Policy prioritizing session

I attended the Liberal Party Policy Prioritization session this weekend.  All Ontario ridings sent representatives - I was one of the Halton delegates.  The event took place at Richmond Hills Sheraton Convention Centre at Hwy 7 & Leslie.

There were 70 resolutions up for debate, discussion, (friendly)amendments, and voting - to keep the policy on the list, or remove it.  At the end of the second day, the delegates had to vote their top 10.

I don't know the results yet as I had to leave before voting was complete.

I mentioned above that friendly amendments were entertained: these policies had all been worked on and for several months beforehand and voted on by the individual ridings.  Policy authors were invited to blend or amend their policies before the session but no amendment could change the intent of the written policy.

Join the riding association. Contributing to the policy-making process is one way that ordinary citizens can get involved in the democratic process.  Consultation and inclusiveness is part of what Liberalism is all about.  I found the whole process very interesting.

I will contest Halton Federal Liberal Nomination

After a great deal of consultation, I have decided to contest the nomination for the Halton Federal Liberal riding.  

Going for the nomination was so far off my radar, I had to take a step back when people began asking me to run after Deborah Gillis stepped aside.  After consultation with many people I trust and respect, I said yes.  It is a huge step but I feel it is the right one. 

What I bring to the job:

• Communications has always been my strong point and will always be a priority.  I’ve had many notes of thanks for the communications I employed over my seven years as a Milton councillor 
• I have been very involved in the community for many years, so I understand the needs of the community.
• I am a hard worker
• I research all sides of an issue because I don’t feel anybody has a lock on all the good ideas.

It's a fact that many people don’t care for the party leader, however, the credibility of the party would be irreparably damaged if the party was to endure yet another leadership change this soon. It’s time for grass roots Liberals to stand up and be counted, to pull the party together, to draw strength from one another.  

I hope to have community support for my nomination, a process which has three steps:

1. Getting the green light as a viable candidate - filling in a 35-page nomination package, which includes getting the signatures of 30 members in good standing, and obtaining police and credit checks. 
2. In concert with the first step: selling Liberal memberships ($10).  The more memberships sold, the more viable the candidate. It’s a matter of getting 20 people to sell 10 memberships, and those people selling 10 memberships, and so on.  Rather like a pyramid, really.
3. The 3^rd step is getting as many of those same people to attend the riding nomination meeting when it’s called – expected to be sooner, rather than later.  

It's purely a numbers game.  I hope to have the support of the community.

Save Our Local Economy

An excellent website is Rurban Fringe, which this week contains a must-read article.

Save Our Local Economy

What are three local businesses you would hate to lose from our community?   Got them in your mind?  Great.  Okay, now commit to spending $50 in those three places each month.  Ta-da!!  You’re saving our local economy!

Sounds simple, doesn’t it?  It is … and all it takes is you.
A growing movement called the 3/50 project is making it even easier for residents to help their communities and invest in local economies.  Not only does this movement provide a reminder that local stores offer local benefits (e.g. unique products, services and donations to local charities, schools, and sports clubs), research shows that dollars spent at home, tend to stay at home.

The tension for residents today is the reality of the economy vs. the need to support local businesses.
On the one hand, people are concerned about continuing to have a job and being able to pay the mortgage … yet on the the other hand, virtually everyone spends $150 on some combination of goods and services.

The question is … where can you spend those dollars so that they will have the most impact?
I’d answer that you should choose to spend your money in those places that you would hate to see disappear … or they may.

The 3/50 project 

3 What three independently owned businesses would you miss if they disappeared?  Stop in.  Say hello.  Pick up something that brings a smile.  Your purchases are what keeps those businesses around.
50 If half the employed population spent $50 each month in locally owned independent businesses, it would generate more than $42.6 billion* in revenue. Imagine the positive impact if 3/4 the population did that!
68 For every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68* returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. If you spend that in a national chain, only $43* stays here.  Spend it online and nothing come home.
*U.S. figures but the results would have a comparative impact on the Canadian economy.

1 The number of people it takes to start the trend...you!
Pick 3.  Spend 50.  Save our local economy.

I support the 3/50 project … and challenge you to do the same.

Milton Public Library

November 17, 2010.  I attended my last Library Board meeting as a council appointee last night.  During my 7 years on the board there was tremendous growth in library usage.  For those who think the library might be in danger of becoming an anachronism, nothing could be farther from the truth.

The library is a community gathering place with 282,779 visits recorded this year. Whether to borrow books, use the internet, participate in conversation circles, programs, workshops, do homework, special events, the library is an integral part of the community. 

It’s amazing that library staff has been able to keep up. That they have is a clear tribute to their dedication.  From the 90’s when there was one full time employee (FTE) per 9000 people, today we have one FTE per 22,000 people.  And the Milton Library provides the fewest open hours of any comparable library in the GTA.

The frustration as a board member was in supporting the public’s wishes for increased hours of operation – only to see those hours cut during budget deliberations.

Given the number of councillors who campaigned this election to keep the Bruce Street Library open while promising a minimal tax increase, it will be interesting to see what happens during December’s budget deliberations.  Anything is possible with unlimited money. 

A little background on the Bruce Street location versus the new one on Main Street….
The decision to close the Bruce Street Library was made around 1999.  I was a member of Community Services Advisory Committee (CSAC) when we were presented with choosing the best of 3 possible sites for the proposed new Main Library.  It wasn’t a question of where to move the library – it had already been narrowed down to three sites.  CSAC members chose the Milton Hydro site as the best option. Oh, how different the answer would have been had the question been framed differently.

My thanks go to the dedicated and professional staff in the Milton Public Library System.

Thank a Vet - Buy a Poppy

At the mall today there was an elderly ex-service man selling poppies.  We see them everywhere at this time of year but it got me thinking about the reason he’s selling poppies.

Our veterans, who fought so hard, often in extremely harsh conditions, and now very elderly, stand on corners and shop doorways every November hoping people will buy a poppy, many of which have been assembled by veterans themselves.  The poppy sales help support their fellow veterans in need of assistance. 

Buying and wearing a poppy gives us all an opportunity to feel good about supporting our service men and women but it occurred to me we should be doing a better job of looking after these survivors, that they shouldn’t have to do the job themselves.  I urge everyone to give generously to the next vet selling poppies.

I'm out but far from down

Thank you to all who voted for me in the 2010 municipal election - those who saw an opportunity for real change, real representation at the local and regional level. 

I am honoured by your support and the fact that 2976 people believed in me and while we didn’t win this election, 2014 will be here before we know it.  I may be out but I am far from down.

My hope for the next 3 years...

That people will be really observant of what our elected representatives are really doing for us and our community. Let's rely on our own observations, on the facts, and not base our assessment on campaign claims and literature alone.  Truth and integrity must find their way back to politics at all levels of our government.

                                 

My two terms as local councillor were extremely interesting and rewarding years.  The workload was huge and diverse given the many complexities pressing on Milton; and I met many amazing people.  Being involved in over 20 committees, boards and organizations, I was totally committed to the community – and will continue to be.  I am passionate about serving this community.

This is the third election campaign during which I repeatedly heard the same complaint: people don’t feel they’re being heard, that there is a lack of information available to them.   

People would like information delivered to them on a timely basis, they want to be involved, even if only on a limited basis – or at the very least, they want an awareness of the issues before decisions are rendered.  

For several years, I have maintained an information-based website, as well as an extensive email list by which I’ve kept ward 3 residents apprised of issues.  I’ve received many expressions of appreciation for that effort.  At the same time, I have been the beneficiary of some good input.  Together we can, and have, accomplished a lot.  

A friend asked if I ever met any cranky people when I was out door knocking.  The fact is, a couple of people may have started out that way but if one listens – really listens, you find out they’ve been frustrated by ‘the system’, that no one was listening to them.  By taking the time to listen, a lot of problems and frustrations with the political system can be eased or avoided.

From the many conversations I had with people across wards 2, 3, 4 & 5, I remain convinced that we need to do a better job of REAL public consultation – the rolled-up-sleeves/sit-down-at-the-same-table/let’s-discuss-the-issues kind of public consultation.  Not what has been passing for public consultation – you show up at a meeting, make your comments, and that’s it.  No discussion.  As I have said many times, I don’t believe councillors or staff have a lock on all the good ideas and for myself I appreciated the input.

The number one topic while door knocking?  Road issues. 

• ·         Traffic,
• ·         Gridlock,
• ·         Parking,
• ·         Speeding, and
• ·         Road safety in general 
• And synchronizing traffic lights resonated with everyone with whom I spoke. Why haven't our  regional reps been able to accomplish this no-cost effort in all these years?

In my survey “Your Priorities”, road issues were again at the top of the list:  

• ·         Inconsistent speeds/speeding,
• ·         Need for traffic calming,
• ·         Traffic issues generally,
• ·         Road safety,
• ·         Bike and pedestrian safety, or lack thereof.
• ·         And the lack of trails connectivity was raised more than once.  

 As a member of the Trails Advisory Committee we were told that most trails would eventually connect - when developments in those areas are complete. Years into the future in some cases. However, what about people using the trails today?  If we want to get people out of their cars, they need that connectivity now.

Speeding issues: Drivers cut through our neighbourhoods to avoid gridlock on arterial roads.  The result is higher speeds and more volume on local roads.  Just ask the people who live on Woodward, off Martin Street.  I suspect those living on Scott, south off Main St might feel the same, judging by the number of people I see pouring off Main St.

The same complaint applies across the rural area.  Drivers speed well over the limit; don’t bother slowing down for anything, whether walkers with children or pets, people on horses, cyclists.  There are no sidewalks, no shoulders on the road, often the only place to bail out is the ditch – and more than a few people have ended up there.  The irony is that people move to the rural area for safety reasons only to find out it isn’t safe to walk the rural roads.

A promised traffic calming report never did not come to fruition.  I hope it will be a priority of the new council.  Given the new councillors with young families, I expect it might be.      

One thing to note, over 50% of speeders are local residents themselves – so by slowing down we can cut speeding problems by over half.  A no-cost program!  How often do we have control of our own destiny?  We build better cars and better roads but it’s the driver attitude which must be changed.

I have been involved in road safety since 1998 and will continue my efforts.   

Other priorities cited: 

The downtown business core:

–        Maintaining the current 4 story cap in the downtown core;

–        Implementing urban design controls to maintain the downtown character; 

–        Encouraging local business expansion and thus increase employment;

–        Improve trails and parks connectivity to shopping and employment; and

–        The hospital.

The hospital factored in several mentions with an almost total lack of support for a surtax for the hospital.  Several suggested that we tell the province “no hospital expansion, no population expansion!” 

With regard to the downtown business core, a low cost facade improvement program implemented with tax incentives could help give us something like Niagara-on-the-Lake or Unionville.  We need to be proactive about preserving and enhancing our downtown core before it's too late. Tax incentives provide a net gain to the town by improving property values.

For a good example of preserving the integrity of a building for a modern business, take a look at Peggy's of Milton, 184 Main Street East.

Thanks, Milton, for all the support.  I will always be available, always be involved in our community, always be working to preserve the best of Milton.

Election Day is here

Election day is finally here!  I've met so many fine people, worked with so many wonderful volunteers, knocked on so many doors, and walked so many miles during this run up to the election.
Hello everyone,
We can't know what the outcome of today's election will be but I wanted to thank you now, from the bottom of my heart, for all the support accorded me in the run up to this election.
Thank you for believing in my candidacy for Local & Regional Councillor and for coming forward to offer support in so many many different ways:

• I consulted with a vast number of people along the way.  Thank you all for taking the time, giving me the benefit of your knowledge, your advice and encouragement;
• Thank you to the dozens of volunteers who gave so much of their time to drive me in the rural area, door-knocking in the urban area, and for stuffing mailboxes;
• Thank you to the many requests for sign placements and to all those who helped place those signs - and thank you to those who will remove them on the day after the election;
• Thanks to Mary for coordinating the volunteers and the schedule.  What a load off my mind.
  
• Thanks to Shauna for the electronic newsletters, and other help;
• Thank you for the many hundreds of volunteer hours in order to do all the above;
• Thank you for the many emails and phone calls of encouragement;
• Thank you to Tim for some outstanding help;
• Thanks to Toni for making me look good in print, for her strategic thinking;
  
• Thanks to Ginny and Michelle for the outstanding election signs, and the brochure work;
• I even have thanks for the one guy who said he would never vote for me even if I was the only person on the ballot - it helps to keep one's feet on the ground;-) 
  
• Thank you for the financial contributions from so many different quarters;
• Thanks for other miscellaneous help that doesn't fit in any of the above categories but which, nevertheless, was invaluable;
  
• and special thanks to my husband, my steady support at home even while fighting cancer, now just recovering from successful surgery on Friday, in time to come home for the election party, win or lose, this evening.  And thanks for all for the good wishes for his speedy recovery.  We've been blessed.
  

Thank you for the faith you showed in me over the last 7 years.  We got the job done because we worked together to resolve issues.
It's been a great road to walk and I've met many wonderful people.  What a privilege it is to be in my shoes!
Thank you one and all.
Jan