Gordon Prentice at Large - Politics in Newmarket
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- Written by: Gordon Prentice
Yesterday, another old tree bites the dust in Beechwood Crescent.
This time it is a Sugar Maple somewhere between 100-125 years old.
A few weeks ago I wander along Beechwood Crescent and learn the extensive tree canopy produces its own wonderful micro climate. One resident tells me his air conditioning goes on for a handful of days every year. For the rest of the time, the trees provide natural air conditioning.
So it is very sad news that such a majestic and healthy old tree with its huge green leafy canopy should fall to the chainsaw.
An application to redevelop the lot and build a new house has been approved by the Town but residents resisted the application because century old trees would be affected. I am told by people who know about these things that the proposed new house could have been slightly realigned, allowing the trees to remain undisturbed. But that didn’t happen. Probably too much hassle.
The photos show the tree (in front of the white wooden outhouse with the red door) in July and the empty space today where it once lived and breathed, minding its own business.
As it happens, the Town of Newmarket is now asking us what we think of trees and what we should be doing to protect trees on private property. The Town’s website tells us:
“Trees are a valuable asset to us as individuals but also to the whole community at large. As Newmarket grows it is important to help keep as many trees as possible. We would especially like to keep mature trees since they provide the most benefits and have the most value. Please join this discussion on the value mature trees and how a tree on your property contributes benefits to all of Newmarket. Feel free to share your opinions on the value of trees in Newmarket and how trees can best serve the Newmarket community.
We want to know: What is the best way to protect trees on private property?”
I am tempted to say:
“If you want to protect trees it is probably not a good idea to chop them down.”
But perhaps that's too glib.
Seems to me that if a tree is mature and healthy we should bend over backwards to keep it. If it is significant (definition to follow) it should be protected.
Of course, many builders and developers feel threatened by trees. They can get in the way of plans to redevelop.
If so they’ve gotta go. Just ask Norm “Chainsaw” Stapley who left his own unique and indelible mark on Beechwood Crescent.
The very feature that makes Beechwood Crescent so visually and environmentally attractive is being casually destroyed.
In any event the deed is now done.
And, in the way of these things, the Town is now consulting the public on how best to save trees on private property. An Information Report presented to councillors on 22 August 2018 tells them:
Tree Cutting By-law – Council have directed staff to prepare a by-law regulating and protecting significant trees on private property. Consultation for the project is currently underway. Feedback is being garnered from residents through the HeyNewmarket website. In the late fall/early winter staff will undertake a phone survey similar to that which was done for the recreational vehicle parking zoning by-law amendment. In Q1 of 2019, staff will consolidate the feedback and report to Council providing options on how to protect trees on private property.
Will participating in this survey make a blind bit of difference?
Who knows?
But since trees can’t answer phone surveys or fill in questionnaires we who can should do so on their behalf.
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- Written by: Gordon Prentice
Newmarket Mayoral candidate Talib Ansari has posted his election platform. 
You can read it here.
Ansari, an accountant, is the new kid on the block. He is going for the top job having never run for elected office before.
NTAG (Newmarket Taxpayers Advocacy Group) is organising hustings for Mayoral candidates at Madsen’s Greenhouses from 7pm-9pm on Wednesday 19 September 2018 for Joe Wamback and Talib Ansari and from 7pm-9pm on Wednesday 3 October 2018 for John Taylor.
The municipal election is on Monday 22 October 2018.
Advance voting by phone or internet is from 10am on 13 October to 8pm on 22 October 2018.
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- Written by: Gordon Prentice
It is Monday morning – 20 August – and I am up with the lark. Today I go down to Toronto City Hall for an historic meeting.
Toronto councillors are to decide whether or not to challenge Doug Ford’s Bill 5 which slashes the number of councillors in half.
The Council Chamber is packed.
Now the show is on the road and I hear loud applause as former Chief Planner and Mayoral candidate, Jennifer Keesmaat, enters the Chamber. I hear the Speaker, Frances Nunziata, scolding the public. She insists there must be no clapping.
I close my eyes and for a brief moment I am back in Newmarket listening to the scowling old banker Tony Van Trappist warning the public that applause is not allowed. We must be respectful.
Jazz hands
Now Paula Fletcher, the veteran councillor for Toronto Danforth, is on her feet telling us that while we can’t applaud we can do jazz hands. Terrific! This is completely new to me.
So, all through the meeting, in common with everyone else in the public gallery, I am fluttering my hands in front of me whenever I hear something I agree with. It’s great fun.
In between the jazz handing I learn a lot.
The Council currently has 44 members plus the Mayor but was moving to a new 47 ward structure which was the product of five year’s work. I learn the 47 member council met the “effective representation” test laid down by the Supreme Court of Canada in Carter v Saskatchewan.
All this was set aside by Doug Ford in a fortnight.
Ford’s action in bulldozing Bill 5 (aka the Better Local Government Act 2018) through the Legislature in double-quick time broke any number of unwritten conventions. There was no mention of Bill 5 in the PC manifesto or platform that was put before the public in the election campaign. There was no public consultation on the details of the Bill and no Committee Stage where MPPs could examine the Bill line by line. Toronto City Council was not formally invited to give its views and senior staff such as the City Clerk were not consulted either.
Changing the rules in the middle of the game
For the first time in Canadian history the rules governing an election have been changed while that election is under way.
The City Council Clerk, Ulli Watkiss, clearly exasperated, tells us it is a race against time to organise an election by 22 October that would not be open to challenge. She tells councillors she is “extremely concerned about standards”.
The City Clerk tells us the move to 25 wards will involve:
- Identifying new voting locations
- Reassigning and training thousands of election day staff
- Ensuring production of the voting ballots is 100% accurate. Ballot production is a “complicated process” where there must be no errors or mistakes.
- Re-jigging the IT systems – which are critical to the election – back from 47 wards to 25
- Ensuring adequate notice is given to the public informing them where they will be able to vote in the advance polls which open on 6 October 2018.
- Re-coding the on-line App, MyVote, to reflect all the changes.
Candidates will be given voters’ lists only weeks before voting begins. The electorate in the new wards is huge. Candidates will have very little time to make contact with the voters.
The new wards will match the boundaries of the Federal and Provincial Ridings. If the number of Federal ridings goes up in the future then the City Council will follow suit.
Cost of election goes up by $2.5 million
I learn that the Council has already spent an extra $2.5 million as a result of the changes imposed by Queen’s Park. There’s staff overtime and new contracts with the people who test and validate the systems that are critical in delivering a fair and problem-free election.
The Mayor, John Tory, is in favour of a Court challenge. And a clear majority of councillors too.
Giorgio Mammoliti, a close ally of the Ford clan, passes round a plate of cheese sandwiches to his fellow councillors:
"Have some cheese to go with all the whining!"
I shake my head in disbelief. Is this the best he can do?
The Hearing has been set for 31 August 2018 when the City of Toronto will join other litigants determined to challenge the Province.
Given the election timetable the Court’s decision is likely to be expedited.
Update on 21 August 2018: Number of legal challengers growing.