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Inst-“Mal gent-W with “It: hit-um “nth “WUJMâ€" WM!“ mugsde- (MW lim Mam lETYEIS POLICY alumna-r1 f you're asking Santa for more accountability from York Region council this Christmas, you're likely going to be. disappointed. Last February. Liberal Oak Ridges-Markham MPP Dr. llel- ena laczelt introduced a private: member’s bill aimed at giving you the power to vote for the regional chairperson. changing the current practice that has the vote of a majority of the 20 council members appointing someone to the job at the inau~ gut-l meeting of each term. The goth to more democ- racyin orlt Region has been a Dr. lacuk's bin is essen- tially a [commotion of a bill. introduced by Liberal col. league Richmond Hill MPP Baa Mandi. that (laundered in October 2012 when then- premier Dalton McGuinty crowned his resignation with proragation of the legislature. It marks the second time -â€" third. if you count former MPP David Caplan's proposal to make the Chairpersons of all regions elected â€" that an MP? has introduced a bill intended to shake upthe status quo. l and reading by a unenirnous vote lunefi end refined to the standing at ever since and isn’t sched- uled to be dedt with prior to the White“! holiday breek. So. unless sometth ulom the bill won't receive reading in time. for the 2014 municipal elec° tion. That's a lump of conl in the stocking: for York's l.l mil- lion residents. The time is well put for direct account-th to the Committee on the leg- islative assembly. where it has minc- parts tn uurnarn (no recently. The latter course of action still won't have an impact in time for next year's municipal election. but it would recog- nize the need for accountabil- ity to voters. If neither of those things happen. York residents are within their rights to label the lot of them the (irinches who stole democracy. mum-mm“ “thuw bani-gheequ Editorial You deserve chance to pick your regional chairperson Mn: and nkky one. Anothrr altrmpt lo gin voters the right to clad our chair has been (Ithch ll Out-en's Park l_)r. hgzz'ekfs bill passéd sec- ISSUE Halmn. Walerioo and now Durham region have succegss- fully followed this path to democracy. We are calling on our MPPs â€" who. of all stripes. sup- ported this bill last spring â€" to do everythi in their powet to fit it passedniefme heading off I' the holidays. ,‘ If they're not up to the task. then regional council should recognize the way the winds of change are blowing and opt to move forward themselves on the reform as their counter- partg in Durham did recently. The chairperson typically sets the agenda for each term and casts the tie-breaking vote any time there's a deadlock on council. including matters relating to the nearly SIS-billion annual budget. At this poim. though. all the pros and cons are moot â€"â€" even a deluge of public pres- sure won't likely get this bill passed third reading before next Thursday. We'd be Iuéky. in fact. to see it in place for the 2018 munici- pal eIection. That's unaccepi- able. i The latter course of action still won't have an impact in time fox next year's municipal election. but it would recog- nize the need for accountabil- ity to voters. M complain about the high cost of gamlineandwomier if the governmenth ‘ a do anythingabout it. , Mdtcanbystoppingthetaxmm Let me explain. Q electorate {or the ptmerful 1 Recently, instead of filling up the cat. position of ' nal cfiairpert } paying and discarding the sates slip. I took sun and “chic executive offi» a look at the shp. total cost 559. total taxes cer" of York Region. $18.75. Therefore. the cost of gasofine was Currently. regional chair- 54025, person Bi" Fisch. who is paid ‘ last tax listed was HST. total «179. But in emessof5212,000,isessen- _ l3 mmtofd'efudm (“My tially the face of our region at . sema- W} is 35.23 regional and provincial func- ‘ Why the difference? If the federal arise : luv and minn‘n' to” {a and“ A. Oh. If neither of those things happen. York residents are within their rights to label the lat of them the (:rinches who stole democracy. m 01' um um Are we being taxed on taxes? Why mediflerence? lflhefedemlcmise tax and provincial fuel taxis added wthe costufdwfuel.thctotalis$52.213mll3per amountofimpaimdm on the mad. I myself haw given generously to the mwmdwpast. Wmtofimpahed dflvemhasdeueasedfmm 600 incidents per 100.000 saw.Nou2 First, I applaud Kathy Mitchefl'semnsmstoppmg (be irresponsible people who get behind the wheel undenheinfluence. Mathew W Drunk Driving hm done an exact (0262 per 100.000 in 2011. Mammanhalfneachingits lowest in 25 yurs. reports lhIowitisineffectall year. but it can be more pmValenthareatanau timekmkximpliwddriv- Police shouldn't ’wst pull over anyone Stats Can. what is working RIDE can be expanded to mom than2 iustdwholidayseason. Punusnnn Ian Pmuqoot 6mm um Mn Willem: What I am against is Bill The Charter of Rights 77»; a; a’eém‘aé/e WEIBII II III we DISCUSS!“ .. 0-. M i W MAD!) is being done AphJamaflfixthc MostMitdnlnm WMmbmwiB notwppondfisBillC-SSG, "MW mwmdfibh Whydoesdwpwfly mm? For morethan an hounl havesatontheedgeofmy bed listening to a helibop tet go around and around @fiTribune It is six minutes afier rmmmcanmmmioea _ pumphdmamlwflmmea sumilumwmisdmgadmdesd. ~ centofmisvalmisfi.79.mwaylmdn. (mm-(is, muepnyhgtnonmhrfinl. murafiaverpaylmmmmbr 43.403 limes. Which mans we pay\3.59 centsperlim mmlmdigwmbeing chargadHSTontmc! moon-ms: WfiMLMIG'I wmmm docsdwheficopterhuwco citdeaboveahnfltalea? Wdoesithavetodo humdunfiOflmés?Why does I! have to do it aftet midpigu? WWNWW them-maim- ammthefiemcisewould stillbevalid.bul$touflvifle mudmtbefmlofpeople uyingtosleep it will now take me an homformysensestocalm down.sothaflcanuytogo backtnsleep So much for being able to function normalty for thermiofloday. ROBERT GREENWOOD 5"" JUN-T" I F unamqusunadusu ANDREWLCHEIKAS