HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2013-03-06, Page 54 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesda , March 6, 2013
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tAkesAore Advance
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Bluewater Biz
Mark Cassidy
Bluewater Biz
It was zero degrees today. if it is twice as
cold tomorrow what would the temper-
ature be? Iceculture located in 1 Iensall is
a Bluewater success story. This past Decem-
ber we visited Iceculture to present a Business
Excellence Award for Exporting. 'Ihe award is
well deserved. Iceculture ships their incredi-
ble ice creations to 58 different countries
around the world putting Bluewater on the
map in the process. l leis month their expert
ice carvers built a full-size Lexus automobile
for all outdoor COtlltlulnity Celebration in
Brampton. You could really go for a spin in
that vehicle.
If you are looking for something cool to do
with the kids during March Break why not
celebrate the joys of our Canadian winter at
Iceculture? Here is what you can expect. First
there's a giant 50 foot ice slide (now that's
really skid stuff). You can have fun photos
taken to post on your Pinterest or Facebook
pages. Next take a tour of the ice plant or visit
the famous ice lounge and take home a frozen
souvenir. Remember to dress warm. Ladies
no need to use your cold cream for this trip.
Call Karen for more information 262-3500
x229 or email her at karen@iceculture.com.
letter to the editor
Somebody has it figured out
To the editor:
As I sit here reading the London Free press 1
Can't help but sit and wonder what could be, and
should be when 1 read with enthusiasm the arti-
cle in Mondays paper.
The city of London has decided to continue to
allow beer gardens in Victoria Park this season!
Bill Coxhead - the head of parks and recreation
is quoted as saying "London is a creative, vibrant
and engaged community that encourages Lon-
doners to conte together to attend festivals and
events where cultural diversity can be celebrated
in a safe, respectful and engaging manner," he
said.
He said that last year, London played host to
180 special events that attracted hundreds of
thousands, which boosted the city's economy.
CONTINUED > PAGE 5
Ombudsman complaints
doubled from 2010
Leadership is an opportunity to serve. It
is not a trumpet call to self-importance."
f there is one continued mantra
in Ontario today, it has to be
"See you in 2014:' London,
lbronto, I.ambton Shores, Sudbury
are only a few of the many municipal-
ities that remind the voters to save the
date for the next
municipal election.
Council members have
taken to the "blame the
media" mode. If they
look bad in the press, it
has to be because the
media is choosing sen-
sationalism over fact.
I Inunm.
One resident in Sud-
bury said, "When you
ignore the people who
elected you, you can certainly expect
to be "abused."
Each of these councils is dealing
with Ombudsman complaints. As a
matter of fact, the Ombudsman
report with 119 complaints regarding
closed meetings in 2011-2012. ('rhe
Ombudsman then issued their first
separate annual report on municipal
cases in October. Because that report
covered the period from April 1, 2011
to August 31, 2012 (slightly longer
than a regular fiscal year) and they
had of course received more cases by
then, the total in that report was
raised to 128.) In comparison for
2009-2010 - there were 68 complaints
and 2010-2011 there was 95. Sudbury
recently fired the Ontario office and
brought in a private investigator -
against public protests.
'Ihe Ombudsman Office has been
probing the citizen complaints relent-
lessly- but some wonder, why do they
bother? There is no repercussions
and although council is required to
make the report public, at least one
council does a quick "receive and
file" with no discussion as to what
they may have done wrong.
in October Ombudsman Andre
Marin said, "Local politicians in
Ontario should face fines or even jail
tinge for meeting in secret without
good reason, in a report that lashed
1. Donald Waiters
out at several municipal councils
across the province.
"'There are no penalties for violin •
ing the law that requires municipal
councils to conduct their business in
public, as there are in many Amer'
Can states, so some
councilors across
Ontario don't take the
issue seriously
enough," complained
Marin.
\'Vltile the ( )lobous
man is attempting to
stake sure councils
follow the mules the
Ontario privacy coin
ntissioner wants cowl
cilors included in free
torn of information laws. Councilors
are under no obligation to reveal
their records of meetings, schedules,
entails and the like to the public
because, unlike bureaucrats, they're
not considered public "employees"
tinder Ontario's Taws,
'Ihe Ombudsman is an independ
ent officer of the Legislature who
investigates complaints from the
public about Ontario government
services. Andric Marin Inas been the
Ombudsman since 2005.
in I,ondon, two years running,
members of council have dined
together, in public, constituting, in
the minds of the public, secret meet
Jugs. What if this same group had
their chitchats by e-mail instead of
over burgers? I vaguely remember
someone from Municipal Affair stat
ing that enutils constitute a "meeting"
and are not allowed, as the "meeting"
would not be open to the public. No
wait staff there- so that would be
wrong only if they are caught.
Under the Municipal Act, 2001, all
municipalities must have an invests
gator for complaints about closed
meetings. By default, it is the
Ombudsman's Office, but they can
also appoint an investigator of their
choice. 'Ihe Ombudsman is the inves-
tigator for 190 of Ontario's 444
municipalities.
Sand
Lynda HiI
Editor, Lake
s of Time
Iman-Rapley
shore Advance