Saying "No" To A Friend

Woodstock, Ontario, is the Dairy Capital of Canada. Its population of 34,000 offers "tree lined streets, century old homes, abundant parkland and friendly citizens. We are known as The Friendly City and with good reason."

Precisely.

In August, 2005, Woodstock's Council generously passed a Resolution (see full resolution below) to "give consideration during the 2006 and 2007 Budget deliberations to providing financial assistance of approximately $17,000 for each fiscal period with the funds to be exclusively directed towards the costs incurred by the local levels of government on future Windsor-Detroit joint studies."

Representatives of Woodstock will be at Council making a Presentation on June 12, 2006 "to present the City of Windsor with a cheque in the amount of $17,000 as Woodstock's contribution towards the development of improved access to the
United States."

It is a magnificent gesture of solidarity with the Citizens of Windsor who are fighting the border battle. "The amount isn't much, [Woodstock] Coun. Pat Sobeski acknowledged, but it's meant to send a strong message to senior levels of government about the importance of the border."

However, Windsorites must reciprocate. We must also, as Woodstock was prepared to do, put our money where our mouth is. We must decline to receive their money. We should not force Woodstock to "consider" its decision.

How can we do otherwise?

Just over a month after the Woodstock resolution was passed, Councillor Valentinis shocked everyone by saying that the Schwartz Report was merely a "starting point." It was clear recognition that the Mayor and Council had failed to convince the Senior Levels to adopt the billion dollar short-term dream.

We spent millions on legal and consulting fees but citizens have no idea if we received value for money since the fees are cloaked under "solictor-client privilege."

Out of the blue, Windsor's position changed. All of a sudden tunnelling and quality of life became the rallying cry. Council had to go to Tecumseh to hold a Council meeting to listen for the first time to its citizens on the Schwartz proposal since the time of its introduction in January 2005. The best that the Mayor and Council could come up with was a "Schwartz/Estrin solution, which was no longer the old Schwartz Solution, which they endorsed saying:

"ENDORSES the Schwartz/Estrin Proposal, which includes

-tunneling under Talbot Road from Highway 401 to Todd Lane, with a full environmental assessment in terms of all alternatives west of Huron Church Road..."

Are "costs [being] incurred by the local levels of government on future Windsor-Detroit joint studies" which is a condition precedent for providing the funds from Woodstock? Can Windsor Council truly accept the funds if no such studies are underway? If there are such projects, I as a Windsorite would like to know what they are! After all, the Council Resolution said "That this process continue with the full involvement of the citizens of Windsor." [Other than sharing details of legal and consulting fees I assume!]

So Mayor and Council, pass a Resolution thanking the citizens of Woodstock but do not take their taxpayer funds. It would not be the right thing to do in the circumstances.



Mayor Michael Harding - Support for Windsor-Detroit Gateway
Moved by Councillor P. Sobeski
Seconded by Councillor C. Lauder

Whereas the Windsor Detroit Border accounts for 25% of all trade between Canada and the United States, representing $150 billion annually thereby impacting the economic health and welfare of all cities in Ontario and Canada;

And Whereas the significant economic impact of trade that crosses at the Windsor-Detroit gateway is a critical element to the economic future of all Ontario cities as well as the City of Woodstock;

And Whereas the Windsor-Detroit gateway has a direct impact to the community of Woodstock and its residents;

And Whereas the City of Windsor retained Sam Schwartz to develop a comprehensive plan to resolve current challenges at the Windsor-Detroit gateway;

And Whereas Sam Schwartz has recommended investment in a truck by-pass, rail, ferry and other subject to the appropriate environmental assessment studies;

And Whereas the City Council of the City of Windsor is in unanimous support of the Sam Schwartz plan as presented and in sequence;

And Whereas the New Deal for Cities calls for meaningful respect and consultation with affected municipalities;

And Whereas AMO has signed an MOU with the Provincial government recognizing the same;

Now Therefore be it Resolved That all orders of Government, Canada, Ontario and the local municipality arrive at an agreed upon solution;

And further that the City of Woodstock endorse and support the City of Windsor and the Schwartz report as presented in sequence and call on the Province of Ontario and Government of Canada to support all elements of the Schwartz Report and commit funding to the appropriate studies and to do so on a timely basis;

And Further that the City of Woodstock give consideration during the 2006 and 2007 Budget deliberations to providing financial assistance of approximately $17,000 for each fiscal period with the funds to be exclusively directed towards the costs incurred by the local levels of government on future Windsor-Detroit joint studies.

Carried.