My Way

Priorities for City Council,

Last night we held our monthly Council meeting and we discussed a large number of items, one of which was the difficulty in finding $10,000 to reinstate the skunk removal program and yet we not long ago budgeted $10,000 for the New Years Day Levee. Right priority?

We say we need more Police overtime money and yet we budget a third of a MILLION DOLLARS for 150th Anniversary events... Right Priority?

There was comment last night about how great the new pools and rinks are that cost $22,000,000 - ”could we have built a smaller facility and used the Millions left over for safer crosswalks for our children and seniors? Or for filling in ditches that are dangerous! Also, we have tens of thousands of dollars for City related travel and for 150th Anniversary pins and arm patches... Right priorities

Last night we approved the building of a new clock for about $25,000. The money is coming from the Province and other sources so it's not "city money"! Would the Province not better spend their $15,000 contribution on reinstating the serious cuts to the Craft association? Right priority?

But most importantly of all was the speech last night by Cecil on the importance of clean water worldwide- he said a BILLION people do not have safe water to drink! A Billion people...! Last night we heard about the plan to have the largest fireworks in the whole country on Canada Day and a BILLION people don't have safe water to drink! That's some priority.!

I read on the internet that the UN estimates 25,000 children worldwide die DAILY from lack of food and water-- 25,000 a DAY!

I may have oversimplified some very complicated issues here. You may say some of these issues are not in the jurisdiction of the City but I believe we should be involved with all level of issues. These comments can be taken as too serious or too dark or too heavy but I feel they should be said.

Our Council is made up of some truly fine people and I mean these comments to be suggestions rather than criticisms. Can we meet to revamp the budget and set new priorities that are more serious and much more important? Let's be leaders and address larger issues. Can we not meet with our Provincial and Federal counterparts to set loftier and more serious priorities?

Bruce Garrity
Councilor Ward 6
May 10, 2005