The editor, Montreal Gazette:
Your editorial (”Vote no on this”, Gazette 2004-12-14) decries referendums as divisive, and blames them for creating or widening wounds in the fabric of Canadian society.
In reality, referendums simply reflect pre-existing divisiveness. Unfortunately, the print media often play a role in fomenting division (more…)
Dear Minister Chagnon,
As a resident of Westmount, I am extremely dissatisfied with the Liberal government’s proposed Bill 75. The proposed Bill 75 is unquestionably onerous and inequitable to the demerged municipalities. As it currently stands, Bill 75 will grant heavy handed and abusive power to the Agglomeration Council which will be controlled by the City of Montreal.
The Agglomeration Council has not even been established yet and already we are witnessing exploitation by the City of Montreal through its 2005 Budget wherein the majority of property tax increases have been levied against the demerged municipalities. To justify the tax increases that have been levied upon Westmount residents since the forced merger as “tax harmonization” is a flawed argument and does not provide substantive justification.
Following the demerger referundum last June, why the demerged municipalities could not have been reconstituted with the powers they possessed prior to the forced merger is beyond comprehension and I presume will forever remain a mystery.
I think it is now incumbent upon the Liberal government to demonstrate leadership and provide public consultation on Bill 75 in the interests of enacting amendments that are both fair and equitable to all concerned.
Anthony Smith
Westmount Municipal Association
Dear Minister Jacques Chagnon,
I have voted for the Liberal party of Quebec for the past 60 years and
supported it for somewhat less. I find myself unable to continue to
contribute to the Liberal Party because of its handling of the demerger of
the Island of Montreal. Your government won the election on the basis of
the issue, but the implementation of the merger has been most disappointing. (more…)
One would think we had learned nothing from the U.S. experience with Prohibition, or the War on Drugs. Banning a substance such as alcohol or marijuana inevitably leads to the creation of a criminal underground which profits enormously, and supports a large bureaucracy which depends on criminal activity for its existence, all paid for by taxpayer dollars. The opportunities for corruption and bribery are endless! (more…)
Immigration Minister Judy Sgro believes that it is inappropriate for churches and other faith communities to provide sanctuary to refugee claimants who have been ordered deported after their hearings. It has been argued that churches should not usurp the role of democratically elected governments and that no one is above the law. (more…)
Given the demonstrated inability of many government or crown corporation bureaucrats to do their jobs properly, it seems pretty clear that they are on the receiving end of a form of welfare. (more…)
So Mayor Tremblay is outraged that members of his political party were reimbursed for lunches and vintage wines out of our taxes? Nothing to compare to our outrage! But the whole business exemplifies what’s wrong with the megacity: things go on that those at the top don’t know about, and too many people feel that they can get away with morally or ethically questionable practices or even outright graft, corruption, or union featherbedding.
With any luck, and in spite of the best efforts of the “no” forces to frighten people, we hope to regain our cities in Sunday’s referendum. With a return to municipal structures of workable size, we can count on an increase in accountability to the taxpayers, something sadly lacking in the megacity.
The federal liberals have made flouting the rules an art form, as demonstrated by the sponsorship scandal, Radwanski’s expense accounts, and the Shawinigate affair. Now, in Westmount, liberal incumbent Lucienne Robillard’s overeager campaign team are breaking the rules by erecting election posters even before an election has been called.
I call upon Mme Robillard to do the right thing by having her team take down the posters immediately and, as reparation, not put them back for a week. Before she gets my vote, Mme Robillard needs to demonstrate that she has not lost her moral compass.
The various arguments that have been made in favour of merging smaller municipalities into megacities have been demolished, one by one, as these undemocratically created monstrosities (monstrocities?) have failed to produce promised reductions in costs. It seems that the only remaining rationale for megacities is the increase in opportunities for graft, corruption, and labour featherbedding, as additional layers of bureaucracy effectively hide the actions of both elected and appointed officials from scrutiny by taxpayers.
The only conclusion I can come to, therefore, is that those individuals who continue to promote megacities (and it seems to be largely megacity mayors, business leaders, and unions) are either hoping to benefit from potential graft and corruption, or are incredibly naive. In either case, they are unlikely to serve taxpayers well.
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