Michael Doody made it official today. The long-time councilor and former mayor is seeking re-election in Ward 5 along with fellow Ward 5 councilors Jack Slattery and Steve Adams. Incumbent Denis Saudino has yet to declare. Doody, Adams and Slattery are considered front-runners along with newcomer Todd Lever.
Finally, someone gets it. If Randy Hillier, the Conservative MPP from Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington (can someone explain to me why political ridings are so ridiculously all-inclusive?) has his way, a Conservative government in Ontario (the only realistic shot at dumping the McGuinty Liberals) will make certain Northern Ontario will be given back to Northerners. Okay, that's probably the longest, run-on sentence I've penned in years - but you can blame the folks who decide how we name our ridings. Hillier told a Sudbury newspaper recently that "...the North, with all its natural resource wealth, should be rich and prosperous. Instead, there's high unemployment and high social costs." He's right. And so is MP Charlie Angus when he aptly described the current state of affairs as the "de-industrialization of the north".
A wise man once said "In order for things to change - things have to change." Okay, so what needs to change? This won't make me popular in some circles - but I'm going to say it anyway. Northerners, in general, have to get off our collective fat asses and abolish the word complacency - forever. And we have to re-write the political playbook from start to finish. It's happening in Alberta, and it needs to happen here.
Fact: Federal and provincial laws have marginalized NDP and Liberal-held ridings in the North.
Longtime Timmins-James Bay NDP MPP Gilles Bisson has taken his verbal skills to new decibel levels - Bisson is a master public speaker - but yelling and screaming gets you nowhere. If Bisson thinks his private members bill to amend the Ontario Mining Act is going to get the support of Ontario Liberals, he's dreaming in technocolour.
I hope I'm wrong. I really, really do. But the evidence so far, is that Queens Park and Ottawa have been oblivious to what is happening in the north. No-one is keeping score.
By the way - that's not a shot at the McGuinty Liberals or the Harper Conservatives. It's the whole damn system. From the Premier and Prime Minister, to the federal and provincial cabinets, to the senior bureaucrats including deputy and assistant deputy ministers. Everyone is asleep at the switch.
Curiously, North Bay Mayor Vic Fedeli announced this week that he will not be seeking re-election this November. There are indications Fedeli may consider a run at provincial politics. He has already gone on record describing Nipissing MPP Monique Smith - for all intents and purposes - as ineffective.
My sources suggest to me that Fedeli is considering the Conservative nomination. I have a better idea. Fedeli should be drafted as the leader of the new Northern Ontario Political Engine - or "NOPE" for short. You can come up with your own name - NOPE is just a place to start - as in, ladies and gentlemen, start your engine.
John R. Hunt, the venerable old Scottish scribe from Cobalt, wrote his most passionate column ever recently. He said "The population is static, the economy stagnant. Ontario needs a Danny Williams or a Jean Charest. Instead it has a spendthrift government that hires incompetents and lacklustre opposition."
The North needs a champion. Don McKinnon and his billions of dollars flirted with the idea years ago and so did that guy from North Bay whose name escapes me. Oh yeah, Ed Diebel.
Stan Sudol of the Republic of Mining web site wrote: "Perhaps the time is right to revisit Ed Deibel’s worthy dream. A separate Northern Ontario would encompass approximately 85 per cent of the province’s land mass, using the French and Mattawa Rivers as the traditional boundary between north and south. With a population of roughly 838,812, according to the 2001 census, Canada’s eleventh province would be larger than New Brunswick, P.E.I. and Newfoundland, and would be eligible for more money in federal equalization payments as a “have not province” than it currently receives from Queen’s Park."
Lastly, the word Conservative, with a capital "C" doesn't appear in the Northern Ontario lexicon. That needs to change. Either that, or a new Northern Ontario political party needs to emerge and Vic Fedeli would be the perfect leader.
You'll notice I have capitalized the word "North" and "Northern" and "Northerner" in this article. I attended a meeting of angry Northerners recently and one of them suggested that it's about time we start using a capital "N" to make the point that we are a distinct and important part of this province. He went so far as to suggest we start using Northern Ontario instead of Ontario on letterhead and the stuff we put in the mail.
I'd like to know if that would make a difference. Would anyone be kind enough to send me a snail-mail letter post-marked:
So here's the crystal ball moment - if Northerners have the capacity to wean themselves off their addiction to the NDP because they are fundamentally opposed to the Liberals and the Conservatives - would they vote for NOPE?
At the risk of sounding morose - no NOPE, no hope.
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Critical public meeting next weekThursday, 09 September 2010 An important public meeting will be held next week to give members of the public a chance to have their say in one of city... Full Story Here
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Gold expected to rise again this weekTuesday, 07 September 2010 Gold erased early losses to rise to its highest since late June overseas Tuesday as investors returning from the U.S. Labor Day... Full Story Here
Kevin's Commentary - Council needs committee syste... A certain mayor abolished the committee system two terms ago because, in my opinion, he was just plain lazy. The same mayor who put the city in a financial quagmire by accelerating the retirement of city debentures to make the city "debt-free". How did this genius philosophy work? They took ALL the money out of reserves - paid off the debentures (no-one was ever allowed to see the list of who owned those debentures - so no-one ever knew who benefited by the accelerated payback schedule) and left the city with virtually no money to do anything. I'm just getting warmed up. 07.09.10 14:24 By KevinV2
Kevin's Commentary - Council needs committee syste... Just remember who cancelled the committee system. The same people who don't want one are the same people who abdicate their responsibilities. It shields them from making tough decisions. By the way, this is not a criticism of the city's administration, they just do what they are told. If I was a member of council again, I'd want to specialize in one or two areas and MANAGE the dam department, not approve what city staff submit to council for "review". the nitty-gritty work is done in committee. 07.09.10 14:21 By KevinV
Kevin's Commentary - Council needs committee syste... Excellent article Kevin! You hit the nail on the head with this one. It's time for council to get back to the committee system so they all know what is going on in each department. To many things are hidden from council and they are the ones that run the show and should be informed and making the decisions. If this was a private business the city would be bankrupt several years ago due to the way it is run. It's time for change and time to move forward to become the big northern city they think they are but haven't figured out on how to do it. 07.09.10 10:32 By John
TimminsToday.com It was interesting to read Mr. Todd Lever's comments on the "Ring of Fire" deposits as related to his run for a council seat in Ward 5. This area appears to hold huge potential for mining development in Northern Ontario. This "find" at McFaulds lake in the Kenora District is approximately 500km northeast of Thunder Bay, 70 km due east of Webeque and due west of the Victor Diamond Mine. Due to this very remote location it will be many years before the mine goes into production. The City of Timmins through the Mayor's office and the TEDC have however been working with the mining companies involved, the Provincial Government, the ONR railway, and the many first nations groups for years now. In fact we had a high leval executive group in Timmins only last week trying to see what Timmins had to offer for the project. If any Timmins business is in need of information as to how to participate in this project they should contact the Timmins Economic Development Corporation for assistance. 05.09.10 14:07 By Steve Adams
Reader fed up with councilor's web comments I'm in total agreement with this letter. Mr. Gvozdanovic and his website are a disgrace and an embarrassment and he should not be allowed to represent this City or collect a paycheque from it for one minute longer. 01.09.10 14:32 By Nora Mapplebeck
PC's say Angus needs to pull the trigger on regist... Isn't getting rid of the registry more of a waste of money since the money has already been spent and it costs very little to maintain. 50% percent want the registry gone, 50% want it kept. glad i don't have to vote. Angus voted twice to scrap it. which way he votes now is a tough one. Mr Greenburg is just trying to be the bully like his idol Mr Harper. 31.08.10 14:10 By cassandra
Bisson reaches out to FN communities Bisson could really care less about FN. The James Bay Coast has always been purely about votes for Gilles. Now that he?s in trouble vote wise in the southern more populated areas of the riding he?s doing OT on the coast. It?s over Gilles, tap-out buddy. Your self-serving labour reign of terror is over. THANK GOODENESS!!! 23.08.10 09:25 By John Monaghan
Police charge elderly man with sex-related offence... Why does the media report these charges ?this persons life will ruined...( 30 to 50 yrs later ) even if he is not found guilty,,,,the media should realize the level of impact it can have on a persons life. If this had of been an officer...his name would not be included until found guilty....convictions...not charges should include peoples name. 13.08.10 18:05 By Norm Beaudoin
Timmins Police seize $14k in drugs/cash Kudos to our police department for nailing these ppl who would corrupt our community with that garbage. 09.08.10 10:39 By Shane
Xstrata reports whopping Q2 profit Typical of big corporations... When is there enough profits? Closing Timmins was peanuts in their pocketbook but huge for many people. When will our government wake up and realize that foreign companies will never put back into a community what it takes from them. Our government must protect our communities, province and country. 03.08.10 19:45 By Julie Radske
City to explore multi-pad arena concept That's easy too. A lack of courage to do the right thing. You and I can let our houses rot ... public officials cannot allow public buildings to fall into a state of disrepair. You have to provide for the future. It might take another 10-15 year for city council to do the right thing. By that time the cost of the project will double. One politician delayed the new bridge over the mattagami and it went from a $3 million project to a $9 million project. The same guy delayed the police building and it went from a $4 million project to a $11 million project. Cowardice is costly. 28.07.10 11:34 By Editor
City to explore multi-pad arena concept If the business plan was such a slam dunk 5 years ago, how/why did it fall apart? And what has changed over the last 5 years that makes this closer to happening now? A single multi-pad complex with a single minor hockey association is definitely the way to go. Now, the question is how do we keep the momentum going... especially in an election year. 27.07.10 11:47 By Al Grenier
City to explore multi-pad arena concept Great question - it was answered five years ago. A new facility is financed by closing money-losing facilities and reducing costs by consolidating. A proper business plan, which was in place 5 years ago as well, uses the EXISTING tax dollars to finance the facility by eliminating the Million dollar a year deficit. Timmins would also have to regain control over minor hockey by going to a single-association system. Right now, three minor hockey associations control everything - it is the tail wagging the dog. Timmins is the only city of its size in North American with three minor hockey associations. 26.07.10 17:40 By Editor
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Finally, someone gets it. If Randy Hillier, the Conservative MPP from Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington (can someone explain to me why political ridings are so ridiculously all-inclusive?) has his way, a Conservative government in Ontario (the only realistic shot at dumping the McGuinty Liberals) will make certain Northern Ontario will be given back to Northerners. Okay, that's probably the longest, run-on sentence I've penned in years - but you can blame the folks who decide how we name our ridings. Hillier told a Sudbury newspaper recently that "...the North, with all its natural resource wealth, should be rich and prosperous. Instead, there's high unemployment and high social costs." He's right. And so is MP Charlie Angus when he aptly described the current state of affairs as the "de-industrialization of the north".
