All-Candidates N. Frontenac
LAND O'LAKES NewsWeb HomeArts
Business
Communities
Communication Technology
Contributors
Cottage Life
Editor's Comments
Environment
Favourite Web Sites
History
Image Gallery
Municipal Government
On The Road
Photo Journalism
Reader Comments
Sports
Tourism
Travel
Contact Us
All-candidates meetings in North FrontenacBy David BrisonThe Frontenac News hosted three all-candidates meetings in North Frontenac. On October 24, 130 people gathered in Cloyne (with little more than one day's notice) to meet with the candidates and discuss the issues.
The next night, 160 people showed up in Plevna.
On Saturday, about 130 people crowded into the Hall in Ompah for a spirited discussion of the issues and the candidates' platforms.
An editorial, based in part on my impressions of these meetings, is contained in this issue.
An observer noted, "The meetings were very well attended; presentations were informative; probing questions were asked by the audience and spirited discussion took place. The three meetings were true 'town hall meetings' at their best - democracy at work."
Some highlights of the meetings were the discussion of the Crown Access Stewardship Program.
Mayoral candidates Ron Maguire and George Mills both said that they would scrap the program, although Maguire appeared to modify this stance somewhat in the Ompah meeting. He used the term "re-profile" to describe what he might do in this and other instances. Mills and Maguire both said that they had complaints from constituents about the program. Mills questioned whether it was, or could become, self-sustaining so that it would not cost the taxpayers money in the long run.
Council strongly supports the program. Stan Johnston and Ed Buck defended the program as a part of their tourism economic development program and as a reasonable response to the use of one of the prime assets in North Frontenac (70% of lands in the municipality are Crown lands).
Further discussion of the Crown Access Stewardship Program is presented in the editorial in this issue.
There was, at each of the meetings, strong support and strong opposition to the program. Many thought that residents should not have to pay tolls on the roads. However, there was also support for the program as a tourist attraction.
A heated discussion took place between Stan Johnston and Ron Maguire over providing a toilet and washroom facilities for the fire hall in Clarendon/Miller when Maguire was Fire Chief in 1998. Maguire resigned over this dispute. Maguire claimed that the Council at that time, and Stan Johnston in particular, had said that the Women's Auxiliary members should have to go outside. (The general consensus seemed to be that it was ok for men to urinate on the ground but not women). Johnston and other members of Council claimed that the fire department had $60,000 in the bank and that $17,000 of that were matching funds contributed by Council. Maguire confirmed that there was that amount in reserve, but that it was would be needed to replace fire trucks.
Johnston accused Maguire of being a quitter and said that municipal politicians can't quit when something goes wrong. Maguire replied that he had quit because of Johnston' unacceptable behaviour and lack of consideration for the fire department.
A number of other concerns and issues were brought up and discussed in the meetings:
* Recycling at dump sites - Council pointed out that there was no market for re-cycled glass and that had made recycling difficult. Other alternatives were discussed.
* Recreational opportunities for children were a major concern. One audience member said that parents with young children were having to go outside the community for recreation opportunities for their children.
* Economic development was a major concern. Council, as represented by both Dick Hook and Stan Johnston are wary of attempts to lure business to North Frontenac, and think their Crown Access Program could be a big boost to the tourism industry in the area. Maguire said that he thought he could attract business.
* Tele-communications access is a major concern for home telecommunications workers who are moving into the area. The Land O'Lakes Communications Network, headed by Jim MacPherson of Sharbot Lake, has submitted a Connect Ontario grant and has just received CAP (community access funding). Maguire mentioned that this initiative could help the community improve their telecommunications capabilities.
* The practice of using municipal trucks and crews to do work that could be contracted out locally, was criticized.
There appeared to be a number of voters who had not cast their mail
ballots and were in fact waiting until after the all-candidates
meetings to vote. They certainly received a wealth of information in
these meetings for their decisions.
