CHRISTMAS IN GRAVENHURST -

TOWN COUNCILLORS DESERVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS - FOR WEATHERING A TOUGH FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE - WE DO APPRECIATE THEIR EFFORTS

WHETHER I CAN BOAST HAVING FORTY READERS OF THIS BLOG, OR 400…..MAYBE AN EVEN MILLION, IT ISN'T THE POINT OF THE REGULAR OPINION PIECE, OR SNIPIT OF LOCAL HISTORY, TO ATTACK, CONFOUND, OR DEMONSTRATE SOME SORT OF REBELLION. SAVING THE BOG WAS DIFFERENT. THIS WAS WRONG-MINDED FROM THE START, AND THANKFULLY, WE ARRIVED AT THE RIGHT DECISION. AS GENERALIZATIONS GO, AND I'VE POINTED THIS OUT BEFORE, TOWN COUNCIL, LIKE THE OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT WE LIKE TO COVER WITH BLANKET EDITORIALS, AND SCATHING OPINIONS, IS SQUARELY IN OUR SCOPE OF GENERAL DISHARMONY THESE DAYS.

FORGIVE US FOR OUR SNARLY DISCONTENT. IT'S JUST THAT AGE-OLD MISTRUST OF POLITICAL OFFICE…..AND IT HAS BEEN GROWING IN THIS UNFORTUNATE WAY FOR A LONG TIME. I DON'T WANT MY READERS, OR THE COUNCILLORS REPRESENTING THE TOWN, TO COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT PUNDITS, HOME OFFICE CRITICS, LIKE ME, DISLIKE ELECTED OFFICIALS AS A GENERAL RULE……TO SOMEHOW FURTHER OUR CAUSE. IT COULDN'T BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. THERE ARE VERY FEW FOLKS I'VE ENCOUNTERED OVER A LIFE TIME, I COULD ADMIT TO DISLIKING…..AND PROVIDE SUBSTANTIAL REASONS FOR MY OPINION. I DON'T HAVE ANY SUCH OPINION ABOUT THE FOLKS WHO BRAVELY SERVE PUBLIC OFFICE HERE, AMDIST A LOT OF CRITICS THROWING A LOT OF INSULTS. THAT DOESN'T MEAN, FROM TIME TO TIME, WE WON'T SPAR OVER SOME REALITIES OF PUBLIC DISCONTENT.

CANADIANS GENERALLY SUFFER FROM A GROWING APATHY, ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN DO TO CHANGE THE WAY GOVERNMENT ACTS. ABOUT THE WAY WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO PERFORM THEIR DUTIES, IN A TRANSPARENT FASHION, SO WE CAN SEE THAT DEMOCRACY IS WHAT MOVES THE MECHANISM…..NOT THE RESULT OF DICTATORIAL OPINING, AND WHAT WE FRANKLY SEE AS UNDEMOCRATIC TAMPERING BY PERSONAL "AGENDA"….TO INFLUENCE GOVERNMENT POLICY. WHICH IS, FOR MOST, THE FORGING OF THE OPINION, "DEMOCRACY ALLOWS US TO ELECT A DICTATOR."

WHEN YOU READ ABOUT THE SITUATION IN TORONTO, THIS IS PRETTY MUCH THE CASE. ELECTION PROMISES BEING IMPLEMENTED, BY BRUTE FORCE, AND WITH MANY CASUALTIES……CONTRARY TO WHAT MOST CONSTITUENTS BELIEVED WOULD HAPPEN, WHEN THE NEW ADMINISTRATION WAS SWORN IN. NOW THE CITY IS IN A PUBLIC RELATIONS CRISIS THAT DIDN'T NEED TO HAPPEN, QUITE AS IT HAS, JUST BECAUSE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO CURTAIL SPENDING AND DEFICIT FINANCING. I CAN'T IMAGINE THE STRESS-LOAD ON THE MAYOR, AND COUNCIL GENERALLY, BECAUSE OF THIS GOUGING APPROACH TO SOLVING A PROBLEM, THAT HAS TAKEN DECADES TO CREATE. MOST TAXPAYERS WANT FRUGALITY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY, AND GOOD VALUE FOR THEIR TAX INVESTMENT. THIS WE UNDERSTAND. AND WE CAN GET FAIRLY NASTY WHEN HIT, TIME AND AGAIN, BY HUGE ANNUAL INCREASES. BUT IT'S ALSO RELEVANT TO CONDUCT BUSINESS OF GOVERNMENT, APPRECIATING THAT DRASTIC MEASURES CAN BE JUST AS DEVASTATING TO THE SAME GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, WHO BELIEVE IN THEIR GOD-GIVEN RIGHT TO GOVERN……BUT AREN'T TOO THRILLED WITH THE CITIZENS DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS TO SEEK THEIR OUSTER. IN ANY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT, IN CANADA, FROM THE BIG MUCKY-MUCKS TO THE RANKS OF MUNICIPAL COUNCIL, THERE IS EVIDENCE OF DISREGARD FOR CITIZEN DISENCHANTMENT.

THERE ARE FAR TOO MANY PERSONAL, PARTY AGENDAS, THAT COME TO PLAY IN THE DEFINITION OF "WHAT IS CANADA…..WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE CANADIAN." I'VE NEVER HAD TO ASK. I GREW UP STARING AT A PORTRAIT OF A KID, WEARING A NAVAL UNIFORM, WHO WENT TO WAR TO FIGHT FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE DEMOCRACY I HAPPEN TO ENJOY…..WE CELEBRATE. MY DAD NEVER ONCE NEEDED TO BE ASKED "SO WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE CANADIAN," BY SOME MEDIA OUTLET WORKING A SLOW NEWS WEEK. BUT IF I COULD ANSWER ONCE, AND ONLY ONCE, ABOUT WHAT BEING CANADIAN MEANT TO MY FATHER……IT WOULD BE, "A COUNTRY WORTH DIEING FOR." HE CAME CLOSE TO BECOMING A STATISTIC OF WAR. MANY OF US CAN LOOK BACK ON THE EFFORTS OF OUR FAMILY, TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE DEMOCRACY, WITH AN EQUALLY POIGNANT OBSERVATION ABOUT SACRIFICE FOR HOME AND COUNTRY.

When I make an objection to the way town council may be acting, regarding some decision, or indecision, a direction or expenditure I don't agree, then I expect them to understand my right to object…..and strenuously, within the bounds of sensible proportion. I am not the founder of revolution, and I'm certainly not an advocate of civil disobedience…..as a rule. I have a pretty sensible outlook, and appreciation for council business, and the stresses it faces annually from development interests, and that same respect of sensible proportion, for the community that depends on it for making good decisions. When I become particularly animated about these turns of events, it's not the case my reaction is person on person, and as I have no dislike for anyone on council, my position is always with council as a whole. This broad stroke approach isn't my invention. It's just the way it is, and has been, and unfortunately, it does unfairly reflect on those councillors who may agree with my arguments……but must abide by a council vote. If I've been unhappy about anything, with the present Gravenhurst Council, it is because of the glaring, troubling, lack of serious debate at the council table…..almost as if much of the process is hammered out, well away from media scrutiny. In my day, as a front line reporter covering the same council, this was a forum for debate, and councillors then relished the idea of making their points, objections and opinions known to the public…….either for a project or against. They became clear identities. They were known for being outspoken, and folks around here liked the fact it wasn't a compliant group, without a hefty influence of counterpoint and objection. It's one thing for council to make an unpopular decision, but quite another to do so without some very aggressive debate……which gives us the knowledge, there are fighters on our behalf, knocking-about anything that looks and smells like status-quo.

There are a lot of issues facing town council in the new year that will be uncomfortable. There is the need to meet the taxpayers demands for transparency, particularly over the issue of the recreation centre debacle, because there's obviously more of the story to come; and we certainly deserve to know what all the fuss was about, that cost us so much extra administrative money. It won't be an easy three years to navigate, with the kind of tax increases we're likely to get goosed-by for the balance of their four year term. But then again, for those councillors I did talk to before the election, I made it clear, that with my knowledge of municipal governance, their four year term was going to be history making……and I wasn't wrong. Just as I will offer the warning about the next three years. There's going to be history made……as well…..and maybe not for the right reasons. It has nothing to do with a negative perspective, and everything to do with reality. The business community woes will be front and centre, just as it has been this year. Tax increases will be a tough sell, and I would not want to be a council representative, showing up at a cottager association meeting this summer, to explain what cost us all that money.

I do want to acknowledge, very sincerely, my respect for those folks who do brave elected office, with the genuine hope and aspiration, to represent our community to the best of their ability. I know these people, and I respect them for their commitment. I do wish them well, as I also wish council equally good fortune……that will obviously benefit us as well. There is a lot to be hopeful and inspired about in our small town. There are good things happening, that do clearly demonstrate, this is a transitional time in our history, that will end when it ends, and the process may be slower than we might like. Point is, we're here because we love Gravenhurst. It's not a city, and not a town looking to become a city. I like that quality.

From this crusty blogger, and sincerely loyal and faithful servant of this community, I would like to extend a Christmas greetings to the members of Gravenhurst Council, and sincere wishes for a Happy New Year. I mean it. And so do a lot of citizens here, who truly appreciate how crazy it is, to run into the fireball of council business……to serve others.