Water/Sewer rates for 2008 in Welland

Most citizens of Welland know the month of January is the time of year the city council presents their new water/sewer rates, rates that really disturb the taxpayers of Welland as they are never realistic.
The city has yet to inform the citizens of Welland why they are paying more for water consumption and sewage treatment than the Town of Pelham when Pelham is serviced by Welland.
The city has yet to inform the citizens of Welland why they are being charged 32% for unaccountable water when the city's own engineer said it should be between 20% and 22%.
The city of Welland has yet to inform the citizens of Welland why the sewage treatment is a great deal more than the water consumption especially for the past summer when it was almost drought conditions vs. other municipalities in the Region where the differences were more realistic. The excuse of combined water and sewer lines and heavy rainfall, pardon the pun, do not hold water, as other municipalities have similar situations.
The city has yet to inform the citizens of Welland if the Town of Pelham is charged for unaccountable water and sewage overflow when serviced from Welland.
The taxpayers are entitled to answers and must rely on the media to provide this type of information, information which is not too often forthcoming for unknown reasons

Handicap parking permits

Written on December 12,2007 and December 14, 2007

It is that time of year when all of the parking lots are jammed with vehicles belonging to Christmas shoppers.When the lots are jammed unfortunately some of the handicap parking areas are taken up by phonies. Yes, I mean phonies, those who misuse or those having altered, fraudulent, or expired handicap parking permits.

The City of Toronto for the second year in a row realizing the seriousness of this misuse started on December 1,2007 sent out their Parking Enforcement Disabled Liaison Unit to patrol shopping Mall parking lots with their blitz targeting the able bodied, any caught can be fined $300 to $5000 dollars.

Last December 2006 this unit investigated more than 6000 permits and confiscated more than 1000 for reasons outlined above.

A classic example per a spokesperson from the Toronto Unit is a car pulling into a handicap parking space with either an elderly or handicap person sitting in the passenger's seat, this elderly or handicapped person is the registered person on the permit. The driver of the vehicle gets out, leaves the passenger in the vehicle, and goes shopping. Yes, it is more convenient for the driver BUT not for the other people who may need that handicap parking spot.

Just something to think about.

This writer for roughly two years has spent an extensive amount of research time on this abuse problem followed up with letters to both the ministry and the local papers outlining the abuses. The local papers published a couple of my letters and articles, the ministry's response was one letter in 7 months "We are investigating the problems"

After almost a year the provincial government has approved legislation to crackdown on those who abuse disabled parking areas.

Starting the week of December 13, 2007 the Ministry announced their legislation to control this abuse as follows;

The Ministry has reduced the validity period for temporary permits from 24 months to 12 months

The ministry weeded out thousands of "DEAD" permit holders.

Interim permits while a permit application is being processed from 6 months to 2 months.

It has been suggested a comprehensive testing program be put in place to verify if holders of disabled parking permits really call for them.

The ticket officers who keep watch over the misuse of permits discover the permit number is not registered to the driver or the disabled passenger using the vehicle the abuser can be charged and fined up to $5000.

NOW IT IS A CASE OF ENFORCING THESE CHANGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE HANDICAPPED

Identity Theft

Article written December 11, 2007
Over the past three years I have written a number of letters and articles on "Identity theft" for the benefit of many but primarily seniors. Some of the letters and article were published and some were not which is unfortunate as Identity Theft is the biggest growing crime in the world involving billions of dollars
This crime does not discriminate as all ages are targets for these thieves.
There is an excellent book on the market "The Canadian Guide To Protecting yourself From Identity Theft and Other Fraud" that I recommend buying. The book could save you anguish,losses, credit rating, and your bank account.I have no financial interest in this book but I do have an interest in helping one on how to prevent such losses.

Financial Bank Reports

Article dated December 11, 2007 and not published.
The financial report for the C.I.B.C. and Scotia banks make for very interesting reading as follows;C.I.B.C's net income for 2007 $3.296 billion vs $2.646 billion for 2006
Scotia bank's net income for 2007 $4.05 billion vs $3.55 billion for 2006
A few of these increases are the result of diverse service charges that seem rather small to a bank but in fact amount to a great deal of money over the period of one year and than relate these seeming small service charges to the very, very minute interest rate on a savings account.
Recently the TD bank announced their intentions of increasing their visa card interest rate from 18.9% to 19.75% which is a stretch of 14.65% over the bank rate. No doubt the two banks mentioned above will follow suit.
Were you holders of fixed term mortgages that are tied to five year government of Canada Bonds with a spread of 2.44% aware the spread has grown to over 3.5%? one is now paying 1% more than one should be when one has a locked in mortgage?
Having documented how well off these two banks seem to be lets' glance the employee's state of affairs. According to most current news releases the employees are filing class action suits against both banks for not paying overtime.C.I.B.C. was faced with a class action suit in June 2007. Scotia bank has just been slapped with a class action suit this week. There are rumors employees of the other remaining banks are considering doing the same.The effects of these class action suits will be closely watched especially if the banks lose.
Please note for the most part this information was obtained from the bank's financial reports and business articles in most of the national newspapers over the past days and few weeks.

Thorns

An article written on December 8, 2007 and never published.
I disagree with the Tribune's nominated "THORNS" award to our city council for not seconding councilor Alexander's motion to develop a downtown partnership. The council should have been awarded "ROSES" As the councilors knew from the past this motion would not hold water. How many times have such ventures been tried with little success? How many plans, suggestions,, and ideas are there sitting on the shelves in city hall collecting dust that were never used?
I attended a similar gathering back in 1996 hosted by former mayor Reuter for the local business people, professionals, some of the public , and a gentleman from Toronto who was to put on an excellent presentation of revitalization in a Toronto area. There were a lot of good ideas, most of them sitting on a shelf collecting dust.Things were changing in the core as noted by the numerous businesses that continued to start up and than close. Another similar meeting was held by former mayor Forster at the city market where a young architect presented some very intriguing drawings depicting the downtown core centred around the proposed civic centre. The civic centre became a reality but not too much more out of that architects vision and of course the core was still having businesses opening and closing. I believe a few years later the Tribune tried to create some interest by inviting the public to submit suggestions on how to improve the core. The suggestions were published but the core businesses were still opening and closing.
Maybe councilor Alexander should get together with councilor Belcastro and BIA chair D'Amico for the purpose of going to those dusty shelves and study the suggestions, As I recall there were some excellent ideas.

Hospital Mortality rate

This article was typed on December 14, 2007. I felt it should follow my earlier article.

Last week the Canadian Institute for Health Information ) CIHI) published the mortality rates in hospitals all across Canada, a list which included St. Catharines General Hospital as one of the five worst hospital for mortality rates in Canada. This week Health Minster Smitherman introduced some very interesting requirements Ontario Hospitals must follow starting in 2008

Starting in April of 2008 the ministry will require all hospitals involved in Ontario Wait Time Strategy to report infection rates in the areas.

By the end of July, 2008 the Ministry will introduce a regulation for all provincial hospitals to inform patients about medical errors.

By 2008 the Ministry will have passed a regulation that would require all hospitals to report their mortality data without exemption to ensure this information continues to drive much needed improvements to patient safety.

For years Canadian Hospitals Administrators have known the death rates inside their hospitals but they were never publicized.

All hospitals along with all forms of media have no reason whatever for not informing the public of these regulations

Canadian Hospital Mortality rates

Other than the National papers the local community papers did not publish all of the information released by the The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) . This is an article I wrote on this subject on December 7, 2007 and was not published???

November 30, 2007 the CIHI released a report covering a list of mortality rates to the public involving 85 large Canadian Acute Care Hospitals and 42 Health Regions. For years hospitals have know the death rates but did not make them public. The rates should be released as the taxpayers are allowed to know them per CIHI. The following is an exert from the CIHI report

Canada;s Best and Worst

The hospitals as listed excluding Palliative care had mortality rates that ranked at the top-and-bottom- of the pack nationally in CIHI survey of hospital deaths in 85 larger acute hospitals and 42 Health Regions across Canada excluding Quebec;

TOP FIVE

The Moncton Hospital N.B. 56

Foothills Medical Centre Calgary 61

Regina General Hospital 71

Peter Lougheed Centre Calgary 73

Saint John Regional Hospital Saint John N.B. 74

BOTTOM FIVE

Grand River Hospital K.W. Health Centre K.W. Ontario 142

Niagara Health Centre St. Catharine's General Site St. Catharines, Ontario 135

The Scarborough Hospital General Site Toronto, Ontario 134

Burnaby Hospital Burnaby B.C. 125

Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre Red Deer Alta 125

An interesting statistic states "Over the past three years- the period covered by the new data--more than 254,000 patients died in Canadian Hospitals outside Quebec

I was in touch with CIHI this past week to see if I could obtain Welland hospital figures, the reply" Because the Welland Hospital did not have at least 2500 qualifying cases during each of of the years in the study period it is only included in the Regional results, not the individual results. Due to its lower volume the results for it individually would not be statistically precise."

I am sure if one were to ask the Welland Hospital for the mortality rate it would be supplied as it is classed as public information.

Writers comment:

I am shocked at the response stating Welland

did not qualify as Welland Hospital did not have at least 2500 cases.

Are there bench marks and brownie points if one reaches 2500 or more to get on the list good or bad?????

Welland's downtown Core

Another article dated December 4, 2007
A few weeks ago councilor Belcastro made an announcement in council stating things in the downtown core were progressing nicely; it's 150% better than it was 10 years ago. This past week in an insert titled "Downtown Welland" BIA chair D'Amico in his article " A place to live, work, and play used some very remarkable but hard to believe graphic adjectives of the downtown core such as "Buzzing with activity", "Crowds flocking to city events", and "The surrounding core stores are full of ideas and treasures". D'Amico goes on to say the downtown core is constantly growing and thriving with new businesses starting up all of the time." I have to ask these two gentlemen if they are indeed talking about the Downtown Welland Core? Have I missed something? It appears to me these two gentlemen are using the same script writer.
I believe the public is entitled in knowing a few statistics to support their statements of constantly growing, thriving, and new businesses starting up all of the time. Where are they so all of us can partake in this growth? I certainly would not say both sides of East Main from the bridge to the Tribune are what one would call a shoppers' paradise to find new ideas and treasures.I will say one should not overlook the stores on Cross Street between East Main and Division as they do fit the picture of a shoppers' paradise.
While these two gentlemen mull over their statements and prepare backup for them they should also sit down and sum up all of the businesses that opened and closed over the past ten years.
LET'S HAVE A LITTLE SHOW AND TELL.

Food Fest

This is another earlier article dated November 22, 2007
Mr. Clark of Food Fest made an announcement in City council stating the deficit of $120,000.00 had been erased from last years Food Fest while another member of Food Fest stated Food Fest was now in the black.
This announcement concerns me and should concern others in the city of Welland,
First of all it was this writers' understanding the deficit was in the area of $134,000.00 which is not too close to the area of $120,000.00. If the figures were available to make this announcement one has to presume there is a financial statement which should also indicate the amount in the black. It surprises me that not one councilor questioned this announcement by asking for a more financial depth to support the figure given.
Having said this I'm wondering if any of the following questions were put to Mr. Clark, if not, they should have been plus the council representative on Food Fest should have also made a report, very strange;
What was the total of all donations including the City of Welland?
What was the total of all vendor permits?
What was the total expenditures?
What was the overall receipt total excluding vendor permits and donations but including beer sales and empties?
Who was the city's representative?

Welland Councilor's comments re- downtown core

Another earlier article dated November 16, 2007
I wonder if councilor Belcastro would care to elaborate his statement" Things have progressed nicely as it is 150% better than it was 10 years ago" applying to the downtown core of Welland. Would the councilor care to provide a list to support this statement?
Would the councilor care to give to the public the number of businesses that started up and closed over the past 10 years to justify saying"People are quite happy in the core?" For example councilor how many businesses have opened and closed at the corner across from the Tribune over the past 10 years or even across from Brown's jewelery store? Those people were not quite happy. The locations certainly don't signify any noticeable improvement.
A few years ago another Welland councilor made a similar statement to that of councilor Belcastro only that councilor went as far to say more than 30 businesses had started up in the core He has yet to come foreword to support those figures.

O.H.I.P. HEALTH CARDS

Another article dated November 14, 2007.
Five years ago, if I'm not wrong, the Ontario government made a first rate move when the O.H.I.P. card was redesigned to show a photo of the holder and owner. This was a move in the right direction as it prevented identity theft. There was however one fault when the card was designed, the card did not include the address of the holder which I found out is not accepted as I.D. The point of this article is to advise those holding the new photo type Health card has an expiry date described on it which if one will note is not on the old red and white health card still in use by thousands.The red and white card if kept in good shape will outlive the holder.
The expiry date is a real nuisance for those senior citizens 65 and over whom in many cases have no means of getting to the local O.H.I.P. office or because of health reasons are restricted to their place of habitation. Eliminating this renewal date for seniors over 65 would certainly be appreciated.
Please note the expiry date on the cards is one's birth date. You are forewarned of expiry by one month before one's birthday.

Deceased Cards

This is a letter dated October 8, 2007 again never published
One will notice almost on a daily basis the media reports abuse of credit cards,O.H.I.P health cards, Handicap Parking Permits, and Social Insurance numbers (SIN) belonging to either deceased family members or friends.
After the death of a family member there are a number of duties the executor of the will must carry out as soon as possible to avoid exploitation and identity theft of the above. If the deceased had credit cards and a debit card they must be cancelled by taking them to the financial institution that issued the cards along with a copy of the death certificate or in some cases the original death certificate. The financial institution has forms to be filled out by the executor.If the deceased had a driver's licence and a handicap parking permit they must be cancelled by taking them to the local licence bureau along with a copy of the death certificate. It is most important one has the handicap permit cancelled as The Ministry of Transportation reported earlier this year these permits that belonged to a deceased person were being misrepresented. The ministry made an announcement stating their intentions to correct this predicament by matching up the death records with the handicap records. The ministry informed me this move is still being considered.
The health card of the deceased must be returned to the Ministry of Health and Long Turn Care along with a form titled 280-82 and a copy of the death certificate. This form is available by contacting the local ministry office to have one sent to you. One can also send a letter to the local ministry office providing deceased person's name, sex, health card number, a photo copy of the death certificate, and the actual health card cut in half.
If the deceased had a Social Insurance Number (SIN ) it must be cancelled to guard one against identity theft. The executor should contact the local Service Canada Centre or the SIN call centre at 1-800-206-7218(E) to inform them the owner of the SIN is deceased.
To close I should mention the funeral home that was handling all of the funeral arrangement provides these services free of charge.

Pelham/Welland water and sewer

A letter dated July 20, 2007 directed to residents of Welland and never published.How many are familiar with what a homeowner has to shell out for water consumption and sewage treatment compared to other municipalities?
As nearly all know ALL water and sewer treatment for the Town of Pelham is provided through the City of Welland. Are you conscious of the fact a Pelham resident pays $.889 per cubic meter of water while a Welland resident is paying $1.1294 per cubic meter of water?
Are you aware a Pelham resident pays $.909 per cubic meter for sewage treatment while a Welland resident is paying $1.6679 per cubic meter for sewage treatment? Both municipalities pay the Niagara identical rates; water $0.512 per cubic meter, sewer $0.613 per cubic meter.
Are you aware Welland inhabitants pay for all unaccountable water while Pelham people pay?????
We have been told there are meters, not residential but Regional, in Pelham that record consumption, if such is the case WHERE ARE THEY.? Others have told me there are no Regional meters?????Pretty remarkable????
Are you aware in 2006 Welland's consumption of water was 8,521,546 cubic meters when only 6,605,248 cubic meters were accounted for and paid and 1,916,,298 cubic meters of water equals 22.53% that was paid for by the citizens of Welland that was not used and shown as 32%, a figure according to engineer Shantz should be around 22%.
All of the above figures were taken from the Regional and municipality records, the same records city staff uses to create their numbers such as the water and sewer services rate structure for 2007, the Town of Pelham 2007 water and sewer rates, Welland by-law 2007-33 fixing of water and sanitary services rates to be paid by consumers for 2007 effective April 1,2007, and consumption figures from the monthly Regional spread sheets.
There are those who feel these facts and figures are not right and straight, may I recommend it only takes a phone call to city hall to confirm them.
If the present council has a water rate increase in mind I believe the council should seriously reflect on cutting the expenses elsewhere, regulate the water and sewer rates to a more tolerable and truthful level and use actual unaccountable water figures, not 32%.

Comments to my articles

In the past few days I've received a number of E mail letters stating they would like to comment on my articles but are unable to do so because they are not members.
I was not aware of this when I started but rather than make an issue if one wishes to comment on any article please do so by going to the following;
don_smith@sympatico.ca
I will respond to you on my blog.
Thank you

The Welland Downtown Core

A few weeks ago councilor Belcastro made an announcement in council stating things in the downtown core were progressing nicely; it's 150% better than it was 10 years ago. This past week in an insert titled "Downtown Welland" BIA chair D'Amico in his article "A place to live, work, and play" used some very remarkable but hard to believe graphic adjectives of the downtown core such as"Buzzing with activity","Crowds flocking to city events", and the surrounding core stores are full of ideas and treasures. D'Amico goes on to say the downtown is constantly growing and thriving with new businesses starting up all of the time.I have to ask these two gentlement if they are indeed talking about the downtown Welland core. Have I missed something? It appears theses two gentlemen have the same script writer.

I believe the public is entitled in knowing a few statistica to support their statemnents of constantly growing, thriving, and new businesses starting up all of the time.Where are they so all of us can partake in this growth? I certainly would not say both sides of Easr Main from the bridge to the Tribune are what one would call a shoppers paradise to find new ideas and treasures. I will say though one should not overlook the stores on Cross Street between East Main and Division as they do fit the picture of a shoppers paradise.

While the two gentlemen organize their upcoming statements with statistics they might think about the number of businesses that opened and closed over the past years?????

Let's have a little show and tell

Mill Street Apartment Building Welland, Ontario

The affordable Housing Apartment site that sits on Mill street has been like that for many months as I recall writing about it being closed a few months ago and now it is being scrutinized??? This is like closing the barn door after the horse has been stolen.
The estimate on this building was pegged at $5 million dollars. The contractor was able to obtain $1,799,000.00 combined from the province, the federal government, the Region of Niagara and the City of Welland leaving the contractor responsible for the balance of $3,200,991.00. When a building shuts down like this one has the first thing one should be doing is to find out if the trades and suppliers have been paid and are there any liens on the building. If it is found the trades and suppliers have not been paid and there are liens there is a serious problem. These functions should be carried out as soon as it was noticed construction had stopped on the building. The question is "Were they?"

Dental Plan

It will be announced McGuinty will be giving $45 million for dental care for the working poor who are unable to afford private insurance coverage for their teeth.

I believe this to be a good move however in the process of setting this up there is noticeably a person missing. That missing person is the senior citizen who in many cases falls under the status of fixed income depending on , in many cases, Old Age Security and Canada Pension plans as their only source for support.Some I must remind you only receive Old Age Security.

What about considering these seniors who are no doubt in the same position as the working poor?Seniors also have to, in most cases pay for rent, hydro, phone, and groceries Are the seniors not entitled to the same privilege??

The same old story over and over again "Seniors don't count in this day and age."

Visa Credit Cards

Correction to the original article as follows;
"The policy as I understand it to be is the merchant must suppress all of the numbers with the exception of the last four digits,"
Big stores "Truncate" credit card numbers, so only the last "4" digits are showing

Freedom of Information (FOI) against the city of Welland

On October 22, 2007 after many, many months trying to obtain information from the City of Welland and through letters to the local papers' feedback section along with E mail to the mayor and city council on the subjects listed in this article I exercised the FOI and the appeal system. My findings as the result of the FOI and appeal system covering these subjects were written and sent to both the local paper, the mayor, and city council.The paper will not publish the article nor will the paper give a reason why. Neither the mayor nor any member of the city council offered one comment.This article is a condensed version of the original article.

City of Welland Debt, Debt Interest, and Allowable Debt

The city of Welland's outstanding debt at the original time of the article on October 22, 2007 was $29.6 million and the debt interest per year for 2007 was $1.4 million.

The City of Welland has no allowable debt. The City of Welland has an annual repayment limit a maximum allowable amount the City of Welland may repay to debt holders each year. The annual repayment limit for the City of Welland effective January 1, 2006 was $5.771.348.00. What ever the combination of the number of debentures, the terms, and the interest rates the total amount required to be repaid in any year can not exceed$5,771,348.00 meaning the city can increase its debt up to this allowable interest repayment per year.

HELEMS AVENUE

This writer experienced a great deal of difficulty trying to obtain this information right after this Street from Hell infrastructure was completed well over a year ago. The budget for this project started out at $80,000.00 in 2002. The budget figure was $450,000.00 in 2003 and was increased every year because of the escalating cost until a final budget figure of $3,607,000.00 was set in 2005. The actual expenditure was $3,831,191.00 almost one quarter of a million over budget.

It seems to me there is a noticeable flaw with determining budgets in this city. The Court House was a considerable amount over budget. The Welland Arena new parking lot went over budget because of an assumption. Of course lest we forget the Civic centre was many millions over budget and now Helems Avenue. It will be interesting to know the final cost figure vs the budget figure on the Fitch street project.

The Seaway Mall/Doral Holdings and the City of Welland

On April 26, 2005 Welland City council passed the following resolution 02-97 that council authorizes staff to negotiate a potential public/private partnership for the development of an arena/ arenas on land owned by Doral Holdings Ltd. and the Seaway Mall on Woodlawn Road.

To the best of this writers' knowledge this information was never made public.

One now should ask what happened to this proposed development? This writer tried to find out and hit a brick wall. It seems no one wishes to discuss this proposal considering the City of Welland is contemplating their own 3-pad arena, VERY STRANGE???????

Clothelines

This article was written on November 9, 2007 but never published by the local paper.
The people of Ontario are applying additional pressure on the province to lift the idiotic municipal ban on clotheslines in the back yard; bans to please the sub division developers who feel a clothesline in a back yard tarnishes the sub division.
The province has admitted energy conservation and climate change are in their list of peak priorities but have a tendency to pay no attention to the benefits gained from the use of free wind and solar energy vs energy used by clothes dryers and air pollution discharged from the same dryers.
The following is an exert from an article I wrote on clotheslines back on August 4,2007; "Drying laundry outdoors rather than wasting energy adding to power bills smart residents make use of free wind and solar energy to dry their clothes that have huge benefits for the environment. Is one not conscious of the fact a typical clothes dryer consumes 900KW-hours of energy each year and discharges 840 kilograms of air pollution and greenhouse gases? Steer clear of all this by hanging laundry on a clothesline but, I should mention watch out for a lawsuit as in numerous municipalities in Ontario it is against the law to hang laundry out to dry. The law may change, Queens Park has the power to pull the law banning the use of clotheslines."
The Liberals' McGuinty has been admitting clotheslines vs; energy conservation is a concern but has exposed lack of enthusiasm to do something. Back in 2003 the Liberals passed an energy conservation leadership law, after their election that included a clause which allows the province to do away with local bans on clotheslines forced by developers but the Liberals have never exercised the clause which means clotheslines in some communities are against the law. The bottom line being people are without doubt looking for ways to save electricity and money meaning this way makes a lot of common sense?

Senior Citizens Old Age Security dated November 3, 2007

Another article never published by the local paper.
To all of my first-rate senior friends. I have good news and bad news for each and every one of you 65 and over.
THE GOOD NEWS
Our Old Age Security just took a leap on October 2, 2007 from $497.83 to $ 502.31 a gigantic increase of $4.48 per month or in percentage 0.09 %. Now Please!!!!! restrain the clapping of hands and one's dancing around the May Pole one has not seen the bad news.
THE BAD NEWS
The Ontario Power Generation is proposing a 3% Hydro increase per month for the average household amounting to about $3.50 per average household bill. The senior citizens are left with with $0.98 to take pleasure in the governments over passionate bigheartedness, not sufficient to even buy a double, double at Tim Horton's
The grouping of give and take brings to mind a few appropriate proverbs. "Here today, gone tomorrow," " Don't look a gift horse in the mouth," "You can't have your cake and eat it too." and" Easy come easy go."
One must keep in mind the charity of our prosperous government does not just expand to the seniors but also to our already well remunerated politicians who each month year after year receive a prearranged cost of living increase, an increase over and above the seniors by an extensive amount effective every April 1. This is true and you can take that to the bank beside you abysmal $0.98 cents.

New Speeding Law dated November 11, 2007

This is another article never published by the local paper.
According to the latest figures released by the Ontario Provincial Police the new speeding law is certainly producing results. Since the law effective September 30,2007 more than 1300 drivers were pulled over after being caught at 150 KM/H on highways with a speed limit of10-0KM/H
The offenders varied in age with the average offender being 30 with half the charges being laid against drivers 26 and under, 13 of the drivers were 65 and over, and 41 were 17 and younger, 84% were male and 16% were female.
How many of those 1300 do you suppose were pulled over on highway 406 where the average speed now is between 120 and 130KM/H or for that matter even highway 140?????? I certainly would like to know. Maybe these two highways are not patrolled?????

Nurses

Ontario has four different hospital types including public hospitals, private hospitals, federal hospitals, and Cancer Care Ontario Hospitals. There are 211 hospital sights in Ontario.

One hundred and fifty five are hospital corporations. Fifty six are hospitals under an umbrella corporation. Ontario also has eight private hospitals providing services under the" Private Hospitals Act" who receive funding for their operation from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care (MOHLTC).

Throughout McGuinty's campaign he promised to hire another 9000 nurses. McGuinty did not hire 9000 nurses all through his last tenure as premier. Since 2004 the Ontario government disclosed 1202 positions were created in Ontario hospitals servicing patients in every area of hospital care from intake to the ward to the operating room. In the time period from 2004 to the end of 2006 each hospital was lucky enough to receive 5.7 nurses which were not too many in 3 years.

The public who assumed McGuinty's figures to be correct were taken in as they were not factual. The correct figure was just over 5000, not 9000. The distinction between the just over 5000 and the figure of 1202 covered other care units not documented as Ontario hospitals outlined earlier. One can see a hospital is indeed short of nurses if all they can expect is 5.7 nurses in 3 years.

Graduation should not even enter the picture as nurses graduate every year. There are nurses in training right now that will graduate next year, not 3 or 4 years from now.

Follow the scarcity very closely as I am sure the outcome will be no different.

Nuclear Power Plants in Ontario

The election is over and theLiberals are back in power for another 4 years. One of McGuinty's key promises was the closing of all coal fired power plants in Ontario by 2014. A little premature but how long do you suppose it will take McGuinty to act on this promise?

As of September 23, 2007 McGuinty made 71 promises including one to close all coal fired power plants by 2014 and not 2007 as promised.

In June 2006 Energy Minister Duncan declared the government will likely build two new Nuclear Power Plants (NPP's ).No sign as to when but likely but not for certain.

In May 2007 the Liberals announced the hiring of consultants to conduct a $3 million dollar study of available nuclear technology, if this study, which usually in most cases takes months, reveals the technology is not up to par what then?

The Ontario Power Authority has asked the provincial government to spend $26.5 billion on NPP's to guarantee electricity supply until 2025.

Now, having looked at all of the plans, proposals, and promises let's look at the flaws.

This is 2007; McGuinty intends to close all coal fired power plants in 2014 that is 7 years from now with absolutely no sign of what is going to be on hand at the time of closing. According to American figures it takes at least 1o years for nearly all NPP's to go from conception to operation which means 2017. If the coal plants are shut down in 2014 and this new Liberal government has not moved ahead with their proposals and promises we could feasibly be looking at a time issue past 2017.The average cost of a single NPP is over $5 billion, a cost without a doubt will spiral beyond this figure every month and year pending the governments' approval.

According to the Ontario Power Authority their plans dated August 29, 2007, submitted to the Province's Energy Regulator, the Ontario Energy Board still requires regulatory approval, a commitment the Ontario government has yet to make. If all of the time factors are to be true one can almost be confident there will be no NPP's in 2014 and the coal will still be burning.

It takes 10 years or more to put into operation where a wind turbine system can go up in one year.

Where is the nuclear waste to be stored?

Wind and Solar power don't generate waste.

Canadian Household Debt

Just recently I read some very attention grabbing articles written by Joyanne Pursage of the Toronto Sun on Canadians in debt to the point I decided to pass on some of her information along with some of mine I found while surfing the topic. I happen to know many who I feel, and hopefully I am wrong, may fit in the $916 billion Canadian Household Debt exposed in this article and with all due respect those I mentioned are not aware of what I've mentioned. I honestly hope one finds this article useful as this type of information is not always readily accessible. Some of this information was obtained off the website of Credit Canada a credit counseling service in Toronto.
Did you know 90% of Canadians have more debt today then 5 years ago, 53% of Canadians do not have a personal/household budget, 80% of Canadians do not know their credit rating or credit score, a key factor in knowing the cost of their debt, and 26% of Canadians do not reflect on the consequences of rising interest rate when borrowing money.Summing up these figures many Canadians lack the knowledge to effectively manage their finances.
The Canadian household debt in 1980 was $134 billion; by 2005 the household debt had risen to $916 billion. Canadians owed $1.16 for each dollar of disposable income.
Earlier I mentioned 80% of Canadians do not know their credit rating, a rating every Canadian should check every year. To get this rating which is free of charge go to search engine Google and type in either Equifax Canada or Transunion Canada.
A number of Canadians just pay the minimum payment shown on their credit card statement and ignore how much they have on the books to pay. I am going to give a perfect example of only paying the minimum on a credit card statement by taking a credit card balance of $661.00 with an interest rate of 18.5%, a minimum payment calculated at 2% of the statement balance. that minimum payment of 2% per month based on no more money advances and purchases would take 158 months to get rid of the debt while paying $1004.24 in interest, if one pays a fixed payment of$13.22 per month with no purchases and cash advances it will take 97 months to get rid of the debt.One will pay$611.81 in interest. If one were to increase the monthly minimum payment to $50.00 with no purchases and money advances it will take 15 months to get rid of the debt having only to pay $83.88 in interest.

Here are a few tips to help keep one in the black.

1. Pay bills on time every month.
2. Keep track of your credit limit.
3. Keep track of your due dates.
4. Do not borrow from one creditor to pay another.
5. Limit your total debt excluding mortgage to 15% of your net income.

If one can not stand by these tips there is a predicament that can only be resolved by sitting down with a counseling service.
Earlier I mentioned a credit report without an explanation of what that report shows. the report is a record of the credit history used be lenders to decide if one can obtain credit. Believe it or not only 15% of Canadians had ordered their credit reports; most didn't understand what the report contained.
Today the Canadian Household Debt is over one trillion dollars and climbing

Promises at our expense

Has any one sat down and taken the time to total up the billions promised you and I by the 4 parties vying for control at Queens Park?

1. Liberals $14.7 billion
2. Conservatives $14.1 billion
3. NDP $16.8 billion
4. Green Party $11.7 billion

Where is all of this money coming from? Make sure one has deep pockets because those promises are aimed at our pocket books.

Mud Slinging

I want to question candidate Mastroianni about his big page slamming Peter Kormos in today's paper.

First of all I doubt Mr. Mastroianni knew a damn thing about Bill 83 until someone in the Liberal party decided to dig up some mud. I must mention the Bill 83 was put on the floor by the Liberal party and as most knowledgeable people know opposing parties seldom support the part in control of the house unless is should happen to contain bits and pieces of legislation introduced by other parties.

Perhaps Mr. Mastroianni would care to release the contents of the bill in reference to the two subjects and quote the voting results? I certainly couldn't find any references to the two subjects.

For a few moments would Mr. Mastroianni care to tell the people of Welland his voting records when he was on City and Regional council that supported Welland. Did Mr, Mastroianni ever introduce motions that would benefit the citizens of Welland during his political career? I don't recall any.

Perhaps Mr. Mastroianni should ask how many people in Welland Peter helped over his many years in parliament vs how many he has helped?

I would like Mr. Mastroianni to produce documentation to support his statement on Bill 136. When one makes statements such as Mr. Mastroianni has made I believe the people of Welland are entitled to proof.

The people of Welland did not want him for mayor, why would they want him for a back bencher?

Visa Credit Cards

Effective April 1, 2007 Visa Canada introduced what they refer to as a "Visa Canada Policy" for the protection of card holders. Printing the full list of numbers of a credit card on either the customer or retailer copies violate privacy laws in Canada. Visa Canada for the protection of cardholder information is their number one priority. The policy as I understand it to be is the merchants must suppress the last four digits of the Primary Account Number(PAN) on the printer cardholder receipt. This is a requirement of all retailers in the Visa system. this is what is called Pan Truncation; truncation prevents fraud, including identity theft by denying criminals use of data printed on cardholder transaction receipts.

Visa has asked to be notified through their disputes area at the financial institution that services your card account, of any merchant practices that you feel inappropriate. The Visa card has a 16-digit number which usually appears on your receipts. Big Stores "Truncate" credit card numbers so only the last digits are showing. The rest are blanked out just as they are on the receipts you get from bank machines.

Some merchants are still printing the entire Visa card number which contravenes the new Visa Canada Policy dated April 1, 2007. The printing of the entire 16-digit number can be stopped if the merchant is reported. Visa also states the merchant's copy can contain the full credit card number as he, the merchant may need it for refunds or dispute resolution. Having said this the Federal Privacy Law requires the merchant to safeguard all of the information they collect, they, the merchants can't throw the receipts into a garbage container or dumpster without shredding or leave them exposed to theft by an employee.

I ask all credit cardholders to check their receipts.

Hard of Hearing

I've experienced a hearing setback since 1983, a predicament that worsened over the years to the position I only have about 20% hearing in my right ear and about 40% in my left ear. I am currently on my 4Th set of hearing aids and have been told there is not much more that can be done to improve my hearing. Throughout the past 24 years one has no idea what it is like for a hard of hearing person to carry on or listen to a conversation in a group of people. I decided to take in an 8 week seminar for the hard of hearing to find out how to compensate for the many hearing problems I, and many, many more like me experience on a daily basis. The seminar does not merely settle on our troubles as it also outlines courtesies one should anticipate from those not having hearing problems, In this seminar we are also taught speech reading and some lip reading useful in group conversations.
Hearing loss is an invisible disability. One can not see if a person has a hearing loss and to what degree the loss may be.Hearing aids are hard to see.
Hearing loss and loneliness often come together. The person with hearing loss begins to feel isolated. Family and friends stop talking to the hard of hearing person or feel embarrassed with the hard of hearing person simply because they don't know how to "get through". Strangers may judge you slow and inattentive.

A little informed courtesy can make the Loss seem less

1. Speak slower please, not louder
2. Speak nearer it is clearer
3. We have no eyes in our backs. Speak when I ma looking at you.
4. Please!!! Speak to my good ear
5. Re-phrase what you say rather than repeat
6. Don't exclude when talking in a group or planning an outing
7. The hard of hearing still needs visual clues, including lipreading
8. Don't shout. Shouting is painful and not easier to understand
9. Tell me if I am not speaking clearly, it helps

Hard of hearing people have basic rights

1. I have the right to communicate and participate
2. I have the right to tell people directly about the facts of my hearing condition
3. I have the right to educate/inform others about specific ways to improve communication and good will among/between us
4. I have the right to be treated fairly regardless of my hearing condition
5. I have the right to expect common courtesy from hearing people
6. I have the right to protect myself, to act in my own best interests
7. I have the right to keep the facts about my hearing in a positive context
8. I have the right to be treated in a non-patronizing way by professionals

Vehicles purchased in St Catharines

I have to question the recent purchase of trucks from a St. Catharine's dealer particularly a brand not even made in our region nor in Eastern Ontario.

If I were in the shoes of those people who live in Welland that go to St. Catharin's, Oakville, and Oshawa to work for either Ford or GM I would be questioning why my tax dollars are going to a vehicle(CHRYSLER) whose manufacturer does not contribute one thing to the economy of Welland as do the workers from Welland at Ford and GM.

Yes there is a tender system which in most cases contains a clause stating the lowest tender does not necessarily have to be accepted.Out of loyalty to the local vehicle dealerships including Chyrsler why could the tender not be awarded to the local vehicle dealership taxpayers if the difference, if ever disclosed, were insignificant?

Were these points even discussed before voting to accept the low tender?

The point to be made is WHAT HAPPENED TO SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESS AND JOBS? Is this an example of moving in the right direction?

Ontario Provincial Election

Please note I am sending this article out by E mail which will be on my blog http://eyesoncityhall.blogspot.com as there is no doubt in my mind this letter or article would not come out in the neighborhood paper.

The provincial election is less then one month away and allowing for the short period of time at this instant for campaigning the voters have been promised so much money the Ontario debt could in all probability be reduced by at least 50%, promises most of us can ill afford. Where is all of this money coming from? I believe I have found a few sources from surfing on the Internet. Here is one source that has Liberal written all over it " The present surplus is in fact the take from the Health Premium" followed up by a further source that again has a Liberal label "A surplus is just another way of saying OVER TAXATION. This next passage has a penchant to make one feel if it is true "Death taxes boil down to letting politicians take money from widows, widowers, and orphans to pay for goodies that they will hand out to others in order to buy votes to get re-elected."

The following does not essentially apply to every politician but if the shoe fits wear it, however one must remember again not all politicians are tarred with the same brush.

When one defines compassion you fit in a politician who uses public funds to buy votes, a polite word for taxes. Politicians are either unwilling or unable to fulfill their election promises after getting into office. This is predictable as the sun rising and setting.

The voter must not be influenced by all of these promises for a few simple reasons. Some of the money promises have an extensive time period attached which could very easily run out if the consequences of the election should be a minority government or as it happened so often over the past four years the promise was broken.

Years and years ago voters were influenced by aspiring politicians who sat in the woods offering jugs of liquor to the farmers for their votes. Now we get monetary promises using our money to get our votes.

One last word if I may. The turn out vote has always been appalling for many, many reasons, so be it, but to those who do not vote PLEASE don't offer opinions after the fact. You had your opportunity and didn't seize it on election day.

Aqueduct Street

"Pretty Sad Stuff" re- Aqueduct Street goes without saying, Why was there not a debate on the issue? What were the so called reasons the councilors, not of the ward in question, and the mayor for not willing to discuss them?

Councilor Grenier with his decision to support the blockade on Aqueduct Street, not even part of his ward, who for over two years has ignored similar plights on Denistoun Street ,just left a bad taste in the mouths of the residents in the Denistoun Street area, a street classed as the second worst in Welland and far worse then Aqueduct North.

Why could the residents not have an input especially to ask why and how the road closure occurred?

One has to laugh at this statement" The blockade's impact on traffic will be reviewed within one year" WHAT TRAFFIC FOR GOD'S SAKE? How much is this brainchild study going to cost the taxpayers of Welland? Whose decision was this?

Pretty bad stuff, it is nothing but B---- S---- baffles brains

Worst Roads

CAA and Ontario Road Builders' Association (ORBA) are again conducting a campaign in Ontario for the worst roads.

Welland has managed to get on the list of the top 20 a few times, perhaps we can get on it again if all of the residents who live on or around Denistoun and Southworth Streets and those drivers who use these two roads would cast their ballots on www.worstroads.ca

I am sure there will be a good response particularly from the Denistoun area who have been subjected to deaf ears for the past 3 or 4 tears of complaining.

Lead water line testing

My article today is directed to the 700 to 1200 or more homeowners, churches, commercial buildings, apartment buildings, and office buildings built in the early 50s or earlier who possibly have lead water lines from the city main line to the foundation of the building.
I am concerned as to the test results, if done, of the water in the locations mentioned.
As one should know one can phone the appropriate department at city hall to have a water test done which according to the province should be "No Charge."We know the lead water line in those specific locations start at the city main and runs directly to the foundation of the building, if one is considering installing a new water line, be aware the cost of installation should only be from the property line to the building.
The testing procedure as dictated by the province has been proven wrong for the simple reason flushing for 5 minutes before testing will remove any sediment build up in the pipes that has been sitting over night. The 5 minute flushing removes this sitting sediment that could possibly contain traces of lead therefore giving an incorrect reading.
There are now new regulations put in place by the province stipulating testing water that has been standing in the pipes and then test after flushing.
There is a much simpler method for testing, a method that will give a more accurate reading, a test the homeowner can do.
The first thing in the morning draw off a sample of water before using any water for washing, drinking, etc. Take a second sample after flushing the water for 5 minutes. Take a third sample at least 30 minutes later which allows the water to settle in the lines. For clarification tag each sample 1,2, and 3.
One could probably take the test samples to the proper city department but check first if you are allowed to do the testing yourself. If the testing is to be done by the city people insist the testing be done as per new revisions by the province to ensure one gets a proper reading. Remember one has the right to make this request as it is your health one is protecting.
Over the past few months people have been advised to use water filters that attach to the taps.
Recently the City of London advised the residents of London there were certain water filters in drinking pitchers that did not reduce lead content to a safe level.
Call city hall and ask if they can advise you what to use and not to use. I am sure if they don't know a simple call could be made to London where I am sure the makes would be made available to them.

Drought and water meters

Most readers will have noticed, as I have over the past few months, the number of articles appearing in both the National and municipal papers covering the lack of rain and serious drought conditions to the point most of those municipalities experiencing these parched areas have posted warnings and even imposed bans on water use but for some unknown reason not here in Welland????

Welland must be sitting on a cornucopia of water as it is certainly noticeable there is a lack of concern on the part of our city council and conservation committee???????

For all of those Welland homeowners who believed in water conservation by purchasing a water meter to use as intended should be made aware they should be recording their daily water use in the summer months.

If a meter owner should consume more than a certain set number of cubic meters per month for the meter water rate one will be paying more than under the flat rate. The water bill will be higher..

The reason being the water consumption over the summer months will be higher, as a matter of fact the consumption doubles due to lawn watering and other watering habits which if one is inclined to water during the heat of the day as our City Parks people do the watering is useless as it evaporates in the heat.

Water/ Sewer costs

This is a copy of a letter submitted to the local newspaper but was never printed, a letter containing information every citizen of Welland is entitled to know.

How many are familiar with what a homeowner has to pay for water consumption and sewage treatment compared to other municipalities?

As most know all water and sewer treatment for the Town of Pelham is provided through the City of Welland. Are you aware a Pelham resident pays $.889 per cubic meter of water while a resident of Welland pays $1.1294 per cubic meter of water?

Are you aware a Pelham resident pays $.909 per cubic meter for sewage treatment while a Welland resident is paying $1.6689 per cubic meter for sewage treatment?

Both municipalities pay the Niagara Region the same; Water $0.512 per cubic meter, Sewer $0.613 per cubic meter treated.

Are you aware Welland residents pay for all unaccountable water while Pelham residents pay ?????

Are you aware in 2006 Welland's consumption of water was 8,521,546 cubic meters when only 6,605,248 cubic meters were accounted for and paid and 1,916,698 cubic meters of unaccounted water, 22.53%, was paid for that we, the citizens of Welland, did not use, supposedly 32%?

Are you aware the factor of 32% used for unaccountable water is wrong as per engineer Shantz who mentioned back a few months the figure is around 22%?

All of the above facts and figures were taken from Regional and Welland reports.

Eyes are moving forward

Eyes are looking at ways to recover our image and improve the information available to the public, information over the past years being rather sad.
I persuade everyone to visit Eyes on City Hall's blog to keep up to date. Eyes encourage the public to supply suggestions on how to attain greater transparency and accountability from the city. Eyes want to increase their membership, above all, those defeated candidates in the last municipal election who share an interest in municipal government.
It is Eyes aim to be a group who will keep watching our municipal government when no one else is watching. In closing I want to quote an editorial taken from the Vancouver Province in 2005."According to SES Research half of (Canadians) polled have never signed a petition and only21-per-cent have never joined a political party. A stunning 24-per-cent claims they have never been politically active, This was two years ago. Times have changed. More than likely the statistics could be much higher. A good instance of those finding would be right here in Welland.
Eyes feel if the past year is a sign of what the public can expect over the next three years there is reason to be vigilant and concerned.
It is the intention of Eyes to reform, restructure, and monitor. Why not join us if your concerns are as valid as ours?

Study before voting

The following article may be a little early but there is a tendency for some papers to put moratoriums on any articles or letters pertaining to elections.

No better time than now to get geared up for the upcoming provincial election in Ontario and the assault of braggadocio, accusations, confusing statements and promises befitting a collander. There is no time like the present to scrutinize the past performance of the Liberal government led by a man who while smiling and speaking has his hand in your pocket. Study the past record of this Liberal government before you vote. Make your decision guided by your sense of right or wrong, am I doing the right thing, above all make it the right decision, one you will not regret. This is a partial list covering the last 4 years of the Liberal government;

• Promises: No new taxes followed up with a health tax described by McGuinty as a premium.
• No cap on the Hydro rate.
• A promise to hire 8,000 new nurses--- where are they?
• A promise to hire 1000 new police officers---- where are they?
• McGuinty has 2 months to live up to these 2 promises
• A promise to close coal fired electricity plants by 2007 and then came back with a promise to have all of them closed by 2014 BUT no hint on how he plans to replace these plants in the next 7 years.
• Wasted Tax Money:
• $150,000.00 studying the sex life of a Northern Flying Squirrel.
• $250,000.00 changing the Ontario logo from a trillium to poison ivy.
• $6 million to drop one letter from the Ontario Lottery Logo.

Insulting Taxpayers

• Liberals and PCs voted themselves a 25% pay increase plus an additional 2% cost of living bonus
• Increased the number of public servants making over $100,000.00 per year by 23%.
• Increased the renewal fee for a driver;s license by $25.00
• Increased the MPP's gas allowance by 10% while ignoring the publics' screams for government intervention to control the mounting gas prices at the pumps.

This list is only a small portion taken from McGuinty's book of promises. There are many, many more.

Another McGuinty broken promise

"Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty announces $26 million in funding to hire 200 new police officers on Friday July 27, 2007 for gun control".
Go back a few years and just prior to the last election "Dalton McGuinty promises to hire 1000 new police officers". This was an announcement made during his election campaign at that time.
Sound familiar?
It should as it was eventually another add on to his list of broken promises.
Where are those 1000 new police officers?
Too little too late.
This time McGuinty has managed to trim his figure by 800 bodies, bodies if hired as he promised back before the last election he would not have to go out on the limb today to make such an announcement that did not need to be made to handle gun control.

Welland/ Pelham water/ sewer rates

I am a firm believer information such as what I am about to type should never be withheld from the general public especially when it involves taxpayer money.
How many are familiar with what a homeowner has to pay for water consumption and sewage treatment compared to other municipalities?
As most should know all water and sewage treatment for The Town of Pelham is provided through the City of Welland. Are you aware a Pelham resident pays $.889 per cubic meter of water while a resident of Welland pays $ 1.1294 per cubic meter of water?
Are you aware a Pelham resident pays $.909 per cubic meter for sewage treatment while a Welland resident is paying $1.6689 per cubic meter for sewage treatment?
Both municipalities pay the Niagara Region the same; water $0.512 per cubic meter, sewer $0.613 per cubic meter treated.
Are you aware Welland residents pay for all unaccountable water while Pelham residents pay??????
Are you aware in 2006 Welland's consumption of water was 8,521,546 cubic meters when only 6,605,248 cubic meters were accounted for and paid plus 1,916,298 cubic meters of unaccounted water, 22.53%, was paid for that we did not use, supposedly 32%?
Are you aware the factor of 32% used for unaccountable water is wrong according to city engineer Shantz who indicated back a number of months the figure should be around 22%?
All of the above figures were taken from the Regional and Welland records.

Municipalities can be sued

This information may not seem important to some and even trivial to others but this report involves every municipality across Canada. There are some municipalities that are already using this suing process against their respective municipalities.
This lack of public information is one reason why Eyes on City Hall was formed back in 1998 as at that time there was a perception people did not need to know everything that went on in their municipality, region, province,and country. "What they don't know won't hurt them " is the wrong attitude to take.
This writer and Eyes on City Hall are very careful on what we write. The information is garnered from newspapers and periodicals all across the province and country, information Eyes know has not appeared in local papers.
The following is a copy of a press release by Greater Toronto Sewer and Watermain Construction Association (GTSWCA) for the public dated March 01, 2007. "Municipalities increasingly ON THE HOOK for damages from poorly maintained water and sewer pipes. Increasingly Canadian homeowners and businesses are successfully suing municipalities for damages resulting from sewer and watermain failures, and local governments had better wake up to the fact that their aging underground pipes pose serious risk of liability. That's the conclusion of well-known Toronto environmental lawyer Dianne Saxe. In her report commissioned by the Ontario Water and Sewer Construction Association (OSWCA) she says municipalities face civil suits and even quasi-criminal prosecutions if they fail to adequately inspect,maintain, repair, and replace their aging underground infrastructures. Lawyer Saxe goes on to say this may come as a shock to many municipalities because they believe they are protected by statutory authority and statutory immunity" NOT SO" notes Saxe.There are several cases where municipalities have been held responsible for property damage resulting from sewer and drain backups and broken watermains"
The above is an exert taken from the (GTSWCA) press release in Toronto on Thursday March 1, 2007.
This is a severe problem right across the country, a problem that every citizen in Canada should be made aware in the event one experiences such damages.

A glass of clean water on Canada Day

This morning, July 1, 2007, while having a glass of cool clean water I reflect on how lucky we are to live in a country with so much to offer such as a glass of germ free water while all of those unfortunate people in Africa where populations are dying like flies for the lack of clean water, food to fill their stomachs, and medical supplies to help the sick. Yes thousands are dying while here in Welland we waste water with little concern for the desperate and destitute.
Here in Welland we insist on carrying on the flushing of millions of cubic meters of clean germ free treated water into ditches 24 hours a day, 365 days a year while in Africa people trek miles for a drink of water that is in most cases contaminated. We double our water consumption in the summer with abandon.
We continue to water lawns through out the day regardless of being told it is a waste as the water evaporates in the heat.
A Conservation Committee was set up by the city with one chief purpose, that being to educate the people on how to conserve water but in their itinerary this committee seems to have forgotten one very important segment in water conservation, a segment the province has been centering on for quite some time, LAWN WATERING,the misuse which doubles in the summer months. Our city council and Conservation Committee who are in a position to put a handle on this misuse just sit back and do nothing. These same parties don't even make a statement to defend their position.
What good are they????

Toilet Day July 7, 2007

I stand to be corrected but I believe toilet day is scheduled for July 7, 2007 which I presume will be held at most of the retailers listed on the established toilet list put out by the Conservation Committee???
For this reason I am writing this letter for the benefit of every probable low flow toilet buyer to study before buying. There are a number of toilets that have been approved at a choice of prices so for those who are price conscious one should shop around to not only take advantage of the $60.00 rebate but also a possible lower cost.
For those who intend to buy one or more of these toilets while shopping around make sure you ask a few questions. Are original replacement parts available? Is the toilet tank lined? Can another make of replacement part be used?Is the tank to bowel hardware solid brass, not brass coated steel? Does the retailer stock the replacement parts?
Now for those who bought these toilets and intend to install the toilet themselves in lieu of hiring a plumber here are a few things to remember when installing the toilet. Use either a Kant leak wax seal or two(2)1/2" sponge rubber gaskets to fit the horn of the bowl.Use solid brass closet bolts, nuts ,and washers, not brass coated steel. Use a braided closet supply with an angle stop instead of a chrome plated flexible supply as they are much easier to handle. Finally when fastening the tank to the bowel do not use a wrench to pull down the nuts and bolts. Use your fingers and make the nuts and bolts finger tight.
For those who want to keep their old toilet here are a few suggestions on how to lower the litre per flush. The most familiar method is a plastic jug of water or pebbles with a sealed cap set on the tank's bottom where it will not get in the way with the tank mechanism. One can save about 45 litres of water per day. DO NOT put bricks in the tank as they deteriorate, dispersing grit into the mechanism. One can also bend the float rod down which will shrink the water level in the tank. There are other gadgets on he market such as the toilet dam, toilet fill cycle diverter, and frugal flush flappers. All of these gadgets should be available at your local toilet retailer.
BE CAREFUL AND BE PRICE CONSCIOUS

Salaries over $125,000.00

A few months ago, as a matter of fact it was just after April 1, 2007, the date when all Ontario businesses must report salaries paid the previous year over $100,000.00 that I started to check if those affected by this law in the Niagara Region had revealed their lists. Our local paper printed the respective lists with one noticeable exception, Niagara College I checked with the local paper to see if I missed the college list but received no reply.

I proceeded to check with the college by E mail to see if I could obtain their list. After seven (7) tries with no reply I gave up.

The other day while on the Internet I came across a complete list of businesses in the Niagara Region affected by this ruling , a list which included Niagara College in the St. Catharine's Standard.

For those interested here is the Niagara College list starting at $125,000.00 not $100,000.00 as per the ruling.

Martha Casson,V/P. international, $133.639.

Steven Hudson, V/P. of corporate services,$158,000.

Daniel Patterson, president,$210,000.

Barry Sharpe, associate V/P, academic, $145,501. Welland councilor

My question, how many are on the $100,000 up to $125,000.?

Why a blog??

The reason I started this blog was in response to many asking me about Municipal, Regional, Provincial, and Federal matters that do not always appear in the local papers or if they do there is not always a complete story. It is not that I know more than the local papers it is I follow all major newspapers and find on many occasions some information that was not printed in the local papers.
This blog is an attempt to keep those interested in every day issues aware of all of the points.
This writer tries to get points across by writing to the local papers but has found on numerous occasions the letters submitted were not printed.
Again, this writer as per the Freedom of Rights expresses opinions and expressions that at times some may not agree with and that is their right.

Freedom of Information

I feel very strongly taxpayers are entitled to disclosure of information that is designated public yet in many cases the information is refused with an explanation if you want it go to the city clerk and pay for the proper form to get it.When this response is used my first reaction is some one is trying to hide something.
With this in mind I checked with the two(2) Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Acts, municipal and provincial to check the language to see if it would apply to any citizen of Welland if one decided to use the act to get information that should have been disclosed before having to use the act.
The Freedom's commissioner, being a staunch supporter of information by government institutions strongly encourages all institutions to release all information" unless there is a clear and compelling reason not to do this". The commissioner advocates routine disclosure and active distribution.
Why is the public put in this asinine situation?

Answers to questions ignored

The following letter was written on June 11, 2007 but was never printed in the local paper, a letter written at the request of many who ask as I've done many times, why the citizens of Welland can not obtain answers from their elected officials to questions that have been put forward many, many times;
Why is the Conservation Committee(CC), a committee that is supposed to be dedicated to the conservation of water, a committee that has gone to a great deal of expense to promote Rain Barrels and Low Flow Toilets to save water has the nerve to overlook the prime waste of water in the summer time, LAWN WATERING that has a trend to double summer consumption? Not, and I stress NOT one member of that CC and NOT one member of the present council has the intestinal fortitude to step forward with even one reason to support their ignoring this regular misuse of water.
This writer challenges these CC people and councilors to get in touch with those communities I listed in a previous letter a few weeks ago and ask them, as I did, why they put in their bylaw where in most cases there is an abundant supply of water.
The Seaway Mall land deal with the city that expired one year ago has yet to bring into being any reason why the deal did not happen.Because of this lack of information rumors have started to float around the city stating the city did not want the land back and there was a mistake in the phrasing of the deal. What ever, it seems to be a hushed up issue that even councilor Belcastro refrains from commenting on when he was implicated in the original business deal.
The Helems Ave disaster as every Wellander knows exceeded the budget yet as of this writing and well over a year after the completion there has never been a disclosure of the actual cost, a cost asked for many times and ignored.
Finally Denistoun Street, a street in need of repair and resurfacing, a street the ward councilors have been asked about for the past two years and to this date have yet to give one solid reply, even a projection is better than saying nothing.

Advertising low flow toilets in Welland Retail Stores

I stand to be corrected but I believe July 7, 2007 has been set aside by the Welland Conservation Committee as water low flow toilet rebate day to be held again as last year at Welland Lumber, one of the retailers listed by the Conservation Committee as a distributor of these toilets. I should point out Wal Mart who is on the that list does not, according to their clerks, sell toilets in that store. The list of retailers in Welland in your respective areas is available by calling city hall.
The reason I am writing about these toilets and the their distribution is the result of looking to buy two of these toilets at one of the respective dealers only to find, in most cases, no signs advertising the retailer handled the approved toilets, in one instance there was not even a toilet on display. We, my friend and I discussed the toilets with one retailer who basically said " Why bother, there is only one retailer in the city that gets all of the toilet business".
For the past week one retailer has been advertising these toilets on a regular basis in the Tribune so one has to presume that retailer is going to pick up the bulk of the sales on toilet day.
Every one is well aware of the new CFL energy saving light bulb Hydro promo, a very good promo that expires on June 17, 2007 Almost every retail store in Welland has a display set up in their store. I was in the market to buy 10 of these new bulbs so I made the rounds of the retailers finding in most cases the prices were much the same however I ended up buying the bulbs at one retailer because that retailer was the only outlet that had the Hydro coupons available for the customer right with the display.
Advertising surprising enough does bring in customers.