Vote…

I received a copy of an email from Mr. Baker.  I am going to paste a paragraph out of order and put it to the top,  I will have my comments and then the rest of his email in full context will be lower down and if you want to read it you are free to do so.  

Mr. Baker’s words:

When I came before council & requested that all GGC meetings be held in chambers so that anyone attending their meetings could see & hear everything going on was told that they (members of council) like meeting in the River Plate Room because it’s more comfortable for them. The message to me was that in spite of the money spent on a sound system & design of chambers that was intended to welcome people to meetings members of council preferred to meet around a closed table in a room that had no sound system so that a person such as I with hearing problems who was known to be a regular attendee at GGC meetings could nether see what was going on or hear what was going on. And we all know how important GGC meetings are in the decision-making political process.

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I remember speaking to Mr. Baker on this issue before and I thought it was resolved or it just quietly went away and we all went on to other things.

Mr. Baker goes to GGC meetings because he can and basically he is there on behalf of all of us who work during the day and can’t attend the meeting where they do the most work.   The Province expects Councils all over Ontario to do the bulk of their work at the committee level, the council meeting really is a formality to ratify everything that has happened at committee meetings.  Ajax has two committees,  GGC , General Governmental Committee and CAP- Community Affairs and Planning.   All major issues and votes start at GGC on non Planning issues.    So if you are a citizen with a hearing impairment , good luck participating in our local democracy.   Large Municipalities would not have all the councillors on the same committees and the result would be more discussion of the issues at the council meeting.   

Staff looked into this microphone issue if I recall but for some reason a sound system and microphone does not seem to be doable.   The meeting should be in Council chamber just like the CAP meeting.   Do we need to get that guy that lobbied for bus stops to be called out and TTC stops to come to Ajax and give a lesson in addressing disabilities?

Maybe the next council will finally address this inequity.    Maybe a gaggle of people with hearing issues need to show up at a GGC meeting before the election and just keep saying “Eh? What you say? , speak up!”

Below is Mr. Bakers email in it’s entirety, (more…)

Here is a direct link to the page on the CDCD website for the debate information.   You can submit questions in advance but I will contact the CDCD to ensure that if you just show up you can still ask a question.   

 The candidates will all have an opportunity to present their platforms and then they answer questions from the citizens.  I hope they also have the chance to interact with each other as in a real debate. 

[Update Sept 7]  Residents can ask questions the night of the debate,  we would assume but it was best to ask to be sure, this is Ajax after all.  

I went to visit a friend in Beaverton last weekend and even I had forgotten they were in Durham Region , I thought they were in York Region . 

My friend told me that she stays on Durham Roads as long as possible before venturing into Kiwartha Lakes roads in the winter time.   Durham Roads are always well salted and clear , Kiwartha Lakes are not so well taken care of in winter.

Figured I would post this positive comment about roads in Durham Region.

With all the talk about having a directly elected Regional Chair we have to take the concerns of the North seriously and remember they are there  , like a Regional Chair is going to go door knocking in Beaverton ? 

We have another challenger for Ward 1.  

Raymond Durrani
224 Ravenscroft Road
Ajax, ON L1T 2T3
Home: 905-683-2341
E-mail: raymond.durrani@sympatico.ca
Nominated: 1-Sep-10 at 8:50 a.m.

Raymond ran in the Ward 2 byelection and came out with 8 votes.   I found this googling his name and will note that I did not read about this in the local media at all.   

Then I came across this , remember people the Internet is FOREVER!   I am sure it is the same person.  If it is not the same person he can correct me.    Here is the link to the original article.

Raymond Durrani from Ajax, Canada writes: This kid and his family didn’t consult with anyone including Canadian Govt. Why then we have to be concern where he is now. When he is free he can always come home as Canadian. But with his record the govt. will scruitnize his movement as required to protect the faithful Canadians from such evils. Currently, Canada has no law to strip him of his citizenship as he was born in Canada. His mother and his sister with their skunk mouths should be stripped of their citizens and sent back to the country they came from for their crime of child abuse.Thanks to the Liberal governemnts of the past - including Trudeau for screwing up the Canadian constitution by inserting Charter of Rights, putting us in debt of billions of dollors for promoting Multiculturalism, Dual Citizenship and Bilingualism. It will take lots of gut to undo what they have done. 

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Ajax promotes cultural inclusion,  this means promoting Multicultural activities.   

I have done my best to remain impartial but this really bugs me and I am going to get something off my chest.

I heard from someone that Ms. Clymer who wants to be Mayor was inspired to file her papers the day after the Mayor raised the rainbow flag to mark Pride Day.    Now we have Mr. Durrani who hates money spent on bilingualism, multiculturism etc.

So vote for who you want but why vote for someone who is exclusive instead of inclusive ?  The job of a councillor is to represent ALL the citizens in their wards and Sherry Clymer and Raymond stand for anything but that.  

Hopefully Raymond won’t top his 8 votes.    Here are some more  comments by him.     

I know these 2 people won’t win but I felt it important to point out where they are coming from. 

I was forwarded an email from Michael Baker, he needs no introduction to those that follow Ajax politics. I did not change his words but his emails come to me in my email program as one big paragraph that is hard to read. I added spaces and points but it is all his words. He copied Renricks challengers, Chandra K. and Nancy Henry.

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I received the following in my email from Rob. Makes good points. HTA I assume means Highway Traffic Act.

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A friend of mine from Pickering forwarded me a message on an item that has been on my mind as well. Here is what his message said, my thoughts will be afterwards. His message was sent to the Mayor of Pickering, as well as Durham Regional Police Services. (more…)

Nancy Henry sent me her bio . I have said that I would post anything that candidates send me and I am glad they are taking me up on the offer, only a few so far but as September comes more no doubt will come.

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My family and I have lived in Ward 2 on Twigg Drive since we moved to Ajax in 2006. My brief political history goes back a few years ago when the pedestrian walkway on my street was a gathering point for large groups of high school kids and this led to major security concerns for our community. I decided to take action to have the walkway closed. With the help of the community, I chaired a committee that worked with Councillors Joe Dickson and Scott Crawford to achieve this goal. This was a successful journey as after two years of working diligently on this, the walkway was closed. It was a great feeling of success and I felt like I had found my niche; working to make my community a safer and better place to live.

After the walkway closure, it then occurred to me that we needed a Neighbourhood Watch Program in our community. I decided to pursue this idea with the Durham Regional Police. Soon after, Fishlock Park North Neighbourhood Watch was born. I was named Chair Person of this Watch and love how successful this Watch has become. Presently, I’m involved in a residential group to stop a 15-storey apartment condominium from being constructed at the corner of Harwood and Rossland as this building is not being well received by residents in the area.
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After spending the past four years fighting for residential causes within my community, I’ve decided that I can do more good for my community/ward at council level. So, I’ve decided to run for my local Ward 2 Council position in the up and coming fall election.

I want a chance to try and see if I can accomplish more change in our community. My term as your Council person will not be a lonely one…I want and expect community involvement. I want to help make the decisions for Ward 2 with you. We live in the Ward together and I want you to have a say in how it’s run . I would greatly appreciate your support by giving me your vote and then join me to work on achieving our goals together.

Ward 2 Candidate
Nancy Henry
nancy.henry@rogers.com
905-239-8299

This just in…. New Candidate for Ward.1 . Never heard of her before.

Katie Kortekaas
82 Sherwood Rd E.
Ajax, ON L1T 2Z2
Home: 905-686-6180
Business: 905-420-9815
Cell: 905-424-0286
Nominated: 17-Aug-10 at 2:45 p.m.

Here is the Town’s website for the election, there is a video to encourage residents to vote , check it out.

September 10th is the last date anyone can file to run for office. After this date the Voices of Ajax survey will be distributed to all candidates registered. The website on the town has all the debate locations, here they are . It is subject to change after the nomination period closes, I contacted the CDCD to inform that I did not like that both wards 3 and 4 were being held south of the 401. Ward 3 and 4 were realigned to include former parts of ward 2 and wards 3 and 4 comes all the way to Kingston Road. One of the debates could be north of the 401. I plan to attend all of them. (more…)

I have received the following in an email and , yes I was thinking the same thing!

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Can someone tell me where the parking fees go? Do they go directly to the hospital?
I don’t mind paying a ‘user fee’ for parking if it goes to the hospital.
However I’m concerned that this will severely hurt our seniors on fixed incomes.
How can an elderly couple afford these fees when visiting a sick spouse, especially daily!
Anyone with comments and fee details please!
Thanks,
Marsha Dooley
Elect Dooley - Councillor Ward 3 Ajax
www.MarshaDooley.ca

This posted today by the NewsAdvertiser :
August 03, 2010

AJAX — Parking fees are set to go up at the Ajax-Pickering hospital.
As of Monday, Aug. 9, the current system of tokens will be replaced by a new computerized system meant to enhance parking services at Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering hospital.
The new fees will match those at the Scarborough site.
Prices will now be $4 for up to 30 minutes, $8 for 31 to 60 minutes, $12 for 61 minutes to 90 minutes, and $16 for 91 minutes or more. Day passes are also available with in and out privileges for $16.
The new machines will offer the ability to pay by cash or credit.
Patients and visitors will have to use the entrance to the west lot off of Harwood Avenue. Before entering the lot, they’ll take a ticket from the dispenser, signalling the gate to open.
They should keep the ticket with them while inside the hospital, and before leaving, pay at a parking machine. The machine will be located in the emergency entrance foyer, and others will be added in the future.
When exiting the lot, patients and visitors are to insert the validated ticket into the exit gate.
If anyone needs help, the gates and pay stations are connected via intercom to the security office.
VISIT: www.rougevalley.ca
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Admin: When my neighbour had her stroke in December we shared a pass with the neighbours but a family member and spouse pays the most. It’s too bad because when you think about it, nurses do not have the time to offer the level of care they once did and family members have to pick up the slack to make sure their loved ones eat their meal and just help to watch over things.