The Debate Starts Here

In early June, nearly 2,000 fellow Mayors and municipal leaders met from all across Canada,  from small municipalities to Canada’s largest cities, and made a united call for a federal leaders’ debate on the issues Canadians face in their day-to-day lives. Issues like how to create jobs, make housing more affordable, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and keep our communities safe. These issues are not just local issues, they are national issues.

They are national because they are common to cities and communities from coast to coast to coast. And they are national because the measure of a strong Canada lies in the strength of our hometowns.

That is why I am joining voices with other mayors and municipal leaders from across the country to call on the federal party leaders to hold a debate on how we can work better together as levels of government on common goals.

It is easy to see why the Federal Government needs to work with Municipalities and debate Municipal issues.  Municipalities receive 8 cents of the tax dollar and own over 60% of all the roads, bridges, water and waste water infrastructure in the Country. We need the Federal Government to partner with our communities to fund transit to reduce gridlock, work on affordable housing, community safety and infrastructure that will ultimately improve our quality of life.

We want to live and raise our families in vibrant and healthy communities. We care about our economy prospering and jobs being created. We believe everyone deserves to have a roof over their head. We want to protect our environment and believe that clean water should not be a challenge for any community in a country like ours. We value the safety of our neighbourhoods. And we know that, as a country, we can be leaders on the international stage and that we all benefit from connecting globally. These are goals that transcend jurisdiction and partisan differences and warrant debate on how we can achieve them.

This fall’s federal election will be hard fought. I would like to hear the federal party leaders share their vision for cities and communities. How, if Prime Minister, their government would partner with municipalities to create jobs and drive growth? Or address local, national and international challenges like increasing trade and investment and climate change? How will they work with us to make Halton Hills and all of Halton Region more livable, safer and greener?

Some of the party leaders have already agreed to a debate but we need to highlight why this is needed.  Visit http://hometownproud.fcm.ca/ and sign the petition. We need to be asking the candidates of all the parties where they stand on municipal issues.

Today’s communities are tomorrow’s Canada. The debate starts here; where our potential as a country lives, works, plays and dreams.

Regards

Councillor Clark Somerville

Halton Hills Regional Councillor

1st Vice President of the federation of Canadian Municipalities

Top 10 reasons to vote on Oct 27th Number 5 roads, transportation

Roads, we all hate to see them under construction and we hate that when their done the traffic increase.
Here is a secret about the road in front of your house.  It is not your road.  it belongs to everyone in the community and was paid for mainly by taxes.
Planning for roads, sidewalks, cross walks and any active transportation such as bike paths, or multi use paths starts years before they are constructed.  Sometimes it is because of property acquisitions or hydro lines need to be moved. Or it could be that a environmental assessment needs to be done to make sure no environmental harm happens from the road being done.
Whenever their is road construction their is inconvenience in some way.  Once the road is done the grateful residents who live near by can sometimes see increased speed and traffic due to the road work.
It is important that you as a taxpayer follow what roads are planned to be upgraded or improved in your neighbourhood.  Whenever road work is going to be done, a flyer is usually sent out to advise of it and some sort of public open house is held so you can provide input.  We usually try to coordinate the road work with the region so we don't have to rip up new roads for water or sewer works. Yes we hate it but sometimes it is unavoidable.
It is important as your tax dollars are going to work to rebuild roads.  We use federal gas taxes to assist in the work and are grateful for the gas tax fund and the money we receive from it.
Here is another secret about the province and the roads.  We get no money to rebuild roads unless it is a special one time grant.  those are as common now as unicorn sightings.
Halton Hills about 10 years ago started a pavement management plan for local roads.  it has been hugely successful and is helping us catch up.  We are a long way to go to do so and our Infrastructure deficit here in town is about 100 million dollars. The annual budget is about 30 million.
We have a long way to go and it is important that you work with your members of Council and staff to help make sure your priority roads area a priority.  How they plan to work with the Province, Metrolinx and the federal government on transit and transportation issues.
That all starts with a vote.  Call the candidates and ask where they stand on issues that matter to you.

Top 10 reasons you MUST vote on Oct 27th number 6 planning..

Now I am the first to admit that if you put a group of planners together in a room they may emerge all on the same page singing the same song.  Sometimes I have criticized them for not seeing the forest or the trees.

But planners play an important and vital role in our communities in deciding about changing use of a building, schools, firehalls, where new parks and recreation facilities should be located to new subdivisions and how they are designed.Sometimes we end up looking at plans that may not happen for 10 years.  Some are ones that will come to fruition in a year or 2.

The growth in our communities does just not happen by happenstance or willy nilly.  It is the result of many meetings, long discussions and public consultations.  Sometimes when we are looking at an area we will have a group of dedicated citizens sit on a committee to come up with plans and designs.

All of you planning decisions have a public process from Public Information sessions, to pen houses to full public meetings.  The information we gather from theses are vital for us as elected people to decide how our communities are going to look.  All of our meetings like these are advertised and notifications sent to people who live near by.

The best way you can be involved is by engaging your local elected official.  By working with them you can help shape the future of our town.  The best way to start that is to contact the candidates, talk to them and VOTE.
It all starts with a VOTE!  VOTE and make your voice be heard.

Top 10 reasons to vote.. number 7 school boards and trustees

Take out your tax bill.  Almost 1/3 of what you pay yearly is for our schools.  Whether a public or separate school supporter you are paying a lot of money to our education system.  That does not include the amounts (which are higher) paid for by industrial and commercial tax payers.  Nor does it include provincial grants they receive.

The Trustees elected play a vital role in the education and services that OUR Children receive during their school years.  From Senior Kindergarten to Grade 12 the education the services they receive you have a say over.

Our schools are full of passionate people who want to teach and we need to make sure the trustees give them the tools to do so.

In the past we have seen bad decisions by the school board over selling school sites, transportation issues  and other items.  But is it not important for you to meet your trustee?  Have a chance to talk to them and also for them to provide the liaison between the board and you.  They will work with the school parent councils on a regular basis.

It is important that no matter which system you support in Ontario that YOU as a voter learn about the candidates running for the school boards and what they stand for.  Do you not want to have your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews receiving the best possible education to position them in our ever changing world?
Remember Oct 27th is election day here in Ontario.  VOTE!

Top 10 List of why you MUST VOTE on Oct 27th Number 8 Recreation and health

Each year when your community allocates its budget, one of the largest items that is set aside is for recreation, health and active lifestyles.  Consider the parks, trails, bike paths, Senior Centres, pools and arenas, not to mention every other aspect of the social well being spectrum.  When you consider all these you can see that your local government has a interest in your well being, whether it is is health related or your social well being.

When we go to build new parks, or arenas or any other major recreation facility, we do not do it willy nilly.  It is after much consultation, consideration and planning.  Whether is a small neighbourhood park, a large community style park or an arena, we plan in advance as to where they will be located.
But recreation is more than parks.  It is also people.  Having services in our health, social services and recreation departments geared to people of all ages is a base competency of municipalities.

We provide daycare, seniors centres, learn to swim, day camps, adult day programs.  We also teach people active lifestyles with programs to learn to skate, swim, play tennis and the list goes on.

One of the reasons Municipalities do this is unlike the other orders of government, we can respond to the needs of your own community.  We can, based on what our community needs, plan programs that they want.
Halton Hills has a young community and the need for services geared for that will be needed for a while.  We have a high percentage of arena usage which predicated our need to build the arenas we are doing now.
We have an active seniors community and our commitment to their centres is evident by the recent expansion done in Acton and our finding a solution in Georgetown.
Our trail system has expanded greatly the last few years and are a very popular way for people to get exercise, socialize and remain active.
When the candidates come to your door ask about their views on recreation, health and social services we provide.

Top 10 List of reasons to Vote on Oct 27th...Number 9 Public Safety

Your local government is responsible for public safety.  From making sure your  Police,Fire and paramedics have adequate resources to protect your community, to emergency planning and protecting your neighbours.

We all know that local government is responsible for making sure our roads and parks are safe. But some people forget the role we play in our emergency services.  

It is mandated by the Province on how we provide the services, but with Fire and Police, very little money, if any ever flows from the Province to pay for them.  They are paid for by you, the local taxpayer.The Province covers some of the Paramedics costs but not enough.  You still pay the majority.

Our Regional Police Services are governed by a Police Services Board that is independent of Council, but does have Council representatives on it. Council approves the budget that is passed by the Board and the board works closely with the Chief to set it.

All our Emergency Services work hard to keep our communities safe.  They spend countless hours promoting things you can do to make your home and neighbourhood safer.

In Halton we are part of a group that literally has the highest survival rate for people having Heart attacks.  We also work to increase the number yearly who have CPR and can be part of the chain of survival.

When you need to call the Police, Fire or Paramedics, they arrive as quickly and safely as possible.  They are ana ctive part of your community.

When you vote in a Municipal election, the Mayor and Councillors you elect work with all the groups to set the budget.  They approve master Plans that set out how the service will operate and also how it will grow.

We live in one of the Safest Regions in the Country.  We need to make sure that those we elect will keep it that way!

Remember VOTE in the upcoming Municipal elections.

Top 10 reasons to Vote on October 27 in the Municipal Elections.. Number 10

 Number 10 All aspects of your everyday life are in some way affected by your Town or Region.

Some people think that voting municipally does not matter.  Boy are they wrong!  So many parts of your day are touched by municipal government.  Every day your local Town or Region has a impact on your life.  All of the items that touch you from the moment you get up to to to bed are in some way provided by your municipality.
Consider this: When you wake up and go to make your morning coffee, the water was provided by your municipality and it is clean safe water, your well can be tested for free by the Region to make sure it is safe.  The coffee arrived on roads paid for by your taxes and cleaned and repaired by the Town. That is even before you got to a shower or drove to work.
The Police, Firefighters and paramedics who keep our community safe are paid for by your local taxes.
The local parks and facilities are planned and paid for by your taxes.
Everyday people are making their voices heard by working with their Councillors, Mayor and Town Staff to shape the future of our community.
Get out and meet the candidates running for office in your community.  Ask for their views on items of importance to you and your family.
Check out the Halton Hills website to see if your on the Voters list.  Go to http://haltonhills.ca/

Should they not hear your voice?

“Seeds Sown for a Social Services Network”

April 30^th, 2014 - News Release

Over seventy people participated in a very successful one day workshop focusing on social issues in Halton Hills.  The event was held on April 25 at St. Andrew’s United Church.  Participants included representatives from Halton Region, the Town of Halton Hills, a wide range of “not for profit” groups and organizations, as well as church groups and private citizens.

Mayor Rick Bonnette’s address illustrated how the social component is an integral part of the Integrated Community Sustainability Strategy (ICSS), which was recently adopted by Council.  Damian Szybalski, Manager of Sustainability, Town of Halton Hills gave a presentation outlining the overall framework of the ICSS, and highlighted the contents of the Social component of the Strategy. The other three parts of the Strategy are the Economy, Culture, and the Environment.

Regional Councillor Clark Somerville explained the important role that Halton Region plays in the delivery of many social services in Halton Hills, including child care subsidies, subsidized housing, employment skills, managing the Ontario Works program, services for seniors, and mental health programs.

Keynote speaker, Dr. Joey Edwardh, Executive Director of Community Development Halton, gave the audience a snapshot of the demographic and social dimensions of Halton Hills as a community of communities.  She emphasized that social services enhance the quality of life of the entire community, and the importance of neighbourhoods as the core mechanism for people to look after each other. 

Beatrice Sharkey used the evolution of   the Cultural Roundtable as gave an example of how a small group of people can build an effective network to share information, improve cooperation and partnership, and increase the effective use of resources. She emphasized how the social services sector could benefit from such a mechanism locally.

Small group discussions tackling issues in the social services sector were animated and productive, and a key outcome was strong support for the concept of creating a structured ongoing network in the social services sector. Volunteers will be following up to make this concept a reality.

Event organizers David Clayton and Nancy Heinmiller, (who were the original co-Chairs of the Social component of the ICSS) said: “Our objective was to emphasize that the social services sector is as important as the other three components of the Sustainability Strategy, and to sow the seeds for a network that would bring greater cohesion and effectiveness to the social services sector in Halton Hills. We are pleased that we went some distance in achieving these goals, and greatly appreciate the help of the team who helped organize the event, and the enthusiastic participation of those who attended”.

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Councillor Clark Somerville calls on Federal Government to fix Flaws in New Building Canada Fund

Halton Hills, On – Councillor Clark Somerville joined other members of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Board of Directors in calling on the Federal Government to fix serious gaps in the design of the New Building Canada Fund.  Those gaps could put much-needed infrastructure investments in Halton Hills at risk.

Councillor Somerville, who is also the third vice-president of FCM, issued the call in Thunder Bay, following a meeting of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) Board of Directors from March 5-8.

“Halton Hills welcomed the federal government’s investment in the New Building Canada Fund, the longest and largest infrastructure program in Canadian history,” said Councillor Somerville. “But it is critical that these gaps be addressed so that the program can meet the needs of this community over the next decade and give our residents the best value for money.”

Councillor Somerville joined other board members in calling on the Federal Government to work with local leaders to address flaws in the design of the BCF and to work to prevent similar concerns from emerging in the future by improving the quality of federal consultations with local governments.

In 2012-2013, consultations between federal and local governments led to ground-breaking federal infrastructure investments, including a commitment to a new 10-year, $14 billion Building Canada Fund (BCF), a two per cent annual index of the federal gas tax transfer, and a pledge to work with FCM on the detailed design and rollout of the plan. However, a lack of meaningful program design consultations followed and there was inadequate study and discussion of the issues.  This left important concerns with the New Building Canada Fund unaddressed and important questions unanswered.

Municipalities like Halton Hills own the vast majority of Canada’s roads, water systems, public transit and other core infrastructure, but to date they have received no clear indication that a fair share of the new BCF will be invested in vital future municipal The new BCF’s funding rules further reduce local flexibility by eliminating core infrastructure categories from eligibility, such as local roads.

 

 

“It’s not too late for the federal government to work together with us to resolve these issues,” added Mayor Rick Bonnette.  “It is our joint responsibility to do so. This community counts on its federal representatives to work with local leaders to make informed decisions that serve the people of Halton Hills and get the most out of every tax dollar.”

Why I am running for FCM 3rd VP

I’m Clark Somerville a Local/Regional Councillor for the Town of Halton Hills and Halton Region. I’m also a candidate for 3^rd Vice President of FCM.

I have served on the Board of Directors and the Ontario Caucus of FCM for the last 4 years on various committees.  I am currently the Vice Chair of the Rural Forum and have served as the Chair of the Housing Subcommittee and Vice Chair of the Social Economic Development Committee.  I have actively participated in the annual Advocacy Days and other FCM events, such as the Sustainable Communities conference.

All of us who run for municipal government have a passion to serve our constituents, to make our communities better and to help plan and guide them into the future.  I share that passion.  We know we need to collaborate, build consensus and listen to our citizens.  We need to be willing to adapt to, and  listen and learn as new items come forward.  The one constant we know, is change.

I feel my background provides me with a unique perspective and balance to represent you as 3^rd Vice President.  My community, while on the edge of the Greater Toronto Area, is both urban and rural.  I see daily the challenges and conflicts that happen as our cities and towns grow and the pressures that it places on our rural and agricultural communities.  As Chair of the Halton Health and Social Services Committee, I see the need for affordable housing and other social programs that assist those in our communities who may be on the lowest spoke of life’s wheel. 

All of us are facing challenges with our infrastructure deficits and tightening budgets. We need to ensure that when we talk about building much needed infrastructure, that it’s not only roads and bridges but also the social infrastructure our communities need.

Over the last few years FCM has made tremendous gains with the Federal Government and we need to capitalize on this and ensure that our voices continue to be heard.  We need to listen to the concerns of our communities and act on them. 

It’s important that all FCM members are able to participate and we must explore innovative ways to engage them.

Municipalities have a role to play in the economic development and the strength of our nation.  Whether it is manufacturing, agricultural, resource based, or tourism, municipalities must be recognised for the role they play in building our nation.  All trade travels on Main Street and we should be treated as partners.

FCM is a dynamic organisation and its 3^rd Vice President should be someone who will work and help advance our agenda.  FCM needs someone who will work to bridge the rural/urban divide that is felt increasingly as Canada grows.  It needs someone with a vision and passion for municipalities.

On June 2^nd Vote Clark Somerville for 3^rd VP of FCM.

Please contact me if you have any questions or comments.  My email is clarks@haltonhills.ca or phone at 905-703-6388.  Visit clarksomerville.com

Federation of Canadian Municipalities announces that Regional Councillor Somerville re-elected as Vice Chair of the Rural Forum

Press release from Halton Region on my re election as FCM Rural Forum Vice Chair

Release Date: Sep 10, 2012

The president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), Karen Leibovici, has announced that Regional Councillor Clark Somerville of FCM’s Board of Directors has been re-elected as Vice Chair of the Rural Forum. The standing committee advises FCM’s 75-member Board of Directors on the national issues facing Canada’s rural communities.

“I am pleased to have Clark play a key role in our team, and I look forward to working together in the year ahead to advance the interest of local governments,” said FCM president Karen Leibovici.

“Clark has a passion for Rural Canada and has been a strong advocate for it. We have worked well together and I know, with our colleagues in the Rural Forum, we can tackle the challenges we will face in the next year,” added newly reelected Chair David Marit who is also the President of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities.

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) is the national voice of Canada’s municipalities, speaking for almost 2000 cities and communities representing 90 per cent of Canada’s population. Its national Board is comprised of municipal leaders from across Canada, and meets quarterly to set policy priorities.

“I am truly honoured to have received support from my Rural Colleagues in my reelection. FCM always tries to have a rural lens on all our work and I look forward to trying to bring a Halton perspective to the national picture,” added Somerville. “The need for all our towns and cities to speak with one voice has never been stronger then what it is now. As Governments balance their books we have to make sure it is not on the backs of local municipal taxpayers”

Councillor Somerville has served as a Board member for FCM for 4 years. He is one of 11 elected to serve Ontario. In addition to the Rural Forum he also serves on the committees dealing with Infrastructure, Finance and Intergovernmental relations. He is also Chair of Halton Region’s Health and Social Services Committee.

“Advocating to promote and protect Halton’s rural communities is important to Halton Regional Council,” said Regional Chair Gary Carr. “The Citizens’ Priorities, Halton’ Region’s 2011-2014 Action Plan, contains several rural priorities and I am pleased that Councillor Somerville can continue to advance these issues in his role on the Rural Forum with FCM.”

FCM’s successful advocacy with the federal government has brought significant benefits to Halton Region over the past five years. From the GST refund to the permanent federal gas tax fund, and now the federal government’s new, long-term infrastructure plan to build the roads, bridges, water and transportation systems Canada needs to support its families, businesses, and national economy.

REGIONAL COUNCILLOR CLARK SOMERVILLE JOINS MUNICIPAL LEADERS FROM ACROSS CANADA TO MEET WITH FEDERAL COUNTERPARTS TO BUILD AND EXPAND PARTNERSHIP

(Halton Hills) - This past week Regional Councillor Clark Somerville joined more than a 100 other municipal leaders in Ottawa for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) annual meetings on Parliament Hill. FCM met with more than 100 Members of Parliament, including party leaders and cabinet ministers, to build practical partnership and protect core investments in Halton Hills and Halton Region as well as municipalities across Canada.
“As a local and regional Councillor as well as Halton Regions representative at FCM it is important that I present the challenges we are facing here,” said Somerville. “I am honoured to be asked by the President to sit on the Municipal Infrastructure Forum and the International Trade Working groups. Both groups will work closely with the Federal Government on these important issues. I thank Chair Carr and Mayor Bonnette for their continued support as well as the support I receive from all my Council colleagues and staff that allows me to work as a Board member with the FCM. Whether it is rural, housing, transit, policing or other issues I try to provide the Halton snapshot.”

The week’s most significant achievement was the launch of the Government of Canada’s new infrastructure planning process. The plan promises to stop the decline in our municipal infrastructure and build the roads, bridges, water and transit systems we need to support our families, businesses and economic growth.
In recent years, the federal government has worked with Halton Region and other municipalities to repair aging infrastructure, but 40 % of federal-municipal funding is set to expire by 2014. The new, long-term plan promised by the government will protect essential investments and reduce the burden on local property taxpayers in the years ahead.

The federal government laid out a clear timetable to take stock of recent investments in cities and communities, identify where investments need to be made in the future, and replace soon to expire programs with a new generation of long-term infrastructure investments.
"In the last few years, federal and municipal governments have worked more closely than ever to fight the economic crisis and rebuild Canada's aging roads, bridges, and water systems," said FCM President Berry Vrbanovic. "Together, we can tear down the silos that prevent us from serving taxpayers in the best way possible. Together, we can build a stronger, safer Canada."
Municipal leaders also received a report about FCM’s meeting this week with the Prime Minister. FCM representatives talked with the Prime Minister about how federal and municipal governments have worked together to fight the recession and how they can continue working together to keep Canada's economic foundations secure.
Municipal leaders also heard Liberal Leader Bob Rae and NDP leader Nicole Turmel discuss what their parties are doing to strengthen the economy, support communities, and protect property taxpayers from offloading by other governments.
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FCM part 2

Some regular readers to the Blog and newspapers will know that I have the good fortune to sit on a group called FCM. FCM is short for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, a group that is the Municipal voice on national and international issues. FCM represents over 90% of the Canadian population and is members are the Municipalities. The Board members are elected each year at the annual conference and some organisations have appointed members. For example the City of Toronto by virtue of its size as our largest city has 2 members appointed.
The photo above is me doing a International Press Conference with past President Jean Perrault after FCM passed the halton HIlls Buy American resolution.

The elections are held at the AGM and Board members like me are elected by fellow Mayors and Councillors. We sit on a variety of committees and try to make sure that the voices of the cities, town, villages, rural and remote areas of the country are heard in Ottawa and with Federal agencies.

For example I have sat on the Municipal Infrastructure and Transportation Policy, International Relations committee, Rural Forum, and Conference Planning. I have worked with the Municipal Finance and Intergovernmental Arrangements when Halton Hills was fighting, along with FCM, the Provinces and everyone who understood the issue, on the “Buy American/Fair Trade” issue.

At the past conference I helped with other members of the Increasing women’s participation in Municipal government committee to raise awareness of a scholarship FCM offers to young women who may be interested in a career in politics. We managed to raise over $3400 to the scholarship.

This year I have the good fortune to be appointed by President Hans Cunningham (BC) to be the Vice Chair of the Social Economic Development Committee. The Committee will be Chaired by Councillor Ben Henderson (Edmonton) and Jocelyne Guertin, Conseillère, Ville de Laval, QC will be the other Vice Chair.
What does the committee do? From the Policy guide this is what it says the committee is charged with.

FCM Policies and Strategies
• Community infrastructure
• Affordable housing
• Homelessness
• Immigration
• Diversity, culture, and heritage
• Healthy communities and child care
• Municipal-Aboriginal relations
• FCM’s Quality of Life Reporting System

Here is more on the SED committee
http://www.fcm.ca//CMFiles/SEDPolicyStatement20101KFJ-762010-3696.pdf

We have heard the use of the term Infrastructure deficit. It describes how funding from all orders (especially Provincial and Federal) have resulted in Canada having a 123 BILLION dollar shortfall in what is needed to get our roads, bridges, rail and waterways up to today’s standard.

We also face a Social Infrastructure Deficit, which is the drop off or reduction of social services to those most vulnerable in our society. The Federal and Provincial Governments were for many years building affordable housing for those that can’t afford to buy or who live below the poverty line. One of our key policies is that the delivery of Social Services should be at the Federal and Provincial level instead of on the backs of homeowners via the property tax.
One thing that happens is the Municipal governments across the country step in to provide services that ultimately should be provided by the other orders of government.
FCM has released a Comprehensive Housing Strategy that has been received and like Haltons is award winning, also strategies and policies on Poverty, homeless, immigration and inclusiveness. Halton region is expected to double in size the next 20 years and we need to be planning and making sure we have the services here we need and our citizens require.
FCM will continue to advocate for the social fabric of our country. By working with the Federal Government we can continue to advocate for all our citizens. We can build a much better country. I look forward to working with my colleagues from across the country on the great work this committee does.

Census...Count your self in...

For over a millennium there has been a time when citizens of countries have had to stand up and be counted in a census. Originally, it was done to see how many men would be available for military service. It evolved to give us a snapshot of how many people lived in a given area and what there occupation may be. For over 100 years our Country has collected such information and it has shown how Canada has grown as a nation and evolved.

You may have read recently in the news about the Federal Governments decision to stop having the Long Form Census mandatory. While most people may think that is a good decision and people should be able to do it voluntarily I think a mistake is being made. The Long form would be replaced by a short version that is not mandatory for the 2011 census. It was done as an Order In Council so the House of Commons never had a chance to debate it or seek public input. They are getting it now.

The Federal Government has said that it was being done as they have had complaints from citizens over the nature of the questions being asked. In the 15 years from about 1985 to 2000 they had received over 45 but the Privacy Commissioner changed the census in response to those complaints. The Privacy Commissioner for Canada has had a grand total of 3 complaints in the last 10 years. The mandatory long form has had a 97% compliance rate. Far above what would be found if it was voluntary. It is interesting as this has also been done in the US in response to some groups like the “Tea Party”

The cancelling of the mandatory long form has been opposed by all of the opposition parties, Universities, Colleges and research facilities and such groups as the Canadian Medical Association. Major Canadian Newspapers such as the Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail and the Sun have all had articles and editorials asking the government to reverse their decisions. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) has opposed this and last week Halton Region called on the federal government to reverse this decision.

On Monday I will be presenting the same motion to Halton Hills Council and it will be going to Milton Council as well. I have received encouragement to do so by Mayor Bonnette and other Councillors. The motion has been seconded by Councillor Fogal.

The data collected from the census provides a wealth of information and is at the basis of federal transfers for items like housing, health and other social programs. Municipalities use this for items as simple locating bus routes and what the make up of their community and how it is changing. Changing demographics in a community can mean a shift in which programming is needed. Such as for seniors or for new Canadians. For what types of medical services Doctors and hospitals will need to offer. Also, for the basis of what type of social programs may be needed as well. From baby health to Seniors housing and everything in between.

Some people think that a voluntary form will collect enough information but researchers across Canada all agree that the information collected on a voluntary basis is not as accurate as ones that are mandatory.

I hope on Monday night the rest of Council will agree and support the resolution that was crafted with the assistance of Milton Councillors, Colin Best and Wendy Schau. Hopefully, the Federal Government will listen and reverse their decision. I will keep you posted.