Tag Archives: MP Joe Preston

11.09.13
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Jason McComb is walking for society’s lost souls

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There’s no doubt Jason McComb can be a thorn in the side of city administrators.
Not only is he an outspoken advocate for the homeless, he has taken it upon himself to patrol the downtown core in his solitary litter crusade – an undertaking that has put to shame the efforts of this city’s parks staff.
Well next Tuesday Jason is leaving town, if only temporarily.
That’s the day he begins his walk across the province to Ottawa to draw attention to the plight of the less fortunate in general and, in particular, those veterans who have been abandoned by the country they served.
He’ll put in 10- or 11-hour days trekking eastward with stops along the way, including Hamilton, in an effort to shatter the stigma of the homeless as panhandlers begging their way to the next bottle of cheap booze.
It’s a daunting undertaking at a time of year when the weather can be most unwelcoming.
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08.24.13
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Closing the hospital labs? We’ll notify you about that

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An upbeat interview in Friday’s Times-Journal with Paul Jenkins, the new executive director of the St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital Foundation.
He is the individual who assumes the position previously held by Allan Weatherall who, like Malcolm Hopkins, didn’t fit into the long-term game plan of hospital CEO Paul Collins.
Well Paul’s fundraising endeavors may become that much more difficult based on information forwarded to City Scope on Friday.
As we understand matters, the downsizing/outsourcing may very well continue with pathology labs now housed at the hospital possibly about to be shuttered at the end of the year.
We don’t have a handle on number of people who might be impacted, although some of the work undertaken could be moved, possibly to Woodstock General Hospital. The remainder of the work would likely be assumed by a London facility.
A bit of a complication here though. The St. Thomas jobs are unionized whereas the Woodstock workplace is non-union so some negotiating would be in order.
The union – which has to be given five months notice – was apparently notified of this situation on July 11. That would mean the final day of employment in the STEGH labs would be on or around Dec. 11.
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10.13.12
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A cautionary tale of Madame McGuinty’s Teflon Academy

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While some individuals who, in the past, have been the centre of attention in this corner are likely less than over-joyed, City Scope returns after a three-week hiatus. The words of encouragement directed this way during that time are greatly appreciated and, rest assured, the good fight will continue.
Let’s begin with a cautionary tale from the iPad of Bob McCaig, in an effort to illustrate Ontario’s economic plight.
“Madame McGuinty’s Teflon Academy, was an instrument of power, seeing to the needs – some carnal – of a discerning clientele, trading power for money and money for power,” McCaig begins.
“The men and women who visited her house of leisure, both day and night, nodding acquaintances in public, were often the best of friends, or at least of convenience, behind closed doors.
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04.14.12
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Why does this promise come with a bitter after-taste?

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Re-scope is a word that was totally alien to the average vocabulary prior to delivery of the provincial budget at the end of March.
In the days afterward, the administration at St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital, our elected representatives and area residents puzzled over the implications of re-scoping on the hospital’s redevelopment plans.
Well, puzzle no longer.
This corner has determined the definition of re-scope as follows: the massive slashing of funding for a project promised just weeks before an election when the electorate doesn’t deliver.
And we mean ruthless cutting and hacking.
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12.24.11
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We’re being taken for a ride, courtesy city hall

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Can you ever have enough pick-up trucks? Forget gas-guzzlers, city hall is making a name for itself as a vehicle-guzzler.

In total, the city operates a fleet of 104 vehicles, including more than two dozen pick-ups, and that fact nearly had Ald. Gord Campbell blowing a gasket during capital budget talks at Monday’s council meeting.

“Obviously we all see (city) pickup trucks. I always see one guy in them . . . but we have crew cabs running around the city that never seem to have anybody in them except the driver.”

What jump-started the vehicle debate was the revelation city administration wants to replace eight vehicles at a cost next year of $425,000.

“Do we really need these vehicles?” questioned Ald. Dave Warden.

He’s not alone in pondering the number of vehicles really needed.Reader Jamie Weisler, who knows a thing or two about cars and trucks, fired the following observations our way.

“I am at a loss as to figure out why we need to replace these vehicles so often,” noted Jamie.

“If we have vehicles that have rusted out, then it would appear that someone in the maintenance department was not doing their job! Would it not make sense to protect our investment in these vehicles by undercoating them?”

Seems a fair enough question.

He continues: “As for the cost of repair, why would the city not shop around for the most cost-effective repair shop in town? I know that there are a number of quality repair facilities in St Thomas that would be more than happy to perform the repairs on these vehicles.”

These are work vehicles, Jaimie points out.

“Lets suck it up and make do. Unless there is a serious safety issue, I see absolutely no reason not to keep a five- or 10-year old vehicle in the fleet. The taxpayers of St Thomas can’t afford brand new vehicles for themselves, so why should we buy new vehicles for our very well-paid employees?”

Where there is be no cause for debate is dealing with the condition of the van used to transport Valleyview Home staff and residents.

If it doesn’t meet Ministry of Transportation standards, then it is a matter of safety and the van in question should top the priority list.

As for some of the high-end pick-ups tooling around the city, now we’re going down an entirely different road.

Some of the vehicles put on hold Monday include a 16-foot utility trailer, two golf carts and a couple more pick-ups.

This coming year, the city needs to do less tire kicking and spend more time crafting a budget-conscious vehicle purchase/replacement policy.

WE’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN 

Still with the capital budget, you ain’t seen nothing yet. The real fun begins in the new year when the spotlight will shine on a new police headquarters .

It’s an issue that will deeply divide council and, in particular, force one alderman to undertake some serious soul searching.

A word of advice to the individual in question. Don’t forget who supported you in the October vote.

All involved should keep this in mind: Maintaining the status quo is not an option.

IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE … THE WINTER FESTIVAL SEASON 

A tip of the City Scope eggnog to MP Joe Preston and wife, Geri, for sending out greeting cards this year that actually wish the recipient a Merry Christmas.

It’s a sad commentary on the times when such an action is to be applauded.

I’m sorry, but I’ve reached the limit with politically correct cards (including the horrid electronic versions) from groups and organizations wishing me: A Happy Festive Season; All The Best This Holiday Season; Hope You Enjoy the Winter Festival Season; Merry Xmas; and the warm and fuzzy, Season’s Greetings.

Enough already!

If you’re doing this to avoid offending anyone, it’s not working in this corner.

It’s perfectly acceptable to wish me Merry Christmas.

There, I’ve said it.

I’m with you, Joe.

A CHRISTMAS WISH FOR YOU

And, on that note, as this is the last get together before tomorrow’s celebration of Christmas, we put forth the following gift suggestions for you to distribute as you see fit.

To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect.

And, to all faithful City Scope readers, especially those with birthdays at this hectic time of year, when their special day too often is lost in the hustle and bustle of the season — may this Christmas bring you peace, health and happiness.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“I think the time has come that maybe we should be asking staff to tell us why we need $11 million worth of rolling stock.”

Ald. Gord Campbell during Monday’s capital budget deliberations, much of which focussed on the city’s fleet of 104 vehicles.

City Scope appears every Saturday in the Times-Journal. Questions and comments may be e-mailed to: mccallum@stthomastimesjournal.com.
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12.10.11
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Somebody missed the bus with this press release

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A press release from the Chamber of Commerce created an instant stir on the Times-Journal Facebook page after it was posted late Thursday afternoon.
The advisory, from the pen of Chamber CEO Bob Hammersley, “No New Year’s Bus Service?” suggested “there will likely be no free New Year’s Eve bus service in St. Thomas this year.”
A service underwritten by MADD Canada’s St. Thomas-Elgin Chapter for the past four years.
Was this confirmed with Mayor Heather Jackson-Chapman or staff at city hall, or was Hammersley jumping to conclusions?
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10.30.10
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Dialing out for votes turns the tide on mayoral race

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It was a game-breaker. It, being news that broke last Thursday of the law suit by London developer David McGee, filed in August, against the city, Mayor Cliff Barwick and numerous other defendants.

Did the timing of the $3 million suit, and the hiring of political strategist Suzanne Van Bommel, impact the mayoral vote in the final weekend of the campaign?

A study of the advance polling numbers would appear to indicate the front-page story filed one week ago by the T-J’s Kyle Rea, and picked up by the Free Press in London, took the wind out of Barwick’s campaign sail.

As of last Friday, Barwick led the advance polls with 585 votes, followed by Heather Jackson-Chapman at 454 and Al Riddell with 432 votes.
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10.02.10
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Inspection report points to water protocol deficiencies

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A report coming to council Monday indicates the city’s water distribution system had compliance issues, albeit relatively minor, dating back to a boil water advisory issued in September of last year.

The risk to the drinking water supply was minimal, however the Ministry of the Environment water inspection report is significant in that it may prove a precursor to events emanating from two boil water advisories issued in August and September of this year.

The MOE report, issued after a May 11, 2010 inspection of the city’s water distribution system, found three non-compliance issues which did not meet regulatory requirements. Nevertheless, the final inspection rating was 94.44%.

It is the nature of the non-compliance issues that is disturbing — issues that point to weaknesses in or an absence of clear protocol for the management of the water distribution system.
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06.11.10
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New affordable housing officially opened today in St. Thomas

ST. THOMAS, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – June 11, 2010) – The Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, and the City of St. Thomas celebrated the official opening of 12 affordable rental units. The two six-unit affordable housing projects are supported by $924,000 in funding through the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program.

Joe Preston, Member of Parliament for Elgin-Middlesex-London, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and Steve Peters, Member of Provincial Parliament for Elgin-Middlesex-London, along with Acting Mayor Tom Johnston, on behalf of St.Thomas Mayor Cliff Barwick made the announcement.

“Locally, this achievement gives a hand-up to individuals and families who need safe, affordable housing that meets their needs,” said MP Preston. “Our government is investing in this project to get the economy moving, creating immediate jobs and economic stimulus for the community.”

“These new homes are changing the lives of a dozen families in St. Thomas,” said MPP Peters. “By building more affordable rental units, we are ensuring people in need have a safe place to call their own.”

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