CHRISTMAS IN GRAVENHURST -

AND IN CASE YOU'RE WONDERING, I DON'T SUPPORT ONE GOVERNMENT FOR MUSKOKA

I can not, in good conscience, help pound the last nail into the coffin, for the independence of our Muskoka communities, by supporting the revived mission of some, to make the District level of government the administrative end-all. What the movement is creating, is that familiar wave of endorsement-hustling, to pound the square peg into the round hole, such that we might believe with this particular wash of political / economic smarts, everything will be so much better without all these awkward governmental divisions.

I read and heard the same type of "administrative betterment" propaganda with the creation of the Trillium Lakelands School Board. So, how did that all work out? As an example, just before you shoot the messenger, consider the reality that school buses were running during Friday's storm aftermath. Consider the fact the power was out in Gravenhurst for quite a period of time,….. it was hugely dangerous because the snowplows and sanders were held back because of hydro problems, power was out in several schools when students arrived, and tree and branch-laden roads could have caused serious delays and accidents on their own. The dirt roads haven't got enough frost down in them so in warm weather with snow, you tell me that doesn't make for interesting driving. When the buses should have been cancelled for our locale, they weren't because of a disconnected administration, from one end of the massive region to the other. Even having kids at roadside, waiting for buses, put them at great risk, due to falling limbs. If it had been colder, under the same snow conditions, with buses having to make lengthy stops for accidents and road clearing, the risk would have been substantially higher. So in terms of efficiency and, well sensibility, the system didn't work as it should have, to protect passengers. The reality is, a better reporting, and decision-making protocol should be in place, to differentiate between the weather realities and dangers in Gravenhurst……that don't necessarily affect Bracebridge or Huntsville. The broad sweeping protocols of canceling buses…..well, it means there's a precarious disconnect with sensible proportion, and it should be fixed before there is another similar incident.

If I was mayor, I would have made my own call to the Board, to let them know some important, local, safety issue concerns about sending those buses forward…..and the potential legal ramifications of doing so. As mayor one would have to know how dangerous it would be, to have those buses and snowplows in a stand-off on a narrow dirt road. So who does have ultimate authority here? Is One Government going to make it all better?

I covered District and Town Councils from 1979 to 1990, and I saw a lot of stuff I didn't like. There's still a lot that makes me cringe about both levels of government. But I have grave concern, about those proponents, who have this idea, that the economic situation will be so much better by reducing the number of politicians, and the apparent duplication of services. If you've been reading the recent Toronto carryings-on, one might just wish to pause for awhile, to consider just what bandwagon we're jumping on. Above all else, the reality is, the expanded school board has not been the model of success it was expected to be, and while provincially driven to amalgamate, has not, in my opinion, created all the efficiencies it was supposed to, when it was hastily put into place. Once again, citizens be damned. When was the last time you heard or read about Board of Education Trustees debating issues at their regular meetings. I remember some great old fashioned point-counterpoints, that every citizen could read about in the local press……and yes when it was the Muskoka Board of Education. Is everything just fine down there at headquarters. I don't think so, but most people would believe this. There's not a lot of education issue ink being shown in the community press these days. Why not? Are there no contentious issues? Trustees have been greatly reduced in their capabilities to fight for what we want! Just pay your taxes and suck it up. So the first thing that is mandatory, is to examine the successes and failure of that amalgamation, with all the economic benefits and improvements detailed, so that the folks here, can see for themselves what they're headed for, in one tier proponents get the changes they desire.

Remember this fact of crafting a movement. You start with the mission you believe is the best one for all of us. I think the interest is genuine. It is worth reviewing and appreciating it, and as my hero, Dr. William Dawson LeSueur (named both Gravenhurst and Bracebridge, and was a critical-approach advocate), would say……of course it is relevant to have both sides presented for scrutiny. Not however, a "we think it's a great plan - and so should you." If I was mounting a campaign, such as trying to get folks out to our Christmas Variety Show (Dec. 10th at the Opera House), I wouldn't offer you reasons not to attend. We have a desire to fill all the seats because that will be good for the charity we plan to support with the proceeds.

The fact a committee has been created to look at this "one government" issue, is admirable, and a clear sign democracy is getting a little work out. I like that. Yet you're not going to find, (at least very much any way), an over-abundance of this balanced critical approach to solution finding; or inviting participation of a parallel group, offering up substantive reasons why the present system should be maintained and refurbished instead. Why is that? Why wouldn't this be in their best interest, to present pro and con. I mean, if they were genuinely interested in the good graces of democracy, and getting a dynamic new government system, why wouldn't it be taxpayer-serving, to hunt and gather both sides of the contentious issue, as a genuine exercise of public education. What you will find however, like we'd expect for a mandated project mounted by a few, that it will generally be a negative perspective…..because they're selling a concept. As good intentioned as they are, this is a mission to accomplish an end result. Whether there is any other motivation for this, at this time, who knows? Is there a deep seeded political agenda here? We need to ask these questions, even if the answer is "NO." So that we can again ask one more time, "ARE YOU SURE?"

There needs to be a parallel study, and possibly a group of citizens to look at the benefits of what we have at present, and if it can be improved upon versus being scrapped altogether. One level of government plays into the hands of political messers-about, and those who know the system, and what has happened in Toronto, and many other large municipal governments, and allows a political drift of party politics, into the regional scheme of governance…..and while it plays out at present, and has for decades, it is mildly but significantly buffered by the two tier system, which places "town welfare" as the over-riding concern…..not whether there are more card carrying party supporters at the table. Is their a Klinck Team in Muskoka, like the Ford Team in Toronto? Believe it or not, our councillors here, in Gravenhurst, while undoubtedly carrying some loyalty to their former mayor, as present District chair, are representing their town in the proceedings of council business…….fighting for what they can, and lobbying for the welfare of their taxpayers with the divisions of capital spending. I don't think the prevalence of political party influence has the same oomph as it would in a one tier system, where governance for the whole region, can be vastly swayed away from hometown values……to follow political will of governing parties in upper levels in this country.

As someone with a little experience in this field, and having worked with a former District Chairman for most of a decade, I feel the best way of improving District Government, is to take the same taxpayer enthusiasm, that is now proposing single tier governance, to instigate an administrative reform, to let councillors and staff know they are being monitored by the ratepayers……up close and personal. It has had an influence in Gravenhurst, because the ratepayers are not pacifists. They have kept citizen members up to speed, and have co-operated generally with elected members. The outcomes of this intrusive reality. Councillors know they're being watched, reviewed, and held to account. It's not perfect, and not such that all efficiencies are met, but it's still a fledgling outfit. Now my suggestion, is that the one tier thing, become a "district watchdog," and make some demands on council, for reform, that are currently not being made. It's foolish to think efficiencies can't be found with the present system, that would allow the towns to maintain their own municipal councils. But they need to be held to greater account, for their actions, and reactions, and for the giant debt they currently possess…..on our behalf.

One last point. The tag program for garbage is one of those debates, that bothers me, and I wish I had a greater, louder, more influential voice, to ask them to stop this initiative in its tracks. At least at the local level, at present, we can approach the subject based on the economy and sensibility for Gravenhurst to adopt this strategy. I can tell you now, a broad sweeping initiate, with faulty logic, could mean a countryside full of garbage. If you look at some areas of Toronto, even in visible areas, refuse by the truck-load is being dumped on public and private property because of bag limits and extra expenses. As our number one industry in this region, is tourism, and our greatest resource is our landscape, making it any more difficult to dispose of garbage, or expensive, and we will see our roadsides and open spaces become impromptu and convenient landfill sites. As someone who helps pick up this refuse…..and there are quite a few of us doing this around here, even one neighborhood's dumping is often unbelievable…..let alone a whole district. Ask the local Salvation Army Thrift Shops how much refuse they get in the guise of donations? Town and District Councillors need to know this, and that means enlightening themselves by actually asking those who know best…..not surmising, and then voting for something that doesn't fit our region. The number of low income situations in our region, tell me very clearly, they will not be able to afford what is being proposed. The two bag limit per week situation, is a problem. The three bag per week allowance at the landfill site is good, and I use it frequently, but then I have a vehicle. Many of our citizens don't. While I'm not suggesting that it is this situation alone that will cause illegal dumping, because cost-savings is a big incentive for many of us, it will contribute none the less. The local level understands this, and will be approached accordingly.

If we were dealing with one tier on this issue, with the potential of political agendas being more prevalent, we could definitely experience a more difficult block of opinion, than we do now……when we at least have the town council's wishes being passed on to the district table. We don't have to drive to Pine Street in Bracebridge to access of reps. Is it a subtle difference? Yes it is. Fear mongering? Of course I am. As political influences pop up, in municipal politics all over the country, I don't want to deal with a pro-provincial, or federal party strategy unfurling in our region. It's there now, and few would deny it……but it is less strategic than it could be if we had, after some future election, more card-carrying party loyalists. Party politics in municipal politics isn't new, but the proposal in Muskoka for one tier……while not new…..is going to have to be weighed accordingly. Not just because I'm a critical mouth-piece…..but because logic tells us, that with the misadventures of the past, we should exercise great caution when afforded the chance. We need a clear and concise overview of both the present system, with all its apparent flaws, as compared to the new model. No holds barred. It's time the citizens of this community were allowed all the facts…..not just the ones used to achieve a successful end result for some.

And Merry Christmas to you.