS USUAL, OPTED TO PULL "THE TURTLE," AND UNLESS ASKED A DIRECT QUESTION, IN PERSON, DECIDED TO LEAVE WELL ENOUGH ALONE…..SEEING AS I KIND OF PROMISED TO LEAVE THE WHOLE FUTURE OF CASINOS, UP TO THE CONSTITUENTS THEMSELVES; WHO OTHERWISE, OUT OF PROTRACTED APATHY, DON'T SPEAK UP ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT, OR DON'T WANT IN OUR MUNICIPALITY.
IT WAS A RUSE, AND THEY DIDN'T GET ALL SWEATY ABOUT ANSWERING MY ENQUIRY, AND WITHIN WEEKS, THERE WAS ANOTHER PROPOSAL, FOR A DIFFERENT AREA OF THE TOWN…….AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY "NOD-NOD-WINK-WINK, SAY NO MORE," PLAYFULNESS ABOUT THE MUSKOKA CENTRE, WAS LONG FORGOTTEN IN THE BLOGGER'S DUSTY ARCHIVES. THEY DIDN'T TAKE THE BAIT, AND I SUPPOSE THAT MEANS THEY BEAT ME AT MY OWN GAME. SO HOW CAN I APPEAL TO THEM, AT PRESENT, TO TAKE GREAT CARE, HANDLING THE MUSKOKA CENTRE PROPERTY DEBATE……..AND HAVE THEM TRUST MY ADVICE. AFTER ALL, I DID TRY TO GET THEM TO RESPOND TO A TRICK QUESTION. WELL, I'LL GIVE IT A TRY, REGARDLESS, AND RELY ON A COMPELLING ARGUMENT TO WIN THEM OVER TO A MORE CAUTIOUS APPROACH TO SUCH A CONTENTIOUS ISSUE.
THE BAY AND LAKE ASSOCIATIONS ARE GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN PROPERTY USE CHANGES - YOU CAN COUNT ON IT!
My advice to Gravenhurst Councillors, individually, is this! If you have the impression, that the sale and transformation of the Muskoka Centre property, is going to be a slam-dunk deal, with a potential purchaser, between the province and supporting municipality, you should pinch yourself hard, and twist till tears well in your eyes. I foresee this potential land-use issue, as being the biggest in the District of Muskoka, in decades, and one of the most controversial. When I read in the local media today, that there are already transparency issues arising, involving our town council, as raised by a member of the public, boy oh boy, what a big, big mistake. This council has made a few dandies since they were elected, but if councillors are deluded enough, to think for one minute, one second, that they will be able to employ the "one voice" of council strategy, that has shown up routinely for the past two and a half years, they will rue the day they went along with that status quo I've been talking about. In this case, it must be inexperience, more so than just being naive, because you shouldn't be on council in the first place, if you don't understand the sources of power out there……you really shouldn't short-change.
As a reporter and editor, from the 1970's, to the 1990's, I was right in the middle of some epic battles over resort development, and land-use issues, in the Township of Muskoka Lakes. The biggest one of the day, was with the controversial Roseneath Hotel re-development in Beaumaris (Milford Bay area). An historic Muskoka resort was to be re-developed and expanded, funded by major European backers. The re-zoning for the property, to allow for expansion of the facility, caused years of turmoil and hard feelings in the township…..and reverberations were felt around the district. It began the period of activism on the part of the Muskoka Lakes Association, and they were so determined to have their input into municipal democracy, that they ran candidates in the municipal elections for more than a decade. They insisted on being recognized as having rights within the township, for the huge weight of taxes they pay. Some locals felt differently. I mean it. There was a lot of change necessary, to develop a full democracy between permanent and seasonal residents, via the township council. Our paper generally supported the M.L.A.'s bid for council representation, and they were successful placing candidates in council seats. It pissed off a lot of locals, and it took years of mending, but it did a lot of good for relations down the road. It was hugely democratic, even though it was seen as a power move by seasonal residents to push around the locals….and keep township development down…..thus hurting job opportunities. This really wasn't the case, or the net outcome of their involvement.
The Muskoka Centre property, in my opinion, is going to be problem, in much the same way as the Roseneath application for re-zoning. It is going to be difficult to satisfy all interests…..the permanent citizens of the town, and the cottage community. It is a hugely valuable acreage and could, if redeveloped into a resort or condominium project, (which is the current rumor) generate a lot more traffic on Muskoka Bay, and potentially add to the water quality problems that already exist in the slow-to-flush-out body of water. My advice to councillors, now that a transparency issue has already been identified, and publicized in the local press, is to save yourselves…..by being abundantly aware, that Gravenhurst Council is being carefully scrutinized……by a lot of interested parties, to see just how they might react in a tough debate, and subsequent action, on the Muskoka Centre property dispersal. Council is not a political party, so it's a good idea to speak as individuals……regardless what you may have been told to the contrary. What heats things like this up, as it did with the Roseneath debate, were political arguments and protocols, that got in the way of good old fashioned conversation with everyone included. Eliminating public involvement on the committee, looking into this, from the town perspective….if this is true, is a giant error in judgement…..because it will be an issue to pick upon, for editorialists more savage than me…..and give those opposed to certain land-use proposals, a lot of ammunition to take down a town council, hard.
My advice is simple. Pay attention to the requests for information, updates, and meetings, from the Muskoka Bay Association, and possibly the Muskoka Lakes Association. We had a huge vote of support from the Muskoka Bay Association, when we were fighting to conserve The Bog, and I found them totally understanding and co-operative…..and willing to help do the right thing for the environment. Which was sensible after all, because The Bog naturally filters run-off water, from many neighborhoods in the urban community, before it drains into Muskoka Bay. When we got their phone call, offering assistance, I have to tell you, it was like the cavalry coming around the bend at Gettysburg. We had a lot of fear we were going to lose the property, but thanks to their verbal support, and letters to town, council backed-off a bad decision, and the wetland was spared. As a reporter and editor, I always had a good working relationship with the M.L.A. and the Muskoka Lakes Ratepayers Association, and I found their ambitions for the region, were fair and sensible. It doesn't mean we didn't occasionally lock horns, but nothing that caused longterm discomfort.
If councillors are foolish enough to believe, they can be unified on this issue, when it does come down the pike, it depends how their position relates to the cottage community. This shouldn't become a local versus cottager issue, but the town has shown poor judgement in the past…..and giving the impression of reducing transparency from the get-go on this project, is really tempting fate. My suggestion, for those councillors who think I'm kidding them again, should do some research on their own, and whether it is in the library files, in Bracebridge, where they may have newspapers to view from that period, it would be personally advantageous, to know the facts of the debacle of once, before they trip into another quagmire where there is no safe exit. I can not forgive any councillor for being naive after two and a half years in office. I can't forgive them, for allowing walk-outs at the Opera House, without having had the sense, to address the problem personally. I can't forgive them for having thought it was a good idea to spend the Haight Bequeath to pay down the town debt. I couldn't possibly forgive any of them, for causing a crisis with the Muskoka Centre, because they walked into the decade's most controversial land-use issue, with blinkers on…….thinking they can get by on this one too, because media scrutiny is half what it used to be. This will be a big-city news story, just like Roseneath was in the early 1980's. So there shouldn't be any confusion, that this could be a difficult process to go through for all parties……so it would be helpful, from here on, to clear up transparency issues, and allow for the potentially behemoth involvement of cottager associations. Welcome them instead of fearing them. This is my olive branch to Gravenhurst Town Council. Pay attention to advice from someone who has pretty good insights, from ground zero, of an epic Muskoka battle; don't underestimate how aggressive this could become in short order……so get your facts before your opining makes this the ordeal it doesn't need to be…..for this town, or our region. I don't trust the province to worry too much about personal feelings, or potential protest……as I've seen their handiwork many times before. But don't think for a minute, the province's cavalier approach, to local sentiment, will do a darn thing to stop a determined opposition, to an unpopular land-use proposal. Let's just say, it would be better, to be up-front, honest, and yes, transparent, than pack away kindling by prerogative, that might one day create an inferno, from a tiny spark. It takes a small amount of wisdom, to figure this out. Don't alienate the partners of our community, by making a political error in judgement. Otherwise, your final months of the council experience will be something for the history books.
Thanks for joining me today. The Muskoka Centre re-development is a big deal. Its ultimate success will depend on negotiation, sensitivity, sensible proportion…..and the welcome, on all sides, of counter point. Counter point is a good thing, despite what you may have been told.
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