So it's the summer there are still big issues lurking!
It is the summer and all of the pols have taken a vacation, except Looooooo. He is doing the BBQ circuit and dragging in as many compliant Liberally trained seals as possible to bolster up this swing riding. The latest on the spot was Greg Sorebeara, the hairy slick finance man who was only allowed to talk to invited persons of interest. Who told him that things were just peachy in N'land and will only get better if we elect the fiberals again.
But lurking under the surface is the big issue of the County - the OPP bid to police the County. There are some procedural problems here, as well as the big issue of costs. We have been told that the bid will save money but as the great unwashed haven't been allowed to see the apples we only suspect oranges. The big problem for me is the impartiality of the examination. The OPP bids; and the guy who is vetting the bid and making recommendations for acceptance/rejection is a long serving OPP pensioner. What's the potential for bias there?
But the big problem is that the County has structured a steering committee to deal with the issue. The steering committee consists of all seven councillors and the CAOs of all the municipalities. So the big wheels hash out the details of the County response behind closed doors and then go into the full session of a County Council meeting, sometime in Sept/October and report to themselves. Do you think they are going to repeat the discussions for the benefit of the public? fat chance! So the actual specifics of the discussion that should be in open session will never be heard just the big fat whack of a rubber stamp.
There is one big fat elephant in the room: the Police Service Act (PSA), it only allows a five person Police Services Board (PSB) some of whom have to be Provincial appointees. So how can the County guarantee a place on the Board for all of the Municipalities. Governance being the hot topic it is no Municipality is going to forgo a seat on the Board. In the last report from the consultant, OPP pensioner Watkins, it was written on Page 30 that a proposal to change that provision to allow a 7 person Board was being considered by the Province. Well since that time a letter has been circulated that explains the Provinces stand toward changing the PSA and in it the following quote is seen, "This ministry's position is that the Police Services Act (PSA) prescribes the membership of police services boards and their responsibilities in providing oversight and governance on behalf of the municipality. Other structures are not provided for in the legislation and are, therefore, prohibited.” So much for the seven member proposal!! The letter also states that the proposal from the County had not formally been presented to the Ministry for consideration. So who was trying to mislead whom during the last set of public discussions with a report not completely based on fact?
That's not my biggest worry. The fact that the County is not having public discussions until October at the earliest and the other fact that the OPP costing may run out in December means that there will be political pressure on all Municipalities to complete the "triple majority" procedure in a hurry. That means that Port Hope and Cobourg, who have to vote to disband their services before the OPP can police Countywide, will be rushed to do it in 8 weeks - a very hasty proposal. This leads to the fear that in October a very well wrapped parcel of OPP goodies will be presented by the Mayors to their Councils as faits accomplis. What a political opportunity for those who wish to kill the local Services, just say to the electorates that "The County made me do it!!"
But lurking under the surface is the big issue of the County - the OPP bid to police the County. There are some procedural problems here, as well as the big issue of costs. We have been told that the bid will save money but as the great unwashed haven't been allowed to see the apples we only suspect oranges. The big problem for me is the impartiality of the examination. The OPP bids; and the guy who is vetting the bid and making recommendations for acceptance/rejection is a long serving OPP pensioner. What's the potential for bias there?
But the big problem is that the County has structured a steering committee to deal with the issue. The steering committee consists of all seven councillors and the CAOs of all the municipalities. So the big wheels hash out the details of the County response behind closed doors and then go into the full session of a County Council meeting, sometime in Sept/October and report to themselves. Do you think they are going to repeat the discussions for the benefit of the public? fat chance! So the actual specifics of the discussion that should be in open session will never be heard just the big fat whack of a rubber stamp.
There is one big fat elephant in the room: the Police Service Act (PSA), it only allows a five person Police Services Board (PSB) some of whom have to be Provincial appointees. So how can the County guarantee a place on the Board for all of the Municipalities. Governance being the hot topic it is no Municipality is going to forgo a seat on the Board. In the last report from the consultant, OPP pensioner Watkins, it was written on Page 30 that a proposal to change that provision to allow a 7 person Board was being considered by the Province. Well since that time a letter has been circulated that explains the Provinces stand toward changing the PSA and in it the following quote is seen, "This ministry's position is that the Police Services Act (PSA) prescribes the membership of police services boards and their responsibilities in providing oversight and governance on behalf of the municipality. Other structures are not provided for in the legislation and are, therefore, prohibited.” So much for the seven member proposal!! The letter also states that the proposal from the County had not formally been presented to the Ministry for consideration. So who was trying to mislead whom during the last set of public discussions with a report not completely based on fact?
That's not my biggest worry. The fact that the County is not having public discussions until October at the earliest and the other fact that the OPP costing may run out in December means that there will be political pressure on all Municipalities to complete the "triple majority" procedure in a hurry. That means that Port Hope and Cobourg, who have to vote to disband their services before the OPP can police Countywide, will be rushed to do it in 8 weeks - a very hasty proposal. This leads to the fear that in October a very well wrapped parcel of OPP goodies will be presented by the Mayors to their Councils as faits accomplis. What a political opportunity for those who wish to kill the local Services, just say to the electorates that "The County made me do it!!"
1 comments:
You are right of course. Too bad the only reward is saying "I told you so" after it all plays out just the way you predicted it.
Are the local cops still mounting a campaign to stop this? Haven't heard from them lately. Not a good year to take the summer off!
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