I ask my readers to indulge me in this post. It is not the usual but it is something that I need to post.
I have a wonderful elderly neighbour who had major hip surgery done a few months ago. She has been a wonderful friend since the day we moved to this property and we help her anyway we can. She is just a wonderfully kind, caring and honest woman who lives alone and although she has family, we live right next door, where her best friend used to live and we love her friendship and help her anyway we can. When I can I cook enough food I take some to her, we bring wood in for her to keep her fire going, shovel the snow, go to lunch with her, take her to appointments and help her with any problems she has if we can. If she had not had the help of another wonderful woman she would not have been able to recooperate in the home she has lived in for so many years and would have had to go to a nursing home. The care she received from this wonderful woman made such an amazing difference. She gave care and companionship and was there for her while she got better. The personal support was just not there from the normal mainstream healthcare that we expect and this woman, a stranger took it upon herself to help this woman out 24 hours a day until she was better, without the expectation of financial gain, but out of the goodness of her heart,and I personally on this blog would like to thank her for giving of herself to help someone else.This is something that is really lacking in our communities these days. Helping each other just does not seem to be important anymore. I would like to provide this womans name to let people know who this wonderful woman is, but can't, but I want to thank her for all the help she has given my neighbour because people who do good things do not hear often enough what a great job they have done and how much what they have done is so greatly appreciated. THANK YOU
Friday, February 25, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
HAPPY FAMILY DAY ONTARIO
I HOPE EVERYONE HAS A GREAT FAMILY DAY. AND PARENTS REMEMBER THE KIDS GO BACK TO SCHOOL TOMMORROW !!!!!!!!!!!
Friday, February 18, 2011
TAXED TO DEATH
On the front page of my local weekly paper the headline reads "North Perth unveils 6.9 per cent budget increase."
We are already the highest taxed in all of Perth County and now are looking at even higher taxes. Hydro has gone up, food prices are going up, gas prices are going up and everything else has gone up thanks to the HST and Dolton McSquinty and his flying monkeys. How much more do they think that jack and jill taxpayer can afford to pay. My income is not going to go up and my money tree is empty. Enough already, I am mad as H E double hockey sticks and I am not going to take it anymore !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We are already the highest taxed in all of Perth County and now are looking at even higher taxes. Hydro has gone up, food prices are going up, gas prices are going up and everything else has gone up thanks to the HST and Dolton McSquinty and his flying monkeys. How much more do they think that jack and jill taxpayer can afford to pay. My income is not going to go up and my money tree is empty. Enough already, I am mad as H E double hockey sticks and I am not going to take it anymore !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
LANDOWNERS GEAR UP TO PROTECT THEIR RIGHTS
This ran in the Sun
By Brian Lilley, Parliamentary Bureau
OTTAWA – A group dedicated to protecting property rights for landowners said it is encouraged by the legal victory of an Ontario family that faced massive fines for “improperly” using their own land.
The Ontario Landowners Association has plans to keep pushing for recognition of property rights after a town council in Clarington, Ont., dropped charges, and possible fines of $50,000, against the Jaworski family.
The family’s crime: hosting 72 people at their farm for a seminar on freedom.
“It’s good to see landowners win a case like this,” said Deborah Madill, executive director of the Ontario Landowners Association.
The OLA is trying to educate landowners across Canada about a little known legal document called Crown Land Patents. The patents are the original contract between the crown and the person who acquired the land from the government as Canada was settled.
Those contracts are still in effect today, even for people owning small suburban lots that form only a piece of the original property.
Bob Mackie wasn’t among the lucky contenders. He has been fighting an attempt by the Niagara Escarpment Commission to shut down his archery business. The NEC ordered Mackie to stop all archery activities and remove a sign, portable classroom and an addition on his home.
He lost his case before a Justice of the Peace and was fined $15,000.
“The Justice said she did not have authority to rule on the Patent Grants,” Mackie told QMI Agency.
Mackie points to his patent, dating back to 1798, as his legal defence. Land patents have been upheld by the Supreme Court and in several Superior Court decisions, but Mackie said many court officials don’t know how to deal with the patents.
“Most times, a simple issue is dragged out so long that the defendant is bankrupted or gives up,” Mackie said.
The OLA claims that holding a copy of the patent for your land can help fight intrusive bylaws that might infringe on your property rights, such as bylaws outlawing the cutting down of even a single tree on private property.
Not all land is covered by a land patent, but the often-ancient documents do apply across Canada and the OLA has been working to build resources to help landowners exercise their rights.
Do you have an overly intrusive bylaw in your town? Email us – brian.lilley@sunmedia.ca
http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2011/02/15/17288966.html
By Brian Lilley, Parliamentary Bureau
OTTAWA – A group dedicated to protecting property rights for landowners said it is encouraged by the legal victory of an Ontario family that faced massive fines for “improperly” using their own land.
The Ontario Landowners Association has plans to keep pushing for recognition of property rights after a town council in Clarington, Ont., dropped charges, and possible fines of $50,000, against the Jaworski family.
The family’s crime: hosting 72 people at their farm for a seminar on freedom.
“It’s good to see landowners win a case like this,” said Deborah Madill, executive director of the Ontario Landowners Association.
The OLA is trying to educate landowners across Canada about a little known legal document called Crown Land Patents. The patents are the original contract between the crown and the person who acquired the land from the government as Canada was settled.
Those contracts are still in effect today, even for people owning small suburban lots that form only a piece of the original property.
Bob Mackie wasn’t among the lucky contenders. He has been fighting an attempt by the Niagara Escarpment Commission to shut down his archery business. The NEC ordered Mackie to stop all archery activities and remove a sign, portable classroom and an addition on his home.
He lost his case before a Justice of the Peace and was fined $15,000.
“The Justice said she did not have authority to rule on the Patent Grants,” Mackie told QMI Agency.
Mackie points to his patent, dating back to 1798, as his legal defence. Land patents have been upheld by the Supreme Court and in several Superior Court decisions, but Mackie said many court officials don’t know how to deal with the patents.
“Most times, a simple issue is dragged out so long that the defendant is bankrupted or gives up,” Mackie said.
The OLA claims that holding a copy of the patent for your land can help fight intrusive bylaws that might infringe on your property rights, such as bylaws outlawing the cutting down of even a single tree on private property.
Not all land is covered by a land patent, but the often-ancient documents do apply across Canada and the OLA has been working to build resources to help landowners exercise their rights.
Do you have an overly intrusive bylaw in your town? Email us – brian.lilley@sunmedia.ca
http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2011/02/15/17288966.html
Monday, January 31, 2011
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY ................
FACTS DO NOT CEASE TO EXIST BECAUSE THEY ARE IGNORED
ALDOUS HUXLEY
ALDOUS HUXLEY
Sunday, January 30, 2011
BY MICHAEL CAHILL - CAMBRIDGE ADVOCATE
What We Have Here Is…
Jan 29th, 2011 | By michaelcahill | Section: Politics
It will come as no surprise to you that I was, (as usual) relaxing in the reading room of my club. I had just set down my glass of Bushmills and was about to open the Cambridge Times when my access to fresh air was suddenly impeded. The cold, bony fingers of the club librarian were slowly closing around my throat as 90 lbs of tweed skirt, and angry womanhood knelt upon my chest. Before I lost consciousness I managed to blurt out, “What we have here is, a failure to communicate.”
Earlier in the day I had merely suggested that the Dewey decimal system was the work of an obsessive compulsive who failed to find a spot on the shelf for a “Facebook.” I stand corrected.
That being said, I can’t help thinking that communicating is something of a lost art. Here is an example. Steven Harper’s Conservative minority junta, no, umm, dictatorship, no, ahh, “government” has expressed an interest in consulting with the opposition leaders on the content of the upcoming budget in March, (stop me if you have heard this one before). Mr. Layton has noted in press reports today that yes, he had a telephone call from the P.M. on Dec. 17 and has heard nothing since. Apparently, Mr.Ignatieff reports having a similar experience.
Perhaps Mr. Harper is a shy and complicated individual. Maybe this explains why not one member of the Conservative caucus will speak publically, answer an e-mail, or tie his shoes without approval from the P.M.O.
My favourite example of timely, and effective messaging is Minister of Finance (and gifted Mickey Rooney impersonator) Jim Flaherty. After taking credit for the fiscal policies of Prime Minister Paul Martin, cutting 2 percent of Government revenue off the GST, and digging a $56 billion dollar deficit hole he is telling us citizens that we should save more and avoid risky debts loads. Kudos to you Jim, kudos.
Before you get the impression that I have some sort of bias against the authoritarian regime of Mr. Harper, (which i hope is obvious by now, and shared by roughly 60 % of Canadians) let’s share the blame equally.
I have many friends on Facebook. Barack Obama, Oprah, Beyonce, and of course, Mandy Richardson. I receive posts, messages, and videos from them at least 2 to 3 times a day. I am also friends with Jack Layton, Michael Ignatieff, Bob Rae, and a number of others. What do I hear from them? Nothing.
In the year 2011, the medium is now officially the message. The traditional, geriatric media has failed to communicate to you what is really going on. Your federal politicians have failed to use the media available to them to communicate with you because of apathy. Because of apathy, and of self centered parochialism you won’t take the time to communicate with them.
A federal election is coming, send a message.
Jan 29th, 2011 | By michaelcahill | Section: Politics
It will come as no surprise to you that I was, (as usual) relaxing in the reading room of my club. I had just set down my glass of Bushmills and was about to open the Cambridge Times when my access to fresh air was suddenly impeded. The cold, bony fingers of the club librarian were slowly closing around my throat as 90 lbs of tweed skirt, and angry womanhood knelt upon my chest. Before I lost consciousness I managed to blurt out, “What we have here is, a failure to communicate.”
Earlier in the day I had merely suggested that the Dewey decimal system was the work of an obsessive compulsive who failed to find a spot on the shelf for a “Facebook.” I stand corrected.
That being said, I can’t help thinking that communicating is something of a lost art. Here is an example. Steven Harper’s Conservative minority junta, no, umm, dictatorship, no, ahh, “government” has expressed an interest in consulting with the opposition leaders on the content of the upcoming budget in March, (stop me if you have heard this one before). Mr. Layton has noted in press reports today that yes, he had a telephone call from the P.M. on Dec. 17 and has heard nothing since. Apparently, Mr.Ignatieff reports having a similar experience.
Perhaps Mr. Harper is a shy and complicated individual. Maybe this explains why not one member of the Conservative caucus will speak publically, answer an e-mail, or tie his shoes without approval from the P.M.O.
My favourite example of timely, and effective messaging is Minister of Finance (and gifted Mickey Rooney impersonator) Jim Flaherty. After taking credit for the fiscal policies of Prime Minister Paul Martin, cutting 2 percent of Government revenue off the GST, and digging a $56 billion dollar deficit hole he is telling us citizens that we should save more and avoid risky debts loads. Kudos to you Jim, kudos.
Before you get the impression that I have some sort of bias against the authoritarian regime of Mr. Harper, (which i hope is obvious by now, and shared by roughly 60 % of Canadians) let’s share the blame equally.
I have many friends on Facebook. Barack Obama, Oprah, Beyonce, and of course, Mandy Richardson. I receive posts, messages, and videos from them at least 2 to 3 times a day. I am also friends with Jack Layton, Michael Ignatieff, Bob Rae, and a number of others. What do I hear from them? Nothing.
In the year 2011, the medium is now officially the message. The traditional, geriatric media has failed to communicate to you what is really going on. Your federal politicians have failed to use the media available to them to communicate with you because of apathy. Because of apathy, and of self centered parochialism you won’t take the time to communicate with them.
A federal election is coming, send a message.
BY JOE LETHBRIDGE - CAMBRIDGE CITIZEN
Like the wings of a butterfly
January 29, 2011
By joel
Like the wings of a butterfly upon my cheek
A gentle and innocent kiss I seek
A warm embrace in loving arms
To protect me from the world’s harms
We will lay upon the tall green grasses
Staring at the sky as the daylight passes
You grasp my hand and hold it tight
This is the love that feels so right
The kiss that felt like a feather; gently touching my skin
How that would feel; I don’t know where to begin
You hold be tight against your chest
A feeling of closeness ; that feelings the best
Tears stream down my face
I never want to leave this place
I feel safe in your arms as you hold me close
To have genuine love ; I want that the most
Joe Lethbridge
January 29, 2011
By joel
Like the wings of a butterfly upon my cheek
A gentle and innocent kiss I seek
A warm embrace in loving arms
To protect me from the world’s harms
We will lay upon the tall green grasses
Staring at the sky as the daylight passes
You grasp my hand and hold it tight
This is the love that feels so right
The kiss that felt like a feather; gently touching my skin
How that would feel; I don’t know where to begin
You hold be tight against your chest
A feeling of closeness ; that feelings the best
Tears stream down my face
I never want to leave this place
I feel safe in your arms as you hold me close
To have genuine love ; I want that the most
Joe Lethbridge
Sunday, January 23, 2011
ELMIRA ADVOCATE - BY AL MARSHALL
Posted by Al Marshall at 8:39 AM 0 comments Thursday, January 20, 2011
A WARNING TO CITIZEN GROUPS AND ACTIVISTS (The Elmira Lesson)
Do join together. There is strength in numbers.
Do not delegate all responsibility/authority to only one or two members. Disaster lies in this route.
Do demand accountability and transparency of the other stakeholders such as M.O.E., local government etc..
Demand twice as much accountability and transparency from your own members. Outside dishonest forces can damage your group but inside dishonest forces can tear you apart.
The standard operating procedure for dishonest forces is mock or psuedo public consultation. The ONLY way they will agree to and participate in it is if they've got it rigged to start with. Why do you think Uniroyal/Chemtura came back to the CPAC table in 2000 after storming out a year earlier? They stormed out over criticism of their unacceptable air emissions particularily affecting the Duke St. residents. The CPAC Chair in private discussions convinced them that CPAC would be a happier place for them. At the time as a CPAC member I questioned why concessions or negotiations were necessary to bring them back. Why do you think since that time both Chemtura and the Ministry of the Environment have publicly stated that CPAC is one of the best and most knowledgable public advisory committees in the province? Do you really think it's because CPAC have held their feet to the fire? I don't think so. Here is my prediction. Within six months of the first public CPAC meeting in 2011, Chemtura will either threaten to walk out or will do so. This for me will be a strong indication that we are on the right track to actually clean up Elmira and restore our drinking water aquifers. Chemtura will come back but this time without CPAC selling the farm.
A WARNING TO CITIZEN GROUPS AND ACTIVISTS (The Elmira Lesson)
Do join together. There is strength in numbers.
Do not delegate all responsibility/authority to only one or two members. Disaster lies in this route.
Do demand accountability and transparency of the other stakeholders such as M.O.E., local government etc..
Demand twice as much accountability and transparency from your own members. Outside dishonest forces can damage your group but inside dishonest forces can tear you apart.
The standard operating procedure for dishonest forces is mock or psuedo public consultation. The ONLY way they will agree to and participate in it is if they've got it rigged to start with. Why do you think Uniroyal/Chemtura came back to the CPAC table in 2000 after storming out a year earlier? They stormed out over criticism of their unacceptable air emissions particularily affecting the Duke St. residents. The CPAC Chair in private discussions convinced them that CPAC would be a happier place for them. At the time as a CPAC member I questioned why concessions or negotiations were necessary to bring them back. Why do you think since that time both Chemtura and the Ministry of the Environment have publicly stated that CPAC is one of the best and most knowledgable public advisory committees in the province? Do you really think it's because CPAC have held their feet to the fire? I don't think so. Here is my prediction. Within six months of the first public CPAC meeting in 2011, Chemtura will either threaten to walk out or will do so. This for me will be a strong indication that we are on the right track to actually clean up Elmira and restore our drinking water aquifers. Chemtura will come back but this time without CPAC selling the farm.
NORTH PERTH-HIGHEST TAXES IN PERTH COUNTY
Ontario Cities Have Highest Property Taxes
Jan 22nd, 2011 | By Debbie Duff Vitez | Section: Politics
CAMBRIDGE ADVOCATE
This ran on the Canadian Free Press………… comments invited below
By Kevin Gaudet Tuesday, January 22, 2008
A new report out of Edmonton shows that Toronto takes the dubious honour for having the highest property taxes in Canada. However, a few other Ontario cities place just behind it at the top of the list. Beleaguered tax-paying homeowners in Ontario have suffered from high rates for years, yet they are still facing large rate hikes this year. The Edmonton report is proof enough that municipal governments should hold the line on spending and give taxpayers a break.
The detailed property tax report issued by the City of Edmonton reveals that some Ontario cities rank the highest in Canada when it comes to property taxes. The cities of Toronto, Ottawa, Brampton, Hamilton and London take five of the top six spots on the list for the highest average property taxes paid. This is something most homeowners in these cities know intuitively every time they pay their tax bill. Now they have it confirmed by an objective report which compared over 30 municipalities across Canada.
Toronto ranked first with the highest taxes paid at $3,912, followed by Brampton at $3,826. Ottawa was third at $3,532; Hamilton and London were fifth and sixth at $3,305 and $3,078 respectively. St. John’s Newfoundland deserves credit for taking last place with the lowest average tax at $1,540, and Surrey, BC was second last at $1,814.
This sad but helpful property tax news is timely as city councils across Ontario are in the early stages of preparing their budgets. As well, Premier McGuinty’s freeze on assessments for homes expired at the beginning of 2008. Not only will tax rates be going up, but for the first time in a few years homeowners will take a second hit if their home value reassessment shows an increase above the average increase. Assessment changes will take effect for 2009 property tax rates.
What is especially helpful about the Edmonton report is that it compares property taxes in a dollar value instead of as a percentage. Some mayors, like Toronto’s Mayor Miller, try to defend high property taxes by hiding behind what appears to be a lower rate than other cities. This is hiding because the average value of a home is high in Toronto so the total taxes paid for a Toronto homeowner are higher. When paying taxes one cares less about the rate paid or the details of the complicated formula used. Instead, one cares about how much money is being taken year over year. That is the only comparison relevant to a taxpayer, not whether the rate is 0.82 in one city versus 1.15 in another city.
The main reason for high and growing property taxes in Ontario is that municipal spending is out of control. Municipalities have a spending problem not a revenue problem. While mayors continue to clamour for more and more money from many sources, their appetites for spending grow unchecked. Data from Statistics Canada shows that municipal revenue across Ontario has been running at three times the rate of inflation. In 2006 municipal revenue was up 6.3% while inflation was only at 2.0%; in 2005 revenue was up 7.2% and inflation was only 2.2%. Despite Ontario municipal revenues ballooning from higher taxes, more transfers from other levels of government, higher user fees and new taxes in Toronto; mayors continue to complain that they don’t have enough.
It is interesting how mayors can work together cooperatively when it comes to demanding transfers from other levels of government or getting new taxing authority from the province. If that same energy were transferred to creating efficiencies and reducing costs, the report out of Edmonton might show a different – and welcome – conclusion.
Jan 22nd, 2011 | By Debbie Duff Vitez | Section: Politics
CAMBRIDGE ADVOCATE
This ran on the Canadian Free Press………… comments invited below
By Kevin Gaudet Tuesday, January 22, 2008
A new report out of Edmonton shows that Toronto takes the dubious honour for having the highest property taxes in Canada. However, a few other Ontario cities place just behind it at the top of the list. Beleaguered tax-paying homeowners in Ontario have suffered from high rates for years, yet they are still facing large rate hikes this year. The Edmonton report is proof enough that municipal governments should hold the line on spending and give taxpayers a break.
The detailed property tax report issued by the City of Edmonton reveals that some Ontario cities rank the highest in Canada when it comes to property taxes. The cities of Toronto, Ottawa, Brampton, Hamilton and London take five of the top six spots on the list for the highest average property taxes paid. This is something most homeowners in these cities know intuitively every time they pay their tax bill. Now they have it confirmed by an objective report which compared over 30 municipalities across Canada.
Toronto ranked first with the highest taxes paid at $3,912, followed by Brampton at $3,826. Ottawa was third at $3,532; Hamilton and London were fifth and sixth at $3,305 and $3,078 respectively. St. John’s Newfoundland deserves credit for taking last place with the lowest average tax at $1,540, and Surrey, BC was second last at $1,814.
This sad but helpful property tax news is timely as city councils across Ontario are in the early stages of preparing their budgets. As well, Premier McGuinty’s freeze on assessments for homes expired at the beginning of 2008. Not only will tax rates be going up, but for the first time in a few years homeowners will take a second hit if their home value reassessment shows an increase above the average increase. Assessment changes will take effect for 2009 property tax rates.
What is especially helpful about the Edmonton report is that it compares property taxes in a dollar value instead of as a percentage. Some mayors, like Toronto’s Mayor Miller, try to defend high property taxes by hiding behind what appears to be a lower rate than other cities. This is hiding because the average value of a home is high in Toronto so the total taxes paid for a Toronto homeowner are higher. When paying taxes one cares less about the rate paid or the details of the complicated formula used. Instead, one cares about how much money is being taken year over year. That is the only comparison relevant to a taxpayer, not whether the rate is 0.82 in one city versus 1.15 in another city.
The main reason for high and growing property taxes in Ontario is that municipal spending is out of control. Municipalities have a spending problem not a revenue problem. While mayors continue to clamour for more and more money from many sources, their appetites for spending grow unchecked. Data from Statistics Canada shows that municipal revenue across Ontario has been running at three times the rate of inflation. In 2006 municipal revenue was up 6.3% while inflation was only at 2.0%; in 2005 revenue was up 7.2% and inflation was only 2.2%. Despite Ontario municipal revenues ballooning from higher taxes, more transfers from other levels of government, higher user fees and new taxes in Toronto; mayors continue to complain that they don’t have enough.
It is interesting how mayors can work together cooperatively when it comes to demanding transfers from other levels of government or getting new taxing authority from the province. If that same energy were transferred to creating efficiencies and reducing costs, the report out of Edmonton might show a different – and welcome – conclusion.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY..........
FIRST THEY IGNORE YOU, THEN THEY RIDICULE YOU, THEN THEY FIGHT YOU, THEN YOU WIN.
MAHATMA GANDHI
MAHATMA GANDHI
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