Alma burns, May of 2008
From Bob Foster:
With the release of the “sunshine list” (the $100,000 salary club),it’s appalling to see Minister of Culture Aileen Carroll is making $164,623.53,especially since she has FAILED miserably in her duties as culture minister,and what makes it more shocking is,this minister is also collecting a pension from the federal government,all the while badly neglecting her duties.
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From Bob Foster:
Dear MPP’s,
It’s time for someone to stand up and question Aileen Carroll,about her lack of concern for senior citizens in this province,and for her horrific handling of Ontario’s built heritage.I’ve attached a letter written by a senior citizen,who is concerned about his locked in pension,and Minister Carroll responded by telling the senior “he was not in her constituency”,and could not assist him in anyway.Imagine Aileen Carroll,minister responsible for seniors,and she pretty much told the gentleman (a senior citizen),she will not assist him with his pension concerns.He wrote a second letter informing her that since she was minister responsible for seniors,should she not be assisting all seniors in the province of Ontario.He stated he still has not received a response to his pension concerns.He also stated other senior citizens have had the same concerns with Aileen Carroll,not responding to their many letters.She has also been giving excuses to opposition members,when they rise in the legislature to ask what exactly is she doing to rectify the concern of these seniors.She is also neglecting her duties as Culture Minister,for which I have pointed out on many occasions,her lack of concern with built heritage issues in this province,now she is completely ignoring the seniors citizens in our province,by not addressing their concerns,especially during this time of economic uncertainty.Aileen Carroll needs to be called on the carpet,and asked why she refuses to respond to the citizens of this province,when they have serious concerns,that need her immediate attention.
I urge all members to please read the attached article.
Aileen Carroll
Aileen Carroll
As heritage week draws to a close,on Sunday February 22nd 2009,let us not forget all the historic buildings we’ve lost under Culture Minister,Aileen Carroll,and all those buildings that are continuing to face demolition by neglect.Minister Carroll has stood up many a times in the legislature,to boast about the “improved & strengthened” heritage act,but she knows it’s window dressing at best,for she has not enforced the heritage act,as it was intended,instead allowing building after building to fall,or allowing owners to demolition by neglect,until the buildings are so unsafe,the culture ministry just gives the go ahead,to tear them down.Owners of historic buildings in the province of Ontario,are fully aware of Aileen Carroll’s lack of interest in protecting our built heritage,so to speed up the demolition process,they remove windows & doors leaving these historic buildings vulnerable to the harsh Ontario weather,and it doesn’t take an engineer to figure out,the longer the building is open and unprotected,the sooner the owner can apply for a demolition permit.Minister Carroll has failed miserably at protecting Ontario’s built heritage,and if there are any people that doubt that statement,I urge you to drive to the City of St.Thomas,and view what remains of Alma College.On the property at 96 Moore Street,you will find 2 historic structures that survived the horrific blaze in May of 2008,you will also find an outdoor amphi-theatre,all of which are continuing to face,demolition by neglect.We lost the main structure,and will lose the 2 remaining structures,if this minister does not take an interest.The property deserves to be designated as “Provincially Significant”,and if the culture minister could bring herself to realize this fact,St.Thomas,Ontario would then have a reason to celebrate “heritage week”.
Robert F.Foster
Brampton,Ontario
Alma fire, May 28, 2008
Minister Carroll,
I was reading a quote you recently made regarding heritage volunteers,the quote was “The achievements of these dedicated volunteers help to strengthen communities across Ontario,” said Culture Minister Aileen Carroll. “Their hard
work ensures our rich heritage is conserved and celebrated for generations to
come.”.How could you make such a statement,when you yourself DO NOT “conserve and celebrate”,in fact your motto should be “search and destroy”.It never ceases to amaze me,that you have been quoted on many occasions praising the hard work of heritage voluteers for their tireless efforts,on behalf of our built heritage,then head back to your Queen’s Park office,to sign the demolition papers on some beautiful and historic building,that could be saved with a little help from the ministry of culture,but you would rather bring it down,then assist in bringing it back.Your words are hollow and mean nothing,when it comes to our rich heritage.96 Moore Street has sat abandoned and neglected since the May 2008 fire,the chapel is further damaged,do to the gaping hole in the roof,the music building continues to deteriorate,thanks to the brutal weather here in Ontario,and the outdoor amphi-theatre will surely be unrecognizable,once the snow melts away,so even though the smoke has cleared from the devastating fire in May of 2008,the dust has settled on the demolition that followed the fire,and the snow and ice slowly melts to reveal that nothing has changed on the property in 9 months,one has to wonder what exactly you meant when you said “Their hard
work ensures our rich heritage is conserved and celebrated for generations to come”,because at 96 Moore Street,in St.Thomas,nothing has been conserved and there is no sign of celebration,however “demolition by neglect” has been evident for many years.I do applaud all the heritage volunteers and heritage advocates,who stand up for our built heritage,now if we could only put someone at the helm of the ministry of culture,who has the same passion,we would be well on our way to “conserving and celebrating”…
Quote taken from the following news article:
Aileen Carroll
Robert F.Foster
Brampton,Ontario
Letter submitted by:
Bob Foster
Aileen Carroll
Minister Carroll,
I recently came across an article (on-line) in the Innisfil Journal,in which it’s reported you wrote a letter to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Jim Watson on the boundary issue facing Innisfil and Barrie.The letter is quite passionate,which brings me to the reason I’m writing you today.It seems you would like a quick response from Minister Watson,somewhat similar to the same urgency felt by the supporter’s of the Alma College property,who have been waiting for a response from you,(now going on 9 months).I can see from reading your letter,you would like your issue resolved as soon as possible,again similar to our dilemma with the Alma College property,but you have FAILED to answer the many letters asking for land designation,at 96 Moore Street,in St.Thomas.How is it,you can disregard the public and their letter writing campaign for 96 Moore Street,but expect Minister Watson to jump and respond instantly,to just one of your letters,mainly because you would like to see your issue resolved now,rather than later.Your job as Minister of Culture requires you to handle all of Ontario’s built heritage issues,that means you should be as concerned about St.Thomas,as you are about Barrie and Innisfil.It’s time for the culture ministry to resolve the issue surrounding 96 Moore Street,and designate the property,so the 2 remaining buildings and the outdoor amphi-theatre,have government protection.I can understand your passion for Barrie,what I dont understand,is your lack of passion for our built heritage.
Article from the Innisfil Journal
Culture Minister Aileen Carroll
Robert F.Foster
Brampton,Ontario
David Dunlap Observatory
The Minister of Culture could have preserved the Dunlap Observatory site’s entirety with the stroke of her pen, according to newly-released information.
A letter sent by Ontario Heritage Trust chairperson and former Lt.-Gov. Lincoln Alexander to Culture Minister Aileen Carroll in September, recommends the province take immediate action to declare the site’s main 177 acres a heritage site.
That would mean if designated by the minister, no alterations to the property would be allowed without her consent.
Full story
Erie Street United Church, Ridgetown, Ont.
