Last Monday, Clarington's General Purpose and Administration Committee voted 5-2 on a motion stating the Municipality will let the Province know it "vehemently" opposes direct election of the chairman. Though the motion will go to council Feb. 26 for final blessing, it was granted forthwith approval, meaning staff has been directed to prepare and send the letter to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs right away.Why on earth would they send the letter to the Ministry "forthwith", without even ratifying the vote at Council this Monday night (Feb. 26)? What was the big rush? Was someone afraid that public pressure might convince some on council to change their minds prior to the ratification vote? Was it that important to them to get this out in the mail before the public could have a say on it?
Apparently residents in other municipalities who also were not consulted by their know-better Councils feel the same as many Clarington residents feel. Here is another view to "Elect the regional chairperson" from a Port Perry resident.
One of the reasons given by the politicians who want to keep the power of appointing the Chair to themselves is that that direct election would create a 'City of Durham'. Just why would that be any more so than it is right now? The Chair of Durham Region is a political appointment. It is a political position, whether councils like to admit it or not. It is the MOST political position in the region, to anyone who has witnessed the actions of Chairman Anderson at committee meetings as well as at council can easily attest to.
It seems that the smaller muncipalities have been convinced by those who want to keep the status quo, that they would be better off not having the people elect the Chair. Excuse me, the majority of councillors from the smaller municipalities, that is. Not the public. The public is tired of having elected politicians decide that they know better than the will of the people, that they are somehow smarter, better than the rest of us. That attitude resulted in a large turnover in Clarington's elected politicians (more than half are new on council including the Mayor). Perhaps it is time for our elected politicians to actually listen to the people of Clarington (and the other municipalities).
The Chair is not accountable to the people presently, and he should be. He not only carries out "the wishes of regional council", but he directs council, puts forth motions on committees, and speaks (very strongly) for or against recommendations to council. Contrary to what has been communicated to the taxpayers of Durham Region, this Chair advises and instructs council committees on his own preferences, rather than council directing him.
The Region spends approximately 50% of our tax dollars. Shouldn't the taxpayers have some say in who the Chair of the Region is? Shouldn't the Chair be accountable to the taxpayers, rather than to the 28 Regional Councillors? Did either of our Clarington regional councillors raise regional issues in their campaigns for election? How many other regional councillors did so in their own municipalities? How many are looking out for the best interests of the taxpayers of Durham Region overall, rather than for their own agendas? Didn't our new Mayor make direct election of Regional Chair a part of his campaign platform? Why has he now recanted that position? His published reasons are not at all convincing to any of us.
"Clarington Council is taking a position without putting the question to the people of Clarington, without holding a public meeting where the merits of various systems could be assessed, at which the public could make their views known to Council". Is that a good way to treat their electors? Is that a smart way to run our municipality? Are we to be denied our democratic right once again to make a decision that affects all of us? It seems so, unless our Council delays the vote on this issue tonight and lets residents have their say... and actually listens to us. Their actions at the Monday night council meeting will tell the tale.
Perfect picture! I needed a good laugh this morning. But the political crap we're getting from our politicians isn't so funny. What happened to the democratic right for the people to choose? What are those politicians so afraid of? That we might choose someone who will listen to the people rather than pushing through his own agendas?
ReplyDeleteI'm very disappointed in Mayor Abernethy. Rather than believing those who stand to gain from keeping the power to appoint their own political allies with their reasons for doing so, why not honour his campaign promise and listen to the people? There really is no excuse for not at least listening. That vote should be reversed, postponed or cancelled.
ReplyDeleteI'm disappointed in him too. And in the others who want to keep us from our democratic right to elect those who control the purse strings, who spend our tax money, who make decisions that affect us. We got to choose our present council and mayor, and next time I'm afraid there will need to be more upheaval and replacement of existing representatives. We didn't replace enough, it seems, in our recent election. And we may have made a mistake on the top position as well. This is the type of slight that the voters don't forget.
ReplyDeleteI'm thoroughly fed up with the majority of this council and the new mayor. It is very evident that voters want to choose the chair, not have him appointed through back-room deals and arrangements. And that is exactly what it is. Don't kid yourselves, councillors, that it is an open and transparent or non-political appointment. There is party politics and developer politics at the municipal level and those elections work fairly well. Why is regional council any different? Where does the majority of money for municipal elections come from? Developers and corporations of course. We weather that just fine. Give the voters a say and let us elect the new Chair in 4 years. Let us make him/her accountable to us.
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to the concept of democracy? Why are we not allowed to elect the chair? Why were we not even allowed to give our views on it as other municipalities did in the election day referendum? I voted for the new mayor who has decided that he knows better than the public he serves, and has changed his mind on his election promise. He won't be getting my vote again next time around. A man who can't be trusted to keep his word isn't a man I want promising me anything else.
ReplyDeleteCome on, give the guy a break. He's new and has been talked into a position that will harm him in the long run. He hasn't yet figured out that we are the ones who put him were he is, and his word should mean something. A bad start, especially after missing meetings and not realizing where the priorities lie. This should be a priority as it deals with democratic policy and procedure.
ReplyDeleteI'm disenchanted with his actions too.
What upsets me is this bunch voting to send their "vehement objection" to the Province before even ratifying it. What gall. And before asking the taxpayers of Clarington which option we believe to be best for us. The picture is worth a thousand words.
ReplyDeleteWhat are they afraid of? Halton, Peel and York all directly elect their Regional Chairs without incident. Clarington council's argument that the direct election of would cause nothing but problems has been proven wrong by a system that currently works in other jurisdictions. Once again, Durham, and specifically Clarington, is falling behind.
ReplyDelete