HawthorneVillager.com

At first, I thought of posting this as a response to Colin's thread with milton hospital, and other issues ... but then I refrained from doing so, as it would have polluted that nice thread with good information with my rants

Colin, Thanks for posting the information and the links on the other thread. It is really good to see that we are pushing provincial candidates to hear our concerns, and resolve them.

My only question to everyone is what if the candidates put these items on their agenda list, and win (as I am sure whoever puts hospital expansion, and transit issues on their agenda, will get most of the votes, and will win), but after their victory does nothing about it (sounds familiar?). How do we keep them honest? What are the consequences of breaking promises? Can we (as public) oust them of their seats? I guess not ... they are set for 4 years, and after that ... they'll come up with excuses to win the next election and life will go on ...

Frankly, I have very little or no trust in our politicians ... once they win the elections, they will be no where to be seen ... during the elections you'll see them waving at the cross streets and intersections, but after that ... we'll see ourselves waving, but no one to wave back at us

I'm pretty easy to sway this years.. Any candidate that can promise me an ACTUAL timeline to when we get all day trains service to Milton will get my vote... hell I might even campaign for them as a reward

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Pain is Temporary Pride is forever

But the problem is that NO candidate can truthfully give us any timelines or guarantees as to when things will get built/extended/funded, etc. - a candidate first has to get elected, and then to have any power to actually do these things, they have to be in government. Then to have any real power in government, they either have to be in cabinet or have the Premier's ear through friendship or something else.

MPP Ted Chudleigh has done a very good job of advocating on the part of Milton, but for the last 8 years he has been on the outside looking in at government (majority at that!) and therefore no real power to do anything.

So if any individual candidates make promises like timelines or guarantees, they will lose my vote. If a party leader (realistically Hudak or McGuinty) promises things through a town swing, then we can believe it 10% (but I'm sure they will include a caveat - "when the funding is there, or when finances permit."

I don't want to side track the conversation .. But why does everything in government have to happen within 4 years? Why can't a plan be designed, signed and then implemented... after it's started becomes touchable till it's complete.

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Pain is Temporary Pride is forever

Somethings do cross elections - once they are fully funded and planned and approved (like the subway extension into Vaughan), they can move between elections, but many governments will not commit to things past their mandate.

As everyone knows, Ive been doing what I can to raise awareness of the Milton Hospital expansion on the provincial level. From being called a "pain in the butt" to "annoying" Im not worried at all.

There is a conference of the Association of Municipalities in ONtario coming up next week and I along with other councillors will be attending. Each of the provincial leaders will be there and rest assured I will be on their heels carrying my "GROW MILTON HOSPTIAL" sign asking for a committment.

Recent news reports show that the list might already be approved (Health Minister Deb Matthews has denied this) and they are just waiting until during the election campaign to announce them in ridings where they will need a little help.

I know Colin is also working on this as well with me and we wont stop putting the pressure on the provincial government until we get an answer.

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Mike Cluett
Local/Regional Councillor
Wards 1,6,7 & 8

Website | Email mike@mikecluett.ca | Cell (647) 888-9032 | Facebook Page | | Twitter @Mike_Cluett

Thanks rino, Mike and other posters.

This is also one of my concerns as well as the Mayor and other local and regional councillors not only of this government but previous ones as well that have no long term plans in a number of provincial ministries on when, where and how much is being spent on capital projects in the Milton area.

Here is the links to the Town and regional capital budgets which are revised annually by council's to set priorities and meet the provincial development charges act which the province does not do!

http://www.halton.ca/cms/One.aspx?porta ... geId=53657

http://www.milton.ca/townhall/media/tow ... udgets.htm

To give another example the public and seperate school boards need three new elementary schools in Milton now with funding for one new school and no plans for funding new schools in 2012 and beyond from the province which is funding on a case by case method now. Just ask your trustee on the frustrations they face!

Colin Best
Local & regional councillor
Chair Milton Administration & Planning Committee
905-878-3623

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Become a Fan! Visit my website! Email: colin.best@milton.ca Twitter Follow! 905-878-3623

I don't think this is a fair statement on the current council members (not all anyway). Colin, Mike, Rick and Zeshan are on here all the time, at most Milton events and basically all over town. Pretty easy to find them and have a discussion with them.

The whole thing about politicians we can trust, is we only the remember the ones we can't- and they usually do stuff on a grand enough scale it ruins it for everyone; even those who are trying to do good.

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Follow me on Twitter: @miltonlaura
Check out my blog: http://www.miltonviews.wordpress.com
website: www.laurarsteiner.com

Oh I agree. I meant provincial and federal politicians.

Colin, Mike, Rick, Zeeshan, and others here, don't play politics. They are fair people