One Muskoka May Be The Way To Go

ONE MUSKOKA CONCEPT STARTING TO GROW ON ME - GO FIGURE

WE ARE REACHING A PERIOD OF OUR HISTORY, WHEN WE CAN'T CONTINUE WITH INEFFICIENCIES AND ESCALATING EXPENSES

     SIX MONTHS AGO, I GOT INTO AN ARGUMENT WITH A READER, ABOUT THE PROPOSAL FOR ONE GOVERNMENT - ONE MUSKOKA. THAT DAY I WAS WAXING HISTORIC, BECAUSE THE LAST TIME WE HAD A REGIONAL OVERHAUL, IT TOOK DECADES FOR THE ANGER TO DISSIPATE. THE CREATION OF DISTRICT GOVERNMENT WAS HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL AND IT HAD A FIERCE OPPOSITION. IT CREATED AS MANY INEQUALITIES AS IT WAS SUPPOSED TO CORRECT, AND IMPROVE UPON. WELL, SIX MONTHS (AGO) TO A BLOGGER, MIGHT AS WELL BE SIX YEARS. I'VE HAD TIME TO MULL THIS OVER. I'VE BEEN STUDYING THE PROPOSAL, WHICH MAY NOT BE PERFECT YET, BUT PROPONENTS AT LEAST ADMIT IT WILL REQUIRE SOME MODIFICATIONS, AND ACCOMMODATIONS, IN ORDER TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF MEMBER TOWNSHIPS. SO I'VE DONE A PARTIAL FLIP WITH EYES WIDE OPEN. I'M CERTAINLY READY TO ADMIT, THAT OUR WHOLE GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE IN MUSKOKA, IS SHOWING ITS INEFFICIENCIES ALMOST WEEKLY. AT LEAST WHAT I'M PRIVY TO READ ABOUT IN THE LOCAL PRESS. 

     I HAVE NOT BEEN AN ADVOCATE OF THE "ONE MUSKOKA" STRATEGY, FOR STREAMLINING GOVERNANCE IN THE DISTRICT OF MUSKOKA. I HAVEN'T DISMISSED IT AS A TOTALLY INADEQUATE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEMS WE'RE FACING IN MUSKOKA, BUT UP TO THIS POINT MY INTEREST IN THE MUNICIPAL REVAMPING, HAS ONLY BEEN AS AN ARMCHAIR CRITIC. DESPITE HAVING SOME MUTUAL INTERESTS, AND PHILOSOPHICAL COMMON GROUND, WITH THOSE PROPOSING A MORE COST EFFICIENT REGIONAL GOVERNMENT, I HAVE SEEN AMALGAMATIONS GO BADLY IN THE PAST, INCLUDING THE ORIGINAL CREATION OF REGIONAL GOVERNMENT THAT ALMOST CAUSED A LOCAL WAR TO BREAK OUT. I WAS APPALLED BY RE-ALIGNMENT OF THE FORMER MUSKOKA BOARD OF EDUCATION, INTO THE TRILLIUM LAKELANDS BOARD, WHICH PROBABLY HASN'T SAVED A DIME OF TAXPAYER MONEY……ALTHOUGH THAT WAS THE IDEA. IT PUT TWO DISTANT REGIONS TOGETHER, CAUSE IT SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA AT THE TIME. WE HAVE MORE IN COMMON WITH OTHER REGIONAL BOARDS, INCLUDING PARRY SOUND, THAN WITH THE FOLKS MANY MILES TO THE EAST. BUT THIS IS WHAT POLITICIANS DO WHEN THEY'RE BORED.

     SO INITIALLY, WHEN THE IDEA OF MAKING A STRONG CENTRAL GOVERNMENT, FOR THE DISTRICT OF MUSKOKA, STARTED TO POP UP IN CONVERSATION, WITH INITIAL ITS PRESENTATIONS, I STARTED THINKING ABOUT THE NEGATIVES OF SUCH A CENTRALIZING POWER-SHIFT. AS THE FIRST AMALGAMATION OF THE DISTRICT, BACK IN THE LATE 1960'S, ELIMINATED THE RELEVANCE, AND NECESSITY OF A LOT OF HAMLET AND VILLAGE COUNCILS, AND REDUCED THE MAJOR TOWNS TO COMPONENTS OF THE WHOLE, THE COLLATERAL DAMAGE AND HARD FEELINGS LASTED FOR DECADES. THERE ARE STILL CITIZENS PISSED-OFF AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, THAT AMALGAMATION DESTROYED THEIR HOMETOWN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF SELF DETERMINATION. I THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE A TERRIBLE RE-INTRODUCTION OF WHAT WAS PERCEIVED THEN, AS A RECKLESSLY UNEXPLAINED POWER GRAB, AND IDENTITY THEFT. IF THIS "ONE MUSKOKA - ONE GOVERNMENT" PROPOSAL FOUND ITS WINGS, WE MIGHT HAVE A REVOLUTION IN PARADISE. I'M STILL CONCERNED ABOUT THE WAY IT MIGHT EVENTUALLY BE IMPOSED, AND IF THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO VOTE ON ITS IMPLEMENTATION IF THE IDEA GOES THIS FAR. I HAVE TO ADMIT, WATCHING THE LOCAL NEWS OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS ESPECIALLY, HAS ALMOST…..NOT QUITE YET, BUT CLOSE….CONVINCED ME THAT CHANGE TO THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS IN THIS DISTRICT, IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, TO AVOID ALMOST CERTAIN FISCAL CALAMITY…..OF WHICH WE SEEM HELL BENT TO ACHIEVE. I'M AFRAID IT'S COME TO THIS, WHEN CONFIDENCE IN OUR TOWN AND TOWNSHIP COUNCILS IS BEING STRETCHED AS FAR AS IT CAN, AND DEBT-LOAD IS A LIMIT TO GROWTH AND POTENTIAL. THE UNDEMOCRATIC CHARACTER I'M WATCHING EMERGE MORE AND MORE THESE DAYS, IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, TELLS ME AS AN HISTORIAN, AS WELL AS A TAXPAYER, THAT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS NEED TO BE REIGNED IN BEFORE THE SITUATION GETS ANY WORSE. CALL ME A TURN-COAT, A BENEDICT ARNOLD, BUT HISTORIANS ARE ALWAYS OPEN TO NEW INFORMATION. TAXPAYER TOO!

WE NEED TO SUPPORT "ONE GOVERNMENT" TO INSPIRE NEEDED REFORMS

     I suppose I've come of age, in my politically thick noggin, but I continue to find serious fault with the way the municipalities are handling their business these days, and just about every week, I see or read something that triggers my interest in efficiency, and in particular, a more democratic form of government; certainly than what I see supposedly, but not really,  working on our behalf. There are too many representatives who are simply taking up space, but not contributing to the well being of our towns and regions in this district. It's just becoming clear, that dissension is building, not just about increasing tax burden, but the lack of constituent representation at the council table. There are problems going on at our regional town halls, that are not being resolved, but from appearances, continually paved over, apparently to make things appear better……but the hump is still there at the end of the day. I suppose they thought it would flatten out over time. But they keep on tripping over it!

     I am still concerned about how the proposed amalgamation, and concentration of administrative services will impact the towns and townships, as far as day to day requirements. This time, I have less concern about whether the politicians think it's a good idea, and much more interest in how the residents of Muskoka, feel they could be governed more efficiently and effectively. If it gives more power to a central governance, then how will it conduct itself, to be fair and equal to the six partners in the union? That is if Lake of Bays stays in the mix, or opts out as they have been contemplating according to the press. I want home region identities to survive such a change of representation. What was lost in the 1970's, of our hinterland character, where Village councils were dismissed, I'd like to make sure doesn't happen again so profoundly, without adequate safeguards to protect heritage identities…..large township or small municipality. The residents need a voice, and there wishes must be respected. I can back the One Muskoka proposal, but from an historian's perspective, change must take into account the differences in our regions within the same district. We don't all think alike just because we happen to live in Muskoka. Diversity must be understood before the errors of the past, are repeated out of ignorance. The fine people of Windermere, to name just one village, in the present Township of Muskoka Lakes, saw their ability to self-determine, destroyed in a flash of pens on documents, that put them in competition with all the other areas of a large new township, where their new normal was, fighting for funds against areas that had more political clout. In their minds, Port Carling and Bala were the key communities, and Windermere nothing more than a lakeside settlement without leverage……and much in the way of political sway, to advance their community needs.

     I think this can be dealt with in the new One Muskoka model. They can certainly learn from the problems experienced in this government protocol since 1970.

     I do suggest strongly, that council hopefuls for the next municipal elections, in two years, will take the time to learn more about the One Muskoka proposal, for improving regional governance. I am suggesting candidates contact One Muskoka proponents, and educate themselves about what the overhaul will entail, in the long and short run. It is a good idea to see if the One Muskoka model is agreeable to their political interests, and I'm sure the proponents would make themselves available to discuss details and their mission statement. Possibly these candidates may wish to run for elected office on this platform, of district restructuring, and if elected, represent the model from the inside. As a first step however, we all need to learn more about the advantages of streamlining regional government, and understand the inherent negatives the proposal may also generate via this type of representative and administrative change.

     I've sat on the fence for the past year on this topic. Six months ago I was leaning with a cheek and a half over one side, feeling status quo was good enough. In the past three months, I've been frustrated by what can only be seen as undemocratic, unresponsive, "we're doing it our way" government, that is not serving our best interests in almost any regard. Maybe the One Muskoka proposal isn't perfect, and maybe it never will be…..but right now, our councils are getting too cocky and undemocratic for their own good. We're losing responsible government bit by bit. So I want to learn more about One Muskoka. I hope you're open to some new ideas on an old theme.

     Thanks for joining me today. Please come back another day.