Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Haldimand "Mayor Trainer says I Think they are Pooping on Us"

Well the deadline has passed and the answer is official, "no money" for Haldimand County Recovery Plan. Are you surprised?

I usually call and talk to Mayor Trainer regarding issues before I write about them, but in this case I am taking all of my information from an article written by Karen Best of the Chronicle. Karen is an excellent reporter and I trust that all of her information is correct. I have taken some excerpts from the article in particular the ones that I am interested in and made comments under each one. You can either buy the chronicle or go to the link to read the entire story online. Please read the entire article it is very informative.

Thanks Karen for an excellent story, and for informing the public of what has transpired!

Haldimand County council disappointed by provincial government; Protest in the works?

Posted By KAREN BEST
Posted 2 hours ago

Mayor Marie Trainer's sit in by a senior government minister's office door was put on hold until both the provincial and federal governments have time to review Haldimand County's recovery plan.

She and other council members are hoping for more positive responses than those received within the last week. The Ontario government rejected an $8.4 million grant application for a Hagersville sewage plant upgrade and the federal government revealed a set of strings attached to $1.26 million in grant money for replacement of cast iron water pipes in Dunnville. On top of that, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada minister Chuck Strahl rejected council's request for a meeting.

So council will wait until April 21 for a different kind of news.

Earlier this year, the $56 million recovery plan was mailed to Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and Prime Minister Stephen Harper and a few of their ministers. The plan predominantly focused on expensive infrastructure including improvements to the Dunnville, Cayuga, Hagersville and Caledonia sewage treatment plants and funding for an infrastructure study in the Nanticoke industrial park.

Council members were very disappointed about the Hagersville grant rejection especially when the project met all criteria including ready to build and related to infrastructure. County chief administrative officer Don Boyle and physical services managers planned to seek an explanation for the failed application from officials in the Ontario Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal. Boyle held the county's application up against many that were granted a portion of the $450 million provincial Municipal Infrastructure Investment Initiative. Ottawa received the most with $20 million for a library and archives followed by Hamilton with $14 million for trails. A $7 million theatre in Chatham-Kent attracted funding as did a $4.5 million aquatics centre in St. Catharines.

Frustration surfaced in related discussions. Boyle said there was no indication when Ontario will deal with the county recovery plan. "No one seems to have the time," he said.

My understanding of the statement above by Boyle is that the "Government" is telling Haldimand County exactly that, "they have no time for us". You certainly don't need a "brick" to fall on your head to understand that one.

Coun. Buck Sloat suggested camping out to protest and Trainer said that for some time she was considering that as a last resort. "If that's what it takes, we'll sit in front of the minister's office," added Sloat.

Now just a suggestion, but do you think that we (the residents) should ask if we can join Council in their "Sit In"? Or are they just not ready for the support yet.

"We need straight up front conversation with ministries to see where they stand with Haldimand County," said Boyle. In his mind, Plan B can involve galvanizing the community around a common theme - "we need help for this". "They've ignored us," noted Boyle.

"Plan B"? Well we have heard that before. Everyone seems to have a "Plan B", do you know what "Plan B" is? Now here Boyle is talking about the community? Is he asking for our help, now that it is "confirmed" that they have been "ignored"?

Trainer stated that Haldimand County was being held hostage for all of Canada and believed governments wanted to leave it there and forget the municipality. "We have to change that approach," she added.

It would be interesting to find out how Haldimand County is going to change their approach. I would firstly suggest that Haldimand County change their approach to the most important asset that they have and that is the "Residents of Haldimand County"! Have we not been ignored and chastised in all of this?

Trainer said she has taken provincial aboriginal affairs minister Michael Bryant's advice to heart to no avail. Last November, he suggested she stop "pooping" on Premier Dalton McGuinty and she did. Unfortunately that did not open the doors to assistance, she pointed out. Given grant rejection and recent correspondence, she believed the tables were turned.

"I think they are pooping on us," she said.

Well their is the first "secret" that has surfaced, and it wouldn't have been revealed if the money had come our way! We in Haldimand have been "POOPED" on from the beginning, and it is very obvious that our own "Elected Officials" have been aware of this for some time! Is it not time now for Haldimand County to come clean?

While recognizing the camp out as a good suggestion and willing to do it, Coun. Tony Dalimonte convinced council to give the federal and provincial government time to study the huge list of recovery items in front of them.

Well just when you thought that maybe just maybe Council would ask for our help, and bingo, Councillor Dalimonte has convinced Council to just wait a little bit longer. So I guess there is "no" "Plan B" after all! Hello guys, you have been told, when are you going to get it!

"If any good came out of this whole issue, it has brought the county together," noted Trainer. Council members adopted Boyle's suggestion to wait to react until Bryant's April 21 meeting with council.

I would like an explanation for this statement from Mayor Trainer. How has this brought the County "together"? The "Recovery" plan was done behind closed doors and with no interest on behalf of Council or Staff for our input. The plan was forced to be made public by the "Provincial Government" who basically stated they will not give funds unless we hear from the public. Could part of the failure to secure these funds be on the backs of Council members who decided in their wisdom to not follow "due process"?

A change in course from treading lightly may be due, the CAO indicated. "As a county, we need to stand up and be counted," said Boyle about mobilizing council and the community.

The residents of Haldimand County have been asking their own "Elected" officials this for quite some time now. Once again Boyle is asking that the Council and Community get together.

In response to council's request to meet with the minister, his chief of staff wrote that Strahl "must decline". No explanation was provided. As an alternative, he suggested the county ask senior federal negotiator Ron Doering to update them on Six Nations land claim negotiations. "Once again we're getting a brush off," said Boyko who prepared a motion describing the Strahl's response as unsatisfactory and asking for dialogue with the minister. Council unanimously endorsed the motion.

Maybe council is dealing with the wrong ministries because the INAC and the Ontario ministry of aboriginal affairs ministers place First Nations as their top priority, said Trainer.

Sloat pointed out that the first responsibility of every federal minister is to the citizens of Canada. He also asked staff to follow up on Finley's promise to arrange a meeting with Strahl.


http://www.dunnvillechronicle.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=968357&auth=KAREN+BEST

17 comments:

  1. My god Donna this council should get a trohpy for their incompetence. After all this and they are still going to sit back and do nothing. All of the secrets should come out, it is time. At least they owe us that much!

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  2. "I think they are pooping on us," she said.

    Now lets take a look at that statement. If you are standing still and not doing anything it would appear that it would be very easy to "POOP ON US". However had our council been proactive they would have been on the move and the poop would have missed. (SPLAT)

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  3. Well, what a mess. Unfortunately I have to note this reflects on Mayor Trainer who through her posturing and irresponsible reactionary comments and politicing has closed dialogue. Leadership is demonstrated by the ability to open dialogue, open possibility and invite people to the table. A "sit in". That's embarrassing. How about talking in a way that people hear your message? The Mayor is in way over her head! This is all a distraction from the human rights issues that got us here in the first place.

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  4. There is no leadership in this county. Not one person on council is competent in their positions. This council should take a look from the outside in, and if they see the light it may hit them in their butts. This started with Haldimand County and Haldimand County will end because of it.

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  5. I guess this council is not feeling very good right now. They have been pooped on. What a hell of a way for our county to be represented. Pooped on? Give me a break! Where is the respect? Where is the profesionalism? This council has Pooped on their own residents and never gave it a thought. How does it feel council? Welcome to our world.

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  6. So what are our options that reflect the greatness on this county?

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  7. No leadership of the Mayor is the main fault of this council. Should the Council and Staff do her job and she gets approx. $85,000.00 for sitting on her rear? She can't even chair a meeting properly, IMO, so there is no hope of her running this County.What is she doing for this County? Nothing IMO!
    She would come up in my eyes if she would act upon "camping out on the doorstep"of the upper tiers of gov't. At least do something!

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  8. Hi Donna

    Ottawa received 20 million dollars for a library and archives - where does Dalton reside - coincidental, I think not.

    Boyle said, there was no indication when Ontario will deal with the county recovery plan. Simple answer, we elected conservative MPP Toby Barrett so forget the funding and inform council to continue woe is me.

    Counselor Sloat suggested camping out to protest and Trainer concurred. Seems to me I invited council to a protest at the Caledonia arena and Trainer suggested council would crucify her - in retrospect you would have been looking good right now Mayor. Further to that I have suggested for quite some time that the Mayor and councils endorsement of the protesters would mobilize the electorate daa!!

    Bryant's advice to stop pooping on McGinty, what McGinty and co. have allowed to happen to this community, they should all stand under a dairy farm barn cleaner.

    Dalimonte true to form give the government time to study come on Tony just give us the woe is me, we all expect that or better than that give your standard answer to complaints by your constituents - I hear ya!!

    Will Bryant meet with council April 21st as suggested or will it be a YouTube engagement.

    Why would Strahl get involved with council when this problem Caledonia and the county finds itself in was created by McGinty and Co.

    Just sign me completely dismayed that council was surprised and disappointed.

    M. Kinrade

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  9. Just a suggestion: Maybe when it comes time to make our tax payment this year we should make it in toilet paper or coupons to buy toilet paper or at least send along a few left over Christmas wish catalogues like my grandma ued to keep in the outhouse. Well at least one thing has been confirmed for me through all this, I've always thought that all politicians were full of poop, now I know this to be true and what they do with it! Seriously folks, if anyone has a dump truck that can be donated for a day we should do a "toilet paper drive", fill it up and dump a load at the county building another at Queen's Park and a third on Parliament Hill. After all, we can't have our country's leaders running around with skid marks in their undies.

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  10. "Anonymous said...
    Just a suggestion: Maybe when it comes time to make our tax payment this year we should make it in toilet paper or coupons to buy toilet paper or at least send along a few left over Christmas wish catalogues like my grandma ued to keep in the outhouse. Well at least one thing has been confirmed for me through all this, I've always thought that all politicians were full of poop, now I know this to be true and what they do with it! Seriously folks, if anyone has a dump truck that can be donated for a day we should do a "toilet paper drive", fill it up and dump a load at the county building another at Queen's Park and a third on Parliament Hill. After all, we can't have our country's leaders running around with skid marks in their undies.

    April 3, 2008 5:50 AM"

    To the individual who posted this statement - that, in my opinion, is one heck of a good idea!

    People want media coverage? That would get media coverage out the gazoo (pardon the pun). I agree that it would need to be directed at all three levels of government at the same time with the same message..."Sh!t or get off the pot!"

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  11. Anonymous said...
    "Anonymous said...
    Just a suggestion: Maybe when it comes time to make our tax payment this year we should make it in toilet paper or coupons to buy toilet paper or at least send along a few left over Christmas wish catalogues like my grandma ued to keep in the outhouse. Well at least one thing has been confirmed for me through all this, I've always thought that all politicians were full of poop, now I know this to be true and what they do with it! Seriously folks, if anyone has a dump truck that can be donated for a day we should do a "toilet paper drive", fill it up and dump a load at the county building another at Queen's Park and a third on Parliament Hill. After all, we can't have our country's leaders running around with skid marks in their undies.

    April 3, 2008 5:50 AM"

    To the individual who posted this statement - that, in my opinion, is one heck of a good idea!

    People want media coverage? That would get media coverage out the gazoo (pardon the pun). I agree that it would need to be directed at all three levels of government at the same time with the same message..."Sh!t or get off the pot!"

    April 3, 2008 7:30 AM

    And to add to my comment, the toilet paper rolls delivered to the county should have the names of every single elected municipal official written on them - and then stacked in the shape of a toilet. The toilet paper rolls delivered to Queen's Park should have the names of ever single Provincial MPP written on them - and then stacked in the shape of a toilet. The toilet paper rolls delivered to Parliment Hill should have the names of every single Federal MP across the country and the PM written on them - and then stacked in the shape of a toilet.

    Obviously, the toilet at Parliment Hill would be much bigger than the toilet in Haldimand County. ;o)

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  12. Thanks for all your comments.

    I have to say that after the Mayor made the remark of "pooping", it is everywhere and this is disturbing. If I look at other Mayors I ask myself would they make a comment like that?

    We need solid leadership, professionalism, respect and I could go on and on. Sometimes that requires a certain amount of tact. I wonder what do upper levels of government think of our council? Could this be one of the reasons why maybe we seem to be ignored? You can form your own opinion on that.

    We still have over two years to the next election and that seems like an eternity to me.

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  13. Well it seems that Norfolk is doing the right thing, maybe this county needs to ask for their assistance. This was in the Portdover.com.


    Province gives Norfolk total of $9.85-million for roads and bridges

    $2.1-million for Brant Hill project

    Norfolk County has received two grants from the province for improvements to local roads and bridges.

    The first announcement notified the county that they would be the recipient of $7.75 million in infrastructure funding from the Ontario Government. These funds are intended for repairs to roads and bridges throughout Norfolk County and were announced as part of the 2008/2009 Ontario Provincial budget.

    Norfolk County Mayor Dennis Travale stated “Norfolk Council is extremely pleased by this unexpected good news. I extend thanks to Premier McGuinty and his government for listening to Norfolk’s issues and acting in such a generous manner.”

    Norfolk County, in its adopted 10-year Capital Budget/Forecast, has identified approximately $45 million towards various roads and bridge construction projects over this period. These needs have been prioritized through comprehensive bridge and road needs studies and form the basis of projected roads and bridges expenditures.

    Norfolk Council will be reviewing the list of capital projects to determine which projects can be considered for the infrastructure funding that has been announced.

    In a second announcement of funding, Ontario gave Norfolk County $2.1-million specifically for Brant Hill work in Port Dover.

    Norfolk County officials again said they were pleased to be the recipient of funding from the Ontario Government. The County’s $2.1 million application under the Municipal Infrastructure Investment Initiative (MIII) program was approved and the money was expected to be transferred on March 31.

    “This is great news. These are 100 percent funding dollars for the Brant Hill project in the Port Dover community and will allow the County to significantly improve our infrastructure in that area,” said Mayor Dennis Travale. “I congratulate and thank the McGuinty government for assisting our community”.

    The project involves the installation of water mains, storm and sanitary services, curb, gutter, roadway reconstruction and sidewalks where required. It is anticipated that construction would commence in the fall, following the busy tourist season. - Wednesday, April 2, 2008

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  14. Donna;

    I agree with your post regarding "professionalism". Many people have tried numerous times to speak to Trainer regarding "tact" but to no avail.

    I suspect that this is but one reason why co-operation with other levels of government is all but nonexistant.

    For a moment, I would like you and your readers to consider this:

    The simple fact that Minister Bryant had to even discuss her behaviour with her speaks volumes to the difficulties that exist between Haldimand and the Province. Furthermore, the fact that she states in the media what that conversation was about, will only further exasperate the trust issues.

    I humbly suggest that everyone remind the Mayor that she represents all of the residents in Haldimand County, not just the few who like to fill her head. That reminder should not be saved just for her though...all of Haldimand's council could use a good dusting.

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  15. Thank you for your comments. Very well said!

    I have called Marie numerous times regarding issues like this one.

    I have a good suggestion for council...maybe they should attend Council meetings in a few other Municipalities to see how they run their ship so to say.

    They could start by going to Brantford, here is a Council that debates well about going behind closed doors. Or they could go to Hamilton, Norfolk....my point is that I have attended many Council meetings in both Haldimand and Hamilton (when we lived there) and there is a lot of differences especially in the area of "tact" and "respect" for their "residents".

    What our council seems to not understand is the concept of a good "debate". In the past if a member of council disagrees with another they are pounded by each other as it seems some on council believe that every vote should be 7-0. Because of the "outcry" from the public regarding how they treated each other we don't hear or see this attitude anymore but I am sure that they have just taken this "behind closed doors".

    But how can we get this Council to look at themselves in a serious way. Everytime a resident disagrees with what Council is or is not doing, council gets their backs up like they are being attacked personally and the residents seems to be nothing more then a trouble maker to council, believe me I know this one first hand!

    Haldimand County will only be divided up between Hamilton and Niagara, as we are unable to run a good ship.

    When the government decided to amalgamate, Haldimand put in good fight to be a Municipality of their own. At that time a Municipality had to have a population of 50,000 (Haldimand's population at that time was about 41,000) in order to be on their own. Haldimand has never had enough growth or industry to support itself. We have too many roads, bridges and infrastructure that can no longer be supported by the ratepayers.

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  16. IMO, "I think they are pooping on us" is because the Mayor is the conflict factor. Who would want to deal with Haldimand County when we have such a moron for a Mayor?
    I agree Donna, that Haldimand will be part of the other local municipalities and maybe that is not a bad thing. The Mayor has totally made a laughing stock out of Haldimand.

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  17. I would like to add that the whole council has made a laughing stock out of Haldimand. That is why we don't get our fair share of funds, the upper levels of government probably don't trust what they receive. Just pick up a paper and you can see the problems with council, they don't tell the public the truth, why should they be truthful to the government?

    The Mayor takes the trophy, but her troop is right behind her.

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