It is not too often that Citizen writer Randall Denley and I see eye-to-eye on the municipal scene but today we are in agreement – Council’s decision hurts local democracy, Ottawa citizen, April 17, 2011. By voting to eliminate detailed written records of council debates the new city council is making it more and more difficult for Ottawa citizens to investigate and understand their decisions.
Audio recordings just do not hack it and put many members of the public in a disadvantageous position. Not everyone has the benefit of broadband internet and as Denley comments “…it means the public will have to listen to hours of audio if they want to track an issue” and what about the plight of individuals with a hearing handicap?
It was also very surprising and disturbing to see that some new council member whom one might expect to respect the democratic process (in particular Councillor Chernushenko) voted in support of this motion; less surprising perhaps that pro-developer members including Councillor Hume and Mayor Watson supported it.
The pretense that economic savings are at the root of this change is false. Perhaps the next step will be to hold all council deliberation in camera!
Democracy is in the air right now at all levels of government in Canada as well as internationally. As some counties in the middle-east struggle to embrace the democratic process, Canada seems to be proceeding rapidly in the opposite direction.
Showing posts with label municipal government. Show all posts
Showing posts with label municipal government. Show all posts
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Important Meeting to Attend: Ottawa Municipal Council Candidates
To those concerned about progress in the City of Ottawa,
Over a year of preparation and planning, and bringing civic-minded people together, is culminating on October 25th, 2010. We are nearly two months away from the municipal election and have organized a meeting to discuss the candidates.
Those candidates who value affordable housing, accessible transit, social investment, environmental protection & sustainable city planning need to be identified and supported.
This meeting will openly discuss the strategic wards that we need to focus on and offer insights into achieving a Council which respects the policies and principles listed above.
If you want to see positive change in Ottawa, please forward this email and attached poster along to your networks, RSVP and attend:
When: Tuesday, August 24th at 7pm
Where: 5050 Minto Centre, Carleton University Map (label MC): http://www2.carleton.ca/campus/
Who: Our Ottawa and friends
RSVP to: itsourottawa@gmail.com
Over a year of preparation and planning, and bringing civic-minded people together, is culminating on October 25th, 2010. We are nearly two months away from the municipal election and have organized a meeting to discuss the candidates.
Those candidates who value affordable housing, accessible transit, social investment, environmental protection & sustainable city planning need to be identified and supported.
This meeting will openly discuss the strategic wards that we need to focus on and offer insights into achieving a Council which respects the policies and principles listed above.
If you want to see positive change in Ottawa, please forward this email and attached poster along to your networks, RSVP and attend:
When: Tuesday, August 24th at 7pm
Where: 5050 Minto Centre, Carleton University Map (label MC): http://www2.carleton.ca/campus/
Who: Our Ottawa and friends
RSVP to: itsourottawa@gmail.com
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
The mayoralty race has suddenly become interesting
Councillor Clive Doucet’s decision to enter the mayoralty campaign has come as a surprise to everyone. Interesting times are looming ahead for all the mayoral candidates. There are now four high profile candidates for mayor; three of them are currently members of council.
I am encouraged by Mr. Doucet’s opening statements “I’m not running to be the developer’s go-to-guy and I will not run the city behind closed doors.” Doucet also indicates that his campaign will be financed by “small donations from ordinary people.”
These are words that all candidates for mayor and city council need to pay attention to. I have long opposed election campaign funding by corporate and union donors as well as by owners, executives and senior staff of corporations. Regrettably, there is only a small group of existing councillors that do not accept donations from these sources. It’s time for this issue to be cleared up once and for all. No matter how much councillors take offence and protest that their votes cannot be bought when challenged on this issue, the perception will always be there. We must remove the temptation.
Whatever one feels about Councillor Doucet’s views, it cannot be denied that he is one of the most honest and sincere members of council. Watch and learn!
I am encouraged by Mr. Doucet’s opening statements “I’m not running to be the developer’s go-to-guy and I will not run the city behind closed doors.” Doucet also indicates that his campaign will be financed by “small donations from ordinary people.”
These are words that all candidates for mayor and city council need to pay attention to. I have long opposed election campaign funding by corporate and union donors as well as by owners, executives and senior staff of corporations. Regrettably, there is only a small group of existing councillors that do not accept donations from these sources. It’s time for this issue to be cleared up once and for all. No matter how much councillors take offence and protest that their votes cannot be bought when challenged on this issue, the perception will always be there. We must remove the temptation.
Whatever one feels about Councillor Doucet’s views, it cannot be denied that he is one of the most honest and sincere members of council. Watch and learn!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
A great public forum on city governance
Councillor Clive Doucet sponsored an excellent forum, “Governing Ottawa Better”, last evening in the council chamber at City Hall. It was very well attended; there was a well informed panel of speakers; and there was lots of opportunity for individual citizens to speak and make their views known.
I think that a majority of people attending were likely in favor of some form of re-amalgamation of the city from its present structure. However, we also learned that getting the mission accomplished might not be easy.
There a couple of ways that a re-amalgamation (sounds more positive than de-amalgamation!) could be pursued by:
- local referendum or
- direct legislative change initiated by City Council.
Both options have pros and cons, but either way the provincial government has to buy in. The past history of attempts to de-amalgamate in the Province of Ontario shows that the government has rejected past attempts on the basis of uncertainty regarding fiscal sustainability, adverse property tax shifts (property tax fairness) and lack of council endorsement. Any proposal to change the present municipal structure would have to address the first two issues effectively. This requires a lot of effort.
If this initiative moves forward Clive and his team will need a lot of help and support.
If you are willing to help lobby your local MPP for municipal reform in Ottawa, or participate in working groups looking at alternate governance structures, please visit Clive’s web site. Electronic copies of a governance questionnaire are also available at Clive’s web site: http://www.clivedoucet.com/.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Signs of Spring and Municipal Elections in the Air
Although there are still twenty months to go before the next municipal election in Ottawa, there’s lots of talk about council leadership. This results from speculation around the possible outcome of mayor Larry O’Brien’s upcoming trial as well as public concerns regarding council performance as a whole.
There are calls for new candidates to come forward and challenge incumbent councillors, many of whom have been in place, virtually unchallenged, for far too long. Along with this some are suggesting political parties at the municipal level, and term limits for councillors.
Term limits might not be needed if voters have more than one viable candidate to select from at election time. It is costly to run an effective campaign, making it increasingly difficult for newcomers to run against incumbents. A party approach might help here as the party organization can work on fundraising and community issues more effectively between elections.
Changes will also be needed in the area of funding of political parties and financing of municipal election campaigns. Right now the province’s municipal elections act permits funding for candidates from corporate sources and this has led to perceptions of conflict of interest for many candidates and incumbents. This will become even more pronounced if political parties are involved. Either way, changes to the elections act similar to those enacted at the federal level are needed urgently.
Changes of this sort will not come easily as similar campaign funding rules are also in place at the provincial level. It would be a tall order to get necessary changes in municipal elections act enacted before the next election. It has been suggested that political reform should come from within the community and cities (Problem of Leadership, Ottawa Citizen, March 5, 2009) but current provincial laws and regulations prevent this from happening.
There are calls for new candidates to come forward and challenge incumbent councillors, many of whom have been in place, virtually unchallenged, for far too long. Along with this some are suggesting political parties at the municipal level, and term limits for councillors.
Term limits might not be needed if voters have more than one viable candidate to select from at election time. It is costly to run an effective campaign, making it increasingly difficult for newcomers to run against incumbents. A party approach might help here as the party organization can work on fundraising and community issues more effectively between elections.
Changes will also be needed in the area of funding of political parties and financing of municipal election campaigns. Right now the province’s municipal elections act permits funding for candidates from corporate sources and this has led to perceptions of conflict of interest for many candidates and incumbents. This will become even more pronounced if political parties are involved. Either way, changes to the elections act similar to those enacted at the federal level are needed urgently.
Changes of this sort will not come easily as similar campaign funding rules are also in place at the provincial level. It would be a tall order to get necessary changes in municipal elections act enacted before the next election. It has been suggested that political reform should come from within the community and cities (Problem of Leadership, Ottawa Citizen, March 5, 2009) but current provincial laws and regulations prevent this from happening.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Municipal Election Contributions Ethics - 101
Government of Ontario’s municipal election law currently permits contributions by corporations and unions provided they are registered within the province. Contributions from individuals are also allowed, provided that they reside in the province and that recovery of contributions is not being made from a company or employer.
Firms and individuals that have business interests that might benefit from future decisions (e.g. votes in council) by persons standing for election are therefore permitted by current election law. Accepting contributions from these firms and individuals puts councilors in a conflict-of-interest situation and at worst might lead to accusations of bribery and corruption.
In recent elections a large percentage of contributions to several councillor’s campaigns came from corporations or from individuals with direct interests in future developments within the ward or within the city as a whole. This includes individuals who are owners, executives or senior managers in these firms.
Some councillor’s election campaign contributions show no direct corporate donations to their campaign. But indicate a large percentage of contributions from individuals whose firms/employers might benefit in the manner identified above.
It is unfortunate that individual councillors are not considering the ethical dilemma they place themselves in when accepting contributions from prominent individuals whose firms or employers might benefit from later decisions and action taken by city council. This is especially the case when one considers that policies regarding gifts and entertainment to city staff by firms/people doing business with the City have been tightened up in order to avoid appearance of conflict of interest.
It is very disturbing that provincial law allows contributions of this nature at both provincial and municipal levels. Stricter measures that reduce implications of inappropriate election contributions are already in place at the federal level.
http://www.ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/occ/2005/06-08/ACS2005-CCS-CSE-0006-DOC-1.htm
Firms and individuals that have business interests that might benefit from future decisions (e.g. votes in council) by persons standing for election are therefore permitted by current election law. Accepting contributions from these firms and individuals puts councilors in a conflict-of-interest situation and at worst might lead to accusations of bribery and corruption.
In recent elections a large percentage of contributions to several councillor’s campaigns came from corporations or from individuals with direct interests in future developments within the ward or within the city as a whole. This includes individuals who are owners, executives or senior managers in these firms.
Some councillor’s election campaign contributions show no direct corporate donations to their campaign. But indicate a large percentage of contributions from individuals whose firms/employers might benefit in the manner identified above.
It is unfortunate that individual councillors are not considering the ethical dilemma they place themselves in when accepting contributions from prominent individuals whose firms or employers might benefit from later decisions and action taken by city council. This is especially the case when one considers that policies regarding gifts and entertainment to city staff by firms/people doing business with the City have been tightened up in order to avoid appearance of conflict of interest.
It is very disturbing that provincial law allows contributions of this nature at both provincial and municipal levels. Stricter measures that reduce implications of inappropriate election contributions are already in place at the federal level.
http://www.ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/occ/2005/06-08/ACS2005-CCS-CSE-0006-DOC-1.htm
Monday, August 4, 2008
More support for integrated planning in the city
There was an interesting story by Leonard Stern in Saturday’s Citizen (Aug 2, 2008). The article shows support for my concern about the City’s inability to consider the many road developments it is considering in concert with new community development, intensification and smart growth initiatives before final decisions are made. The writer observes that even councilors who sit on the same side of the table politically seem to disagree on transit and community development issues.
The article notes that “The sprawl to which cities like Ottawa succumbed.....was made possible only by lavish and exorbitant supplies of cheap fossil fuel....Light rail, and the related conversation about intensification – a conversation based on the idea that ‘home’ doesn’t necessarily have to be a single family detached house – is taking us father away from the era …..of the ‘megaburbs,’ places that ‘have all the congestion of a city but none of the human contact.’ Prohibitive gas prices (might) have many bad consequences, but more human contact could be one of the good ones.”
The article notes that “The sprawl to which cities like Ottawa succumbed.....was made possible only by lavish and exorbitant supplies of cheap fossil fuel....Light rail, and the related conversation about intensification – a conversation based on the idea that ‘home’ doesn’t necessarily have to be a single family detached house – is taking us father away from the era …..of the ‘megaburbs,’ places that ‘have all the congestion of a city but none of the human contact.’ Prohibitive gas prices (might) have many bad consequences, but more human contact could be one of the good ones.”
Monday, July 7, 2008
Ottawa councillors making moves for mayoralty position
Recent reports of insurrection at city hall (Ken Gray, Ottawa Citizen, July 4, 2008) suggest that several councillors are considering a motion requesting Mayor Larry O’Brien to step aside. Further, a number of them are seriously interested in filling the spot. Among these is career councillor Peter Hume, who represents my ward (Alta Vista).
Hume has already been in the chair for too long. He does not represent the interests and concerns of the ward effectively and most of his decisions appear to favor the interests of developers above all other interests. It’s time for a change, period. No viable candidate has run against Hume since he was first elected, once he was not even challenged.
I will work vigorously oppose any campaign Hume makes for mayor, and
I will work hard to find a competent candidate to oppose him and win in Alta Vista ward.
I’ll be writing more about this very soon!
Hume has already been in the chair for too long. He does not represent the interests and concerns of the ward effectively and most of his decisions appear to favor the interests of developers above all other interests. It’s time for a change, period. No viable candidate has run against Hume since he was first elected, once he was not even challenged.
I will work vigorously oppose any campaign Hume makes for mayor, and
I will work hard to find a competent candidate to oppose him and win in Alta Vista ward.
I’ll be writing more about this very soon!
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