LAURIE WEIR The ongoing drama surrounding the blue flyer, the integrity commissioner’s reports, and the public disagreements between councillors in Rideau Lakes have been significant distractions for the township. While […]
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LAURIE WEIR When news breaks about animal hoarding cases, the public’s reaction is a mix of anger, sadness and frustration. Hundreds of cats or dogs are often found crammed into […]
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STAFF We are thrilled to announce that Alicia Whyte has joined Hometown News in the role of Advertising and Communications. With over a decade of experience in the advertising industry, […]
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LAURIE WEIR Rideau Lakes Township finds itself embroiled in yet another round of Integrity Commissioner (IC) investigations, raising important questions: Are these probes now par for the course in township […]
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BRIAN PRESTON In keeping with my title, The Travelling Sommelier, this month I will tell the saga of sailing for 3 weeks from Boston up the New England coast and […]
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LAURIE WEIR The Sept. 3 decision by the Rideau Lakes council to seek a third-party investigation into an Integrity Commissioner’s (IC) report, while keeping the report confidential, represents a crucial […]
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SUBMITTED The Small Business Advisory Centre (Smiths Falls/Lanark County/North Leeds Grenville) is excited to announce that applications are now open for the next cohort of the Starter Company Plus program. […]
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The Almonte Lawn Bowling Club begins it’s new season on Monday, 7 May, 2018,preceded by our annual yard sale on 5 May. All new members are welcomed to our Club and this great sport. We play Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening at 6:45 PM.
Ladies league,Ttuesday mornings, 9:00 AM
Contact: Al Jones, 613-256-9997
I totally agree with everything you said in your your article Carrie – The Economy of Mothers.
I felt this way when I was raising my kids in the late seventies, early eighties, and was swimming upstream with those views even back then.. I know it is even harder now.
I chose to be at home for 13 years to be available to provide full-time nurturing and guidance for my children. When they were 9 and 13, I went back to school full-time for three years as a divorced parent, then entered a career outside the home, which I am still in.
I however, consider my chosen work that I did at home raising my kids, my first career and most valuable work.
You are right, the role of mother should not be negated or diminished by a society that places a title, a bank balance, or some tax dollars above raising children. And other mothers too should be more supportive, not judgemental or critical of those mothers who choose to work within their home and raise their children..
You are not alone!
What a waste of time! All council has to do is a little reading to find out all they ask for is a prerequisite from Health Canada. You must be zoned correctly and be able to prove it for Cannabis. You must notify LEO, Local counsel, and EMS prior to sending in an application. You need to follow all local requirements no matter how ill-thought-out they are. Do your job counsel try reading. By the way, cannabis is recognized as an agriculture crop you can’t stop it!
They are mixing MMAR and commercial licenses together and this just confuses everyone even more. They are two different programs with two very different sets of rules. Give me a call I’ll explain then you can write a more effective letter.
Well said, Ms Wynne.
However well-run a daycare institution, there is no substitute, for young children, for the care of an attentive LOVING mother. Day-care workers might be kind and well-meaning but there is not the same sense of belonging or permanence. And mothers with jobs outside the home often don’t have much time for their children at those times when they are home together, because there are so many household tasks that need doing.
Of course, many mothers can’t afford to stay home with kids. Or they don’t want to interrupt a career that’s going well. There is no easy answer. But I’m glad to read an argument in support of stay-at-home mothers.
Smiths Falls Town council should never have got rid of angled parking on Beckwith St. to begin with. It was a money grab that the vast majority of citizens never agreed with. A monumental waste of our tax-payer’s dollars!
We have lost 50 percent of are parking down beckwith street and never made up for the loss anywhere else a total waste of money and space
Please stop destroying our planet for the sake of money!! You cant breathe money!
Well that socks!!!!
Christians at their finest. 😠
Is this what Jesus would do?
At least they will have somewhere to park the car they are living in.
Disgraceful
#disgraceful #IsthiswhatJesuswoulddo #Christiansattheirfinest
The town is so concerned about this type of housing why didn’t they do it at the old high school(a much bigger building)? The town could also move the house at Lombard & Abbott street to a town owned lot or give it to someone instead of tearing it down .There are vacant housing units around town the town could fix up like on the corner Main across the street from the Anglican church.
Not to say that country music is “BAD”, but we folks that grew up in the 50’s,60,70’s and 80’s have no real station to listen to locally. Guess you are forcing us to grow up and dust off the Walkmans, buy an MP3 player or use our mobile devices. “THAT’S IT, ROGERS WANTS US TO USE OUR MOBILE DEVICES LIKE THE STEVEN KING MOVIE … The CELL” Oh so bad of Roger’s
Housing seems a more important issue than parking.
The church could perhaps contract for a bus shuttle (ie Healey’s) to collect folks that are too far from or incapable of walking to church. Affordable housing should be the priority.
Smiths Falls town council’s next part of their housing plan is to shame residents who have spare rooms into donating them to fix this problem. They will also start taxing people with unused garage and parking space at their residences.
Anime who is behind this stunt by Chris should be more than willing to donate their own space for people that need housing.
Thanks for all the volunteers.
What would be considered “affordable rent” for a one bedroom unit in Smiths Falls? Can anyone answer this question?
The sooner, the better. So much homelessness in the area.
Well, did you hear the collective click as we all deleted 92.3 from our radios? Way to go Rogers, I’ve already programmed in 98.3 Fly FM (Bell Media) in Jacks old spot. Now I switch back and forth between Fly and 99.7 Boom (Corus).
Because it’s 2020 🙁
Dear Mr. O’Hearn,
Thanks very much for this article. Fascinating piece, and nicely illustrated and very well written.
Dear Ms. Wynn,
Thank you so much for this. I agree 100% with your perspective, and thank you for reminding me of Dr. Farmer’s remarks. He was bang on, in my view.
Thank you once again for such a thought-providing and passionate essay.
Great work by Tomlinson Construction. You guys are real professionals. You only left $2000 on the table. That’s the way to do business. It takes alot of skill to be able to grab all that money. Very respectable 👍👍. 👎👎to the Town of Smith’s Falls. Maybe if council appointed someone to be on site every day to oversee the work, we could of had an extra $1000000 for phase 2. The coffee bill for the workers on the project was more then $2000. Pathetic you people are despicable..
Excellent service, as always!
Wonderful news. Congratulations! Well-deserved.
Beautiful.
Just get a plan and vaccines into our arms – every area around us has started – why here??
Mr Hillier has sounded his own death knell in his political career me thinks !! Too bad too . At one time he was a force to reckon with . No longer !!!
So people on odsp and old age pension should see money from the Ontario government .because the cost of everything is to high to live
Hello I just want to say how disappointed I am with the parking downtown, I hate it, I’m in a wheelchair and it’s very different for me to get out on the road side, I don’t know who changed it but the didn’t think of wheelchair users.
None of downtown is accessible for wheelchair users, Smiths Falls is not for handicapped people. You have no idea how cut off we are.
Thank you for being so quick in cleaning up the spill. Accidents will happen I am glad that you have kept us informed of this situation. The canal is the major scenic point of our town.
Wow… that really sucks. I will have to move in the future and was impressed with the high end finish of the condo’s here. I was seriously looking to move there, but not any more. The town should not have allowed this flip from the original plan they approved. The fact that it was once a hotel has nothing to do with it
I live in a hundred year old house in Smiths Falls and I wish there was somewhere I could go to get money to fix it up or lowered taxes for 10 years. Our tax money just goes to help new businesses come to town, make some money and then often leave again without repaying public loans. I plan to stay here and I care about our town. Not sure that the decisions being made around this hotel/residence are the best for out town.
Best of luck, Ms. Poag. I look forward to reading your articles, and salute your commitment to your community.
The catholic system is was and always will be a safe haven for pedophiles. Its okay to ruin/destroy/end someone else’s life because Sunday you will be forgiven and allowed to go back out and do it all over cause the next Sunday is just a few more days away. The fact that its being covered up is proof that it is accepted and will continue. This is a ‘regular’ public catholic school. Much worse in private and boarding schools and of course shall we mention the worst atrocity: residential schools. But Hey! Sundays only a couple more days away. Repulsive
Mr. Dunlop will be greatly missed. A thank you, Mr. Dunlop, for your dedicated service.
it would be nice to see what changes are being made to improve traffic flow?? the drawing in this article shows landscape and trails.
If we improve traffic through this bottleneck, it will just pile up at the next traffic light!!
Bryan Pollock has come to our place twice for my late father and recently my mother…. a total gentleman & professional
We “spoke up” about angle parking on phase one and no one listened! No sense in talking to a wall!
Very interesting read.Thank-you
thank you for publicizing Wood Graveyard Ted. If any readers can shed any light on the twenty plus headstones that were taken in the seventies please drop a line to Leisa or I at Heritage House. All records of who is Buried at the site have been lost but we believe at least twenty six burials on the site.Tony Humphrey
I’ve decided not to renew my ATV trail pass or make local related purchases this year, as I’m not trailing my machine 200 feet down the road to keep the CP Mayor happy!
Very interesting
That is wonderful news..Senior hockey is awesome..Go Rideaus Go
I would like to help clean up at 1pm on Saturday, ?
The “jakeharriswilson@gmail.com” address is not found.
Thank you and have an awesome day!
Just love the slogan Heritage + Heart. It describes Perth perfectly.
The specific logos are simple, yet sophisticated.
Well done and congratulations.
Catherine
Really disappointed that this was put on hold again…too much time and money has been spent to do NOTHING..PLease MOVE forward
Very bland and boring, do not like it, could have been better plus there was nothing wrong with the old logo, very disappointed in you town of perth
I had the pleasure of taking a bowl of Gather’s Squash and Apple soup to a picnic table in Stewart park. It was deliciously thick and flavourful! Great food and beautiful scenery! Hard to beat that!
Sad! SF Mayor and Council! Reprehensible that you would mandate an experimental drug that has no long term data and is not done testing until 2023 that has the possible side effects of death and serious side effects for your employees or you will fire them. You make no sense. Can you think beyond your rhetoric? You know that all who survive Covid have robust immunity stronger than your vax immunity and they are about 2 million in Canada. Covid is completely survivable by 99 percent of the population without medical intervention. The vaxxed spread the virus and contract it also and that is a fact so mandating vax is nonsense. This is evident in the Israel studies where nearly everyone is double vaxxed. Many more studies by well known doctors are being suppressed by MSM and despite this you sit in judgement holier than thou and fire your countrymen who are just as susceptible as you are. Shame on you! Theres no proof that the vax even reduces symptoms. If there is produce it because it only annectodal rumour and another prediction. Your decision divides and discriminates and you are no better off safety wise. Look at the recent outbreak in York region among the totally vaccinated from Sep 27th in Metroland news for your proof the vaxport and mandates and vax don’t work. Your decision gives you a false sense of security and you are drunk on your illegal power to harm and force your employees in the name of maybe making it safer. Name one person that any of these measures saved? Go ahead name just one real person and not some hypothetical garbage that theoretically we saved this many because there is NO evidence they work. These decisions are coercion and vaccine mandates accompanied by coercion are not consensual they are assault. These tyrannical measures have only harmed society and you further it. You reap what you sow, a discriminatory society of fear and hatred towards normal healthy people along with the understanding you will continue to trample the protected rights of your employees. You and the taxpayers will be on the hook for your liability here. If one employee dies or has serious complications from the vaccine you mandate will you now publicly declare your permanent financial support for the family of the affected employee? How can you say you are looking out for the health and safety of your employees when the possible consequence of taking the vaccine is death? That can be avoided by not taking it?
Mandatory vaccination is illegal. It will take time for the courts to rule but this is common sense. The most fundamental right of a person is control over their own body. You cannot mandate forced vaccinations. I don’t understand what has happened to people’s brains. This is ridiculous. It’s obvious to any sane, rational person. Look at any human or medical rights code we have or subscribe to. Wake up.
In addition to that the police and others have indicated that requiring vaccines to maintain employment is a criminal offence under the Criminal Code of Canada sections 265 (assault) and 346 (extortion). That’s the law. And there are reasons for such laws. If you enforce vaccine mandates for employees you may be criminally charged and jailed. This is not 1930’s Germany. Get your heads out of your posteriors politicians. You are servants not rulers.
“The Canadian Labor Board has officially rejected all vaccine mandates for public employees” as they are “A violation of Human Rights and Employment Rights”. This isn’t being covered by mainstream media, nor have many of the legal proceedings against most employers across Canada been brought to public attention. Any employer who initiates a mandatory vaccination policy is setting themselves up for liability issues and potential criminal charges. Be very wary about what you are imposing on your employees as the government is placing this decision on employers knowing that the fallout will land on the employer and not themselves. Remember that ignorance will not save anyone in the court of law, and thinking that just because the government is inferring that it is okay means it is legal – educate yourselves because it is not.
Please read the post from SF Legion about service tomorrow. You left out about the parade from the Legion to Memorial park!😩
Hi,
Interesting read, is this pilot program only offered to the town of Smiths Falls 🤔 or does it include the municipalities ( Montague township)
We have lived here for 8 yrs & have often wondered why we don’t have a green bin 🤔
i would very much like to be in on this … as i spent many yrs on a farm & have always been very aware of composting … i love returning the compost to my gardens … please add me to the list …
Anything we can do to cut down on products going to landfill is a positive!!!
I’d pay 150$ to try it
Sign me up! I would absolutely love this and it would save me trekking to the back of the yard with our days food waste every night after dinner.
This is an excellent plan. Pease bring it to Arklan in Carleton Place
Pretty cool stuff. Born and raised in and around Smith Fallit always interesting to discover more of the towns history. Congrats and keep up the good work.
I hope the Sinclairs don’t give up.
well written article
Very well written. Sad that the accusers are too chicken to show themselves and defend their complaints. The Sinclair’s have nothing to be ashamed of their gardens are beautiful. They need to appeal to a higher court. Shut the idiots down who made this totally bogus decision.
A great article. Thank you for highlighting this struggle. Now finally the world can see what the Sinclair’s have been dealing with.
It takes nothing to go across and meet your neighbours, find out what they are doing etc. it also takes time for a “new” garden to become established. This whole fiasco has been beyond belief. Me, I’d love my hard earned tax dollars to be spent on something more meaningful and beneficial to my town and community, not a moaning
Neighbour going on about a style of gardening that they really don’t know much about, nor one that appeals to them. A shame really as gardening has so many facets and styles. I would like to know just how much this whole fiasco has cost the tax payer with multiply bylaw visits etc. We are so much better than this. Surely?
Kind thanks to the folk willing to stand up with and for the Sinclair’s. We have lots to learn from these experts in helping us creating a better garden and town.
Denise Taylor
113 Merrick street
This is a fabulous article. I am so glad that this story is being well covered by the Hometown News and Ottawa Valley News.
I also hope the Sinclairs do not give up and know that there are many, many, people who support what they are doing to save our planet.
The helpful and positive result of their efforts reach far beyond their own Smiths Falls garden and yard. We should all be following their inspiring example.
Wow – so well stated! It was so difficult to watch the arrogance and rudeness displayed by Mr. Thomas during this hearing. Instead of respecting and learning from experts in the area of naturalized gardens and their benefits he decided to reflect upon his roses and his problems with aphids – really? How embarrassing! I hope that these well spoken individuals who gave generously of their time do not judge Smiths Falls by these committee members actions! I know that Smiths Falls is more progressive, respectful, and caring than this. I too would like to apologize for all the stress this has caused the Sinclair’s – and applaud them on their garden and their attempt to care about our environment in this obvious time of crisis.
NO! The ramps were installed to correct the flow of water to the Little Tay to prevent flooding of Stewart Park!!!! Check your facts!
I think a Cantina will be a great idea
We’re a small town, not a city… kids need more than one place to play. All kids do is look at iPads and computers all day. Now we want take play area away that aren’t on school property… how I made friends as a kid was playing outside on play grounds, not at food stand. Stop building houses that cost half million dollars and stop making this small town into Ottawa. I haven’t even seen no kid play road hockey in years, that’s all I did growing up… and now to many cars on road and no one promotes it. Kinda sad.
What is affordable rent in Smiths Falls?
Good evening everyone, what is your status on the red tape being pushed by conservation authorities for housing development in outlying municipalities, are you and your party in favour of eliminating it. As Ontario is one of the most red tape provinces in the country.
It would be interesting to know how much the property would be devalued because of the “garden”.
Their garden is priceless to them. You sound like a sleazy real estate agent.
It would be interesting to know how much the property value would increase because of the garden. The interest in sustainable gardens is growing while boring, monoculture is being recognized for the liability it is.
Thank you to the Sinclairs for promoting diversity in urban gardening
It’s great that they won. More people should follow suit and have yards like that. Lawns are a waste of space, and ecological nightmares. They need mowing, often using gas mowers which pollute and are noisy, and are often treated with chemicals that are harmful.
Congrats to the Sinclair: a win for nature! Anyone who wants a lesson in bureaucratic rigidity bordering on absurdity should listen to the Smiths Falls Property Standards Committee that steadfastly refused to listen to reason with regards to this issue A reminder that laws/by-laws do not always serve the better interest of citizens and, in this instance, was rightly challenged.
An awesome peace of SF History. This Smith’s Falls history I would like to see taught in school.
A first rate piece of historical writing. Thank you so much for it!
Perfect habitat for ticks. Unfortunate for their neighbours.
Query – this is not just a lunch program is it?
Are the phone numbers of participating restaurants located someplace all together?
Thanks
My sister and brother in law have been hosting a Ukrainian family of 3 women for the past 3 weeks. this family will, hopefuly, be moving to SF in Sept. They are currently staying at Mississippi Lake area. they have been quite isolated from any Ukrainian contacts and it would be great if they could meet with this family recently arrived in SF.
If this would possible kindly contact me to arrange
Shouldn’t the realtor who sold the house be held accountable? The previous owner? The town for not following up on the 2014 permit? The bank?
I find it amazing that the town suddenly has issues with this propert. When the previous owner had the property the town went out of their way to accommodate them. Bylaws were changed to provide the then commercial enterprise free on street parking in the neighborhood. Why was a commercial food preparation business allowed to carry on with no action from the town to enforce building codes. There a number of properties in the town that have been vacant for more than 10 years that are left to deteriorate and become hazards not to mention them being broken into and used as flop places for a variety of nefarious uses. As an example you need not look very far to find such a property within a block of her house at Main and George. It’s been vacant for more than 10 years. When the wind blows peices of it are blown off. It’s been unsuccessful boarded up numerous times the latest attempt being just this week.
I think the town should rethink its priorities here and try to work with this home owner and assist her in being able to correct the issues with the property she has obviously taken pride in and wants to improve her property. Maybe going after all the derelict properties left vacant by owners who obviously don’t care would be a more productive use of the building standards people.
I would like to contact Sally Smith the author, or with Julie Chagnon. A friend and I want to try to help.
Hello Nancy please email editorial@pdgmedia.ca and we will forward you along to Sally
I find this so unfair when Landlords in Smith Falls do not fix their buiildings or apartments!! On top of that the realtor if she used one did not do their job!! My house was staged to the hill and even the inspector I used did nothing, I fixed what I could and I do not understand what they are doing to her… SF should be ashamed and they do it all the time even with water bills!! So SAD
Great article, thank you Ted
Your photo in the article is of the wrong bridge, and the CN rail line was decommissioned in 1980
This is a little bit devastating.
Can’t wait to see more ugly barricades and fences. Should really enhance the town’s appeal to tourists.
How were trail users able to use the bridge? It has been in the open position for decades.
The image has been updated to eliminate confusion.
Is this the CNoR / CNR Bascule Bridge first used circa 1918? It is a National Historic Monument due to its unique design.
https://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/dfhd/page_nhs_eng.aspx?id=516
I just want to let you know there is an error in your report. The 5-span bridge and Scherzer Bascule Lift Bridge were constructed in the Fall of 1912 (Rideau Record September 20, 1912)
Congratulations and best of luck for success! Will be open weekends for now and more hours during the summer? What kind of fare will you be selling?
Looking forward to visiting this summer!
Wonderful news. Look forward to stopping in as soon as we make our way North.Donna Meredith
What is this place that has opened ? A restaurant ?
Congratulations on your amazing new adventure. Would be grateful to meet at some point regarding my paintings and sculptures to see if they is a good fit for you. . My website is http://www.victoriagilpinart.com
Thank you,
Victoria
The downtown restaurants aren’t busy enough and now the town and Chamber of Commerce want to take the boater business away from them…I’d be real impressed if I owned one of those establishments…..Stupid thinking!!!!!
This housing proposal will ruin a magnificent Lanark County Landmark and turn it into an administrative and costly nightmare for the Town and the Tay River watershed. Somebody needs to have another look at this.
Little town that Bruce built .
Can’t wait to see what is coming in the future
Bruce Linton is highly regarded in Smiths Falls. He has added greatly to it.
So the fact that one of the councilors lives in that neighborhood and wants to see a vehicular and pedestrian bridge, not to mention that there are several community members and residents who wanted it, obviously doesn’t seem to matter to the mayor or the folks who drew up the plans.
I believe that most of the town wanted vehicular and pedestrian bridge. And, you’re right, it doesn’t seem to matter what the townspeople want.
HI Brian!
Chi miigwetch for publishing this wonderful article about our new project. It is hugely appreciated!
We are so excited to begin working with the community to develop this into something the entire community will benefit from, and feel a sense of pride and belonging to.
Such a shame, but fortunately no one was injured. Good piece of local journalism.
Do We know what Hershey’s plan is ? and a timeline ?
Where to buy tickets for the train ride ?
https://www.eventbrite.ca/o/railway-museum-of-eastern-ontario-7880865581
And Premier Ford wants to make alcohol even easier to obtain. What could possibly go wrong?
The new procedure for cleaning snow is MORONIC. The town will be spending more money repeating the process. It makes it dangerous when existing your vehicle on streets that are now narrower.
The sidewalks for the most part are cleaned but the public now is spending more time walking on the street to an opening to exit the street!!! How is this safer??
So how many times will this one need to be redone?
So why do we need 2 visitor centres ? May have been great when the campers came in but now it just seems silly. I’m sure the one at town hall is more than enough for visitors. How about use the area around the building for the taco truck instead of wasting the area that the children could be running around and playing in ? That just might save the town some well needed dollars.
What a wonderful idea!
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I urge caution for open air char production. It releases a great deal of volatile gasses into the environment, negatively impacting the GHG emissions measure, and potentially penalizing the project and funding opportunities. There are other possibilities to consider, still based on char, to put your best foot forward.
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What was the comment??
Hear hear, Council. Gutsy move, but a sane one. Here’s hoping that you do not face too much of a backlash for taking a courageous stance on this important issue.
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Bless those brave officers.
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Tom is a wonderful humanitarian. I knew Tom in our old hockey watching days at the Rink. Ever eager to help, a twinkle in his eye and that sweet smile. Tom is a resilient man, and I wish him to be as well as he can be under his currant diagnosis.
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The concept drawing presented by CHIP, ( the sketch that is depicted in this article), does not resemble the building that is proposed by Carebridge. That CHIP concept sketch is misrepresentative of the project being discussed in the article.
And where logic?
So how & where do I apply for an apartment there?
Funny how they always defer if some of the fav five are away but not if the other 4 are away.
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Thank you so much for bringing this forward
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Great news
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It will probably just be something petty brought forward by Grassroots.
Grassroots doesn’t do the actual investigation. If it was something petty the IC would have made that finding. If that was the finding and the complaint was unsubstantiated, I doubt they would go to this extreme to cover that up.
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I, for one, would like to know the issue. I have found in the past that this council is a bit headstrong and makes expensive decisions without sufficient investigation.
I tried to find information on parking in Smiths Falls, specifically for the Ribfest. But nowhere did I see any info on parking anywhere. Since parking on Beckwith is now limited, where do people park for Centennial Park?
I spent 3 yrs on the Perth Police Service Board where I first met Bill White. Bill was always pleasant and a pleasure to deal with, and he will be missed by many who knew him.
I know some of the significant facts of the case but will not comment on them other than to say, as did one of the Councillors already in this reporting, that this was a completely unsubtantiated claim and a flawed process was followed. It was noted that the Mayor and two councillors voted to make the Report public based on their understanding of the Provincial ‘rules’, but that this also supports their collective position based purely on politics on many previous Council item votes which were in opposition to other members of Council. This investigation smells and the case circumstances, in my opinion to the extent that I am accurately informed in the matter, did not warrant an investigation be called by Council involving the Integrity Commissioner. This is the height of justice denied when, by process, the accused does not have the opportunity to make their case and know all parties and aspects of the case going forward. It appears to me to be democracy denied by petty politics and a few municipal politicians with an axe to grind.
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I find it funny that just 2 weeks ago three members of council would do anyhthing to get this report public.2 weeks later and theses 3 which one is the mayor are starting to realize that this rabbit hole they started down is not the one one they were looking for.I pray that the complainants names be made public .
You hit the nail on the head Laurie!!
The article is an accurate rendition of proceeding as I was in attendance. The real issue which virtually all Council members agree having read the report ‘in camera’ is that the process is flawed, there are factual errors and omissions, and the the process does not follow democratic principles of facing your accuser or even knowing who that individual or persons are? To make the report as it is public would represent a miscarriage of justice. Better course of action, as agreed to by the Mayor and all but one voting Councillor, is to ask Minister Colandra to intervene and choose an option: appoint another third party Integrity Commissioner to review the case and the report, to assign the case to the Ombudsman, or to call for a judicial enquiry. Only facts and a full review of both sides of the case should form the report to Council. Only then should it be released to the public, and it will, But for Council to be put in the position to accept and make public a report that clearly is deficient in many ways according to Council debate the other night, (without betraying the confidentiality that they are bound to) makes the job of Mayor and Council virtually untenable, which is as much what Mayor Hoogenboom was quoted as saying. The legislation and the review process must be amended to ensure balanced gathering and reporting of information, and both MPP Clark when he was Minister of the portfolio, as is Minister Chandra now have said as much. This is the only way that any Township Council in Ontario can have confidence in ruling on the reports of the Integrity Commissioner. To release the current report would be a travesty of justice and cause unnecessary and unwarranted mental anguish on Councillor Carr who has had to endure over a year of this review when our Bylaws state that the report was to have been submitted to Council within 90 days. At this point, better to get the process and the current review and report right, and then release it to the public so that a much better and informed opinion can be drawn by constituents of Rideau Lakes Township! In my 34 years of federal service including labour relations and administrative judicial processes, There are always 2 things to be considered: was an error in law made and/or were the rules of natural justice followed. In this case, even without knowing all the facts, I wonder if this case and report meet the test?
Laurie …just a heads up that the IC complaint on Carr was handled by Townships’s former IC Tony Fleming. I believe he was fired by this Council previously but don’t know the date.
How do we pursue donorship eligibility?
What warrants further investigative reporting is the fact that Rideau Lakes Council is divided between the Mayor and 3 Councillors, and 5 Councillors which all too often is reflected in voting blocks where the 5 have carried the day. As the reporter said, “have they become tools of political maneuvering?” Is there more to the story behind the scenes where anonymous complainants seem to come forth against the 5 Councillors with what many of us would say are laughable claims? In all these cases, where should a reporter look to get at the source of the problem? One problem that everyone including Queens Park has stated, is that the rules and procedures for Integrity Commissioner reviews is in serious need of immediate overhaul as this provincial process does not serve the best interests of Municipal governments across Ontario. One might think that the Mayor and his supporters might be more closely scrutinized in an effort to get to the full truth of these matters, if for no other purpose than to clear the air in an atmosphere of full public transparency so the that the entire Council can work more productively together.
Correction, the complaint against Councillor Carr was investigated and report produced by the previous IC, Tony Fleming, also fired as proposed by the Banks.
Wait a minute. The table to fire the integrity commissioner is by the people who are being investigated? What?
I had the same reaction…unbelievable!
Why should Le Boats get a 50 discount when what makes them so special.They take away space from the Locks for Boaters to pull up and stay in Smiths Falls Ontario when they spend money down town bringing money to the stores in Smiths Falls Le Boats rent Boats and the Renter’s go towards Kingston or Ottawa they don’t spend money in Smith’s Falls they spend money some where else Le Boats have not brought anything to Smiths Falls the Camping trailer park brought more money into Smiths Falls then Le Boats but some very brain dead council got rid of the trailer park income that employed staff and made money
What Stephanie Clark has done brings applause from myself. I know, all too well , the impact of alcohol in Smiths Falls. I lost friends and former classmates to alcohol-related accidents, etc. I agree, it is not generated obviously by a temperance movement. Hats off to a beneficially decision..
I am impressed in his dedication and creativity of this landmark, the time and effort to put into what he loves, all I can say is continue what you are doing and someday you will leave a mark and pass it down to generations to come. Congratulations 👏
Sincerely Peter 👍😁
Good article Laurie..so much of what has and is happening could have been avoided by Councillors adhering to by-laws, including the code of conduct and the procedural by-law. Decorum and civility are more important in government than many people understand if there is any hope of building consensus. We are seeing the consequences of its absence in our Township.
Congratulations to these volunteers for all their hard work. It’s nice to see the community come together! We appreciate all of their hard work. Makes our communities special.