General Motors Closures - Where Do We Go From Here?

  Yesterday's announcement by General Motors that is was closing several manufacturing plants in both Canada and the U.S. was grim news for 2,500 assembly workers in Canada, 14,000 in the U.S. plus thousands more with salaried positions throughout the company.  I learned of this pending announcement Sunday night on my way to Toronto via an exclusive story released by CTV news.  While it is unfortunate not only for the affected workers but for the province as a whole, it was not unexpected.  The Canadian retail industry has gone through change ie: Sears and Target and will continue to do so, the auto industry and other businesses is no different.

  On Monday I was one of approximately 400 members of the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) attending a conference in Toronto to discuss advocacy issues pertaining to both REALTORS as well as Ontario home/property owners.  Speakers at this event included Premier Doug Ford, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath, Green Party Leader Mike Schriener, interim Provincial Liberal Leader John Fraser, Canada's Ambassador to the U.S. David MacNaughton and lastly former Prime Minister Stephen Harper.  Rarely do you have the opportunity to meet and hear such political talent in the same day and I felt privileged to attend.

  Needless-to-say Monday morning's announcement by GM news impacted the conference, Premier Ford was delayed half an hour in arriving having been on the phone addressing the issue with GM's President.  Whether you like Premier Ford or not, Ontario's new government have moved quickly to address many of the issues facing the Province not the least of which is the economy and the deficit.  Mr. Ford did not shy away from the closure issue acknowledging that GM workers will need assistance in securing new employment.  At the same time he remained resolute that Ontario is "open for business."  Faced with global economic change and competition, he said that Ontario and in fact Canada needs to attract business that includes smart and other up and coming technologies, artificial intelligence and those that represent the future growth of business outside the traditional manufacturing sector.  Ms. Horwath on the other hand touted that the government needs to fight GM's decision in every way possible, as does the head of their Union.  Clearly they have no grasp of reality and they still cling to the belief that unions have a lot of clout.

  My father, a dentist like his farther and brother was a car guy so I come by it honestly.  He was for the most part a strong GM customer.  Growing up we had Chevrolets, Pontiacs, an Olsmobile even a Corvair with the odd Ford thrown into the mix.  My father died in 2001 and I have always thought how shocked he would be if he had lived to see GM file for bankruptcy with the Pontiac and Oldmobile divisions both gone along with Mercury, Plymouth and others.  I as well have had my share of GM vehicles over the years.  In addition to my current car an Audi, my wife has a 1980 Corvette which she drives in the summer and it continues to go up in value.  We also have a 2015 GMC Denauli pick-up bought earlier this year (with cash) for less than half of its original $69,000 sticker price.  Will I ever buy a brand new vehicle again?  Not likely when I can let someone else take a 30% or 40% hit in value in the first three or so years of the vehicle's life.  Also, I am not interested in low interest financing, "employee" pricing or any other gimmicks the auto makers throw at consumers. 

  I moved to Collingwood in 1985 as the result of a transfer with Goodyear Canada.  Goodyear's Collingwood plant was a significant supplier to GM and Ford that included fuel and transmission lines, rad hoses and other hose products.  Those days are long gone.  Collingwood's Pilkington glass plant supplies auto glass for the Chevrolet Impala, a poor selling car that will soon no longer be in GM's vehicle lineup.  My father had a 1962 Impala, he always said it was the nicest car he ever had, I wish I had it now!  Fortunately the majority of Pilkington's business is outside of GM, good for them.

  Following their brush with bankruptcy GM is in relatively strong financial shape.  By means of the direction they announced yesterday, they have chosen to invest in the future which like for may other car/truck manufacturers includes electric vehicles and those that are self driving as reflected by GM's purchase of San Francisco based startup Cruise Automation for $1 billion in 2016.

  Times and marketplace changes driven by consumers will continue to rise and I believe the acceleration of those changes will continue to escalate.  Politicians and unions can kick and scream all they want but trying to fight what consumers want and are willing to pay for is like trying to swim up Niagara Falls.  GM has set a good example for many in business to follow, make the required changes to float with the rising tide rather than try to swing against the current.

  Like everyone I offer my condolences to the GM workers affected by the closure of Oshawa and GM's other facilities.  You will absolutely need to maintain a strong resolve to find alternate work, which may require training for new skills in order to transition into a completely different field of work.  Despite the challenges we all face from time to time perseverance always pays off.  Hopefully Ontario's current government will implement the required efforts to develop employment opportunities in the province's economy that will offer opportunities for these displaced workers as well as for our our children, opportunities that we as adults never had.

It's Municipal Election Time - Have You Voted?

  Great article on the democratic election process by Ian Adams and well worth the read.

  I ran in the last municipal election for Collingwood Council and I am not afraid to admit that the 38 vote shortfall Ian mentions in this article between getting elected and not was me.  While I was disappointed at the time I took pride in my campaign efforts and the contribution I made in bringing forth change to the town's municipal government.

  People that supported my efforts last time have asked why I did not run in this election.  The simple reason is having sold my home earlier this year I no longer live or own property in Collingwood and now reside in Clarksburg.  Nonetheless my interest in this community, province and country have not diminished and I have actively but quietly followed the current election process.  My children were both born in Collingwood.. My son and his girlfriend have just moved back to Collingwood so like everyone I have a vested interest in the well being and future of the communities I am affiliated with. 

  I have cast my vote in both the Blue Mountains as well as on Manitoulin Island where I own properties.  I did my research of the candidates which isn't hard and asked questions when needed.

  On Monday it will be interesting to see if my choices made a difference in helping those I voted for get elected.  More importantly it will be interesting to follow the process to see if those elected to their Council positions serve their respective communities in the best interest of the public at large during the next four years.

  Back in 2008, the City of Toronto brought in their own "municipal land transfer tax" MLTT which was applied to purchases and paid by the buyers of real estate within the city.  For years, buyers of real estate in Ontario have paid a provincial land transfer tax based on a scale that increased as the total purchase price went higher. 

  I have been a full time REALTOR for 16+ years and the provincial land transfer tax rate has always been the same.  On the first $55,000 of the purchase price, the buyer pays a tax rate of .5%.  From $55,000 to $250,000 the tax rate increases to 1% and for any amount over $250,000 up to $400,000 the land transfer tax payable is $1.5%.  Above $400,000 and up to $2 million the rate increases to 2.0% and for any amount over $2 million the land transfer tax increases yet again to 2.5%. 

Example: It a home outside of Toronto sells for $500,000, the total provincial land transfer tax payable is as follows:

- On the first $55,000 @ .5%  (1/2%)             $275.00

- From $55,000 to $250,000 @ 1.0%          $1,950.00

- From $25,000 to $400,000 @ 1.5%          $2,250.00 

- From $400,000 to $500,000 @ 2.0%        $2,000.00

TOTAL LAND TRANSFER TAX                  $6,475.00 


 The total land transfer tax payable on that same property if located in Toronto would be the provincial tax of $6,475.00 plus the Toronto land transfer tax of another $6,475.00 for a total payable of $12,950.00.

  Municipalities across the province in general have not been prudent managers when it comes to managing expenses forcing them to look elsewhere for sources of revenue and implementing a municipal land transfer tax in Toronto was a good example.  Based on Toronto's success, many other municipalities jumped on the same tax grab bandwagon hoping to increase their revenues while jeopardising the dream of home ownership for many.  Thankfully the province stepped in and with some added pressure from the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) the opportunities for municipally implemented additional land transfer taxes was thwarted.

  Is it now safe to go back in the water?  No so according to an email I received today from OREA.  Apparently municipal Councillors in York Region north of Toronto have demanded that the province give the them the required municipal power to implement their own MLTT. 

  Here we go again, municipal spending continues to drain a region's economic well-being and the answer is?  Let's pass on another tax to the public.  The same politicians that advocate increased property and additional land transfer tax implementation are the same ones that lament about the lack of affordable housing.  They just don't get it.

  This is not only a provincial election year but a municipal one as well.  We had all better get out and make sure our voices are heard.  I know that I will.   

 

Collingwood's Proposed Sale of Its Public Utility - Collus

  One of the hot buttons in the Province right now is the whole issue of hydro and the skyrocketing cost of electricity that we have seen under the current Provincial Liberals.  Closer to home, is another seemingly controversial matter involving electricity, namely the Town of Collingwood's recent decision to divest itself of its remaining 50% ownership of Collus, our local and municipally owned public utilities operator that distributes electricity not only to Collingwood but also to Thornbury, Creemore and Stayner.

  As most of you know, the Town sold 50% interest in the company back in July of 2012 to Powerstream.  Since that transaction in 2012, much criticism has been heaped on the sale with most questioning why sell 50% thus losing control?  I am sure those involved at the time had their rationale.  During the last municipal election campaign of which I was a candidate, I thought the 50% sale would be a contentious election issue.  In preparation for such I made the point of meeting with then Co-Chair of Collus, David McFadden whom I knew personally as a real estate client to discuss the sale and the thought(s) behind it.  At that time this was seen as a strategic partnership that would create a more regional provider of essential services such as hydro, water and sewer.  Powerstream compared to Ontario Hydro, the other bidder at the time was seen as the ideal partner that could bring experience, training and other benefits to a company that was essentially a small time, small town  player.


  I am not going to question the validity, the relationship, the benefits financial or otherwise or the lack thereof of the 50% join ownership that has existed between the Town and Powerstream since the 2012 sale.  The details of the agreement are seemingly known to only a few anything else is pure speculation.  I will however weigh in on what I would be considering during the decision making process to sell the remaining 50% if I was sitting at the Council table.

  As of this writing there are 70 power distributions companies across the Province of Ontario with Collus being one of them.  To me that seems like a lot of players and I know it was part of the consideration that was given when the first 50% sale of Collus was being contemplated.  Having choice is a good thing.  It typically implies there is competition and competition for the most part is good.  At the same time too many of anything often leads to redundancies and inefficiencies resulting in potentially higher costs unless there is a clear, well defined and well executed value proposition. Since the 2012 sale to Powerstream for 50% of Collus, Powerstrteam itself has purchased Hydro One Brampton from the Province. Following that acquisition Powerstream then merged with two other electrical providers Enersource and Horizon Utilities in February 2017 to create a new company Alectra, touted as "second largest municipally-owned electric utility by customer base in North America, second only to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power."  Tell me there are not efficiencies and other improvements to be had here which can be of benefit to consumers.  Consolidation is happening in virtually every business that I know of including mine, real estate. 

  The other consideration which no one has even remotely mentioned with respect to this transaction and the future is that of technology and I am referring to the disruptive type.  In the past 10 to 15 years look at the industries that have fallen victim to sweeping changes in technologies.  Kodak ignored digital photography until it was virtually too late.  Consider the changes that have taken place in the music industry, followed by books and others.  Today the entire retail landscape is undergoing rampant change with 25% of mall space in North America expected to be vacant by 2020 all due to technology and consumer's buying/consumption habits.  Are we to believe that the electrical distribution business is immune to such change and impact?  Think again.  If I were a member of Collingwood Council the question I would be asking myself is this.  Is it wise to be in the conventional electrical distribution business long term erecting hydro poles and stringing wires or is it too going to be adversely impacted by technological change?  Notwithstanding nuclear power plants, the production and transmission of electricity is pretty old school.  Coal powered generating plants, wooden poles in the ground and wires strung everywhere.  In Puerto Rico their main electrical generating plant is run on bunker oil. Not very high tech in my books.

In the mean time, companies like Tesla are bringing out their Powerwall and roof shingles that are essentially solar panels.  Other companies are developing clear glass with solar power generating capabilities that can be incorporated into windows for your home and office allowing you to generate your own power.  Solar panels are quietly appearing on homes in our area I am willing to bet that before long we will see a developer bring forth a community that is totally off grid and buyers will be clamouring to get in.

  Don't get me wrong, we are not about to see conventional electrical distribution go away entirely any time soon but change is coming and faster than we think.  The 70 electrical distribution providers across Ontario (Collus being one) and elsewhere are going to have to change to stay relevant adapting if they can to new and better technology.  That may mean reinventing themselves, further consolidation among the current players as well as other changes and ultimately that costs money. In my opinion, this is the type of consideration that needs to be given at the Council table with respect to the Town divesting their other 50% interest in Collus and when. 

  Those that choose to rant and rave about the Town's decision to sell the reaming 50% of Collus often do so based on emotion and or out of fear that our hydro bills will rise even further.  This however is a business decision and one that needs to be made based on not what dividend payments have or haven't been over the past five years but rather what will the next five means for this company and others like it.

Another Example Where Reginal Planning Is Needed

  As a candidate in last fall's Municipal election, I advocated that many of the issues facing this area are not simply relative to individual municipal interests but are in fact "regional" in nature.  Economic development, including job creation, transportation, environmental and many other issues are widespread in nature that need broad, regional based or thought out solutions to be effective for long term planning and growth.

  One of the issues that was discussed and for which there was a deputation at this week's Collingwood Council meeting was a development proposal for land at the northwest corner of Mountain and Osler Bluff Roads.  Development of the subject lands are already underway with a project known as Windfall.  The initial concept was essentially based on several phases of single family homes, detached and semi-detached with some town-homes.  The latest proposal (see the adjoining photo from the public meeting) before the Municipality of the Blue Mountains is a medium density project that would see approximately 242 condos built in buildings ranging from 2 to 4 storeys in height.

 A contingent of area residents attended Collingwood Council this past Monday night, looking to garner Collingwood's support in addressing public concerns that have been taken to Blue Mountain Council.  For the most part, their concerns fell on deaf ears of Collingwood's Council members with Councillor Lloyd being the only person to voice a concern.. Collingwood's planning department was quick to point out that (a) the project is outside their jurisdiction and (b) Collingwood itself has approved similar projects over the years so how could they stand in the way of this one?  I think the big issue being missed or shrugged off here is not the height of the condos proposed or even the density, it's traffic.

  Have you seen what Mountain Road is like late on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon when visitors to Blue Mountain are heading home?  It's not uncommon for traffic to be stop and go from the roundabout at Blue Mountain all the way to the intersection of First and High Streets.  Arterial roads running through and around Collingwood which include Highway 26, First Street, Sixth Street, Mountain Road, Osler Bluff Road and others will all be impacted by this and other future development(s) near the base of Blue Mountain and it's a classic example where a regional approach needs to be taken with our neighbouring municipality in order to be effectively addressed.  Collingwood's Planning Department and Council can not simply throw up their hands on the basis it's outside of our municipal boundary.  To take a position such on this an other matters is short-sighted thinking and will surely lead to much greater problems, traffic and otherwise down the road.

As a REALTOR I am obviously not anti-development and that is not the point of this blog post.  I am however a proponent of managing growth and development in such a way that it preserves the very reason why people come here in the first place including addressing environmental issues.  In my opinion, one local area Council alone cannot meet those challenges hence my advocacy for a more regional approach to local governance.  I am hopeful that the new Councils now in place in Collingwood, the Blue Mountains, Clearview and Wasaga Beach will adopt this approach, only time will tell  

What are your thoughts?

Collingwood Makes Headlines on CBC News

The entire town of Collingwood is abuzz today about a story by CBC News regarding  an OPP investigation into members of Town Council amid allegations of conflicts of interest and other matters.

  While this is not an envious distinction for the community to endure it's obviously long overdue and will clear the air so-to-speak of the rumours and innuendos that have been rampantly circulating over the past several months.  In reading the various stories and yes there is more than one, you have to question the actions of various members of Council and where their loyalties really lie.
  If what the story says is true and we don't know all the details, one member of Council is quoted as saying they  "...didn't recall voting to approve the sale of the public utility..." Collingwood Public Utilities to Powerstream.  This was a $14 to $15 million transaction and saying you "don't recall" doesn't fly with me nor will it with anyone else.  Not recalling as to whether she did or did not call a party interested in purchasing the grain terminals as the Mayor is alleged to have done on numerous occasions is equally as disturbing and that too is not very plausible.
  Whether or not according to municipal or any other law the Mayor or anyone on Council for that matter has a conflict of interest involving their brother or a family member/friend and their business dealings with the Town is immaterial.  We have to ask ourselves one thing and I have to agree with Councilor Hull's assertion. Would it not be prudent for anyone in such a position of authority to completely and fully disclose any and all relationships affecting the Town regardless of what the law requires?  That speaks to transparency, integrity and the fundamental ability to decipher what is in effect in the best interests of the community that you have been duly elected to serve.  Click the following link to view CBC's video story on the matter: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Canada/ID/2341542578/

Area Property Tax Comparison

Many local homeowners and clients have called me in recent weeks to obtain information that will assist them in appealing their recent property assessments. I had a call over this past weekend from a local real estate appraiser working on such a project for a client. 

  In some instances we have seen some recent property assessments that have increased as much as 40% and more.  The good news is, those assessments are still below current market value nonetheless the prospect of a huge tax increase is frightening to most homeowners.
 As per my previous posting, Collingwood property owners were recently treated to a mid-term update from our municipal Council entitled "Half Time News and Updates."  In this newsletter we were informed so-to-speak that Collingwood Council had "kept taxes and user fees low" and "kept taxes and user fees low again" in year one and two respectively.  There was nothing given to substantiate the claims as to Collingwood taxes being kept low so my question to members of Council (as yet unanswered ) was just how low is low?
  The attached graph depicts what the 2012 property taxes would amount to on a residential property with an assessed value of $250,000 in the various municipalities around our region.  To no surprise, the Town of Meaford gets the nod for having the highest residential taxes in the area.  Meaford lacks the commercial tax base that exists in some of our other area municipalities which places the full burden of operating the municipality on the shoulders of residential homeowners.  Collingwood comes in at the number two position with taxes that are 6% to 24% higher than the neighbouring municipalities of the Blue Mountains, Clearview and Wasaga Beach.
  As humans, two things we all complain about is the weather and taxes and that will unlikely never change.  Nonetheless, in a community whose economy is increasingly driven by lower paying retail and service industry jobs and one which has to this point been an attractive location for fixed income retirees to move to, having the second highest rate of taxes in the area is not an enviable position to be in.  Higher taxes erodes the budget of fixed income property owners and further will impact those lower income earners living in rental properties as well. Once the $12 million so-called "tax neutral" recreational facilities are up and running, who knows what impact they will have on Collingwood's future tax rates via the annual operating costs associated with those facilities.  Then again, since Collingwood does not have the highest residential tax rate in the region, I guess this fits someone's definition of "low."

Unnecessary Political Propoganda

  As difficult it is to do at times, I have in recent months tried to refrain from making politically charged comments but sometimes the urge simply cannot be suppressed!

 Recently when retrieving my mail from the post box I noticed the envelope with last month's hydro bill from Collus/Powerstream was thicker than usual.  Upon opening the envelope I like you, found a four page colour brochure extolling the virtues of the new recreational facilities the Town has committed to at a cost of about $12 million.
 
  Whether it proves to be a good decision or a bad one, the fact is the decision has been made so why this mailing was deemed necessary is beyond me.  Further, the Mayor in attempting to answer the plans critics was quoted in the Collingwood Connection a few weeks back as saying "Council has moved on." Then so be it, move on.  A four page colour brochure amongst other things touting the "Sprung" structures as a "Green Choice" seems rather contrary to being a green initiative given the paper and printing materials consumed in this pointless self congratulatory correspondence.

  While I appreciate all the hard work of our Town staff, I fail to see why our Mayor needs to keep reiterating as she did in the brochure that staff spent "45 days" developing this plan.  In my opinion, this was a slap in the face to the community volunteers that spent months of their own time developing the Central Park plan that was put forth and subsequently ignored.  To spend in excess of $12 million on recreational facilities that ultimately may not answer the community's longer term needs after a mere 45 day investigative process is nothing to be patting yourself on the back over.

  The only clear winner in all this so far is Sprung.  They have acquired a multi-million dollar contract and now have a nice four page full colour brochure attesting to how great they are.  I hope perhaps they at least paid for some if not all of it.

 What are your thoughts?

Wilbur The Pot Bellied Pig

Watching Collingwood Council tonight (April 30th)  I can't help but commend the Councilors for keeping a straight face while debating the plight of "Wilbur" the pot bellied pig. A motion was put forth so as to allow pot bellied pigs to be kept within the Town's limits. Perhaps I am dating myself but the proceedings reminded me of the TV sitcom “Green Acres” (1965 - 1971) where a couple of the show’s characters Fred and Doris Ziffel, adopted a pig as their son “Arnold.” Click on the following link to see why I am comparing tonight’s Council debate on Wilbur with the high jinks of Green Acres.  It would appear that Wilbur is about to be run out of Town.  As in the following video, perhaps Wilbur needs to hire a high profile lawyer to plead his case.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBpYQ7e9uQw

The Voters Have There Way!

In watching the municipal election coverage on Monday night, the message across Ontario appeared to be that voters were not just looking for but were demanding change. Those candidates fortunate to be elected spoke to that in their victory speeches, now it's time for them to deliver.  Talk alone with no longer pacify today's voter or consumer.  Increasingly we see it in the real estate professional.  Retailers and other service providers do as well. People's tolerance has long since run out, especially for politicians and their inherent bungling. The time has come to deliver, walk the talk, provide expertise, knowledge, value, common sense and above all live up to the expectations that others have of you. It's time those same expectations were lived up to by politicians at all levels.
  In my prior post "Somebody- Please Stop the Madness" I rendered my opinion on the matter of Collingwood's stance re: patios on Hurontario Street.  Well the voters of Collingwood did as well and overwhelmingly threw those incumbents to the curb that voted in favour of approving the curbside patios.  It's ironic that such a non-issue, one that should have never commanded the time and consideration that it did of Council, cost so many their political careers. 
  For every decision each of us makes there is always a potential consequence and I have steadfastly preached that to my kids.  The political losers of Monday night's election learned this first hand and somewhat painfully.  How can the public-at-large entrust someone to responsibly govern the municipality's finances and other important assets when such foolish judgment has been used on an issue that isn't an issue at all.
  With a new Council soon to take command,  it is now time to get down to what matters most to the residents of Collingwood, financial restraint, debt reduction and subsequently taxes.  Those of us in the real estate profession hear first hand people's concerns over Collingwood's tax rates.  Newcomers looking to move to the area are typically aghast at the taxes on properties they view in their search for a home and I can say with certainty many have elected to buy elsewhere.
  The new Council needs to appoint a committee or taskforce that will review the entire operational efficiency of the municipality.  In my opinion, a minimum 10% reduction in operating expenses is attainable in almost any organization if you approach the matter with the right mindset and ask the right questions such as:
- What are we doing?
- Do we need to do it? ie: what's the value to the taxpayer?
- Is there a better more efficient way to to it?

The function of every municipal department should be thoroughly reviewed and senior staff should be challenged to find and attain targeted savings.  For profit organizations do it, non-profit ones need to as well.  Virtually every organization does things they have been doing for years and doing it the same old way without really asking themselves why. 
  For those that have been elected or re-elected the time to celebrate is over.  The four year municipal term goes by much quicker than you think and public tolerance for sub-par performance from the next Council will be much shorter than that. 

Somebody - Please Stop the Madness!

  In less than a week we will have elected new Councils across our region and indeed across the Province to lead our municipalities over the next four years. 
  Four those of us living in Collingwood that have attended candidates meetings and followed the electoral process, the issue of the Town's debt and downtown patios have been the most contentious issues. Some  incumbents that voted in favour of moving the patios to the curb and tried to justify their decision at the meetings were literally booed.  Virtually everyone that was running agreed to either re-visit the matter if elected or to just move forward in having this ridiculous by-law repealed outright.
  Thousands of dollars of taxpayer's money have been squandered debating this frivolous issue for which the correct decision is one based on practicality and liability.  This matter deserved no more than an hour, not months of Council's consideration after staff reports outlining the pros and cons had been heard, and it will clearly cost some incumbents their positions next week.  One candidate's website shows before and after photos of the downtown core with patios against the buildings then moved to the curb, the after photo showing nice wide sidewalks with no people! It's incredible that this would be seen as an improvement.
  Last week's Collingwood Connection reported that Sean Cripps the owner of Duncan's Cafe has been charged not once but twice with having an "illegal" patio.  It's blatently obvious the decision to move the patios was wrong and the candidates running for Council heard this again and again during the course of this campaign.  Despite promises to revisit the matter if not to repeal this by-law altogether and with some candidates making promises such as "Now is the time to be open for business once again" somebody needs to step in and call off the dogs!  I think I speak for many in asking will someone please stop the madness!
Please take a moment to complete my online poll.  Given the circumstances with a repeal of the by-law potentially going to happen do you think it is appropriate to be laying these charges?

The Municipal Race Is On!

With just 38 days remaining until the 2010 municipal elections across Ontario, the race is now on amongst those looking to lead our area municipalities for the next 4 years.
  We could debate for hours (with no clear winners) the performance of the "incumbent" Council members throughout the various municipalities in our area and indeed the Province.  Throughout recent weeks, there has been community dialogue and letters to the various papers advocating the widespread removal of all incumbent members of Council here in Collingwood and I suspect the same sentiment exists elsewhere in Ontario as well. Taxes are spiralling out of control, decisions being made contravene not only good business sense but often plain common sense and residents here and across the Province have seemingly had enough. 
  If I were an incumbent candidate I would be judging the performance of myself and fellow Council members over the past 4 years on one very simple indicator. Merely look around the room at the shear magnitude of candidates now running against you.  That is as clear an indicator as you are ever going to get about the performance current Councils and their members have rendered to their respective municipalities over the past term.  Knowing the role egos play, no doubt some incumbents here and elsewhere will smugly claim what a wonderful job they have done pointing the finger of blame at either the Mayor or their fellow Council members for failures of the past.  Those are the ones I hope fall the hardest and fastest as it's the only way they'll ever get the message.  In Collingwood we have 21 candidates running for 7 Councillor positions. In the Blue Mountains and Wasaga Beach, 13 and 12 candidates respectively are running for 5 Councillor positions.  Similarly, in Meaford  13 are running for 5 Councillor seats, in Grey Highlands 10 candidates are vying for 5 Councillor positions. Clearview Township has a "ward" system in place nonetheless in many of the wards 3 or 4 candidates are running offering voters lots of choices.  Further afield, the City of Barrie has 8 candidates running for the Mayor's position. Too bad Collingwood does not have more choices for this important position as well.
  I suspect many incumbents in this area and others will get some tough questions and treatment at upcoming all candidate meetings with the final verdict of their past 4 year's performance rendered on October 25th.  As one local candidate proclaims: "It's Time For Change" and there no doubt will be a lot of that.

Enough to Drive You to Drink

The debate regarding restaurant patios on Hurontario Street continues to rage on incessantly and it would appear that the people most affected by the potential change in the bylaw are largely being ignored. 
  By all reports the restaurant owners themselves are against it both for practical as well as financial reasons. From the numerous letters being written to the local papers, restaurant patrons also appear to be every bit as focused on wishing to see the patios remain where common sense would dictate, up against the respective restaurant building(s) itself.
  It doesn't take a lot of thought to envision the impracticality of having patios moved away from the restaurant out to the curb.  Wait staff having to dodge pedestrian traffic while manipulating trays of food hot or otherwise is at the very least inconvenient but more importantly represents a very real threat for reduced personal safety and increased liability.  From an aesthetics standpoint, sitting at a patio curbside places you amidst vehicles coming and going, exposes you to increased traffic noise from the street and places you squarely in the middle of a great deal of pedestrian commotion, hardly creating an intimate dining experience. For obvious reasons, Collingwood's own Fire Chief is against the concept.  In contrast I have not heard one reason to support this move that is anywhere as compelling as the reasons against.
This saga has gone on far too long and consumed far too much time of Council and Town staff not to mention legal expenses (apparently $11,000 to date) and consulting costs.  It is the perfect example of a person or group majoring in "minor" things.  What I find absolutely incomprehensiblele however is the fact that for months now, this subject has raged on with decisions being made without the most important information of all being brought to the table, that being what are the requirements and obligations for restaurant patios under Ontario's Alcohol and Gamming Commission?  (AGCO). If I were a member of Council, making an informed decision with respect to this matter, it would be absolutely impossible for me to do so without this crucial information before us.  The very decision itself might very well be made by the stipulations of the AGCO, Provincial legislation that will decidely take precedence over a municipal bylaw no matter how well thought out. 
  It is very unsettling to think about what other matters, bylaws and expenditures etc. are being debated and voted on around the Council table without all the relevant facts, information and legal information being known.  After months of debate, dialogue and anguish amongst downtown restauranteurs, Council have now deferred dealing with the existing bylaw until the governing legislation from the AGCO is brought forth June 14th.  Gee, what a refreshing idea!  It's about time some logic came to the forefront of this debate in terms of knowing in detail what the Province's legislation stipulates regarding patios and the serving of alcoholic beverages.
My predictiction is we will see one of two outcomes.  Patios will remain where they should be up against their respective building(s) or if Council proceeds to move forth against the wishes of the very people being affected we will see patios vanish off Hurontario Street altogether.  Let us know what you think in our current poll.

Commercial Vehicles One Step Closer to Invading Your Neighbourhood!

Collingwood Council last night voted to move forward based on planning department recommendations to allow commercial vehicles to be parked in residential areas.
The recommendation that was approved would permit commercial vehicles 6.2 metres (20') in length and 2.2 metres (7') in height to be parked in residential areas but only in the driveway itself. Further and this is the kicker, larger commercial vehicles up of 7.5 metres (24') in length and 3.2 metres (10.5') will be allowed in residential areas but must be parked in rear yards and can be done so within 1 metre (3') of a property line.
This approval is a great disappointment for many residents who have been following and opposing this matter vigorously. Although not officially adopted as a by-law, passing of this recommendation makes the parking of commercial vehicles in residential areas an integral part of Collingwood's new Official Plan which will no doubt come into effect later this year.
Councillors Foley, McNabb and Mayor Carrier were absent from last night's meeting hence did not cast a vote. Other members of Council in favour of the recommendation allegedly feel that allowing commercial vehicles to park in residential areas is necessary for "economic development."
In terms of planning it would appear we have some inconsistencies with respect to the future look of our Town. We have an increased emphasis being placed on heritage preservation and some urban design standards are being contemplated both of which are aimed at enhancing the overall image and appeal of our Town and it's various neighbourhoods. At the same time, commercial vehicles now seem destined to grace residential neighbourhoods detracting from the aesthetic appeal of both individual properties as well as residential streetscapes in general. Further, Collingwood has some of the most onerous sign bylaws to be found anywhere which have even impacted REALTORS® and our use of Open House signs. What's more offensive, a real estate Open House sign that is temporarily in place for 2 or 3 hours, or a 7.5 metre (24') truck covered in signage parked nightly in your neighbour's back yard?
In addition to spending, increased taxes and other issues, the pending change allowing commercial vehicles to be parked in residential areas is surely going to spark some colourful debate during this year's municipal election campaign.

Collingwood'$ Debt Load to Double in 2010

As Canadians, we all gripe about taxes. Whether its our personal income tax, the GST or the forthcoming HST, they are all hot topics for discussion. Nonetheless, we begrudgingly accept them, our spending habits continue, life goes on.
Property taxes however seem to draw the greatest level of ire. Maybe it's getting that annual "assessment notice" or the "interim tax bill" or the fact that your bagged leaves never got picked up on time. Whatever it is , property taxes tend to infuriate us more than any other form of government cash grab.
Over the past few days I have heard numerous comments from Collingwood residents pertaining to an article in last week's Connection entitled "Municipal debt will almost double."
The crux of the article is that Collingwood's debt load will double to approximately $48.5 million by the end of 2010. Based on an estimated population of 24,600 including seasonal residents, every man woman and child in town owes $1,971. There goes my Xmas gift budget! Arguably some of the projects mentioned in the article are worthy ones. Others like a $3 million wellness centre? Well I'm not so sure they would stand the financial rigors of justification in the private sector world at least not the one that I came from.
The new library at $6 million is the largest project mentioned up for debenture in 2010. Sure a new library would be nice but when you have the likes of "Google" currently in the process of digitizing every book ever written, it really makes you wonder if spending money on bricks and mortar to house books is the way to go. I know one thing is certain, if libraries in the past had been run as private enterprise profit centres, the threat of books no longer being required in traditional print for people to borrow would be causing the ACME Library Company (if one existed) to close their doors for good or at least to revise their business model to search out sources of revenue elsewhere.
Regardless of where the money is spent, debt payments needs to be made. Spending money within their limits because it is "comfortable " as one Councillor put it hardly puts taxpayers minds at ease. Collingwood has the second highest tax rate in the southern Georgian Bay area second only to the Town of Meaford. The accompanying chart reflects what the 2009 property taxes would be on a house assessed at $350,000 in the area's various municipalities compared to a similar value house in Toronto. Admittedly, Toronto has a much larger tax base to draw from but what happened to the concept of moving to a small town because the cost of living is lower?
As 2009 draws to a close, 2010 will bring with it a municipal election year. The subject of taxes will no doubt be a hotly debated one amongst the various candidates. So the question on my current poll (above) pertains to how happy are you with Collingwood Council's current level of municipal spending?"