"Cowardice asks the question...is it safe? Expediency asks the question...is it politic? Vanity asks the question...is it popular? But conscience asks the question...is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because it is right." ~Dr. Martin Luther King

Tuesday 11 February 2014

A False premise

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Dialogue is good":


One has to go back in time a goodly number of years to find a cast that would have been capable of the performance of our Council last night: namely Abbott and Costello, the Three Stooges and the Marx Brothers.

The RCMP is currently involved in a fraud investigation against four Senators and the former Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister.

I would suggest that a similar investigation should be commenced against the majority of Council members and the Mayor.

Elected officials swear an Oath of Office that binds them to certain standards of behaviour when it comes to dispensing the public's money, taxpayers' money. This behaviour requires that they are always transparent in their dealings and decisions, that these be made responsibly and that they be held fully accountable for their actions, whatever these might be.

With respect to the allocation of funds to the Aurora Historical Society that was voted last night, an entity that de facto no longer exists, Council has committed a fraud if not a downright theft.

All members of Council should by now be more than a little bit familiar with the background of this entity, and its gradual disappearance from our town's life.

But no, our irresponsible Council, possibly criminally irresponsible, has voted to continue the funding of a defunct entity to the tune of $70,000 for 2014, the same as last year.

I doubt the RCMP would respond to a request to investigate this matter. But the thought that this might occur is sufficient.


******************

That I publish the above does not mean I agree with it. 

Definition of fraud means intent to take from another that which does not belong to the perpetrator,

Council members are not consciously perpetrating a fraud. 

They are choosing the path most travelled. 

Each and every one acknowledged the conversation with the Historical Society needs to take place,

"But not now"

The conversation has needed to take place for ten years. Since the museum  was closed for renovations and the Town hired a heritage planner. 

Councillor Gaertner and myself are the only Councillors aware of what happened since then.

I am the only Councillor  on board since the Historical Society was created  and a museum became a reality. 

We are not looking at corruption.

We are looking at a lack of intestinal fortitude;  a common weakness among politicians.

There's the tendency to make a mental calculation of how many votes  might  be lost
as opposed to gains.

A Chief Financial Advisor has a role to advise. We don't see too much of that.  The reason I leave to your imagination. There is no clear line dawn between professional  advice and political expediency.

That didn't start in this term

This Council  has no experience with a clean clear separation of administration from political.

The malaise is not confined  to the municipal level.

$1.2 billion was swished  down the sewers  at the provincial level on the eve of the last election to save a couple of government seats.

Now we have the provincial treasurer trying  to convince  the Federal treasurer to provide more
funds to the province.

How does the argument wash in the face of $1.2 billion spent with nothing whatsoever to show?

There is no corruption in Aurora.

There's just a lack of respect for the ability of  taxpayers to be able to  properly read the game being played.

We've seen it all before.

We  recognize it all too well.

The Hall of  Fame ,the need for culture at taxpayers expense, the continuation of a grant that long since lost its justification.

They  don't even know the difference between grant and budget for a town service.

Councillor Abel is convinced the Society owned Hillary House, along with the Culture Centre Board is the taxpayers responsibility and the same as Public Library Service.

Last week, Councillor Gallo asked when was  Church Street School  acquired and how was it paid for.

The facts are available.

But  they are not required.

Facts have a way of interfering with the easier. far more pleasant task of doling out taxpayers hard-earned dollars and making friends and influencing enemies.


22 comments:

Anonymous said...

I watched the streaming. You can't fix stupid & there was a lot of it at that table. Nothing corrupt - just posturing.

Anonymous said...

I just read in a previous blog entry that we have already spent $25K on consultants to examine the feasibility of the Hilary/McIntyre project. Where can I find this study?

Anonymous said...

Recently, you had to issue a tepid 'mea culpa' in the wake of the "payback" by the mayor accusation. Now, you highlight a comment that alleges fraud and theft by the Council.

What the hell is wrong with you?!

Anonymous said...


The post to which I comment is certainly strongly worded.

It is the fourth paragraph that is most relevant.

The failure to address this condemns councillors.

A lack of guts is no reason to occupy a seat at the table.

"Facts have a way of interfering."

This condition exists at all levels of government in most countries.

Anonymous said...

Try to enjoy the show tonight - too bad you get 2 so close together. It's a bit of an over-kill. We comfortably at home have the luxury of taping the things and watching them in small doses,

Anonymous said...

16:08
E used it to show where the individual was incorrect.
What the heck is wrong with You ?

Anonymous said...

That Mr Edwards was a breath of fresh air in the room. He wasn't looking for a hand-out and all the councillors reacted the way they should be reacting to all GOOD proposals . They flipping agreed !!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Le Renard.........

Anonymous said...


Can we leave off for a moment and think about the Promenade Study which is supposed to save our down town from collapse.

The down town exists because a number of individual business people have established stores that offer goods or services to the public.

As a means of gauging the success of our down town a survey could be conducted of these stores simply asking by what percentage their sales have increased or decreased annually over the past five years. No dollar amount need be provided.

From this one could see from the cold harsh figures of commerce what the down town is providing.

Fancy sidewalks, trees, plantings and benches will have little effect on the shopping habits of Aurorans.

This survey could be carried out for a relatively small cost and would have more meaning than consultants' studies and lengthy council deliberations.

Anonymous said...


Have the business owners in the downtown core been asked whether in their opinion the proposed Heritage Park would bring about an increase in their sales?

Revitalization of this area would presumably have a positive financial impact on the core businesses.

Anonymous said...

When the Park group were out into the community promoting their vision this is not transperancy.It is promotion.The man the Mayor cut off had every right to question staff and councils handling of this vision.The plan was into third gear and no public input.They even took our say away on the hydro money.The Mayor was a bully tonight.

Anonymous said...

Ask the downtown businesses in Newmarket if the River Walk helped.I already have made the rounds; the answer is NO.Parking is still their thorn.

Anonymous said...

Business owners in the core have only survived by keeping councils, as they come & go, at an arm's length. When you talk to them during quiet moments, they confess to be desirous of being left alone. The long-term survivors were not at all impressed with the published town list of how many years they had been in business. It had nothing to do with Town Hall.

Anonymous said...

We live in an old house. The roof is leaking. Again. As I shifted the pails and towels last night, I briefly contemplated going to the Heritage Advisory Committee to get the roof fixed. Then I kicked myself. That is just the sort of thinking this Council has created.

Anonymous said...

Councillor Gallo knows all about the history of the Church Street School. Those questions were like so many he asks. He knows the answers. Last night he was tossing similar ones around pretending to require information that is already available. He wants the Heritage Puff-ball but doesn't want it to be too obvious. He slips when he pushes for a commitment to the owners/developers.

Anonymous said...

Christopher has new material. Giggle Giggle

Anonymous said...

13:45

Thanks for the info Chris :)

Anonymous said...

It's usually laughable, 13:45.

Anonymous said...

14:03
If Christopher ever did decide to run for office, you are a perfect generator of interest. Keep it up.

Anonymous said...

Isn't strange that the resident nasty always goes after Watts but claims never to visit the site. One little comment brings out all the anger.

Anonymous said...

"If Christopher ever did decide to run for office..."

Not to worry, 17:58, it will never happen.

Anonymous said...

19:19

What ? Are you psychic ?
Look what we have now for heavens' sake.
At least we would know he isn't dragging any baggage.