Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Haldimand "Do you Value Your Privacy?"

Back in August of 2007, Council passed a resolution regarding "all" correspondence that comes through the Mayor's office. There were "3" days of Council Meetings regarding this issue. There were residents that took the time to attend "all" three meetings. There were residents that were "denied" the right to speak to Council. One resident wrote an excellent letter to the Mayor and Council, which at the first Council meeting was "received" as information, but by the time the last meeting rolled around, this letter was "stricken" from the records!

On Monday of this week I attended the Council in Committee meeting. One of the items I was looking for on the agenda was this resolution. In the resolution it stated that this would be reviewed by the CAO in "6" months. Council has gone well beyond the time frame once again.

The following is a letter that I sent to the CAO and "all" members of Council on February 21, 2008;

Mr. Boyle, I would request at this time that Resolution #863-07 be re-visited. As the Resolution states, the CAO will report back to Council within six months for an update, as this Resolution was passed on August 13th, 2007, we are presently over that time frame.

I would like to take this time to remind you of the "public" outcry of the the passing of this Resolution.

Many in the community have felt that their "personal" right to privacy has been invaded.

It is interesting that in the Recovery Package it mentions how residents of Haldimand and especially Caledonia have been directly affected by the ongoing Native Issues in Haldimand County. I would suggest to you that on a everyday basis, that taking away the "Privacy" of the residents to communicate with "Elected Officials" of Haldimand County are just as important.

There has been a lot of talk in Haldimand County regarding the "accountability and transparency" of our local government. Quashing this Resolution could help bring back some confidence in our "Elected Officials".

So I would urge you to help bring back some "Confidence" and Quash this bylaw.

Respectfully,
Donna Pitcher



I have received "no" return correspondence to this request.

During the lunch break on Monday I asked Mayor Trainer why this was not on the agenda, she had no answer for me, but she did write it down on a piece of paper.

Yesterday I called Marie on a few other issues and asked if at the afternoon session did she bring this item up for consideration. The answer was "NO". The excuse Mayor Trainer gave me was that she felt the CAO should have more time. I would like to know why the CAO needs more time.

Now I don't know about you but I value my "privacy" in corresponding with any of our "elected officials". Obviously Mayor Trainer does not feel the same way as I do.

Kudos to the residents that stood their ground on this issue.

16 comments:

  1. The new by-law is a good thing.

    It will never change now. It sounds to melike you're a bit upset with Marie Trainer lately. The Proclamation by Toby that got dismissed - and now this? Why the anger?
    These are two good, responsible moves by council and they have probably had plenty of legal advice on both issues.

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  2. Thanks for your comment.

    I would like to point out one very important issue regarding what you state.

    These two issues "were not" on the agenda on Monday, and if indeed this Council did not approve of the "Proclamation" in it's draft form, they could have changed it. Council chose to do "nothing". They could have had the fortitude to be honest with the residents that came to the meeting that night, instead of trying to sweep it under the carpet.

    It is true that I am showing a bit frustation, not anger.

    You are probably correct that this will not change, that doesn't mean that I cannot have an opinion, and it doesn't make it right either.

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  3. This is interesting. This disclaimer appears on the bottom of "every" e-mail that is "sent" from someone in Haldimand County. Isn't it interesting how it is okay when an individual from Haldimand County sends an e-mail their privacy is "protected".

    DISCLAIMER:

    This e-mail and any attachments may contain personal information or information that is otherwise confidential.

    If you are not the intended recipient, any use, disclosure
    or copying of any part of it is prohibited.

    Haldimand County accepts no liability for damage caused by any virus transmitted in this message.

    If this e-mail is received in error, please immediately reply and delete or destroy any copies of it.

    The transmission of e-mails between an authorized user or agent of Haldimand County and a
    third party does not constitute a binding contract without the express written consent
    of an authorized representative of The Corporation of Haldimand County.

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  4. Donna why should you bother? Marie doesn't care. You are wasteing your time.

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  5. On the first issue, I understand there has been more e mails that have been passed on to private citizens that were of a County confidential nature. I say the monitoring of the Mayor's e mails should stay indefinitely.
    As far as the "Proclamation" is concerned, since when does the Municipality take direction from Toby Barrett? I believe council can think for itself with the aid of their solicitor.If you were a member of Council would you like to take direction from the local MPP?

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  6. Thanks for your comments.

    As far as the Mayor's e-mail is concerned that is now in her hands, as I stated I asked her about this and she was not willing to re-visit this issue at this time. But I do believe that the Mayor owes it to residents and business's that she does not value her privacy let alone anyone else's. To be honest this know is her own doing know, not councils.

    As far as the proclamation, Toby Barrett brought this forward to council as a tool. He stated that this was Drat #1 and council could change the wording if they wanted too. I personally did not think that council would take this document at it's face value, that the wording was too strong, what I didn't expect was council ignoring it period. At least the residents that were in attendance that night know where council stands, and that is all that matters.

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  7. Could it be that the Integrity Commissioner is involved because of the confidential County e mails that were passed on to private citizens and the Mayor has no choice about the e mail issue?

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  8. "Could it be that the Integrity Commissioner is involved because of the confidential County e mails that were passed on to private citizens and the Mayor has no choice about the e mail issue?"

    Well this is an interesting post.

    Who is the "Integrity Commissioner for Haldimand County?

    This poster is someone who themselves has confidential information.

    I await your response.

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  9. Ask Marie Trainer about the Integrity Commissioner.I would venture to guess that is why she is not pushing the e mail issue.

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  10. The following is an e-mail that I just sent on to Mayor Trainer, I will update when she responds.


    Mayor Trainer as you know I have a blog and wrote an article regarding the resolution that Council passed last August regarding your e-mail and correspondence. I had asked you if this resolution was going to be re-visited and you had decided that you wanted to give the new CAO more time.

    The following was posted on my blog;

    Could it be that the Integrity Commissioner is involved because of the confidential County e mails that were passed on to private citizens and the Mayor has no choice about the e mail issue?

    I would like to ask for "clarification" Marie, is this a fact that the Integrity Commissioner is investigating?

    I would also like to ask "Who is our Integrity Commissioner?

    Thanks
    Donna Pitcher

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  11. Good idea, Donna. I am very interested in what Trainer has to say about this as I have also heard about the Ìntegrity Commissìoner`` being involved about the e mail leak situation.

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  12. Hi Donna: Have you heard back from the Mayor on you inquiry about the Integrity Commissioner?

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  13. I have e-mailed Mayor Trainer twice and have had no response. I will give an update as soon as I here something.

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  14. Thanks Donna, I will keep checking in.

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  15. My guess will be that Trainer will not respond to your request.

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  16. Hmmmmm, interesting! I did not feel that Trainer would respond.

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