HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2013-04-17, Page 3Wednesday, April 17, 2013 • Lakeshore Advance 3
Sarnia mayor wants Ombudsman to have more clout
QMI Agency
One of the region's best-known may-
ors wants more legislative powers given
to the provincial watchdog some Lon-
don city councillors instead want to
fire.
in an open letter, Sarnia Mayor Mike
Bradley is asking Queen's Park to fur-
ther strengthen Ontario Ombudsman
Andre Marin's ability to police the oft -
ignored rules that bar municipal politi-
cians frorn discussing city platters at so-
called "closed" or off-site meetings.
'these secret -meeting restrictions are
enforced by Marin --- whose sole source
of punishment is, for lack of a better
terns, embarrassment: he cilli Slap poli-
ticians' wrists publicly, but do little
else.
'Butt, Bradley says, has to change.
Bradley told the Lakeshore Advance,
in his 25 years as mayor of Sarnia the
Ombudsmen had one complaint late
last year directed at a City Committee
not Council. The complaint was dis-
missed before even getting to a full
investigation. Bradley said Marin told
hint he intends to feature in his annual
report Sarnia as an example of open
government.
In his letter addressed to Premier
Kathleen Wynne, Bradley says he agrees
Ontario needs "appropriate penalties to
be in place beyond 'embarrassment' for
municipal councillors who violate
open -meeting provisions of the (Munic-
ipal) Act."
Sarnia mayor Mike Bradley.
In a recent editorial, Marin suggested
a clear option: financial fines for politi-
cians caught breaking the rules. "The
fines don't have to be exorbitant ... but
hitting rogue councillors in the pocket-
book would get their attention that the
rule of law applies to theta too:'
Former councillors in London, and
likely elsewhere, scoff at Marin's efforts,
saying off-site (or "secret") council
discussions have taken place at bars
and backyard barbecues for decades.
Marin's frustration, though, is that
they shouldn't be allowed. Under the
Municipal Act, he notes, except in a few
instances municipal politicians must
debate in public.
In London, push is coming to shove
again.
In February, a record number of
Unsafe vehicles targeted by Huron County OPP
If you are driving a junker around
I
luron County there is a good chance
you will be stopped by a I luron County
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer.
One officer that is leading the charge is
Provincial Constable (PC) Ron Young.
PC Young brings to I luron County OPP
his vast knowledge and skills as a cur-
rent licenced class "A" & "'I'" mechanic.
With 10 years of policing experience and
20 years of experience working in an
automotive dealership Constable Young
can confidently identify an unsafe vehi-
cle on the road. During the first three
months this year PC Young has identi-
fied and removed 15 unsafe vehicles
from Huron County roads.
Police officers have the authority
under the Highway Traffic Act to stop
and examine motor vehicles and their
equipment to ensure they are not being
operated with defects and/or dangerous
and unsafe conditions. Upon inspec-
tion, if a motor vehicle is found with pre-
scribed defects or to be in a dangerous
or unsafe condition a police officer
may:
1. Require the driver, owner or oper-
ator of the vehicle to have the prescribed
defect repaired and the vehicle and its
equipment placed in a safe condition
2. Order the vehicle removed from
the highway and
3. Prohibit the operation of the
vehicle on the highway until the defect
has been repaired and the vehicle and
its equipment are in a safe condition.
Drivers will be faced with a court date
to answer to the charge of an unsafe
vehicle and fines will follow upon con-
viction. Constable Young reports one of
the most common problems is rust per-
foration that has compromised the
structural integrity of the vehicle. "I've
stopped vehicles recently that have had
a floor mat or piece of carpet acting as
the floor board. If you run over a piece
of steel it could easily come up into the
vehicle and cause a major injury" -
added PC Young.
Another common safety issue relates
to mufflers. PC Young has identified
several mufflers with holes in the
exhaust, potentially leading to a danger-
ous situation where occupants could be
breathing in carbon monoxide. Addi-
tionally, some of these mufflers are
barely hanging on to the vehicle. if your
muffler falls off and causes a collision
you may be held liable.
Other problem areas according to PC
Young are vehicles with missing head-
lights, wheel nuts, cracked windshields,
vehicles without bumpers, bumpers tied
on by rope (see attached photo), and
seized emergency brakes. "Most of the
safety defects I'tn finding are a result of a
lack of preventative car maintenance
that would've detected the early signs of
trouble" - stated PC Young.
Constable Young reports that most of
the drivers are aware of the safety issues
and marry are offering up the excuse
that they are simply trying to wait it out
until spring before they slake repairs or
decide to take their vehicle off the road.
Huron County ()PP urges all vehicle
owners to take action now before it's too
late. Have your vehicle inspected by a
licensed mechanic and repair any iden-
tified issues. Please do your part to keep
yourself and our roadways as safe as
possible.
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citizens filed complaints to
Marin's s office (which serves
as a free secret -meeting
watchdog to 10') Ontario
municipalities) after several
politicians were seen lunch
ing in the backroom of an
east -end restaurant one
Saturday.
By Mayor Joe l (tntana's
own account, lie and it voting
majority of council's invest
nhent and economic prosper-
ity committee were there and
discussed that committee's
business. Marin is investigat
ing --- and will no doubt
focus o11 talose t'oInnhi'11ts.
Ibis could he the last stunt)
in London for aurin
lvhost' demands for account-
ability make hint unpopular.
(.(1(111. Stephen Ousel' says
(lace the so-called Burger -
gate prune is done, he'll table
a notion that London dump
Math% as (heli closed (meet
lugs investigator. 'They could
then trite a tepl;tcetment
which, titilike Marin, \\'Ould
COSI lnont'V ;Intl \rhich
('lint's Wily Cotlsi(lt'r (more 11
lapdog than watchdog.
Fur I►tadlI'V, strengthening
the onlbmisman's rule, not
eliminating it, is the best
thing for If►IniCipal
taxpayers.
Since 2008, \\ hen the
ombudsman stat ted over-
seeing municipal (meetings,
"the la‘‘ and investigations
have \\'ailed in the public
illll'IY'sl,'
Bradley wrote.
"11u\\ ever, the Lick of pen
allies tot elected Ileoptc who
violate the act is a set ions
gap in the legislation:'
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