The Bag of Snakes and How to Handle It

ELECTED OFFICE A BAG OF SNAKES? SOMETIMES!

ADVICE TO COUNCILLORS WAS BASED ON HAVING HELD A BAG OF SNAKES!  PART OF GOOD CITIZENSHIP TO DO THINGS WE DON'T NECESSARILY LIKE!

     NOT LONG AGO, I ASKED A CANDIDATE FOR LOCAL MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS, WHY SHE WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE? WHAT WAS THE BIG PLAN? WHY COMPLICATE YOUR LIFE WITH THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF ELECTED OFFICE? THINK OF THE PHONE CALLS FROM ANGRY BASTARDS LIKE ME! HAVING CONSTITUENTS IN YOUR FACE, WHILE DINING-OUT, DOING THE WEEKLY SHOPPING, YARD SALE HOPPING, AND JUST TRYING TO RELAX IN A BACKYARD RECLINER! NEVER A MOMENT'S PEACE, FOR A RELATIVELY SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY. PROBLEMS EVERYWHERE, ALL OF THE TIME! "FOR GOD'S SAKE, WHY DO YOU WANT TO EXPOSE YOURSELF TO THE UNRELENTING FRICTION OF ELECTED OFFICE? IF PAIN'S YOUR GAME, WHY NOT JUST TAKE A LONG, SPEEDY SLIDE DOWN A LENGTH OF MUNICIPAL TARMAC, ON YOUR BEHIND, TO GET THE SENSATION OF SELF ABUSE. OR RUN THROUGH THORN BUSHES NAKED, AND THEN APPLY LIBERAL AMOUNTS OF IODINE TO THE WOUNDS?"

    FOR SOME POLITICIANS, THIS IS EXACTLY HOW IT FEELS, AND THE CONSTANT BERATING FROM CITIZENS, IS ENOUGH TO GIVE ANYONE ULCERS. PARTICULARLY BECAUSE THERE ISN'T ANY RELIEF SOLVING ONE PROBLEM, OR TENDING A CRISIS. THERE ARE TEN MORE BEHIND THAT RESOLUTION. YET IF YOU TALK TO MOST SEASONED POLITICIANS, WHO'VE DONE THE ROAD-SURFING THING, AND HAVE SOME HEALED-OVER ROAD RASH, YOU'LL FIND MOST OF THE SURVIVORS, ACTUALLY FIND THE CHALLENGES OF OFFICE QUITE STIMULATING. HAVING REPORTED ON THESE PEOPLE, I KNOW SOMEWHAT, THE NATURE OF THEIR CHARACTERS. THEY LIKE PROBLEM SOLVING, AND THEY'RE NOT ADVERSE TO MIXING-IT-UP WITH ADVERSARIES, WHO THEY WILL ADMIT, OFTEN BECOME FRIENDS AFTER THE ACCUSATIONS AND SHOUTING. THEY ARE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T SCARED-OFF BY LOUD BLUSTER, FINGER WAGGING, THE FINGER GENERALLY, OR INNUENDO; AND SELDOM IF EVER, DEFER A TRIP TO THE GROCERY STORE, BECAUSE IT MIGHT INITIATE SOME TAXATION DEBATE, BETWEEN THE CEREAL AISLE AND FRESH PRODUCE. THOSE WHO SHOULDN'T BE ELECTED OFFICIALS, TRY TO BEAT A HASTY RETREAT, OR HIDE AMONGST THE RUTABAGAS.

     WHEN I SAW THE SINCERITY IN THE CANDIDATE'S EYES, THAT SHE REALLY DID WANT TO GIVE ELECTED OFFICE A TRY, I FELT COMFORTABLE SHE WAS READY TO RIDE THE ROLLER COASTER OF EMOTION. THE HUGE INCLINES AND DEEP DECLINES, MIMIC IN PART, WHAT BEING A POLITICIAN MOST OFTEN ENTAILS. I SAW IN THE TWINKLE OF HER EYE, A GENUINE INTEREST IN THE COMMUNITY SHE WAS GOING TO REPRESENT, AND AS I'M A BIG FAN OF NEW BLOOD ON COUNCIL, I SHOOK HER HAND AND OFFERED ANY SUPPORT OUR FAMILY MIGHT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE. I DID WARN HER HOWEVER, THAT THE ULTIMATE SUCCESS OF A MUNICIPAL POLITICIAN, DEPENDS ON THE ABILITY TO PLAY SMART, LIKE A GAME OF POOL……, THREE SHOTS AHEAD. PLAYING ONE SHOT, WITHOUT A STRATEGY, IS PRECARIOUS. THE BUSINESS OF A TOWN, ISN'T STRICTLY CONFINED TO OFFICE HOURS, AND PLANNING AHEAD, MEANS YOU'LL ALWAYS KNOW WHERE THERE'S A SAFE ROCK TO CLIMB ONTO, IN THE MIDST OF A RAGING TORRENT. ORDERLINESS ON THE FIRING LINE, IN THE HEAT OF BATTLE, IS MORE A MATTER FOR THE DISCIPLINED MIND. THERE'S SO MUCH MORE IMPOSITION, THAN THE GENTLE BRUSH OF OFFICIAL PROTOCOL-PLEASANTRIES. IF ONLY THE GRIP AND GRIN PHOTO SHOOTS WERE THE TOUGHEST PART OF THE DAY.

    NATURAL DISASTERS, OR MANMADE CATASTROPHES, DON'T OPERATE ON A SCHEDULE. I REMINDED HER THAT GETTING ELECTED WAS THE EASY PART. HAVING TO PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLE IN A DISASTER SCENARIO, WHERE COUNCIL IS SUPPOSED TO LEAD US THROUGH CRISIS, THE NEW NORMAL CAN GET PRETTY DARN EMOTIONAL. I'VE COVERED ACCIDENT SCENES, WITH FATALITIES, AND WATCHED ALL KINDS OF FOLKS DROPPING FROM THE SIGHT OF BLOOD, AND KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR CLOSE PROXIMITY TO DEATH. SOME WERE COLLEAGUE REPORTERS, NOT QUITE USED TO HIGHWAY MISADVENTURE UP CLOSE. MAYBE THIS ISN'T IMPRINTED IN THE MUNICIPAL ACT, OR BEEN DISCUSSED AT GREAT LENGTH BY COUNCIL. GOD FORBID, BUT IF A PLANE FELL OUT OF THE SKY ONTO OUR TOWN, THAT DOES BECOME COUNCIL BUSINESS, WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. REAL FAST ALL OUR LIVES, ACTIONS AND REACTIONS BECOME MORE DANGEROUS. ALL THE RE-ZONINGS, MINOR VARIANCES, PLANS OF SUBDIVISION, ARE PUT ON HOLD, AS THE TOWN'S DISASTER PLAN IS PUT INTO EFFECT. I SENSED SHE KNEW THIS WAS ALSO PART OF THE JOB. BUT SEEING AS I WASN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO SHOW BY EXAMPLE, HOW GUT-WRENCHING THIS CAN GET, AT THIS WORSE CASE SCENARIO, I PUT MY TRUST THAT SHE COULD BE A WORTHY RESPONDER, IF THE NEED AROSE. WE ARE ON A FLIGHT PATH, AND WE HAVE AN AIRPORT WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF OUR MUNICIPALITY. WE DON'T WANT IT TO HAPPEN, BUT IT COULD!

     WHAT I DIDN'T TELL HER, AS SOMEONE WITH A LITTLE EXPERIENCE IN MUNICIPAL POLITICS, (AS SOMEONE WHO PISSED-OFF A LOT OF COUNCILLORS IN HIS DAY), IS THAT THE FEELING OF ACCOMPLISHMENT, IS ALWAYS MORE SPECTACULAR, WHEN YOU'VE HAD TO WORK HARD, AND DILIGENTLY TO FINISH A PROJECT. I'VE KNOWN QUITE A FEW POLITICIANS WHO ADMITTED FEELING FANTASTIC, WHEN THEY HAD BEEN ABLE TO WORK TO MAKE  LONG OVERDUE, AND LIFE-CHANGING IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR COMMUNITY. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY SELF-SERVING POLITICIANS, WHO WERE THERE FOR THE WRONG REASONS. IT SHOWED. THEY DIDN'T LAST LONG EITHER, AND WE MADE SURE OF THAT FACT. OUR REPORTING STAFF COULD SNIFF OUT POMPOSITY AND INFLATED EGOS FIVE MINUTES AFTER THE ELECTION RESULTS WERE FINALIZED. WE KNEW IT BEFORE-HAND, BUT WE'D GIVE THEM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT UNTIL THEIR FIRST MOMENTS IN OFFICE. THE "I DID IT MY WAY," CLOWNS, WHO WERE QUICK TO BRAG HOW LUCKY COUNCIL WAS, TO HAVE THEIR INPUT. WE MADE THEM A PROJECT. IF THEY COULD ANSWER THE TOUGH QUESTIONS, AND THEY COULD COME UP WITH THE INSIGHTFUL STATEMENTS, WE EXPECTED OF OUR COUNCILLORS, WE LET THEM BE AS POMPOUS AS THEY DESIRED. BUT IF THEY DIDN'T PASS THE NEWS STRESS TEST, WE LET THEM FLOUNDER, AND LOOK STUPID ON THE FRONT PAGE, HAVING MADE RIDICULOUS STATEMENTS…..THAT WE DECIDED THE PUBLIC HAD A DEFINITE RIGHT TO KNOW ABOUT. IF YOU WERE A ROOKIE COUNCILLOR, WHO MAY HAVE MADE AN OFF-HAND REMARK, OR ANSWERED INCORRECTLY DUE TO LACK OF EXPERIENCE, WE WERE MUCH, MUCH KINDER. IF THEY WERE WILLING TO LEARN, AND IMPROVE, AS WELL AS TREATING US WITH RESPECT, THEY'D LOOK MUCH BETTER ON THE FRONT PAGE THAN THOSE OF A MORE BOMBASTIC CHARACTER……WHO FELT REPORTERS WERE ONE UP FROM GUTTER SNIPES.

      I TRIED TO SCARE THIS MUNICIPAL COUNCILLOR. I WANTED HER TO KNOW THAT WHATEVER SHE HAD HEARD ABOUT ME, AS A MUNICIPAL WATCHER / CRITIC, WAS TRUE, AND THAT SHORT OF BECOMING A WEREWOLF BENEATH THE BRIGHT FULL MOON, I WAS ALSO A RABID BELIEVER IN COMMUNITY PRIDE, AND THE GOOD THAT CAN BE DONE BY INSPIRED, BENEVOLENT CITIZENS. THE GOOD THAT CAN BE GENERATED FROM TOWN HALL, WHEN WE ALL FEEL A PART OF THE MUNICIPAL PROCESS. MOST OF THE TIME, AND YOU'LL HEAR THIS OFTEN, WE FEEL ON A PAR WITH "HARRY POTTER MUGGLES." COUNCILLORS WILL DENY THIS, OR THAT THEY HAVE PLAYED A PART, MAKING US FEEL SO LOWLY; BUT THAT DOESN'T CHANGE HOW MANY OF US, HAVE COME TO FEEL, LIVING, WORKING AND PLAYING IN OUR HOME TOWN.

     I INFORMED HER, THAT BY GOLLY, WHEN I'M NOT BEING A MUCK-RAKER, I'M ABOUT THE MOST APPROACHABLE GUY ANYWHERE ON EARTH, AND THAT BECAUSE I'M A HOME TOWN BOOSTER, MY ONLY STRIPE TODAY IS "GRAVENHURST." THERE IS, OF COURSE, THE MISUNDERSTANDING, THAT CRITICS CAN NEVER BE FRIENDS OR ALLIES. THAT EVEN ONE GENTLE CRITICISM IS ENOUGH TO SINK THE RELATIONSHIP. WHEN I OFFER INFORMATION TODAY, BASED ON MY OWN IMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE OF THE LOCAL NEWS MEDIA, THAT THINGS ARE SO MUCH SOFTER TODAY, THAN A FEW YEARS EARLIER, THE VETERANS KNOW I'M RIGHT. NEW COUNCILLORS AREN'T REALLY SURE WHAT THIS REPRESENTS. THE LACK OF SERIOUS, CUT-THROAT MEDIA, DIGGING HARD FOR BIG SCOOPS, TO WIN READERSHIP, MEANS THAT COUNCILLORS NOW, MAY ONLY FEEL THE SENSATION OF RUBBER TEETH GNAWING AT THEIR ANKLES, AND BE ABLE TO KICK THEMSELVES FREE. INSTEAD OF SHARK TEETH. IN MY YEARS, COUNCILLORS KNEW INTIMATELY, HOW BAD IT COULD GET, IF THEY MADE A MISTAKE WITH OFF-HAND, OR ILL CONCEIVED STATEMENTS, OR ACTIONS. I'VE HAD COUNCILLORS ON THE ROPE MANY TIMES, AND ALL I NEEDED TO HEAR WAS EITHER, "LET ME EXPLAIN," OR "SCREW-YOU," BEFORE WE CAME UP WITH THE FRONT PAGE ORDER. TRUST ME ON THIS.

    REPORTERS YOU SEE, WERE TRYING TO IMPROVE THEIR CHANCES OF MOVING-UP TO THE DAILIES, OF THIS COUNTRY, AND TO DO THAT, REQUIRED A BADGER-LIKE DEMEANOR. GETTING A FRONT-PAGER, ABOVE THE FOLD, WITH A DOUBLE OR TRIPLE-BANKED "BOLD" HEADLINE, MEANT THE STORY HAD 'WINGS." THIS TYPE OF BIG SCOOP MIGHT HAVE DESTINED, THAT THE STORY WOULD BE PICKED-UP THE THE TORONTO STAR, THE GLOBE, THE SUN OR ANY NUMBER OF OTHER PUBLICATIONS, WILLING TO PAY MONEY TO POOR REPORTERS, FOR A BREAKING STORY. SOMETIMES, COUNCILLORS FELL INTO THE STORY ACCIDENTALLY……SOMETIMES BY SIMPLE INEXPERIENCE AND BUNGLING. I WON'T NAME NAMES. BUT THERE WERE COUNCILLORS WHO CO-OPERATED WITH US, WHO GOT PREFERRED TREATMENT. SCANDALOUS YOU SAY? JUST RETURNING AN ACT OF KINDNESS. 

     I DIDN'T GET INTO THIS WITH MY CANDIDATE FRIEND, AS I COULD SEE THAT FEAR-MONGERING WAS TAKING ITS TOLL. AS I INTENDED BY THE WAY. I THINK ANTICIPATING THE BAG OF SNAKES, ELECTED OFFICE CAN SOMETIMES REPRESENT, IS A BETTER "KNOWN" QUALITY, THAN BY SUDDEN INTRODUCTION. WHICH ALWAYS ILLUSTRATES JUST HOW QUICKLY ADVERSITY CAN STRIKE FROM THE CLEAR BLUE. I SOMETIMES RAMBLE ON, IN CONVERSATION, BUT WHAT IT ALL CAME DOWN TO, IS THAT I WAS WILLING TO OFFER ASSISTANCE, AS SOMEONE EXPERIENCED IN THE PITFALLS OF ELECTED OFFICE (FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE), AND NOT AS A LOBBYIST, PUSHING AHEAD A PERSONAL AGENDA. I DON'T REALLY HAVE ONE ANYWAY. IT'S KIND OF A DAY TO DAY THING. ON OCCASION, WHEN I MAKE THESE OFFERS OF WISDOM, IN EXCHANGE FOR A CUP OF COFFEE AND A STICKY BUN, I REALIZE IT WILL NEVER FOSTER THE KIND OF RELATIONSHIP THAT IT SHOULD. SUZANNE TELLS ME I COME ON TOO STRONG, AND THAT I SCARE THE CRAP OUT OF FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS. I KNOW SHE'S RIGHT. I PLAY THE "LOU GRANT" EDITORIAL BLUSTER PRETTY WELL, AND MY FORMER STAFF USED TO PASS ME NOTES ON A STICK, TO AVOID THAT PARTICULAR HOUR'S TIRADE, ABOUT DEADLINES, NO MORE CIGARETTES AND COLD COFFEE. MY WEEKLY COLUMN WAS ACTUALLY CALLED "COLD COFFEE," OR "TEPID SLIME," AS BRANT SCOTT USED TO CALL IT.

    YET BEYOND THE BLUSTER, IS THE GENUINE ARTICLE, WHO REALLY DOES KNOW HIS STUFF, AND WHO LOVES ANIMALS, TREES, THE SEASONS, AND OLD AND ENDEARING POEMS, ABOUT LIFE AND ROMANCE. I MIGHT BE CRITICAL, AND TO A FAULT, TO SOME WHO MAY FEEL UNFAIRLY SCOOPED-UP IN MY GENERALIZATIONS. I CAN'T APOLOGIZE FOR THE IMPRESSIONS I MIGHT CAUSE, AS COLLATERAL DAMAGE OF MAKING A POINT. I DON'T MAKE POINTS I CAN'T DEFEND, AND MY PERCEPTION OF THINGS GOING ON AROUND ME, IS PRETTY ACUTE. I'M AN OBSESSIVE PEOPLE WATCHER, NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH A PEEPING TOM. EVEN AS A KID, I WAS TUNED TO THE ADULT WORLD. HOW TUNED? MY BUDDIES AND I, USED TO HANG-OUT AT THE BRACEBRIDGE TRAIN STATION, FIRSTLY, BECAUSE WE LOVED TO WATCH TRAINS PASS CLOSE BY. SECONDLY, IT AFFORDED US AN OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH AS THE BOUNCER, AT THE LOCAL ALBION HOTEL, SHOT DISORDERLY CUSTOMERS OUT THE FRONT DOOR…..WITHOUT OPENING IT FIRST. NOW BRACEBRIDGE HISTORIANS WON'T DOCUMENT THIS KIND OF SOCIAL HERITAGE, BUT I WILL….WHICH REALLY PISSES THEM OFF. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW INTERESTING IT WAS, TO WATCH THESE "FORCIBLY REMOVED" PATRONS, BRUSHING THEMSELVES OFF, ROLLING UP THEIR SLEEVES, AND HEADING RIGHT BACK THROUGH THE DOOR. WE'D WATCH THE SAME GUY GET TURFED (ON ASPHALT), FOUR OR FIVE TIMES, BEFORE HE GOT THE MESSAGE. WE DIDN'T TURN AWAY BECAUSE THINGS GOT UGLY. WE PAID ATTENTION TO WHAT WAS GOING ON IN OUR TOWN, THAT DIDN'T MAKE THE WEEKLY NEWS. IT WAS FASCINATING. IT WAS TRAGIC, OF COURSE, IN THE SENSE IT WAS HUMAN VULNERABILITY ON DISPLAY…….ALCOHOLISM. BUT THERE IS A FINE LINE, FOR THE VOYEUR, AS TO WHETHER IT IS WRONG TO WATCH, AS IT IS A TRAGIC CIRCUMSTANCE UNFOLDING, OR ON THE OTHER HAND, AN IMPORTANT STUDY, OF THE CURRENT EVENTS IN A COMMUNITY'S LIFE AND TIMES. I WAS BOTH A FLEDGLING REPORTER AND HISTORIAN BY THE TIME I WAS FIFTEEN.

     IT DIDN'T BEGIN WITH MY YOUTH. NEAT STUFF WAS GOING ON FOR DECADES, THAT NEVER MADE IT TO PRINT. YET IT WAS THE SEED OF LEGEND. FOR EXAMPLE, MY OLD GARDENING FRIEND, BILL ANDISON, OF BRACEBRIDGE, USED TO TELL THE HOSPITAL COFFEE-TIME GANG, ABOUT HIS YOUTHFUL EXPLOITS. BILL WAS PROBABLY WELL INTO HIS SEVENTIES, WHEN HE WORKED AS THE GROUNDSKEEPER AT SOUTH MUSKOKA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL. I WAS ON THE PAINTING CREW, AND WE MET UP AT COFFEE-TIME. WHEN BILL STARTED TALKING ABOUT HIS FARM DAYS, OUT IN THE PURBROOK VICINITY, ON THE FRASERBURG ROAD, HE'D HAVE US SPEWING COFFEE THROUGH OUR NOSES. THERE WOULD BE FOLKS LIKE FRANK HENRY, THE HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR, KEN DAWSON, JACK HIGH, GEORGE JACKSON AND FRANK LOVELOCK, WITH "WILLY" RECALLING HIS BOYHOOD PRANKS. THE DAY HE TOLD US ABOUT THE QUEEN'S HILL SLING-SHOT CAPER, WAS HIS BEST PERFORMANCE. HE REMINISCED, REGARDING THE PLAN OF HIS LITTLE GROUP OF RASCALS, HIDING OUT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL, AT THE OLD THOMAS STREET INTERSECTION WITH MANITOBA STREET; HAND-MADE SLING-SHOTS READY TO FIRE. WAITING PATIENTLY FOR THE HORSE-DRAWN MILK WAGON, TO PULL AROUND THE CORNER. IT WAS THE WAY WILLY TOLD THE STORY THAT HAD US IN STITCHES. HOW CAREFULLY THE LADS POSITIONED THEMSELVES, AND CAREFULLY THEY TARGETED THE HORSE'S ASS, FOR A GOOD, STINGING SHOT. IT WAS WHEN HE WAS DESCRIBING THE HORSE REARING-UP, AND THE MILK CANS, FROTHING MILK AND DRIVER TUMBLING BACKWARDS DOWN THE QUEEN'S HILL, THAT TOOK THE CAKE. HE WAS A TERRIFIC STORY TELLER. NOW IT WASN'T THE CASE WE DIDN'T FIND THE PRANK NASTY AND DANGEROUS, BECAUSE WE DID. HISTORY AFFORDED US A LITTLE WIGGLE ROOM ON THIS, AND CONSIDERING HE DID FEEL A LITTLE REMORSE AT HAVING TAKEN DOWN MANY DELIVERY WAGONS THE SAME WAY, WE JUST AGREED "BOYS WILL BE BOYS!" IT WAS THE KIND OF HISTORICAL REVELATION, THAT IS PART OF OUR HISTORY BUT SELDOM IF EVER DOCUMENTED. IT WAS IMPORTANT. IT WAS PART OF OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE. IT DID FALL UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF A MUNICIPAL COUNCIL AT THE TIME, AND A TASK FOR THE LOCAL CONSTABLES, BUT AS WILLY WAS FLEET-FOOTED ENOUGH, HE GOT YELLED AT, BUT NEVER APPREHENDED.

     I COULDN'T HAVE REALLY EXPLAINED ACCURATELY, OR BELIEVABLY, THAT EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL IN THIS TOWN, OR ANOTHER PLACE, BECOMES PART OF THE LEGACY; PART OF THE HISTORY, WRITTEN AND UNWRITTEN, AND OF THIS FACT, THEY SHOULD BE AWARE AND PROUD…..AND YES, THIS DOES INCLUDE SITUATIONS THAT WERE BY ALL ACCOUNTS COMEDIC, JOVIAL, PRANKSTERISM, AND THE SOMEWHAT LESS THAN SERIOUS. YOU WILL NEVER KNOW EVERYTHING IMPORTANT ABOUT COMMUNITY HISTORY BY READING BOOKS ALONE. IT'S THE PERSONAL TOUCH THAT FILLS IN THESE GAPS. SO THE MUNICIPAL ACT FALLS SHORT, OF EXPLAINING JUST WHAT A COUNCILLOR IS INHERITING, WHEN THEY ASSUME THE CHAIN OF OFFICE, AFTER A SUCCESSFUL BID FOR ELECTION. TO UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY, IT ALL COUNTS. THE TWINKLE IN THE EYE OF OLDTIMERS, MEANS SOMETHING. SOMETIMES MUCH MORE THAN YOU KNOW.  SO IT DOES PAY OFF TO LEARN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO REPRESENT. WHAT LURKS IN THE SHADOWS? I'VE KNOW SOME CITIZENS OF OUR SOUTH MUSKOKA COMMUNITIES, WHO SPENT A LIFETIME IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS WITHOUT CONTRIBUTING A DARN THING, EXCEPT THE BUSINESS OF THEIR OWN DAY TO DAY LIVES. HEY, WHATEVER TURNS YOU ON! I'VE MET MANY COUNCILLORS OVER THE YEARS, WHO GOT NOTHING OUT OF THE EXPERIENCE OF REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE, OTHER THAN A PAY CHEQUE. THEY COULD HAVE DONE ANY OTHER JOB, BUT THEY WANTED TO BE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL. WHAT DOES THIS SERVE? PERSONAL GRATIFICATION? A FEW BUCKS, HARDLY WORTH THE HASSLE, OF GETTING CALLED ALL TIMES OF DAY AND NIGHT. ON THE OTHER HAND, I'VE MET FOLKS, AND TOWN COUNCILLORS, WHO WERE GENUINELY ENRICHED, BECAUSE OF THEIR IMMERSION IN HISTORY-MAKING. NOT JUST MAKING HEADLINES. BUT ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE FABRIC AND WELL BEING OF THE PLACE WE CALL HOME.

EXPERIENCING THE CITIZENRY ISN'T LISTED AS PART OF AN ELECTED OFFICIAL'S JOB - BUT ONCE YOU TRY IT, YOU WON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO COMPLACENCY!!!

     If I had sat my candidate friend down, and tried to explain the social / cultural history of Gravenhurst, I would have failed because of its complexity…..and well, its peculiarities, like any town on the good old earth. Nothing is quite as it seems. The people this councillor would come to represent, may have come from pioneer stock, and have been responsible for, "the way we are" today. In the mix of constituents are business folks, industrialists, nurses, doctors, waitresses, janitors, contractors, those who build and those who demolish, teachers, landscapers, and maybe even a candlestick maker. There are citizens who may claim to have been previously abducted by aliens, those who have seen ghosts, fairies in midnight revels, gremlins living under their porch, and may have witnessed werewolves bounding across the moor in the late autumn. And there are artists, craftspeople, poets and journalists. Authors and musicians, philosophers and the clairvoyant. There are people who believe, and those who don't believe much of anything. In the mix are adventurers and explorers, hikers and canoeists, mountain-climbers and those who enjoy the thrill of jumping from planes, and off cliffsides, with chutes and safety cords of course. Cyclists and joggers, walkers and dancers. Drinkers and abstainers, and a whole lot of youth. There are characters who have too much fun, and those who by their own admission, seldom have fun at all. Hundreds of folks volunteer to help others. Some can't help themselves. A lot of citizens are well-off financially. Quite a few do without. There are the happy, and there are the desolate, who have little hope of seeing a sunrise for what it should be……the start of a bright new day.

     How would I have, in a limited time, explained to this council hopeful, what should be obvious, to any resident, council candidate, John or Jane Q. Citizen? Would I have insulted this individual, suggesting that this perception of community had evaded her previously? It's easier to write about it, than to explain something like this. And why I believe, subtle heritage is forgotten by some, who do find themselves as our community's representative. There is a very real danger, you see, of de-sensitizing to the character realities, and personal circumstances of the constituency, when the oath of office is recited, and the Municipal Act frames what happens from that point. It happens with all levels of government. And it is always wrong. Especially when there's a choice that can be made. To dive a little deeper into the dark, still pool.

   If for example, you were having a little fun baseball game, and you had to pick from a crowd of constituents, who would be playing on your team. The selection process, while always uncomfortable, narrows the view down to persons of interest. Suddenly what appeared as a block of constituents, comes down to individual participants from which to build a competitive team. Captains make choices, based on insight of potential. Even the person who may not make a great athletic contribution, may be terrific at motivating the squad. Someone else might not be able to catch the ball, but sure can make the rest of the team laugh. In the blend of humanity, are those proficient at hitting, running and catching. Just as there are individuals who could craft a new ball glove, out of leather, turn a new bat, wire-up the backstop, build the bleachers, and make really good sandwiches. The fun and magic of it all, is that we are interesting as individuals, but we sure make a hell of a team. The true human dynamic of community. Maybe some critics find us here in Gravenhurst a little "Mayberry-esque," and the wise-acres amongst us, might shoot back at Bracebridge, as being a little "Bugtustle" like, and Huntsville more eerily similar to Hollywood's "Hooterville." It's what I like about living in a small rural community. It's the characters…the individuals who give us the color, the municipal handbook doesn't identify or apply.

     I don't define any town by either its business community, or the property owners, and their stake in the local ratepayers association. I do define it by the citizenry at large. Those who don't own property but happily reside in our community. These are the folks most often overlooked when it comes to council representation. They aren't seen in the same way, as ratepayers, who as a group, are somewhat feared for what power they might be able to exercise. As for renters and those who dwell in those accommodations, they don't have a representative group, to lobby for them, or apply pressure when needed. In the recent debate over how to spend the Terrence Haight bequeath, for example, ratepayers were indicated, as a group that had participated somewhat, in the process to find a suitable investment for the million dollars. There was no mention, at least in the newspaper article I read, that constituents (the general public) were invited to join the discussion. I remember blurting out to myself (as there was no one else home here at Birch Hollow), "does this town council believe they only represent the rights of property owners?" Believe me, this is a common situation, and not just in our municipality. As the bequeath was given to the Town of Gravenhurst, and the town council to invest, the implication is fairly clear, in legal terms, and that means all citizens of this fine burg are partners in how the kind inheritance is spent. They might not like the connotation of this news, but it doesn't change a thing. Councillors and ratepayers are not the end-all, in this community-building-thing we've had going, since the late 1850's. Remember a paragraph or so ago, when we were picking that philosophical baseball team. Well, it was made up of all constituents, not just land owners and select popular others. So when I get all hot and bothered about this protocol shortfall, this is the reason. The neglect our elected officials occasionally show, toward residents, because of their perceived modest stake in the community, is always regrettable.  Being a resident, means you've got fundamental rights in the community.  A lot of community builders, professionals and leaders in this town, didn't own an inch of property. It would be much to our disadvantage, if they had lived somewhere else.

     Maybe it wasn't intentional. I would like to believe this, and when the matter comes to a vote, next Tuesday, at town hall, what a great victory it would be, for all of us in this grand mix of humanity, if a previous decision to invest the money, to pay-down the municipal debt, was deferred, and cancelled all together. Not because of protest, but because of heartfelt reflection, that what was given as a memorial to help the community, will be used as an investment fountain, producing interest, in perpetuity, to assist citizens and citizen initiatives. How often do you inherit a million dollars? How often does a community inherit a million dollars? It's a pretty unique circumstance, and God Bless Terrence Haight, for providing this vast resource to help our town.

   

IN A CRISIS, WILL WE COME TOGETHER FOR THE COMMON GOOD

     Even in the emergency planning manual, and all the training in these matters, undertaken by first responders, nothing really prepares a community for a crisis, where all capable individuals are required to participate. Sometimes when we mistakenly assume ratepayers and the commercial sector is "the community," an event pops up, as nature likes to impose, and all citizens become characteristically relevant. Such was the case with the most recent tornado, that hit several neighborhoods of our town. "Our Town," said it all. Residents came out to help where they could, and however they could, whether they were ratepayers, or residents. There was no distinction made, or badges worn, to show degrees of citizenship. Folks pitched-in to help neighbors. Introductions and handshakes of thanks, were being expressed all over the affected area, and our family was amongst the mix of activated citizenry. It was remarkable to see. Comforting to know how we reacted as a town, to this misfortune of nature's fury. It could have been so much worse. This is what you have to think about, before running for election, to represent all these residents……that some day, some time in the future, we are going to need everyone's help to deal with disaster.

     While there is probably a subsection of the manual that deals with mobilization details, for citizens, it still requires the leadership skills of those we put in charge. While I didn't wish to impose all my concerns, at one time, on my candidate friend, I'm sure she understood the implications of council leadership, in good times and during adversity. If you think about the joyless task of running the town during two World Wars, and a Great Depression, and through all the turbulence of recessions, and Cold War, today's responsibilities seem so much more mundane and achievable with lesser stress. Maybe I'm wrong about this. Possibly if we took this present council back, to the Depression Years, and asked them to guide us all safely through the economic quagmire. While still supplying basic municipal services, and feeding the unemployed and homeless, plus all those who came through our town riding the rails, huddled in the backs of trucks and on foot. How would they have interpreted and governed, by bylaw, the parade of hobos, and those residences where they were invited to stop for a hot meal…..located as a "friendly stop" by a simple decoration on a fencepost, or by word of mouth? Would they have found anything in a municipal code of conduct book, or would they have to improvise a plan. As with any disaster, and misfortune, there is a necessity to react accordingly; and that may again involve the community, as it always has, coming together as individuals, to create a team to fight back. Think of how many citizens contributed to the war effort, but never left home? Do you have any idea how many socks, hats, mitts, and apparel items were knit here for soldiers overseas? How many hundreds of fundraisers were held to help the war effort? To feed the poor? To help families down on their luck? I can forgive municipal representatives for occasionally forgetting the lessons of history. I can appreciate how difficult it can be, to deal with pressing contemporary issues, and balance the interests of the future, with present depleted budgets. But whatever councillors think of their stresses at present, it is of course, a tradition of the job…..that has a beginning with an election victory, but has no real end. I know many retired councillors, who are still as active now as they once were, trying to help our community on its way.

     The civilized world today is in a fragile state. Almost daily we have to carry on our lives, after hearing about the strife of war, and the desolation of economic collapse. Starvation, the spread of disease, environmental and natural calamities, such as earthquakes and drought. The present civil war in Syria may be one of the most volatile situations since the Second World War, because of the very real possibility, of it drawing in major world powers, to a regional conflict. If you've wondered why the international community is watching the carnage and brutality occur, it's because of the stance of nuclear-armed nations. There's an awful lot to lose, with a political error in judgement. While it seems so unlikely, that a Euro-zone economic problem or war in Syria, can hurt us here in beautiful South Muskoka, those of us who've been around a while, know perfectly well the ripple-effect of bad things happening elsewhere. And if we were faced with a serious and dangerous world crisis, affecting us at home, how would the elected officials respond, to their newly advanced role in office, as our protectors. It's really what I wanted to ask my candidate friend. If it came to such a terrible turn of events, how would she feel being at the helm of a community in crisis? You can't pick and choose about these events, having won a term of office. I think I can answer my own question.

     Council would do what it's supposed to do……..enlist the help of residents.

     Thank you so much for visiting today's blog. Please visit again soon.

Branding and Why Not - Public Ire

TO THEME A TOWN OR NOT TO THEME - THAT'S A PRETTY TIMELY QUESTION

GOOD TO SEE PUBLIC RISING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE

     MY FIRST TRIP TO MUSKOKA WAS IN THE SUMMER OF 1965. IT WOULD TURN OUT TO BE THE INTRODUCTION TO MUSKOKA THAT WOULD CHANGE MY YOUNG LIFE, INTO THE OLD FART I AM NOW. MY FATHER CAME UP FOR A VISIT, AT THE URGING OF A FAMILY FRIEND, AND BUSINESSMAN, BOB JONES, WHO WAS THE OWNER, AT THAT TIME, OF BRACEBRIDGE'S HISTORIC SHIER'S LUMBER MILL. BOB HAD A LOT OF BUILDING PLANS HE WANTED TO LAUNCH, AND AS MY FATHER HAD ONCE WORKED FOR HIS FAMILY'S LUMBER BUSINESS IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO, IT WAS FELT ED COULD HELP MOVE THE WORK FORWARD. SO ED ACCEPTED AN INVITATION TO BOB'S SMALL "SPEC" COTTAGE, THE COMPANY HAD BUILT ON BRUCE LAKE, IN THE MINETT AREA. ON THE WAY UP TO THEIR COTTAGE, I SAW A MOOSE AND TWO BEAR CUBS, WHICH WAS WILD FOR ME, CONSIDERING I'D ONLY EVER SEEN CRITTERS LIKE THIS FOR THE PRICE OF ZOO ADMISSION.

     MY WEEKEND AT THE BRUCE LAKE PROPERTY WAS MY BEGINNING. I WAS JUST A KID, BUT I MADE MY MIND UP QUITE INDEPENDENTLY, THAT MUSKOKA WAS GOING TO BE MY FUTURE HOME. AS IT TURNED OUT, WHICH WAS GOOD FOR ME, ED ACCEPTED THE JOB, AND BY THE EARLY SPRING OF 1966, WE WERE ON OUR WAY IN THE BLUE VAUXHALL THAT GOT US TO GOD'S COUNTRY, BUT NOT AN INCH MORE. IN FACT, IT DIED SHORTLY AFTER WE ARRIVED IN GRAVENHURST. IT WAS PRETTY HARD TO FIND VAUXHALL PARTS IN THOSE YEARS, SO I THINK MY DAD JUST GAVE IT ONE FINAL CURRIE SALUTE, AS HE WATCHED IT PASS OVER THE HILLSIDE OF THE COUNTRY ROAD, ON THE BACK OF A TOW TRUCK. POINT IS, WE WERE HERE. NEW MUSKOKANS. THERE WOULD BE A LOT MORE TRIAL AND ERROR FOR OUR FAMILY, BEFORE WE WERE TRULY SETTLED, BUT I KNEW THEN, THAT NATURE WAS WHAT I REQUIRED TO LIVE A GOOD LIFE. AS I'M WRITING HERE, TODAY, LOOKING OUT ON THIS BEAUTIFUL BOGLAND ACROSS THE LANE, WHAT A LIFE IT HAS BEEN, HERE IN THIS AMAZING HINTERLAND REGION.

BRANDING, RE-BRANDING, AND A LOT OF NONSENSE BY THE SHOVEL-FULL

     For some ridiculous reason, there is this insatiable appetite to change what doesn't need to be changed. There are imbedded agenda-obsessed individuals all over the place these days, many of them getting into politics, to fulfill their passions to save us from ourselves. The current debate, in Bracebridge, for example, about the re-branding of the town, as an education / cultural centre of the region, versus being recognized as Santa's summer home, is beyond preposterous. As far as the commercial branding of the town, in the first place, it is the result of that ever-questing for the Utopian peak, when the streets will be "paved with gold, and no one will ever get old," and farting will be outlawed altogether. I understand the Education / Cultural branding idea, and where it comes from, and I don't like it. We lost an historic park in the centre of an urban area of Bracebridge, as a direct result of educational institutions insisting on locating there…..instead of somewhere less intrusive, and compromising to the urban community. If this was an example of what education branding means, then we might expect more parkland to be gobbled up in the name of post secondary education. Bracebridge blew it, when they sacrificed a park for education. And they're blowing it once again, with this ridiculous branding thing, that won't work anyway. It wasn't desired by the public, but you see, this is the problem today…..and Gravenhurst is really starting to show similar characteristics lately, of the watering-down of the public"s right to participate, in the very democracy that is supposed to serve them. As for branding Bracebridge as Santa's summer home, it's irrelevant, and doesn't require town council to do a damn thing. It's how our family members used to write to us in the 60's. "So Ted and Merle, what's it like living with Santa?" I'd hear my mother on the phone with city friends, asking when they were coming up "To Santa's summer home?" No kidding. What began in 1957 I believe, had become a corner post of the community, in less than a decade. It helped having Lake Ontario swimmer, Marilyn Bell, and I think Cliff Lumsden, swim up the Muskoka River for the Village opening. You don't forget things like this. Santa's Village has been highly successful branding on their own, without having a whole community become Santa crazy, as a way of making things better. The town has a great history to exploit. Mostly that's tucked into books for safe keeping.

   From the late 1950's, Santa's Village has been a integral part of the town's life and times. Maybe we didn't think about it constantly, but there were reminders all over the place during my childhood. My girlfriend Gail Smith worked there, and so did a whack of kids, needing jobs. In 2012, it is as imbedded as it can possibly get, without the town actually changing its name altogether. It doesn't need to be branded by some formal procedure. With the massive advertising the village has had, for these many decades, there's hardly a worry Bracebridge will ever lose its connection with Santa, despite this education branding-thing. The only problem, of any full-scale saddling-up to the Village, is that it isn't owned by the municipality, and one day may cease to operate as it is today. What then? As it is, everything seems to work fine, and the casual but long-term relationship has brought unspecified prosperity to both the business ventures and the municipality. Nothing formal needed. And the nice thing about the relationship with Santa's Village, is that it has always used the Muskoka backdrop sensibly, in their marketing, and never given the impression they were an aspiring urban park in a pine forest setting. They've utilized nature such that it has become as much a great Muskoka promotion, as it is a Bracebridge theme park. I like that. Even as a kid, I thought it was great how Santa was integrated into the Muskoka setting, so naturally, and without having to cut away the trees that make it such an enchanting location. It's still a theme park, but it hasn't opted for a bald-landscape approach, and kept it all looking forested and beautiful. If I find it enchanting, dear friends, it has passed a lot of stress tests for me. I just don't feel it needs to be all-consuming, as Bracebridge already has a huge historical provenance to exploit. Here's an example of how integrated Santa's Village and town life has been over the years. Some would say, it has been a terrific relationship.

     I remember the last time the town and Santa's Village joined to have a "Christmas in July" week, including a main street parade. I was a fledgling public relations assistant for the soon-to-be launched Crozier Foundation for Children. I was able to coax Roger Crozier to ride in the parade. What was historic and nostalgic about this, is that in the summer of 1966 I believe, the town held a parade for Roger, after that year's Stanley Cup Playoffs. The young Bracebridge goalie, had been awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy, as the most valuable player in the playoffs. Even though his team, the Detroit Red Wings lost to the Montreal Canadians, Roger wowed everyone with his amazing acrobatics to keep the puck out of the net. So he was awarded the trophy, and presented a gold Ford Mustang. So all these years later, I couldn't resist signing-up Roger, to re-visit that time in his life, and our town, motoring down Manitoba Street…..as part of the Santa's Village, Town of Bracebridge partnership that summer. I managed to get local hockey historian, Guy Waite, and his vintage car, a convertible, for Roger to ride in, that day, with Suzanne and I, and our two boys, Andrew and Robert, handing out candy to the huge crowd in attendance. We had fired-off a press release to the local media, announcing Roger would be traveling the parade route, to commemorate the 1966 Conn Smythe celebration. I had butterflies, let me tell you, because there was a lot that could go wrong. Rain for one thing. 

    I've never seen a parade crowd that huge, in any of our Muskoka communities. It wasn't just to see Roger……as Santa was also a pretty popular character that day. But it didn't require any documentation under the caption, "Plan for Branding." It just happened with good event planning and solid promotion. No marriage vows were required, and everything went great. I was proud to have Roger in the parade, and pretty pleased with myself, I was able to get organizers onside. We also didn't want to mess with their Christmas in July theme. It all worked so well together, and Roger had a blast. He was throwing candy himself, and it was great that so many people remembered our hockey legend, who were calling out his name for the entire length of the parade route. I was at his side the whole time, and hearing the crowd cheer for him did bring tears to our eyes. Roger died seven months later, of prostrate cancer. If I had doubts about pulling it all off, thank goodness I didn't get deterred by a few unexpected complications. I went on to become the public relations spokesperson for the Crozier Foundation, later that month, and I would eventually, at Roger's urging, become the curator of the Bracebridge Sports Hall of Fame, the Bracebridge arena facility created to honor local athletes. Just a little add-on here. I have a postcard somewhere here at Birch Hollow, of Roger driving the "Candy Cane Express," at Santa's Village, when he was a young man, in need of a summer job.

    I stayed with the Foundation for 12 wonderful years, serving the memory of a terrific hockey player, and generous man. As a little sidebar, I was the go-between for funding applications, and I got a chance to pitch funding situations to the Crozier Foundation Board. If I suggest a bursary program for the Town of Gravenhurst's recent bequeath, it's from my own experience helping those folks out, who find themselves in serious need. I also got the wonderful opportunity, to hand these cheques to successful applicants, and sometimes it involved me visiting a hospital to do so. Roger did a lot for the community, by launching the Foundation.

     You will read and hear about this latest bid to cancel the newly established "Education / Cultural" education centre branding, in favor of the Santa's summer home alliance, and I think it is all like the round-about "traffic circle" they have built up on Pine Street. The branding thing is one wildly unnecessary exercise, when everything works fine the way it is. Muskoka is the only brand needed. How do you improve upon the lakeland? Do what we've been doing since the 1870's. Capitalizing on it, by being sensible stewards. What drew my family to Muskoka in the 1960's, was the possibility of actually living and working in one of Canada's well known vacation paradises. It was just on the news last night, how studies have proven that the influences of nature, forests, lakelands, pastoral settings are good for the body and mind. Parkland can actually reduce blood pressure. It's been reducing mine, accept when I get involved in political debate. I didn't need to read a study to know this. It comes with immersion, and our imbedding in the rural climes. So as far as rebranding, what was already perfect, it's just a waste of money and time, taken away from some other municipal requirement that is not being properly served.

     I grew up in Bracebridge, and I thought it had an interesting heritage and committed, strong relationship with Santa's Village. We've come through a lot of years without the urgent need to brand anything in particular. Now consider what Bracebridge won't exploit……the fact it was named after a book written by one of the best known writer's in history. The town's administration, known and in the wings, refuses to have much if anything to do with Washington Irving, the author of "Bracebridge Hall," and sketches like the fabulous, "Legend of Sleepy Hollow." Having full rights and privileges of this outstanding literary association, a very few opponents have blocked-together to keep it all under wraps. Why? Only they know, and it's obvious the reason is as flimsy and pointless as you might expect. If you have the right to play-up this truly interesting connection, but opt instead for anything else but this, in the re-branding exercise, I'm sorry…….there's not a lot of patience left to reason with the administrative guild, who are so immensely stubborn, they sold off a park to prove a point.

     Gravenhurst hasn't really kicked this branding ball around much, although I wouldn't be surprised if it did appear on the council agenda one day, cooked-up by a committee bored out of its collective mind. I'm pretty sure they know I'm lurking about in the Muskoka forests, ready to pounce on any such ridiculous plan, to fabricate what we represent as a community, for some ridiculous retail extravagance. I would hope then, they would spend some time at the Gravenhurst Archives room, at the Public Library, for some history instruction, about the truly rich heritage we have here……imbedded in this picturesque, world renowned region. Should they be willing to broaden just a tad, I've got a 150th anniversary I'd like to offer them, but frankly, not as a branding gimmick. I'm currently preparing a substantial blog-presentation regarding the town's 150th anniversary. The post office was opened officially in August of 1862, and the name "Gravenhurst," came from the title of a book, written by British philosopher, poet, William Henry Smith. And yes, he was a big deal in his time, being one of the key, longterm writers of the famous Blackwood's Magazine. No, it's not about re-branding our community. Cripes I haven't been able to sell the relationship at all. I'd like to think, in some way, it would enhance the history of the town, and become at least a minor source of pride. It's not every community that has this kind of provenance to world literature. This week, you will notice a full page advertisement in The Banner, for the Summer Chatauqua program, in Muskoka Lakes, which is the historic literary / cultural celebration, reborn from the 1920's and 30's Muskoka Assembly, held on Tobin's Island, Lake Rosseau. Many of Canada's best known poets attended the Muskoka Assembly, and I've written about this dozens of times, for Muskoka Sun feature articles. It's a big deal again. History is being rightfully exploited, re-lived, modernized and celebrated. So here we have our own special international literary prominence in our two communities. Washington Irving, in Bracebridge, and William Henry Smith, in Gravenhurst. These writers were familiar with each other's work, during their writing careers. Smith may have even reviewed some of Irving's work, for the several publications he was employed. I would be brought to tears if I ever heard that a Washington Irving, Henry Smith festival was in the works. It's not sexy enough I guess. Well, it's sexy enough for me, so I'll keep plugging away.

     As an advertorial, I will be presenting the William Henry Smith / Gravenhurst connection, with a companion video, in late July, to commemorate what I think is an important anniversary, regardless whether the town council has any interest or not. I will also be dedicating my regular column, in the August issue of "Curious; The Tourist Guide," to the book by Smith, "Gravenhurst; or Thoughts on Good and Evil," and the 150th anniversary of the official naming of our town. If you would like to know a little bit more about Smith and a host of other connected characters to this story, I'll be starting the series during the last week of July. It will be a simple affair. I don't have the money to invest in a fancy plaque, so it won't make it to the Opera House square. Suffice that the story might interest a few people at least. You can visit "Google Books," and look up the book name, and William Henry Smith, and you will be able to read the entire text of the still-popular book. I think it's a pretty neat relationship, that could prove very interesting in the future. So as self-appointed chief-cook and bottle washer, it's my job to prove it. What kind of odds would Nick the Greek put on something like this. Thousand to one. Well, if it's only a thousand to one, I can work with that…..seeing as my parents thought these were the odds of me finishing school. Three times that, to finish university. Greater than that, I'd ever leave the house. I'm up for the challenge.

ONE MORE PITCH, FOR COUNCIL TO BACKTRACK FROM BEQUEATH DECISION - AND PUT CITIZEN RIGHTS FIRST

     MAYBE THIS IS A LOST CAUSE. I HATE TO THINK THIS WAY, BUT LATELY, I'VE FOUND MYSELF AT ALMOST CONSTANT ODDS WITH THE DECISIONS MADE BY GRAVENHURST COUNCIL. EVEN THEIR INDECISIONS MAKE ME ANGRY. I'M JUST ONE OF THOSE CITIZENS WHO HAPPENS TO HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL BACKGROUND IN REGIONAL GOVERNMENT, AS A FORMER NEWSPAPER EDITOR, AND A LOT OF WHAT I'M WITNESSING TODAY, WOULDN'T HAVE MADE IT PAST THE STARTING BLOCKS BACK IN THE DAYS OF THE NEWSPAPER WARS NOT SO LONG AGO.

   I'M SORRY TO SAY THIS, BUT IT'S TRUE. A FEW LONG TERM AND RETIRED COUNCILLORS KNOW THIS IS TRUE, AND ARE THANKFUL THE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING, AND THE BLISTERING EDITORIALS, ARE A DIMINISHED REALITY IN THE LOCAL PRESS. NO COMPETITION FOR THE BIG SCOOPS, MEANS SOFT NEWS PREVAILS. CHECK IT OUT. TELL ME DIFFERENTLY. IN THE MULTI-NEWSPAPER DAYS,  A LOT OF TOWN BUSINESS WOULD HAVE BEEN PICKED-OVER, AND NEEDLED THROUGH, TO FERRET OUT THE STORIES I SUSPECT ARE THERE, BUT ARE QUIETLY AND GENTLY STUFFED OUT OF SIGHT BUT NOT OUT OF MIND. SO WHEN I TELL YOU THAT THE MOST RECENT DECISION, TO TAKE THE TERRENCE HAIGHT BEQUEATH MONEY, TO PAY DOWN THE LOCAL DEBT, WOULD HAVE BEEN DRY KINDLING FOR US HUNGRY REPORTERS, TRUST ME ON THIS……IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN PRETTY FOR THOSE COUNCILLORS SUPPORTING THE PLAN. NOTHING I'VE READ SO FAR, MEASURES UP TO THE STANDARD WE HAD IN SOUTH MUSKOKA, ONCE UPON A TIME, AND THE CRONIES I KNEW IN THE REPORTING GAME, WOULD HAVE SHREDDED THE IDEA, BUT NOT BEFORE MAKING COUNCIL LOOK REALLY NARROW-FOCUSED AND UNWORTHY TO MAKE SUCH A DECISION. IF IT DIDN'T MAKE THIS CLEAR IN THE FRONT PAGER, IT CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE ON THE EDITORIAL PAGE. COUNCILLORS WOULD HAVE BEEN YELPING ABOUT NEGATIVE PRESS. THAT WOULD HAVE INSPIRED ANOTHER EDITORIAL, AND ANOTHER AFTER THAT! REMEMBER THOSE DAYS? SURE YOU DO. SOFT NEWS WAS BEYOND THE EDITORIAL PAGE. COUNCIL NEWS WAS BARKING UP FRONT.

   THE FACT THAT COUNCIL TODAY GETS A LITTLE SLAP ON THE HINDY NOW AND AGAIN, JUST ISN'T THE KIND OF AGITATION, THAT LETS THEM KNOW A DEMOCRACY IS OUT THERE SOMEWHERE, IN THE MURKY FORESTS, WANTING TO KNOW WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON AT TOWN HALL. THE BEQUEATH ISSUE SHOULD BE FRONT AND CENTER, AND COUNCILLORS SHOULD HAVE BEEN INTERVIEWED BY THE PRESS BEFORE NEXT WEEK'S VOTE. IT'S NOT JUST WHAT I WOULD HAVE DONE AS AN EDITOR. IT'S WHAT A MAJORITY OF EDITORS WOULD HAVE INSISTED ON, TO FIND OUT THE REASONS THESE COUNCIL REPS BELIEVE PAYING DOWN THE DEBT IS BETTER, THAN USING MONEY FOR CITIZEN BURSARIES ETC. THE PUBLIC WANTS TO KNOW. THE PUBLIC WILL BUY PAPERS TO FIND OUT. THE SOFT APPROACH TO JOURNALISM TODAY, ISN'T WHAT WE NEED. WE HAVE NO CLEAR IDEA WHY THIS BEQUEATH IS BEING DIVERTED FROM THE CITIZENS, TO THE DEPTHS OF THE TOWN'S DEBT. DON'T YOU EXPECT THIS FROM THE PRESS? FROM THE MEDIA GENERALLY? A BLOGGER CAN ONLY GO SO FAR.

     IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, ONE CAN ONLY HOPE, THOSE WHO THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA TO USE THE BEQUEATH TO PAY DOWN THE TOWN DEBT, LISTEN TO THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY. HIT THE STREETS. IDENTIFY YOURSELF AS A TOWN COUNCILLOR, AND ASK GRAVENHURST CITIZENS WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE MILLION DOLLAR BEQUEATH / BEQUEST USED FOR…….AND ADD UP THE STATS, TO SEE IF THEY JIVE WITH PAYING DOWN THE DEBT. IT IS EXPECTED THE RESPONSES WILL BE ALL OVER THE PLACE, BUT WHAT IT WILL SHOW POSITIVELY, IT THAT THERE IS A BETTER USE TO EXPLORE. WE'VE GOT SOME TIME TO WORK WITH, DESPITE WHAT YOU MIGHT HEAR OR READ OTHERWISE. THE OPTIONS WILL HAVE TO BE NARROWED DOWN OVER TIME. THE POINT IS, THIS MONEY IS FOR THE CITIZENS OF GRAVENHURST AND NOT JUST RATEPAYERS. THIS MUST BE UNDERSTOOD. GRAVENHURST IS NOT DEFINED AS A TOWN BY PROPERTY OWNERS OR BUSINESSES, BUT BY ALL RESIDENTS WITHIN THE MUNICIPAL BOUNDARY. THIS MAY HAVE BEEN A MISTAKE IN JUDGEMENT, WHEN THE COMMITTEE VOTE WAS TAKEN, A WEEK OR SO AGO.

     IT IS SENSIBLE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, FOR COUNCILLORS TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE PUBLIC OUTCRY. THOSE OF US WHO ARE AGAINST THE USE OF THIS MONEY TO PAY DOWN THE DEBT, ARE NOT THE RADICAL ELEMENT OF OUR TOWN. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THERE IS NO RADICAL ELEMENT IN GRAVENHURST. WE HAVE A PRETTY CONSERVATIVE APPROACH TO STUFF LIKE THIS, SO IT'S PRETTY MUCH RIGHT DOWN THE CENTRE, WITHOUT EVEN THE SLIGHTEST CURVE TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. JUST A FASTBALL INTO THE CATCHER'S MITT. NO GAMES BEING PLAYED, NO HIDDEN AGENDA. WE DON'T LIKE IT, WHEN THE PUBLIC'S WAFER-THIN RIGHT TO INFLUENCE GOVERNMENT THESE DAYS, IS WADDED UP AND DISCHARGED SOMEWHERE OUT OF SIGHT. IF THE TOWN IS TRULY INTERESTED IN TRANSPARENCY AND REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, THEN STOP PLAYING SILLY GAMES…..AND LET US IN. TO LET US IN, ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, REQUIRES THE COUNCIL REPRESENTING OUR VALUES, AND INTERESTS IN OUR HOME REGION, TO OVERTURN THE COMMITTEE'S DECISION. THEY WERE WRONG, AND THEY NEED TO ADMIT IT. WE CAN FORGIVE THOSE WHO CAN ADMIT THEY MADE AN ERROR. IF PUBLIC RELATIONS COUNTS FOR ANYTHING, AND I HATE TO DRAW ON THIS BECAUSE IT'S NOT A POPULARITY CONTEST AFTER ALL, THEN COUNCILLORS CHANGING THEIR VOTES, WILL LOOK LIKE THE "ENLIGHTENED," INSTEAD OF THE BULL HEADED.

     I WON'T BE ATTENDING THE COUNCIL MEETING, ON JUNE 5TH (I BELIEVE IT IS), BECAUSE I'M TOLD MY HARANGUING CAUSES ULCERS. I WOULDN'T WANT TO GIVE ANYONE ULCERS, OR EVEN MILD INDIGESTION. I DON'T WANT TO INTIMIDATE ANY ONE, OR GIVE THE APPEARANCE I'M GOING TO HIJACK THE MEETING WITH MY WILD IRISH WAYS. THEY MIGHT EXPECT ME TO BRING ALONG A CEREMONIAL "ELECTION BROOM," AND MAKE SOME GESTURE WITH IT, AS FOREWARNING OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE NEXT MUNICIPAL ELECTION. THIS IS A COMMUNITY, AND NOT ONE THAT IS WELL SERVED BY DICTATORIAL INTRUSIVENESS, ON MY PART. IF YOU KNOW ME, I'M ANYTHING BUT IMPOSING, PHYSICALLY OR SPIRITUALLY, BUT I DO ON OCCASION, FEEL THE FIREBRAND OF MY ANCESTORS RAGING WITHIN. BUT MOST OF ALL, WITHOUT MY EYES STARING THEM DOWN, I HOPE THEY WILL PAY ATTENTION TO THE GOOD AND KIND CITIZENS WHO DO ATTEND THE MEETING, REQUESTING A RE-CONSIDERATION OF THE DEBT REDUCTION PLAN.

      MY BLOG IS MY SOAP-BOX. (I ONCE STOOD FOR THREE HOURS IN LONDON'S HYDE PARK 'SPEAKERS' CORNER' LISTENING TO THE SOAP BOX OPINIONS). I HAVE AN OPINION HOW THE MONEY SHOULD BE USED INSTEAD, BUT IT IS CONFINED AT THE MOMENT TO THIS BLOGSITE. IF THE TOWN CHANGES THEIR APPROACH, AND WANT SUBMISSIONS, I SHALL GIVE THEM ONE. A BETTER ONE THAN TOSSING THE BEQUEATH INTO THE ABYSS OF TOWN DEBT. I TRUST THERE WILL BE A GOOD TURN-OUT OF CITIZENS FOR THE MEETING, AND I HOPE THEY AREN'T TOO INTIMIDATING EITHER. THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. IT IS ABOUT ENCOURAGING THE TOWN TO RECOGNIZE CITIZEN RIGHTS. IF COUNCILLORS HAVE A PROBLEM RESPECTING THE RIGHTS OF THE RESIDENTS OF THIS TOWN, TO DISCUSS THE BEQUEATH AFFORDED THEM, THEN THEY SHOULD, WITHOUT HESITATION OR RESERVATION, OFFER THEIR RESIGNATION. AS I HAVE POINTED OUT BEFORE, THERE ARE EAGER CANDIDATES WAITING OUT THERE, TO PITCH-IN, IF THE NEED ARISES.

A FINAL WORD ON DEMOCRATIC PRIVILEGE

     I MUST DIGRESS FOR ONE LAST POINT. IF MY COPY READS AS RECKLESSLY ARROGANT AND MARKEDLY "HIGH HANDED," I OFFER AN APOLOGY. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO BE THIS WAY. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A FREE SPIRIT, FIERCELY PROTECTIVE OF DEMOCRATIC PRIVILEGE. WHAT I AM SEEING THESE DAYS, SEEMS SO BLATANTLY DISRESPECTFUL TO OUR BASIC DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS, AND WHETHER IT IS A DECISION ON BRANDING A BUSINESS COMMUNITY, WITHOUT SERIOUS PUBLIC CONSULTATION, OR ADOPTING POLICIES, AND LEGISLATION ANYWHERE IN THIS COUNTRY, THAT SERVES TO DIMINISH CIVIL LIBERTIES, I DO FEEL COMPELLED TO RESPOND, OR GET INVOLVED IN SOME WAY. THERE ARE LOTS OF LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE, IN THIS COMMUNITY AND ELSEWHERE. WE JUST HATE IT WHEN WE HAVE TO GO TO THE TROUBLE, TO PROVIDE CIVICS INSTRUCTION, TO THOSE WHO SHOULD KNOW BETTER. PERCEIVING THAT THEY MAY HAVE CROSSED THE LINE, BY DENYING PUBLIC ACCESS, SHOULD BE ENOUGH "HUNCH" TO HOLD-BACK ON ENDORSEMENT OF A PLAN, IN ORDER TO GET MORE INFORMATION. THE MATTER OF THE BEQUEATH COULD HAVE BEEN DELAYED UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, OF LESS THAN UNANIMOUS SUPPORT. EXPEDITING SOMETHING AS SENSITIVE AS THE BEQUEATH, IN MY OPINION, SHOULD REQUIRE UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FIRST OF ALL. THERE IS ALWAYS THE POSSIBILITY OF A COURT CHALLENGE, TO HOW THE MONEY IS SPENT. HAS COUNCIL CONSIDERED THIS? IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT MORE RESPONSIBLE, AND A SHOW OF SOLIDARITY, TO INSIST THAT WHATEVER THE DECISION, THE VOTE BE UNANIMOUS IN FAVOR OF ONE OPTION, ABOVE OTHER CHOICES CONSIDERED. THIS WAS NOT EVIDENT, AT THE COMMITTEE LEVEL, AND LIKELY WON'T BE, IF THE MATTER IS VOTED ON, AT A MEETING NEXT WEEK, SHOULD THERE STILL BE DISSENTERS. WE CAN HOPE COUNCILLORS WILL BE UNANIMOUS IN REJECTING THE COMMITTEE'S PROPOSAL. THEN COMES GENUINE PUBLIC CONSULTATION.

     THANK YOU FOR JOINING TODAY'S BLOG. PLEASE JOIN ME AGAIN SOON.

Cottager Associations Challenged Status Quo

THE MIX WE ARE IN MUSKOKA - AND THE NECESSITY OF WORKING TOGETHER FOR OUR COMMUNITIES

COTTAGER INFLUENCES HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT

     AS A PREAMBLE NOTE, I JUST WANTED TO THROW A BOQUET TO THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST, FOR THEIR LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE AT KINSMEN PARK, LOCATED IN THE SOUTH-END BUSINESS SECTION. IT'S GREAT TO, AS ALWAYS, SEE THE FISH-THEMED FOUNTAIN IN FULL REGALIA. THE VISITORS LOVE IT. WE LIKE IT. THE PARKETTE IS GOING TO BE A HUGE FUTURE ASSET, AND WHEN THE TREES THAT HAVE BEEN PLANTED, GAIN A LITTLE MORE STATURE, THIS WILL BE A WONDERFUL SHOWCASE GREEN ZONE TO PROMOTE THE WHOLE TOWN. I PREDICT THERE WILL BE A LOT MORE USE OF THIS PARK IF THE TOWN IS WILLING. IT'S A GREAT VENUE FOR ALL KINDS OF FETES. I ALSO HAVE NOTICED THE HORTICULTURAL VOLUNTEERS PLANTING GARDENS AROUND TOWN, PLUS ALL THOSE AREAS THE MUNICIPAL STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING ON, OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS, TO SPRUCE UP AFTER THE WINTER SEASON. I CAN APPRECIATE HOW MUCH WORK THERE IS AT HAND, AND JUST HOW MUCH IT ALL COSTS. IT LOOKS LIKE WE CARE ABOUT NATURE IN THIS TOWN. I'M COMFORTABLE THAT'S TRUE, ESPECIALLY AS I LOOK OUT OVER "THE BOG" THIS AFTERNOON, THAT WAS PRESERVED BY THE TOWN, THANKS TO INSIGHTFUL THINKING AND FUTURE MINDEDNESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF WETLANDS. SURE, IT TOOK SOME NUDGING TO SAVE, BUT NOT TOO MUCH.

    I'VE OFFERED A GENTLE CRITICISM OF THE CONDITION OF GROUNDS AT GULL LAKE PARK, AND THE FACT IT HASN'T BEEN RAKED YET THIS SPRING (MAYBE IT HAS BY NOW), BUT THAT'S SOMETHING LOCAL COUNCILLORS MUST MAKE THEMSELVES AWARE OF, AND FIND OUT WHY THERE HAS BEEN A RELUCTANCE TO DO THE SPRING CLEANING. THERE WERE A LOT OF VISITORS AND A SPECIAL EVENT AT THE PARK ON SATURDAY, AND IT DIDN'T LOOK AS WELL-KEPT AS IT SHOULD HAVE…..AS THE CENTRAL LAKESIDE PARK, SPORTING THE ROTARY NAME. THIS IS A PRIME SPOT FOR OUR VISITORS TO PICNIC AND SWIM. THE PICNIC AND BEACH CROWD WERE AFFORDED AN EARLIER START THIS SEASON, BUT WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN READY NONE THE LESS. ESPECIALLY WITH THE EARLY SPRING AND LOW-SNOW WINTER. I TRUST IT WILL BE DONE FOR THE UPCOMING CAR SHOW IN MID JUNE. WAS THIS A BUDGET THING?

     THE TOWN ITSELF IS LOOKING VERY CHARMING THIS SPRING, WITH THE NEWLY RE-CONSTRUCTED MAIN STREET, AND WHEN YOU LOOK DOWN THE TREE-LINED ROAD, IT LOOKS BOTH HISTORIC, IN ARCHITECTURE, CHARMING WITH ITS CHURCHES AND MANICURED LAWNS, AND A WEE BIT SENTIMENTAL, AS A GOOD OLD TOWN SHOULD. I'VE SAID IT BEFORE, BUT THE WAY THE MAIN STREET LOOKS TODAY, IS A CREDIT TO THE ROAD AND SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION (AND ENHANCEMENTS)……AS PAINFUL AND EVENT-FILLED AS IT WAS. I'M SORRY ABOUT THE LOSS OF THREE BUILDINGS, AND THE TERRIBLE AFTERMATH FOR FAMILIES AND BUILDING / BUSINESS OWNERS. IF WE WERE THUSLY, TO LOOK DOWN THIS SAME STREET TODAY, AND SEE WHAT AMOUNTS TO A POOR JOB OF RECONSTRUCTION, IT WOULD MAKE IT SO MUCH HARDER TO RECONCILE WITH THE SACRIFICE, TO GET THIS FAR ON OUR MAIN STREET MAKEOVER. THERE ARE STILL STORE-FRONTS FOR RENT, AND NOW-VACANT LOTS TO BUILD-ON, BUT AS FAR AS PRESENTING A GOOD LAUNCHING PAD FOR THE FUTURE, I THINK THIS HAS BEEN DONE. EVEN WITH THE VACANCIES AND OPEN SPACES UPTOWN, SEEING THE CORNER PARKETTE (FORMERLY WHITE PINE LOT) FULL OF FOLKS EATING THEIR LUNCHES, MAKES THIS KIND OF A HAPPENING-PLACE, ON AN ATTRACTIVE PIECE OF MAINSTREET REAL ESTATE. IT MAKES THE TOWN LOOK FRIENDLY AND WELCOMING, AND ISN'T THAT WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE? FOR ALL THOSE WHO HAVE PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE, IN MAKING THE MAIN STREET LOOK BRIGHT AND OPEN-FOR-BUSINESS, CONGRATULATIONS ARE OVERDUE. TO BUILDING OWNERS AND BUSINESSES, WHO HAVE SPRUCED-UP THEIR PROPERTIES, AND JAZZED-UP THEIR WINDOW DISPLAYS, THEY DESERVE THE COMING WAVE OF PROSPERITY. AS FOR NAYSAYERS, WHO FEEL WE AREN'T LIVING UP TO EXPECTATIONS, HOPEFULLY, ON THIS NEW PROGRESSIVE COURSE, WE'LL ALL BE DELIGHTED TO PROVE THEM WRONG. THIS ISN'T THE TIME TO FEAR THAT THE SKY IS FALLING. WE'LL JUST NAIL IT BACK IF DOES. WE'VE GOT SOME FOLKS TO WELCOME BACK TO OUR REGION. I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO LIKE WHAT THE SEE. LET'S MAKE THEM FEEL WELCOME.

AN EARLIER DAY IN THE BUSINESS OF REPORTING ON MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

     

     I WAS EDITOR OF THE HERALD-GAZETTE AT THE TIME OF SEASONAL-RESIDENT UNREST IN THE TOWNSHIP OF MUSKOKA LAKES. I HAD BEEN A NEWS EDITOR, BEFORE THIS, AT THE MUSKOKA LAKES-GEORGIAN BAY BEACON, WHEN THE COTTAGERS OF THE TOWNSHIP OR THE ARCHIPELAGO (GEORGIAN BAY), ENDORSED CANDIDATES FOR THEIR FORMATIVE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. IT WAS, I THINK, IN ABOUT 1980. IT WAS A DIVISIVE TIME IN THE REGION, AS "SECOND HOME OWNERS" REARED-UP, AND DEMANDED LOCAL COUNCILS FINALLY AND RESPECTFULLY PAY ATTENTION TO THEIR CONCERNS. AS THEY WERE WELL AWARE OF THE FISCAL WEIGHT OF THEIR ANNUAL TAX CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MUNICIPALITIES, THEY WANTED TO PLAY A GREATER ROLE IN MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT. THEY ORGANIZED AS THEY SAID THEY WOULD, AND IT DID CREATE A SUBSTANTIAL DIVIDE BETWEEN PERMANENT AND SEASONAL RESIDENTS. THE REACTION, BY THE COTTAGERS, WAS THE RESULT OF PLANNING AND LAKESHORE DEVELOPMENT ISSUES, SUCH AS THE ROSENEATH RESORT DEVELOPMENT, THAT HAD BEEN PLANNED IN THE MILFORD BAY AREA OF TOWNSHIP OF MUSKOKA LAKES. FUTURE LAKEFRONT DENSITIES, AND THE EXPANSION OF THESE LARGE-SCALE RESORTS, WITHOUT STRICTLY ENFORCED LAKEFRONT POLICIES AND A HIGHLY RESPONSIBLE, PRO-ACTIVE COUNCIL, BECAME A HUGE ISSUE BETWEEN COUNCIL AND BOTH COTTAGERS AND PERMANENT RESIDENTS. I SUSPECT THERE ARE STILL SOME HARD FEELINGS BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND THIS MANIFESTED BACK IN THE EARLY 1980'S.

     THE PERMANENT RESIDENTS DIDN'T LIKE THE FACT GROUPS LIKE THE MUSKOKA LAKES ASSOCIATION, WERE STICKING THEIR COLLECTIVE "OAR" INTO WHERE IT DIDN'T BELONG. MANY OF THE LOCAL YEAR-ROUND POPULATION, SAW DEVELOPMENT, WHETHER ON THE LAKESHORE OR NOT, AS AN ECONOMIC BOON, NOT TO BE DISCOURAGED BECAUSE OF THE FEAR MONGERING OF COTTAGERS, THAT THE WATER QUALITY WOULD BE PERMANENTLY COMPROMISED. OR THAT BOAT TRAFFIC WOULD BE TOO DANGEROUS, AS A RESULT OF OVER-DEVELOPMENT OF LAKESHORE RESOURCES.

     IT WAS LARGELY ABOUT JOBS, AND I DARE SAY, HOME TOWN ADVANTAGE. LOCALS NEEDED WORK. LOCAL BUSINESSES NEEDED MORE BUYERS OF THEIR WARES. CONTRACTORS, CARPENTERS, PLUMBERS, ELECTRICIANS, LANDSCAPERS WERE DELIGHTED BY THE NEWFOUND INTEREST IN MUSKOKA. DEVELOPERS HAD LOTS OF CARROTS TO DANGLE, AND NO ONE COULD BLAME RESIDENTS FOR BEING ENTHUSED TO SEE THE FRENZY OF INVESTMENT INTEREST. THE COTTAGE ASSOCIATIONS WERE BECOMING ALARMED AT THE NUMBER OF NEW RESORTS BEING PRESENTED TO LOCAL COUNCILS, FOR THEIR APPROVALS, AND WERE WORRIED THAT WITHOUT CHALLENGES, AND NOT JUST FROM PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF THE DEVELOPMENTS, THE RURAL COUNCIL WAS GOING TO ACCEPT WHATEVER CAME ALONG.

     AS REPORTERS, WE WATCHED MANY OF THESE SLICK PRESENTATIONS, AND WE HEARD THE MUMBLING OF PLANNING STAFF, IN AWE OF THE BIG NAMES IN THE PROFESSION, SIDING WITH PRESENTERS. WITH THE DEVELOPERS CAME SOME HEAVY-WEIGHT ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT, FROM WELL KNOWN (EVEN LEGENDARY PLANNERS, TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION, THAT ON OCCASION, TRUMPED BY A COUNTRY MILE, THOSE WORKING ON BEHALF OF THE MUNICIPALITY. WE SAW IT MANY TIMES. BIG NAMES FROM BIG, BIG URBAN OFFICES, REPRESENTING THEIR DEVELOPER-CLIENTS. IT WASN'T A FAIR MATCH. UNFORTUNATELY, COUNCILLORS AND STAFF SEEMED A LITTLE BIT OVERWHELMED, BY THE SHOW OF EXPERTISE, SUPPORTING A PROJECT, AND SOME FROM THE COTTAGE ASSOCIATION, I THINK, WORRIED ABOUT THE QUICK SURRENDER OF COUNCILLORS……TO SUPPORT A PROJECT, BASED IN PART ON THIS EXPERT REPRESENTATION. FOR THEIR EVER-ESCALATING PROPERTY TAXES, COTTAGERS FELT IT WAS THE RIGHT TIME TO MAKE THEMSELVES CLEAR, ABOUT WHAT RIGHTS THEY WERE GOING TO ASSUME, AND HOW COUNCIL(S) WAS GOING TO TREAT THEIR CONCERNS. THE EXPERTISE WITHIN THE COTTAGE ASSOCIATION WAS OF PARTICULAR VALUE TO THE MUNICIPALITY, AND THE ENTIRE DISTRICT, AND CAME AT AN IMPORTANT TIME IN THE EXPANSION PERIOD OF THE TOWNSHIP. DID THEIR PRESENCE IN THE TOWNSHIP SCARE OFF SOME DEVELOPERS. MANY PERMANENT RESIDENTS MAY HAVE FELT THIS WAY, BUT I DON'T REALLY BELIEVE IT WAS THE CASE.

    It was an interesting period of Muskoka history. At the time, as the editorial staff of The Herald-Gazette were all permanent residents, the knee-jerk reaction, was to feel the cottagers were over-stepping their boundary. They were here to enjoy the recreation and relaxation of cottage country life. Not get involved in politics. I'm not confident about this, but I expect we did employ a few editorials, to make it clear, that we knew how to run our region, without their two-cents' worth. As time went by, however, we all came to see that, what groups like the Muskoka Lakes Association were actually supporting, and interested in, was exactly what we all should have been interested in restricting, and refusing of lakeshore development. It wasn't the case, as some locals had argued, that the cottagers on the Muskoka Lakes, were only interested in their slice of paradise, and not having it compromised with huge resorts placed helter-skelter around the lakes. What had seemed border-line offensive to us, started to make a lot more sense as time and arguments went by, and hearings were held about some of the more contentious resort developments, such as Roseneath. There were a lot of statements made in the press that were inflammatory, for no other purpose than to keep the flames fanned.There was all kinds of weird stuff happening, at that time, and allegations that were unfounded, about the local versus cottager feud. It was always presented back then, as much larger and more divisive than it actually was on the battle front. The battle front was usually in the council chambers in Port Carling, and a few times, during the peak, at Muskoka Lakes Association general meetings. The reporters would sharpen their pencils for a really big showdown, and then it would gradually fizzle into, at best, a substantial disagreement. Not much of a war. Of course, it was the word on the street, and the exaggerations that made it seem that an imminent showdown was coming. But it never did, as far as I was concerned. A lot was learned in those years, on both sides, but it never came to blows.

     When the cottager associations began endorsing candidates, and actively pressing their membership to vote in the municipal election, in the Township of Muskoka Lakes, it created a huge wave of dissent, that made for great news coverage. It was the most interesting and colorful period in local municipal history. By the way, covering municipal council was determined, before this, by drawing the short straw in the newsroom. After it got interesting, reporters begged to cover council meetings. The township council itself, had been indifferent, and quite consumed by its self importance. When the cottagers began showing up in larger numbers, to make presentations to council, I was in the press gallery with my cronies, to watch the self-importance, and arrogance diminish, meeting after meeting. Councillors went from being perturbed by the cottager interventions, to being a little bit anxious, about what kind of fight was coming next. I never once felt the members of the Muskoka Lakes Association asked for anything extraordinary, or that they weren't legally entitled, or should have been entitled, under the circumstances. They had concerns the township was in over its head, with planning applications for large-scale developments, and could see a time down the road, when they'd make some serious planning errors without an informal partnership of concerned property owners. Part of it was based on the newfound prosperity the township was facing. Resort projects were popping up all over the place. In retrospect, it was the right time for the cottagers to let the local council know, they wanted to be better informed about what was going on in their bailiwick. They wanted to be part of the governance model, and by the value of taxation, they brought to the municipal purse, they demanded to be heard and respected. They never used the word "obey," but that is the word that some locals suspected was behind the sudden interest in Muskoka politics. Suspicions raised cause a strain in relations, and in retrospect, it had to happen the way it did. It was a little rough for awhile, but I think a much better relationship was forged as a result.

     I spent a number of election nights, at the town hall in Port Carling, waiting for poll results from the wards. There was a huge tension, and at times, it was like the original Canada-Russia hockey series. It was a clear case of "them" against "us". There was a lot of fear and anger, in the rural clime, that had never experienced such media attention. I know there was a heaping-helping of rhetoric bouncing all over the place, and a lot of sighs when cottager-endorsed candidates started winning council seats. Not all of them, but enough to realize, a new era had been born in local government. What the reporters experienced, was something unique with national implications. Seasonal residents throughout the country, on news of the cottager victories, in Muskoka, won deserved respect as taxpayers, and had reinforced the right to challenge authority, even if the local population preferred them to lay on their docks, swim, boat, and spend money to assist the business community. The "pay your taxes and shut the hell up" time was over. It was ground breaking in many ways, but what it accomplished was huge for the time, and to this day, because cottagers banded together in protest in the 1980's, a partnership emerged from the misspent anger, that most couldn't have predicted…….but most have benefitted from, in one way or another. There is much more respect for the influence of cottager associations, because of groups like the Georgian Bay cottagers, in the Townships of the Archipelago (circa 1979-80), and the Muskoka Lakes Association, who imbedded themselves in the governments of the day. I think it worked. I always had a lot of respect for groups like the Lake of Bays Association, when I used to cover their annual meetings, and I know the work of the Muskoka Bay Association, amongst others, here in Gravenhurst. Some locals still see these groups as self-serving only. It's their mandate after all, but from what I've learned over the years, they seem like the kind of folks who are willing to defend our region in many ways, especially the environment……and show cooperation with municipal councils. The MLA certainly cut this pathway to a better relationship, through this precarious period of the 1980's.

     Reporters from my era, wanted to go to Muskoka Lakes Association annual meetings, in Port Carling, because it put local politicians on the hot seat, including members of parliament, provincial and federal. I'd get enough story leads to last me for the rest of the summer season. But I never once, in many meetings covered, felt the association had been unfair, or had ganged-up to bully local councillors in particular. It was uncomfortable for mayors, and they probably didn't like what they heard, or the questions they were asked, but their protocol was always bang-on, and all sides practiced respectful conduct, even when the audience was visibly angry with some of the speeches, and answers to enquiry. I think maybe we would have liked a little more verbal berating, and angry retorts, but it just didn't happen that way. It's true, there were nasty comments from some members in attendance, but you could hear ignorant comments in the peanut gallery in other public meetings in the region during this period. We knew it. So we sure as hell weren't going to exploit that just for a headline. 

     Muskoka has had a long relationship with the "them" and "us" living arrangement, and for the most part, it has been highly successful and long enduring. We have differences, but there's not as much reservation about making it public, as it was prior to the early 1980's, when cottagers from many locales, decided it was time to speak up about taxation issues, services they weren't getting, school taxes they were paying, but not using, and developments that they were going to have to live with, that were also detrimental to the lakeland generally. It brought up some ugliness and for a couple of years, the relationship was very strained. While other municipalities were touched by the situation in Muskoka Lakes, they largely escaped outright confrontation. Yet it was close enough, for municipalities like Bracebridge and Huntsville, to get the message about the rights and privileges of second home owners, to play their part in local governance. To this day, I feel that what happened during this period of unrest, has shaped the future, and the dynamic of local government to be more inclusive of all residents of Muskoka. What began as "how dare they," has become part and parcel of the democratic process, and you will find very few headlines that show a similar tempest swirling in the proverbial teapot, as it once did, in the Township of Muskoka Lakes.

     There are Gravenhurst Councillors, who think this has been a rough period in local municipal politics. I'm going to tell them quite the opposite. If they had been the council of the day, in Muskoka Lakes, they would have known what it was really like being in a pressure cooker, and having to perform with dozens of media reporters watching the dance. The council then, felt it was under attack, and for all intents and purposes, they reacted as you would expect. They became immediately defensive, and felt insulted and even humiliated by the suggestion, they were too inexperienced and feeble to handle the applications for development, rolling into the town hall. It was this defiant commencement to the new relationship, that caused most damage, because the rhetoric got out of hand. As team-mates in hockey, protect the goalie with their fists, the local population was drawn into the situation because of the "shooting from the hip," comments coming from councillors. I can't say it was becoming militant, but it was ugly, and I'm sure there were many confrontations between cottagers and locals, out of the reporter's ear-shot. The dilemma for us, like watching a Budist Monk setting himself on fire, was whether to report as we were supposed to, or ignore the inflammatory comments, and have them appear in another media's coverage. We knew what kind of questioning we'd get from our publisher, if we missed a big scoop like this. We felt the only way to soften the rough edges, was to create an editorial priority, to find another way to approach the growing divide, that was starting to look like a battle configuration. I know we took some shots at the Muskoka Lakes Association, but we also assessed some blame on local activists, who were admittedly, living in a past era, when it came to understanding the new profile of the cottage community.

     What we all had a chance to experience, over the decade, was a far more congenial relationship overall, between what had been, for a short time, adversaries on the Muskoka Lakes. The mix of cottager endorsed candidates, and locally supported representatives, began to work toward the common good. It took awhile. Part of the problem was the media. We may not have blown the issue out of proportion, but admittedly we milked it for all it was worth. I have some nagging kickback about my own role in this, because I was at the helm. I was a part of an ugly scene, that did get better, and of this we should all be satisfied with the new and improving relationship between cottagers and permanent residents. At least this is my perception of what goes on today between Cottage and Lake Associations and regional councils. Strained at times, over some issues, but amicable generally.

GRAVENHURST COUNCIL AND PUBLIC OPINION

     When I offer a caution to Gravenhurst Council about the prevailing mood of this community, beginning to sour, with a loss of good humor, I do so based on some experience, having dealt with this before in other municipalities. This isn't about any deficiencies in the relationship with cottager associations, or the suggestion that this period mimics the one I have just explained in the Township of Muskoka Lakes. There is however, an issue of indifference, many citizens and ratepayers are noticing, with our present council, that to me, seems perilously close to party politics. There doesn't seem to be much thrashing and vigorous counterpoint going on, and I once again have to bring up the debacle of the Terrence Haight bequeath. What some of us are wondering about is the lack of passionate debate. A "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," style oratory, by just one council member, that shows us some conviction to fight the good fight. I'm happy to know that some councillors voted against this, but where are the personal interviews with the press (Maybe there will be, this week), blasting the committee decision. It's a million dollars we're talking about here. A wonderfully kind and generous bequeath to benefit the residents of this community. Isn't this worth shattering status quo about? We don't need fireworks. We need to know that those opposed to a committee or council initiative, are willing to continue to argue against, as long as possible…..and making those opinions obvious to the ratepayers. We've heard from the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, but folks, every councillor has an equal opportunity to speak out, and let their opinions, whether supporting an issue or objecting to it, be known to the community they represent. We don't get this feeling there is much debate, if any, at council or committee meetings, yet there isn't always consensus. Is the press missing the really nasty stuff happening in the backrooms. I am more suspicious about quiet dealings, than when the public is clearly aware of the real point-counter point, in the pursuit of well thought-out council decisions.

     When it comes to hugely contentious issues, facing council, one does expect the occasional serious disagreement. I've got a lot of experience in this regard, and even though I'm not sitting in the press gallery, or interviewing councillors on a regular basis, I do recognize the clear difference between councils of old and new. There is a shying-away from aggressive anything, yet we seem to have a lot of unresolved issues. Has a Gravenhurst Councillor gone down to inspect the condition of Gull Lake Park recently. Out of the entire council, having just one councillor raise the issue of maintenance, would seem mildly appropriate, in the answer to criticism. There are other people noticing the condition of the park, wondering what's going on. What about the fact there isn't a sign on The Barge, to explain even in a few words, that it is being restored by the Town…….and not torn down. It just seems logical that these issues might be seriously debated at the council table, but unless the press persists on these matters, not much is ever known…..questions not answered. It probably does seem people like me are always nagging about this and that, but the perception situation, is wrong minded; because ladies and gentlemen, I'm just one of many, and I happen to have a blog. To think that it's a small group of the disloyal, asking these questions, is naive to the extreme. I don't think honestly, they feel it even necessary to inform us about much of anything. Possibly they are interpreting the Municipal Act their own way, finding more privilege in information with-holding.

     The point is, the conditions are right for social activism. In Canada. In the province. And in our municipality. I've seen it before. Maybe that's a big advantage of being an historian. What the Federal Government is doing, as self-serving as it appears, will end badly, and biographies will be written, and many of us will look back on wasted effort, misspent money, and the lost time on ridiculous ventures. Even the province is picking fights they won't win. They're putting their dukes up, but they couldn't land a punch for love nor money. If the Feds think they're going to implement the changes to Unemployment Insurance with nary a glitch, or a hundred, well sir, we're going to see social activism blossom as we haven't seen it in decades. The very idea of Omnibus Bills, as the Trojan Horses, of government policy change, is just a debacle unfolding, and more kindling for the fire. If you screw around long enough, you find out what makes Canadians….well, Canadians! I often hear and read definitions about what it means to be Canadian. A lot of politicians in this country, are reaching points of no-return for their parties, as even the elderly will be marching on parliament. Our representative governments are now known as Conservative or Liberal. I've always thought of them as our governments. Working on our behalf….our country's behalf. Previously, in my life anyway, I didn't feel I had to belong to the party that won an election, to feel it was the government that represented my family, my neighborhood, my town. Every time I hear or read our governments described by the party in power, I feel disenfranchised as a citizen. So who is representing me? Guess I'd better join the governing party, if I want to feel like a connected Canadian. You see, this is what's wrong. The meddling with our national identity, and what will eventually inspire a change of government. A failure to listen to the people you represent.

     It's true dear friend, many Canadians have stopped voting in elections. They have lost faith in democracy. This is so profoundly terrible, when you see the masses of eager voters, in countries like Egypt, having an opportunity, finally, to exercise their democratic right, to vote for the candidate and party of choice. Yet here we are, even in this charming municipality, in beautiful Muskoka, feeling totally uninspired by our opportunity to elect the representation we desire. "Who cares," I've heard citizens ask. 'It doesn't matter who you vote for…..they're all the same. They do what they want, not what we want them to do!" When I read statements about denying the public, a chance to participate in the use of the million dollar Haight bequeath, I think about this apathy today. It will certainly be a test for this town, to see how many citizens react to the council intent, and submit their objections. Maybe there will be one or two, maybe a dozen. What number of submissions will be deemed significant enough to change council's proposal, to use the money to pay down the municipal debt?

     Or will it, like election day, prove that citizens just aren't interested in fighting all the live long day, just to feel they've exercised their democratic right to object? I don't want to think this. I really don't. What I'm hoping for most of all, is for council to reject the committee's recommendation, and allow the public of this town, to have a say in an important decision. What a wonderful moment for transparent government to shine.

One Government Proposal? Worth Looking At!

ONE GOVERNMENT PROPOSAL IS GAINING SUPPORT BECAUSE OF MUNICIPAL PROBLEMS

TOWN OF GRAVENHURST IS A CASE IN POINT

   

     HOW WOULD GRAVENHURST RESIDENTS RESPOND, TO NEWS, A REGIONAL OVER-HAUL OF DISTRICT GOVERNMENT, WAS REMOVING THE TOWN COUNCIL, AND REPLACING IT WITH THE ONE GOVERNMENT MODEL? THE END TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF OUR LITTLE TOWN. REGIONAL REPRESENTATION ONLY? A LOSS, OR A GAIN? AN EMPTY "NEW" TOWN HALL. OR THE ABILITY TO PROFIT FROM SOME "FOR RENT" OFFICE SPACE. WE'D HAVE ENOUGH SPACE OVER THERE TO EXPAND THE MEDICAL CLINIC INTO A FULL HOSPITAL. JUST AN IDEA. IF COUNCIL CEASES TO EXIST, OF COURSE.

     WHAT WOULD THE OBJECTIONS BE? HOW WOULD WE GET THINGS DONE AROUND HERE? WHAT ABOUT THE HISTORY? OUR INDEPENDENCE? OR WOULD IT EVEN MAKE A RIPPLE OF INCONVENIENCE TO OUR WAY OF DEALING WITH COUNCIL TODAY? THERE SURE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS. BUT THE ANSWERS ARE COMING. THERE'S A FAIR AMOUNT OF INTEREST IN GOVERNMENT REFORM IN MUSKOKA, AND EVEN SINCE I'VE BEEN WRITING ABOUT THE ONE GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE, FROM LAST FALL, MORE PEOPLE THAN I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED, ARE COFFEE-SHOP-CHATTING ABOUT THE POTENTIAL COST SAVINGS THIS MIGHT CREATE. I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE DETAILS, OR HOW THIS MIGHT COME ABOUT, BUT THE TIME SEEMS APPROPRIATE TO BE LOOKING AT THIS, AND PITCHING IN SOME SUGGESTIONS, AS TO HOW IT MIGHT ONE DAY, REFORM WHAT CAN ONLY BE SEEN AS INEFFICIENT, OVER-SPENDING GOVERNANCE. I'M NOT SOLD ON THE IDEA. SOME PEOPLE I'VE TALKED TO RECENTLY, ARE FED-UP WITH THE WAY COUNCILLORS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT, ARE PERFORMING, AND HOW THE TAXES HAVE NO WHERE TO GO BUT UP. THE TAX ISSUE SEEMS TO BE THE BIG CONCERN TODAY, AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH EXCESSES IN THE FUTURE. ELECTION PROMISES DON'T TRANSLATE INTO ACTION, QUITE AS WE WERE LED TO BELIEVE.

     

     I HAVE NOT BEEN AN ACTIVE SUPPORTER OF THE ONE GOVERNMENT MODEL, OF REFORMING THE WAY MUNICIPAL BUSINESS IS DONE IN THIS REGION. I CAN TELL YOU HONESTLY, I WAS CONFUSED BY IT IN THE 1980'S, WHEN OUR NEWSPAPER COVERED DISTRICT COUNCIL. THE IDEA THAT DISTRICT GOVERNMENT CAN BE IMPROVED HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE IT WAS FOUNDED AS A REGIONAL AMALGAMATION, BACK IN THE LATE 1960'S EARLY 1970'S. IT HAS, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, NEVER OPERATED WITHOUT ITS CRITICS FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER. AS A FORMER DISTRICT COUNCIL REPORTER I'VE SEEN SOME INTERESTING SITUATIONS, AND A FEW NASTY ARGUMENTS, BUT AS TO WHETHER IT COULD EVENTUALLY BECOME A SUPER, ALL INCLUSIVE COUNCIL OR NOT, WHO CAN PREDICT THE FUTURE, EXCEPT KRESKIN.  AS DISTRICT GOVERNMENT WAS AN INITIAL GAMBLE, SCULPTING IT DOWN TO THE ONE GOVERNMENT MODEL, WILL BE A MUCH GREATER GAMBLE. SOME OF THE OLDER CITIZENS OF OUR REGION ARE STILL PISSED OFF, ABOUT THE CARNAGE TO THEIR SMALL COMMUNITIES, THE LAST OVERHAUL CAUSED. THE GROUP RESEARCHING THIS OVERHAUL, WOULD BE WELL ADVISED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE REASONS THERE WAS SO MUCH ANGER BACK THEN, SO AS TO HANDLE ANY FUTURE TRANSITION WITH SOME SENSITIVITY TO OLD WOUNDS.

     FOR ONE OF A DOZEN REASONS, EVERY ATTEMPT AT REFORM DIED IN INFANCY, AND THOSE COUNCILLORS SITTING AROUND THE DISTRICT TABLE HAVE PLAYED A ROLE IN THIS ONGOING SAGA, WHETHER TO CHANGE OR NOT TO CHANGE. I'M PRETTY SURE, OVER THE YEARS, THAT STATUS QUO WAS GOOD ENOUGH FOR ALL. IT'S NOT THAT REFORM WASN'T NEEDED THEN, OR NOW, BUT IT'S GETTING THESE SAME COUNCILLORS, TO AGREE CHANGE IS BENEFICIAL TO ALL CONCERNED. WE'RE NOT THERE YET. I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY THERE IS A GENERAL RELUCTANCE TO JUMP ONBOARD THIS ONE-GOVERNMENT CONCEPT, IN LARGE PART, FOR THE OLDTIMERS AT LEAST, THE ORIGINAL AMALGAMATION ANGERED A LOT OF RATEPAYERS THROUGHOUT THE REGION. SOME HAVE PASSED THAT ANGER ON TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION, WHO DESPISE IT FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN IT WAS JAMMED DOWN OUR THROATS, BY THE PROVINCE, THE FIRST TIME. FOR CRITICS OF THE PRESENT BLOATED SYSTEM, IT WOULD THUSLY SEEM, AN EASY GO OF IT, (AS IT WAS IN THE LATE 1960'S) TO REMOVE THE GOVERNMENT MODEL, AND FIND SOMETHING MORE EFFICIENT AND COST SAVING. UNFORTUNATELY, THE ARGUMENT WAS THEN, THAT THE HAMLETS, VILLAGES AND RURAL AREAS, WERE GOING TO BE BULLIED BY THE LARGER TOWNS, AND THEY WOULD LOSE THEIR IDENTITIES. AND FUNDING. THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT WEAK REPRESENTATION, REGARDING THE ISSUES THEY FELT WERE IMPORTANT. I THINK IT ALL HAPPENED, THE WAY THEY FEARED, AND I DID A FAIR NUMBER OF STORIES ABOUT THIS KIND OF HISTORIC DISASSOCIATION, YET EVENTUALLY, IT BECAME THE NEW NORMAL, AND CITIZENS FOUND CREATIVE WAYS TO CARRY-ON WITH HAMLET AND VILLAGE IDENTITY AND PRIDE. JUST DON'T ASK THESE COMMUNITY LEADERS HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT DISTRICT GOVERNMENT. IT WAS SEEN AS THE URBAN POLITICAL INTRUSION, OF CITY-FOLK TELLING US HOW TO BE GOOD CITIZENS. SHUT-UP AND TAKE YOUR MEDICINE. MUSKOKANS HAVE LONG MEMORIES, AND I THINK MANY FOLKS WOULD STILL LIKE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY FELT WAS AN UNJUSTIFIED INTRUSION, ON A SYSTEM THAT WAS WORKING OKAY. IT'S WHY THERE'S STILL A LOT OF MISTRUST OUT THERE FOR COUNCILS AT BOTH LEVELS, AND THEY'LL HAPPILY SHOW YOU THE POTHOLES IN THE ROADS THAT ARE ONLY OCCASIONALLY FIXED. SUCH AS WHEN THE COTTAGERS RETURN. KNOW WHAT THE FRIDAY ROAD REPAIRS ARE CALLED? "TOURIST PATCHES."

     IN THE TOWNSHIP OF MUSKOKA LAKES, WINDERMERE RESIDENTS FELT, THAT UNDER THE DISTRICT MODEL, WITH LIMITED REPRESENTATION, AND EVERYTHING CENTERED IN PORT CARLING AND BRACEBRIDGE, THEIR VILLAGE WOULD HAVE LIMITED CAPABILITY TO GET THINGS DONE……CARRY-ON WITH A RESPONSIVE LOCAL COUNCIL, TO DEAL WITH AGENDA ITEMS IMMEDIATELY. IT WAS THE PERCEPTION THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A GREAT DISTANCING FROM GOVERNMENT THEY HAD ALWAYS KNOWN, AND DEPENDED ON. WINDERMERE MIGHT EVEN CEASE TO EXIST, AS IT WAS KNOWN. WELL, THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. A NEW WAY OF DOING BUSINESS, AND GETTING THINGS DONE, DID MANIFEST. AS IT PRESUMABLY WOULD WITH A NEW GOVERNMENT MODEL.

       THE ONE GOVERNMENT MODEL, THAT WOULD REDUCE TOWNSHIP COUNCILS, IN FAVOR OF A LARGER DISTRICT GOVERNANCE, WOULD BE SEEN AS EVEN GREATER DISTANCING FROM WHAT IS RELEVANT AND PRESSING, TO LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS, VILLAGES AND TOWNS. IT WOULD BE LIKE THE ORIGINAL IMPLEMENTATION OF REGIONAL GOVERNMENT BUT TWICE AS BAD. THIS IS THE PUBLIC RELATIONS JOB AT HAND, BECAUSE THERE ARE STILL HARD FEELINGS OUT THERE, AND THE HUGE DISTRICT BOUNDARY, WITH ONE GOVERNMENT, PRETTY MUCH MEANS WORSENING ISOLATION FOR THE SMALLEST COMMUNITIES, DESPITE WHAT THE REPRESENTATION BREAKDOWN MIGHT BE. OBVIOUSLY, THERE WILL BE A LOT FEWER COUNCILLORS ELECTED, OR WE'D HAVE TO BUILD A NEW DISTRICT OFFICE. FEWER COUNCILLORS, AND A DOUBLING OR TRIPLING OF WARD RESPONSIBILITIES, WILL BE SEEN AS URBAN DOMINANCE OF THE NEW SYSTEM OF REPRESENTATION. WHAT THE TOWNS WANT, IS GOING TO CARRY MORE WEIGHT, THAN WHAT HAMLETS AND VILLAGES WILL EXPECT TO GARNER FROM A NEW GOVERNMENT MODEL. THIS IS A THROW-BACK FEAR TO THE 1960'S, WHEN THESE RURAL RESIDENTS FELT THEIR WORLD WAS COLLAPSING.

      I am being swayed these days, and that doesn't mean I don't have suspicions and deep concerns about those pushing for the regional government overhaul. There are some aspects to cost efficiencies gained, that are significant, and are certainly worth exploring what this might represent in tax savings. At the rate of council spending, we're all feeling a little over taxed. How much can we afford, and still remain as property owners? I have to admit, my opinion of Gravenhurst Council, has been diminished, over the past five years, and I'm not alone in feeling this way. I don't want to believe that our council isn't up to the job, but most of what we see and read about, paints them into a corner without a clear way out. I'm not sure whether our elected representatives are really in sync with public sentiment, and not simply basing that on how many folks turn up to public meetings. When I asked around, this weekend, what people thought about the Town using the Haight bequeath, of a million dollars, to pay down the municipal debt, it wasn't a scientific survey, but it was pretty clear, our councillors are disconnected from the residents they represent. I didn't survey a large group. Fifteen people isn't a very good cross-section, admittedly. Yet to not get one out of fifteen, who thought it was a good idea, to take a memorial gift, and use it to pay down the town's debt, suggests to me on the ground level, that Gravenhurst Councillors do need to execute some due diligence before the matter is called to a vote. The vote apparently, comes up a week from now……June 5th I believe. At this open meeting, councillors are likely to find out for themselves, just how unpopular they're going to be, following through on this plan. Do they care about popularity? Well, they did on election night. What they should care about, is that there is growing anger about this council generally. Not the past council. They've already decided this is a fight they can no longer win. This council! It is, in my opinion, an almost invisible council, except for those familiar faces in the grip and grin photographs, making the weekly press. Why is this a problem, and how does it relate to the One Government fact-finding?

     I think Gravenhurst may become fertile ground, for those wishing to advance the concept, of a regional government over-haul. I believe ratepayers are profoundly concerned about council's ability to manage our affairs, and represent town interests at the regional level. Local councillors probably never thought their lackluster performance, in the eyes of some ratepayers, would cultivate interests in government reform. There will be councillors deeply offended, when referred to as lackluster, and all I can say, in this regards, is that I can't print the other words used during political-talks around this town. I'm shocked by the comments. It may be the case councillors don't care, but they should. Eventually the boiling pot will pass its threshold. Some ratepayers adamantly believe our town is not running efficiently, and that there are too many examples of diminished leadership on our behalf, and frankly, it's all going to play into this growing interest to support the One Government initiative. It may seem an impossibility that this would happen, even in the next ten years, but I wouldn't be too surprised to see it all happen much sooner……as the economy gets tighter. There has to be a better, more cost efficient way to run our municipalities. The duplication of services is a drain on resources, and as local and regional budgets remain tight for years to come, and the federal and provincial governments become more tight-fisted than we're accustomed, there's no question that regional government, as it stands today, will be the subject of more intense scrutiny. As our council acts more like a slightly disgruntled political party, with very few raging arguments…..or even a hale and hardy debate once in a while (in front of the media) at least in the public forum of open council, the status quo term of office, is fertilizing the seeds of discontent. If we, on the other hand, could see a council performing as a true democracy, minus the complacency, and things being addressed that we want to know about, maybe we wouldn't feel as resigned to the future. Maybe we'd see that having a Gravenhurst Council is our sure guarantee of getting things done in regional government. Even as far as debate at District Council, we read and hear very little, about our participation in new initiatives or old, except the recent discussion about garbage bag decreases in the rural climes of our district. A Gravenhurst councillor made comment about this, and the potential it will raise the ire of season residents. What about the concerns of year round rural residents. What about the garbage that will be dumped in the woods and pastures, by those who don't believe in garbage reduction or the tag system. But whatever the undertow of our Gravenhurst councillors at district, it's not exactly a force, even a mild tug on the toe, to be reckoned with, and the fact we are mute on a lot of issues these days, doesn't mean there aren't issues to discuss……or the need to get mad occasionally, about what is happening out there.

     The Terrence Haight bequeath is a prime example, of what makes our residents routinely angry about their representative council. We don't expect them to bow to our every demand. We might offer some heated critiques, and some general complaints, but as far as stuffing town hall with angry delegations, I think it's a lot less of a burden than for some councils in our region. But there are times, when for the oddest reasons, and the biggest failure of protocol, they will adopt some strategy, like investing the million dollars to pay off the town debt, that stops us in our tracks……wondering, what the hell they were thinking. Did they spend five minutes to discuss the possible backlash they may experience. Were the councillors, who voted for this motion, aware of what the ramifications could be, for taking away a memorial fund that could help all citizens of this community? Did they believe they were being clever with this move, and that the public at large, would extend them untold ovations, for their proactive measure, to pay down the debt?  Where did they get their confidence to vote in support of this committee motion? What would have ever made them believe, the public at large wouldn't object strenuously, to having just been bypassed, ignored and dismissed as being irrelevant. Objectors to the plan would be added to the list of town nuisances, and nuff said. As for a strategic move, it wasn't one. Whenever a politician dismisses the public in this fashion, as being irrelevant to the democratic process, the government fails itself. For those who voted against this motion, quite a few people this week were applauding. There will likely be a fair amount of negative publicity, in the near future, surrounding the issue as well, and I am one of the letter-to-the-editor writers to the local press. I don't often write mad, but this time, I made an exception. I'm hoping that Council squashes this like a bug. I'm really counting on councillors to change their support of the motion, because they have found out what I discovered of public opinion. If I can find it out, with casual questioning, so can they. As a loose, spur of the moment survey, conducted by local councillors themselves, I would find it very hard to believe, that out of several hundred citizens (residents), informally asked on the street, about the use of the bequeath fund, a majority would opt for the town to pay down the debt. Councillors are the ones who have to find this out. They won't believe my claims.

     This is one of the examples, of an almost self-destructive gamble, that will create more support for a change in our local government configuration in Muskoka. Councillors might not see this, but that doesn't mean it isn't true. I have heard more talk recently, of folks joining the One Government initiative, than when it was first introduced as a strategy for future reforms, in 2011. It is gaining momentum from present frustration, with what is seen as a bloated, unnecessary, disconnected, disinterested council network.

     In Gravenhurst, as an example, councillors had a chance to be seen as champions of community life and times. They could have done a lot for the townsfolk, by announcing a new public program for the bequeath money. What could have been a public relations coup, has become controversial…..not because of bloggers like me…..but because they made a lot of people mad as a direct result of blatant disrespect for protocol. Many more so, because they deemed serious public consultation as waste of precious time. Since when has precious time been an issue, with this council, that still hasn't had its grand opening of the new recreation centre.

     I still can't fully endorse the One Government initiative, at this point. I saw what happened with the Hospital amalgamation and the Board of Education, and while cost efficiencies were the plan, I don't know how that has worked out precisely, and to the nickel. I do sense, on my own news beat around this town, that there is a lot more scrutiny, and many more people who want better representation overall. Whether the plan for a government review and overhaul will ever come to fruition, it is still going to gain strength during the next several years, and if things don't change in Gravenhurst, to the expectations of local residents, our population may soon come to represent the actual banner-waving leadership of this proposed change of government thing. This isn't the time for councillors to cower, but to start building a come-back of responsible government, that we can all trust. If they divert the Haight memorial funds, to pay off taxes, instead of setting up a public fund, or endowment of some nature, for the citizens who were ultimately afforded the kind gift, I will most certainly lose the last good faith I have, with this present council. I won't be the only one making this declaration. This council has admittedly had a rough beginning to their four year term of office. By golly, it's just a blip of inconvenience to a strong council, with sharp instincts, and great leadership capacity. This is what we want to see, and experience. So blowing-off public consultation, is the fatal sign of a seriously failing leadership. It doesn't have to be this way. There can be considerable honor, admitting to a change of heart. A lot of people are watching council's performance on this issue. It's a warning. Honest advice. There's a way to side-step debacle, and look like insightful, progressive leaders. Turn down the plan to spend the Haight bequeath, to lower the town debt.

     Thank you for reading today's blog. Please join me again soon.