Meeting Rationale

Observing municipal councils indicates that they are often reluctant to speak out forcefully for their residents. The province often creates legislation and regulations that bring additional costs to municipal ratepayers. The most common response of municipal councils is to say that they have no option but to impose the additional costs upon the very people who elected them.

In doing so, councils give the province a free ride on taking responsibility for the costs involved. The province, unsurprisingly, takes advantage.

The costs are large. Addington Highlands ratepayers currently pay over $70,000 per year to have water samples taken at waste sites. The province dictates the sampling to be done but provides no assistance with the costs and does not take cost into account.

Policing is set to cost in the $1,000,000 range. The OPP, a provincial authoriity, dictates the cost. The municipal ratepayers pay. Addington Highlands Ward 1 has somewhat less than half of the townships ratepayers, is not a high crime community and is 45 minutes from the OPP detachment in Kaladar. The cost to Ward 1 ratepayers for policing is not commensurate with the law enforcement needs of the Ward. Furthermore, with the detachment so far away, the police presence insufficient to deter minor offenses such as vandalism. Drive-by policing is not adequate for any community.

Someone has to speak out on our behalf. It appears that it is a job we will have to do ourselves. That is the purpose of this and, hopefully, subsequent town hall meetings.

Addington Highlands is too large for us to credibly, or justifiably, speak for the entire township. These town hall meetings will speak only for Ward 1.

It is easy to say that no one will listen to us or take us seriously. However, that is no excuse to do nothing, shrivel up and blow away like dust in the wind.