Here's A Primer On The Five Local Candidates Vying To Be Your MPP (With Pictures!)

MIRIAM ON POLITICSLooking for bright spots in amongst the mire of political verbiage? Me, too. While there’s no shortage of shortcomings in our political process, each of the fellas vying for the job of MPP has his strengths. Here’s what I saw last night (September 13th) at the All Candidates Meeting—beginning with the lesser-knowns:

 

Ken Ranney (Socialist Party)
He's a good guy to have in situations like an election campaign. When he didn’t have anything to say to a question, he'd pass (how novel). Ken’s liveliness and good use of humour shines through; almost something of a trickster vibe here. Glad to have him in the race.

 

Gary Beamish (Green)
Gary has a fine ability to bring it all home. Whether responding to questions about the potential dangers of WiFi in schools or taxation policy, Gary was able to relate big issues to real life personal experiences. This guy has lived. He has heart, and humility, and isn’t afraid to show it.

 

Dave Nickle (NDP)
Dave's a fighter. While it’s not my favourite political style, having someone who had your back would be a good thing in an MPP. If Dave can keep boisterous audience members in their place, you’d have to believe he'd be in our corner in government. And kudos, Dave, for carrying the flag of proportional representation—the only decent idea offered towards engaging more people in democracy.

 

Alan Wilson (Conservative)
Hmmmm. Well, he’s got the lovely Irish Lilt. That’s pretty fun to listen to.

 

Jeff Leal (Liberal, incumbent)
At 26 years (and counting?) in elected office, Jeff does seem to really be a hard-working public servant. He’s got that exceptional ability to evade answers to direct questions. And he’s developed a thicker skin than any of the rest could probably ever muster. It can't be easy, and you give it your all.

 
 

[pictures of candidates via their election websites]

This is the debut politics column for PtboCanada by Miriam Lyall (aka Miriam Stucky). Former Green Party Candidate. Step-mom extraordinaire. Communications Maven. Check it out: MiriamStucky.ca.

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Does Peterborough Need A Town Hall Meeting To Address Safety In The Community?

No doubt Peterborough is an amazing city in many many ways as we trumpet all the time here. We live in one of the greatest cities anywhere. But this post isn't about that great stuff. It's about the growing concerns many in the community have about unemployment, drugs (and more drugs), break and enters, robberies, domestics, and safety in the downtown (Exhibit A: man holds knife to a person's throat; Exhibit B: bloodied man with an axe).

Three people have been murdered in the city already this year—the latest earlier this week—and well, people are talking about this stuff and what can be done. Sure there is often a correlation between unemployment and crime, but still, people want answers about what can be done about it and safety in the community.

Cameras downtown and care meters and such are all good to a certain extent, but they are also bandaids. There has to be more effective ways for us to stand up and look after our community, and have each other's backs so to speak. If you allow all these things to fester, they don't just magically go away.

We raised the question on Twitter earlier this week about whether the Mayor's office should consider organizing a Town Hall meeting to bring the police chief, politicians and other community leaders together in one space to create a public forum for citizens to air their concerns, and to hear what our leaders have to say. Do it at the Memorial Centre, do it at the Venue, do it at Trentwinds—just find a space and try it. What's the harm? As one person on Twitter suggested, "The only way to effect change is through action. If the powers that be don't hear people's voices, we'll have more of the same."

Now we asked Mayor Bennett about the idea of a Town Hall meeting and here's what he had to say: "Thanks for the suggestion. The items that you have listed are some of the concerns that the City and Councillors address on a daily basis, and we have a public Committee process in place that is intended to engage people who are concerned about them. My suggestion is to direct concerns to your local Councillors so that they can assist by bringing the questions forward; contact the City Clerk so that you or a group of people can make a presentation to Council; and to take advantage of the currency of the Provincial election to compel some accountability for the many responsibilities that fall within the provincial jurisdiction. If my office can be of help in making any or all of these happen, just let me know."

So is that enough? Can they be doing more? Can we be doing more? What do you think about this notion of a Town Hall meeting? Or is this all being overblown and the same stuff happens in any community?

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Thinking Of A Masterplan: City of Peterborough Displays Transportation Plan

Last night at the Evinrude Centre was the third and last Public Involvement Centre (PICs) meeting. The City of Peterborough showed Morrison Hershfield's recommended Road Network plan, Cycling Network plan and Pedestrian Network plan.

The new Masterplan is an update to the 2002 Transport Plan to address Peterborough's population growth and traffic concerns. 

Studies have shown that streets with no sidewalks have 2.6 times more pedestrian collisions, so the new plan calls for sidewalks on both sides of all new and existing streets.

Work is already underway as well on both the Hospital Access Road extension and to widen the West end of Lansdowne, but there is plenty of other planned—and suggested—roadwork to come. Indeed, $14 million is budgeted to improve the Nassau Mills Bridge over the Otonabee River, widen Nassau Mills from Water to Armour, make improvements to Chemong/Reid, the Charlotte Westbound Parking lane conversion, and to widen Eastbound Sherbrooke. 

As we previously reported, many residents of Fairbairn Ave were very interested in the City's Medium term plans to build a two lane road from Fairbairn to Cumberland. Some consider it the City trying to still put through the Parkway Extension.

[Related: For coverage of the proposed changes to Peterborough's Trail Network as part of the Peterborough Network Cycling plan, head to TrailSwag, a blog about outdoors news in Peterborough and the Kawarthas.]

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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Some Findings And Input From The Parkway Road Meeting On Impact On Community

There were more than 40 people in attendance Monday night as Peterborough's James Burrett introduced us to the continued work by the City of Peterborough on moving traffic through our city. The main issue that keeps creeping up every ten years or so, he pointed out, is the intended Parkway route. Recently, City council endorsed a $52.3M roads plan that included a two lane road as part of the Northern Parkway extension route. James was heavily involved with the Parkway Referendum and believes this:

"There is more to a community than just how much time it takes to get from Point A to Point B."

Derrick Foley has volunteered to help with public awareness and says that there will need to be 5,000 to 10,000 signatures to make City Hall recognize the issue. What was odd, it was pointed out, was that so much money was going towards this extension route and yet not one of the ten highest accident intersections are being improved. As was pointed out:

"What is $52 million dollars going to solve when we don't really need this? We are a very green community. Tell your councillors that this makes no sense."

The City of Peterborough and Morrison Hershfield invite you to the third and last Public Involvement Centre (PICs) being held June 28th from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Evinrude Centre to seek input on the following:

• Phasing of the previously recommended Road Network Improvements.
• Trail/cycling network improvements.
• Key policy initiatives to support transit, active transportation and transportation demand management.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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City Council Gives Its Blessing To Surveillance Cameras In The Downtown

[chextvDOTcom]

What are your thoughts on cameras being installed downtown?

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City Of Peterborough "Envisioning Peterborough's Future" Questionnaire

The City of Peterborough has an online questionnaire for "Envisioning Peterborough's Future," and are asking for feedback on how you would like Peterborough to look over the next 10 to 20 years. Peterborough has a Official Plan Review, which is a long-term comprehensive framework for land use decision-making in our community.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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PtboPics: Author Ann Douglas At The Mother Of All Book Launches At Glow Maternity

Last night at Glow Maternity, Peterborough's Ann Douglas (a contributor to PtboCanada) launched her completely revised and updated edition of The Mother of All Pregnancy Books.

The first copy of the new book being signed

Ann Douglas (pictured at right) discussing her new book

[Having-a-baby.com]

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]

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There May Be No Booze At Ribfest This Year

[Update: May 31, 9:15 a.m. — there will be beer served at Ribfest.]

[chextvDOTcom]

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Dean Del Mastro Re-Elected In Peterborough Riding: Here Are The Final Results

Dean Del Mastro acceptance speech at The VenueAfter winning 49.7% of the vote, Dean Del Mastro has been re-elected. Voter turnout was 65.4% in Peterborough, according to the Examiner.

The final results are as follows:

1. Dean Del Mastro (CPC): 29,535 votes (49.7%)

2. Dave Nickle (NDP): 14,722 (24.8%)

3. Betsy McGregor (Liberal): 12,757 votes (21.5%)

4. Michael Bell (Green Party): 2,105 votes (3.5%)


Del Mastro received more votes this year than in the last election.

[Photo via Justin Beaudoin]

[The Peterborough Examiner]

What are your thoughts on the results?

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Peterborough's Ann Douglas Asks Election Canada To Crack Down On Online Political Debates That Turn Into Personal Attacks

[chextvDOTcom]

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