Results of My Councillor Performance Survey

I asked people in Ward 3, along with other Miltonians for whom I’ve worked over the years, to rate my performance as their public representative to Milton Council.

I believe I am the only Councillor who has ever done anything like this. And to me, that is true accountability.  And I hope their ratings will be more helpful in telling you how I will represent you, than campaign promises.

The summary report from my 2010 Performance Survey is now available. Please read it if you really want to understand what kind of representation you can expect from me.

The bottom line on my performance?  Over 90% of people rated the quality of my overall representation as an 8/10 or better, where a “10/10” is “the best representation we could ask for”.

The people also gave me very high ratings on effectiveness and consultation with the public which are pivotal to me.

Read the report and you’ll see why 99% of decided voters have either already decided to send me to represent them at the Regional/Local Councils or are confident they are very likely to.

There are probably hundreds of community groups, all wanting, and needing, new members. But how to go about it? This article just appeared in Rurban Fringe - an excellent website.

Kick-Start a Community Group

Posted on | May 6, 2010

Most well-intentioned community group efforts fail.

They fail because they try to get all the stakeholders they can into a room to forge bonds that may or may not exist. They fail because they don’t take into account those that have agendas. They fail because those agendas conflict, becoming arguments. They fail because those not interested in arguing, quit.

You can’t start a group effort by starting big.

People need to identify with the purpose of the community group and with one another.

Start small. Model knowledge-sharing and positive networking behaviours yourself … what do you have to give to the community? Identify and invite community influencers and advocates. Watch people interact. Assist folks in really getting to know one another … informal coffee dates or anything involving food is good for this. Ask people what they would like to give and get.

While difficult – there’s no road map for building relationships – this work will steadily build trust, buy-in and support for the community … and trust is the glue that binds communities together.

Build the bandwagon. Once it’s rolling, you may be surprised at how many other people want to jump on.
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Inviting people to a first meeting where coffee and food is served is an excellent idea. Doesn't have to be anything more than cookies with the coffee but it will create a more relaxed atmosphere, to help establish those bonds, which will make people want to come back, a reason for giving up one's time.

Asking people what they would like to give and get is a good point. There has to be some benefit in volunteering - whether it makes you feel good, you feel useful, something that makes you want to go back.

Once in a while we get on committees that provide no satisfaction, no thanks offered, no acknowledgment of your contribution. Those committees are when we should take the opportunity to say NO more. There are a great many committees who will value our participation.

Now having said all that, the Nassagaweya Community Consultation Committee is looking for new members. The committee acts as a liaison between Town, Region, police and the community. We hold public information meeting twice yearly, publish an annual newsletter, operate the Rural Watch system, run the annual Roadside Cleanup, and a whole lot more.

Come to the meeting September 1 (first Wednesday of each month), 7pm at the Nassagaweya Community Centre. Come and have coffee and cookies with us, find out what we're about and how you can help.

Giant Hogweed

More on Giant Hogweed from OMAFRA...
Giant hogweed, Heracleum mantegazzianum (which has been documented in Ontario since 1949) is distinguished by its huge size, its very large, compound leaf blades, its tall, thick, hollow, often sharply roughened stems, and its large flat-topped compound inflorescence with white flowers and large, flat fruits with prominent dark-coloured oil tubes. Flowering inflorescences are often heavily infested by aphids. Please see the following webpage from WeedInfo.ca for additional information: http://www.weedinfo.ca/weed.php?w=HERMZ

Ministry staff is aware of the significance of giant hogweed from a human health and invasiveness perspective. OMAFRA is working with the University of Guelph and several municipalities across the province to identify best management practices for giant hogweed

Giant Hogweed identification videos are now located on the OMAFRA website home page as well as at the following links:

* http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/insects/weeds.html
* http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/ontweeds/giant_hogweed.htm

What do to if you suspect giant hogweed:

1. Have the suspected plant properly identified. (Over half of the submissions that OMAFRA receives is from clients claiming they have Giant Hogweed, and are not Giant Hogweed.)
* Proper identification can be obtained by submitting a photo via www.weedinfo.ca

2. Once confirmed, send the location of the sighting to:
* Invasive Species Tracking System that is coordinated in part by the Ministry of Natural Resources. It can be found at http://www.comap.ca/its/
* your local municipality to inform them of the sighting

3. Landowner’s can purchase glyphosate products (i.e. Roundup) to control weeds that are poisonous to the touch, such as poison ivy, wild parsnip and giant hogweed. Homeowner’s and municipalities that are concerned about Giant Hogweed and wish to manage the plant do not need a noxious weed designation to do so.

* Please note: Giant hogweed can be a serious health hazard for humans. Its watery, clear sap contains photosensitizing compounds (furanocoumarins), which, when in contact with human skin and in combination with UV radiation, can cause burning. Content varies depending on plant part, but contact should be avoided at all times.

If you have been exposed to this plant, if is often suggested that you wash affected area immediately, avoid direct exposure to sunlight and seek medical advice.

Ontario Truck Driving Championships 2010

The Ontario Truck Driving Championships 2010 has gone down in the history books as another successful event.

The weather was very cooperative but just barely for Friday. I was chairing the Mayor's Reception which was to flow indoors and out. After checking Google weather maps I gave the go ahead at 3:30 to keep to our original arrangements. It was very humid but no more rain.

Troy's Diner did an excellent job on the reception food and was an great help with the arrangements. The evening went really well, although Penny Rabishaw, president of the Ontario Truck Driving Championships, didn't make it to the reception. Her first grandchild was born that same evening!

Saturday was a brilliant day for the championships which took place at Mohawk Racetrack. And what a show it was - 2 women took top honours. I will post a link for the winners when they are available.

Mohawk Racetrack personnel provided an excellent meal. Jim Kenzie was great as the emcee - Great job, Jim! It was a nice evening, enjoyed by all.

It takes over 60 volunteers to work the various components of the event - Click here for pictures of some of the volunteers. There are no paid employees, it`s all volunteers administrators as well.

Giant Hogweed

Avoid this dangerous weed - it can be hazardous to your health. It's in Milton and surrounding areas. It can cause blindness, either temporarily or permanently.
Hogweed is regulated as a federal noxious weed by the U.S. Government, but not so in Ontario.

Click here for a picture.

Toxic, invasive weed hits eastern Ontario
Thu Jul 8, 4:35 PM

OTTAWA (CBC) - Biologists and health officials in eastern Ontario are scrambling to contain an invasive plant that can cause blindness and severe burns.

heracleum mantegazzianum, or giant hogweed, is a poisonous plant most recently found growing in Renfrew County, west of Ottawa.

"The concern is it's a very poisonous plant, in the sense that if you get any of the sap from this plant on your skin, it can cause severe blistering and very bad burns," said Jeff Muzzi, manager of forestry services for Renfrew County.

"If you should happen to get the sap in your eyes, it can blind you either temporarily or permanently."

He said the burns can cause permanent scarring and any areas affected will be sensitive to sunlight for many years.

"It [exposure] could be inadvertent," Muzzi said.

"You might not even know it's here, [just] walk into it and happen to break a leaf. The next thing you know, you've got these nasty burns."

He said it can take up to 48 hours after exposure for symptoms to appear.

This is the first time giant hogweed has appeared in Renfrew County, Muzzi said, though it has been found in the western provinces and southwestern Ontario.

"It spreads primarily by seeds," he said.

"Seeds can be carried by vehicles, by people, by winds it could be a bird. It could be any reason at all and I think every plant will produce something to the tune of 500,000 seeds, so the spread potential is pretty big."

The plant can grow up to six metres tall, with leaves as big as 1.5 metres across. It is identified by large purple blotches or striping on its stem.

To stop giant hogweed from spreading further, crews in Renfrew County are embarking on a weed-whacking campaign.

Officials also plan to send out brochures warning residents how to spot giant hogweed. Anyone who sees one of the plants is asked to contact their municipality.

Women's Health Strategy

I attended Ontario’s first ever Women’s Health Strategy Conference. It was Wow, so empowering and so enlightening. It was hosted by Community Development Halton and ECHO:
Improving Women’s Health in Ontario. Tuesday, June 22, 2010.

Women of Ontario – some facts
Ontario’s women are:

• Growing (in population, not size)
• Older
• Diverse
• Urban
• More likely to live in lower income groups than men, with the largest group being those 65 and older

More women than men work in the healthcare sector, which sees many job losses.

Women of Halton:

• Make up 51% of the population (or 225,000 persons).
• In upper management, earn 71% of what men earn even with comparable education, degrees, etc.
• On average, earn 51cents compared to the dollar earned by men.

Halton population facts:

• 25% are immigrants
• 13% are women of colour
• 13.7% are 65 or older
• 82% of lone parent families are female headed
• And 22% of lone parent, female-headed families live in poverty
• 9.1% of all women (or 20,600) in Halton are low income

Women’s health issues are different from men’s…
• For instance, women’s lung cancer is more commonly found in the later stages. Men’s tend to grow in the bronchial tubes; he coughs, brings up blood… an obvious warning sign.
Women’s lung cancer grows in deeper tissue with little warning sign. Knowing this can shift screening methods.
• Chronic care beds have been reduced, impacting on women as most of those moved out of chronic care beds are women, and therefore most of those waiting for, or denied access to, long-term care are women. And for the most part, they are women who cannot afford to privately pay for supplementary care.

Although the Government lists long-term care as one of its programs targeted at women, no evidence can be found that shows women’s particular concerns, or differences among women, are taken into account. This is the case despite research demonstrating dramatic differences in, for example, heart disease, lung cancer and breast cancer not only between women and men but also among women from different ethnic backgrounds.

• More women than men are caregivers. Caregivers are stressed due to a shortage of support systems. For instance, there is no stroke rehab in Milton, caregivers must take the patient to Oakville, adding to stress of the caregiver.

Immigrant women face their own challenges.

• South Asians are less likely to access cancer screening;
• They are uncomfortable talking about problems;
• They prefer women doctors especially for gynaecological exams
• They believe in a holistic approach to health, that social support, personal health practices and socio-economic factors are the most important factors affecting their health.

• Social circumstances can be a barrier to good health for women: poor housing, low income, lack of childcare, etc. The minimum wage keeps people poor.
• Life circumstances can also impact on health: poverty, housing, education, violence, race, ethnicity, gender, etc. Health is affected by many factors and certain groups of women are at high risk.

All these factors impinge on women’s health. We need increasing access to improve women`s health. We need social and community-level change and support. We need to invest in prevention and social determinants of health.

These women are our sisters, mothers, daughters, nieces, cousins– they could be us. The Region of Halton and Milton in particular, statistically speaking, is considered a wealthy community but statistics often hide harsh realities.

The hospital situation is under stress. The province is in the unusual guardianship role; the system is under pressure from growth, funding, etc.

LHINs
LHINs are an added cost to service delivery –an extra layer of expensive bureaucracy.

Halton Healthcare CEO John Oliver told me at council Monday, June 28, that they argued for keeping all Halton together in one LHIN but the province put Burlington in with Hamilton, then lumped Milton, Halton Hills and Oakville in with Mississauga. The entire population of the 3 municipalities amounts to a mere 30% of Mississauga’s population. This break -up of the region weakens our case at the regional council table and healthcare IS a responsibility of the Region. That's why we have the Halton Chief Medical Officer.

The Milton Hospital has not increased in size since 1987 when the community was a fraction of the 90,000 now calling Milton home.

Even if Milton taxpayers cough up the money, approval to build must come from the Minister of Health & Long Term care. But, approvals are not going forward despite Milton being the fastest growing municipality with all the associated pressures of growth. I won’t get into the double taxation issue - that’s the topic of another blog: http://janmowbrayblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/milton-hospital-expansion.html

Why are we hosting G8/G20?

I question why we felt we could do it for $200million, only to find out the real figure is over $1BILLION;

I question why, in this hi-tech digital age, these leaders think they have to have this meeting face to face;

I question why there isn’t a limit on the number of people in each entourage – unlimited family members, staff, hangers on, etc. all at the expense of the host country!

I question why it’s necessary to meet face-to-face when any decisions or actions arising from the meetings will in fact have been decided by the bureaucrats either before or after the fact;

I question why Deerhurst was considered an appropriate place to hold sessions, only to decide later on that we would create a fortress in downtown Toronto, and create hardships for downtown businesses;

I question why it was necessary to spend $10million on North Bay Airport, THEN decide everyone will use Toronto Airport;

I question who did the planning, who is making the decisions;

And I question why we can’t afford to do more for our marginalized population when we can turn around so easily and justify spending One BILLION dollars for three days of meetings. Describing it as a “meeting” may be a rather simplistic way of looking at it but that’s what it boils down to.