Milton council shows complete disregard for rural residents

Milton, Ont.  February 8, 2016

Milton council showed its total disdain for the rural community last night. 

The majority (6 of 11) voted to increase taxes to the rural area by virtue of creating a uniform tax rate for the entire town, one tax rate for all. 

On the surface, one could say that sounds fair - but is it?  We do get snow plowing but it's done at a lower cost on rural roads with the trucks speeding along at 80K or more, taking out the odd mailbox, which we have to replace ourselves, but I digress.  

The rural area doesn't get a lot of the services urbanites get, nor is it requested - like sidewalk plowing (there are no sidewalks), streetlights, street cleaning, and public transit.  

Mike Cluett said to me in an email: "Given the current system we have, it would be impossible for us to provide transit to that area if residents aren’t paying for it." There is no intention of providing public transit to the rural area, yet he has no problem making the rural resident pay for what is basically a transit tax.

After hearing 22 speakers, the majority of council still voted to stick it to the rural taxpayer - we are a smaller community with only 2 councillors to represent ward 3, the largest ward in Milton, but a ward with fewer people.   

We were in the overflow room downstairs where the live video was very poor quality, so for that reason I can't state exactly how everyone voted.  And any material shown on overheads was impossible to be read.  (Milton, when will you make things equal for all who take the time to attend a council meeting? but again, I digress.)  I do know councilors Lunau, Best and Huffman voted in support of the rural sector.  More importantly, the names of whom we need to be aware, are the 6 who voted against fairness.  Malboueff, Cluett and DiLorenzo are three of them.

The sad thing is that this could be the straw that broke the camel's back.  The tax increase will be especially felt by rural business owners, most of whom are already marginal at best.  We've lost so many businesses over the years.  

And the farmer, who was already hard hit with the province's actions against the horse industry, and who struggles every day to maintain the viability of the farm - every penny impacts on their bottom line.  This tax increase is another strike against them.

Rural residents have seen their assessments (and taxes) shoot up since the rural area got wrapped up in the Green Belt.The tax burden just got much heavier for them.

All this was pointed out to council last night by the 22 delegations but it didn't mean a damn thing

Politics to Food

It’s been quite a while since I posted anything that didn’t express my concern and fear about the political situation in Canada, my concern at so many people being left behind because of the badly frayed fabric of our social safety net.  With the election of the Liberals led by Justin Trudeau, we know there will be change but it remains to be seen whether Trudeau’s government will be throwing out a lifeline to those who need it or whether his concentration will be on the middle class.  Time will tell.

One of my primary interests, my volunteering, my time - revolves around food.  For instance, at the Milton Seniors’ Activity Centre:

• I’m in charge of the cafeteria's once-a-week lunch. I plan the menus, do the shopping and with volunteers we put together a full lunch once every week, all year long.  A full lunch is only $8  for members.  Good comfort food.  This week's menu features Bangers and Mash - sausages and potatoes, veggie, dessert, and coffee or tea.  Pretty well everything is made from scratch.
• Special Events: I plan the menu, do the shopping, and again, with volunteers, we put together a full meal in accordance with the theme.  Entertainment is usually part of the event, and bar service is usually offered as well.  Our next event is the Annual Christmas Dinner, December 11.  $25 for members for a full turkey dinner with all the trimmings, entertainment, prizes and surprises. 
• Then there is my baking class, Baking with Jan.  It’s a lot of fun.  Once a month, September through June, a different baking topic is offered - I demonstrate the offerings, after which we sit down together to eat what was produced.  I believe the class is $5.75 for members.
• And earlier this year, I was selected to join Allrecipes Allstars Canada, which is a NEW, select group of volunteer home cooks who are inspired to discover and share the joy of home cooking with Allrecipes.ca.   We’re always cooking, rating, reviewing recipes, posting photos, and telling everyone about our favorite website via our social networks.

This month we got our first sponsor – Barilla Pasta, #CAAllstarsBarilla, #ad, who provided us with some of their products to try out.  To be honest, I’ve always bought the cheapest pasta on the store shelf.  With Barilla Pasta I've found that there is a difference in quality.  My favourite way to prepare pasta now is to sauté some minced garlic in butter, add the cooked pasta and some fresh grated Parmesan and we’re good to go.  You get to taste the pasta more so than when covered in a sauce. 

A variation is this Linguine with Black Pepper and Pecorino Romano Cheese from Barilla - try it, I think you will like it.  The link is to the recipe. 

Barilla has made a dramatic turnaround since its chairman's stupid anti-gay statement. In the space of one year, among other things, they've expanded health benefits for transgender workers and their families, contributed money to gay rights causes, and featuring a lesbian couple on a promotional Web site.

Tougher Rail Safety Regulations needed

An article in today's Star (April 4, 2015) speaks of Toronto's Mayor and 17 councillors writing the federal Transport minister asking for tougher rail safety regulations.  Kudos to them.

Milton Mayor and councillors should also be demanding the same thing. One train length can block three Milton intersections at one time.  I don't recall how many level crossing there are across Milton but there many.  Currently there are two grade separations under construction but with price tags of multi- multimillion dollars it's totally impractical and unreasonable to treat all crossings the same way.

But constructing grade separations won't make the tracks safer.  It's the basic infrastructure, rules and regulations, and training, that need to be addressed, that need the investment. I would personally also question the number of employees on any one train.  There have been considerable cuts to manpower over the years: are we getting by (legally to be sure but is it enough) with too few to take the train from point A to point B?

After Lac-Mégantic  and other rail disasters, we shouldn't have to plead for better rail safety regulations.  It's well past time when funds should have been invested into critical infrastructure - or have the rail companies determined that it's cheaper to pay off lawsuits than to make the repairs, as the automobile industry* has been known to do? 

"CP has stated it is on pace to move 70,000 carloads of crude oil this year (2014) across its North American network, up from 53,500 carloads last year."  For the sake of every life, we need the assurance that that cargo is being moved safely through our towns, cities, villages and farmlands; across rivers and streams; through the mountains and across the plains.

Back to my opening paragraph, it shouldn't be a case of the loudest voices getting the best response- or the squeaky wheel getting the oil.  Our Transport minister and the entire government should be standing up for all Canadians to ensure our collective safety BEFORE there's another Lac-Mégantic . It's the ethical thing to do. Even the loss of one life to negligence is one life too many. 


* from https://hbr.org/2011/04/ethical-breakdowns.

More women needed on council

The OSC Regulators have made the case for more women directors in the boardrooms.*   

Research shows that boards that are more diverse are better able to consider challenges from all perspectives.  I would add that, by extension, better decisions.  This same rationale applies to municipal councils.

• In general, women practice more collaborative styles of working that benefit decision-making and inclusive processes.
• Women are already more involved in the community
• That increased knowledge leads to better services, more efficient use of resources and more informed decision making by elected officials.
• Municipalities are more effective in meeting the needs of women and their families when women participate in decision-making.
• Increased participation creates more opportunities for women to take leadership roles within the community.

Local government remains the order of government closest to the people. When it comes to municipal decision making, men and women are equal in their experiences, concerns and talents, and are equally valuable to the entire decision-making process.   However, it is important to avoid assuming that all women or all men share the same needs and perspectives. Although we share a common concern for issues such as roads, parks, housing, transportation and health, each person experiences these differently.

Understanding that decisions made by municipal governments may impact women and men differently underlines the importance of the participation of, and consultation with, a broad range of diverse individuals.

Above all, I would urge voters not to follow in the wake of Toronto and Mississauga.  Don’t let partisan politics get in the way of voting for the best candidate for council.  Block voting does nothing for the community, and, in fact, blocks 20/20 vision. 

Municipal elections are October 27^th.   Before making your mark on your ballot for this municipal election, consider the best woman for the job.  

(Some comments have been taken from the FCM website.)

Doors Open Milton

Country Heritage Park and the Steam-Era combine efforts to put on really good show
It's all about our history - Milton, back over 100 years and commemorating WWI.

Doors Open Milton - Sept 27th. 10am - 4pm
Admission Free - the Doors will be open at Country Heritage Park with activities for the entire family.

• Displays of early farm machinery - Cockshutt, Allis-Chalmers, International Harvester, Massey-Harris
• Have fun learning to drive a tractor
• Ford Dealership - display of vehicles from 1919 to 1953
• Take a step back in time with a visit to our Heritage Buildings - interpreters at the Lucas House and Cassin Log Home will show you what it was like to live "way back when"
• Demonstration Beehive
• Either pack your own lunch or buy lunch at the Park at a very reasonable price;
• Or you might like to partake of a High tea, which will be served in the Women's Institute building - 3 sittings, $10 per person
• farm animals, too, are awaiting your visit
• Treats for the kids

Country Heritage Park is the new home of the Steam-Era

• Check out the display of Miniature/Model Steam engines in the new Steam-Era Building;
• Interpreted display of full size made in Ontario Steam Engines;
• See how Farms and Houses were powered before electricity – Gas engine dynamic and static displays;
• Steamed Corn from rare and unique Sawyer–Massey, made-in-Hamilton, 1920 Steam Engine.
• Flailing of oats interactive demonstrations with participation - you can join in.
• Threshing demonstration.
• Everyone is ready and awaiting your visit on September 27, from 10am to 4pm

Waldie Blacksmith Shop, Open 10am-4pm
16 James Street, Milton

• There will be a photographic display of World War I pictures and articles.  The display has been put together by our archivists, Gloria Brown and Kay Bounsall.
• The forge will be manned by Blacksmiths - they are ready for your questions as they work these restored forges.
• And while you're there, pick up a Downtown Self-guided Walking Tour Map.  There are many points of interest, all within walking distance, relating to WWI.

The World's Richest Women 2014

The latest FORBES article says the top richest woman in the world is Christy Walton - with a $36.7 billion fortune. The widow of John Walton has had that title for four out of the last five years. No tag day in her future.

In third place is another Walton family member – Alice Walton with $34.3 billion. She’s the daughter of Sam Walton and is Christy’s sister-in-law.   Sure, the two of them have some side line income but it’s the inherited Wal-Mart money that catapulted them into such riches. 

How did they get so rich?  On the backs of the poor - the people who have no choice but to take a job at Wal-mart.

Wal-Mart employees are paid so poorly that employees (in the U.S.) were encouraged to start up their own food banks to help them between paydays.  The Waltons deny their workers a decent wage - we're not talking a lot of money, but enough to allow those at the bottom end of the economic spectrum to live and work with dignity.   

All the while, the owners wallow in obscene billions of dollars. Are they so far removed from the masses that they can’t see what’s propping up their riches?  Have they no compassion?  Oh, they probably do – they probably write cheques for millions of dollars to the latest sexy, but no doubt important, cause, to assuage their conscience.