Turns out boundary reviews are not just for education as the Town of Oakville now looks to reshape the political map by holding a special council meeting to consider new boundaries because of growing inequity of population in the existing six wards.

Explosive growth within areas in Oakville have caused various pressure prompting  Cathy Duddeck, Ward 2 Town and Regional Councillor to ask council members to consider ensuring new boundaries have the ideal  17 per cent total electorate in a ward.

The latest 2010 election found some wards below that (i.e. Ward 1 and 2 were 12 per cent, and  Ward 3 and Ward 6 were 15 per) but some far exceed that ideal number (i.e. Ward 4 was 28 per cent and Ward 5 had 18 per cent).

The numbers in north Oakville are only going to make these discrepancies greater.

Like any boundary review, there are a number of options being considered:

Option 1 – make 2 wards  south of the QEW and 4 wards in the north (dividing West Oak Trails, River Oaks and the Uptown Core).

Option 2 -  make 3 wards south and 3 wards north of Upper Middle Road (dividing Glen Abbey and downtown Oakville).

Option 3- Ward 3 remains as is but Ward 2, Ward 1 and 2 would have their north boundary to Upper Middle Road (dividing downtown Oakville along Sixteen Mile Creek and Glen Abbey across 2 wards).

Option 4 – similar to Option 3 but with some differences for the boundaries of the western wards (it also divides downtown Oakville along Sixteen Mile Creek and spreads Glen Abbey over 2 wards).  This option also includes  west Glen Abbey  in a ward entirely north of the QEW.

Let us know what you think about these proposed boundary changes.

Before knowing the election result (it is 7:35 p.m. Monday night), I decided to put my thoughts down so I could not be accused of pandering to election results. I truly have no idea who will win the many positions up for grabs in this great community we call Oakville.

All I do know is that it has been a heated election season and one that I have been more personally involved with due to Oakville Chit Chat. Long hours, strained friendships and hopes, dreams and fears communicated to me by fellow residents, I am humbled by the experience.

I leave this election season a little worse for wear for a variety of reasons. Before I go any further I want to qualify a few things about myself. I sometimes smugly think proudly that our great nation is superior to our southern neighbours. Canadians are notorious for having a bit of an inferiority complex. I confess right now…I don’t suffer from this ‘illusion’. I wear being a ‘Canadian’ with pride believing that we are kinder, gentler and smarter. I am a fan of Bill Mayer and others who for me represent calling others up on the crap that circulates in the media. Amazed at the spin machine and stupidity that seems to invade politics in the south, I have usually believed we were immune to this type of dishonesty, political pandering to the special interest groups, and just plain stupidity.

Well…after this election I am not sure I can puff up myself and state with real conviction that we are any better at governing, running campaigns, communicating the core issues or concerns, or caring.

Don’t get me wrong…I love being Canadian and love living in Oakville and I would not trade it for anything. My disillusion does not come just from this election season but the indifference I have seen regarding the politics at the regional level and definitely at the educational level.

I see our politicians (as yes that is what this election was about…politicians) really in some cases not being any better than our southern neighbours. After years of being involved at the school council and daycare council level, battling with City Hall due to what turned out complete incompetence on protecting residents against shady building practices to sitting in HDSB council meetings and consultation session, I am a bit weary.

What can we all learn from this election season I wonder and what message would I give to those elected into power starting tomorrow…..here goes.

1. We are generally (without stereotyping I hope) a well educated, articulate, caring and passionate community. We can’t be fooled by politics, promises and spin machines.

2. We don’t like dirty politics either perceived or real. We don’t like it happening and we don’t like it when candidates state it as an excuse to deflect.

3. We will remember and will call you up on your voting record, recommendations, back door dealings and more. We know politics and we know when you have wasted our time and our taxpayer dollars.

4. We expect you to represent us. We want the majority to be considered without leaving behind/out the minority.

5. We don’t care if it is always politically correct. We would rather it be the right thing to do or say. We are not baffled or fooled by bull. Stop treating us like idiots because we are not.

6. If you ignore us we will boot your rear out the next time we have the chance. In the end….you can do whatever once you are in but we have the right to throw you out the next time.

7. Our children are our most precious personal asset and our environment is the most precious for all mankind. Treat both fairly, without bias, without vested interest and we will respect you. Ignore us on either of these issues….well you will know where you will end up.

8. We don’t tolerate fools and stupidity easily. We don’t need a billion polluting signs all over every last green space to know who we trust or who will do a good job. The flyers, phone messages and media coverage will probably do the trick. We are not naive to know you don’t need some signs but come on 3 in a row on the same hill…you just look like a spoiled child that had too much $$$ to spend.

9. Our school boards better start listening. If you think that this election is going to stop the anger we feel regarding special interests, segregation and allowing money to be wasted while programming that is needed that makes a real lasting difference (e.g. special education) is an afterthought – than you are more foolish than you believe we are. We now have a voice and even if you trustees can’t do the right thing, we will be right behind you demanding you do. We don’t think policy is set or controlled by one alone but we know that each of you can make a difference so you better start voting like it does.

10. Our community has a vast array of private education along with public education. Not all programming or groups can be supported. It is not a bottomless pit where money flows free so as parents we may have to choose to cover costs if our own wants are not in the general public’s interest.

11. We need to behave respectful, inclusively just like we lecture our children. We need to have those expectations for our kids to play, work, go to extra activities, etc. We need to really embrace inclusion for all. In the outside real world our kids are going to have to get along together so we better figure out right now how to do it.

12. Stop spinning that issues are either directed at or the cause of 1 area, individual or belief. Start listening to our concerns realizing that they affect our whole community not just a specific ward, candidate, school system or belief. Just because you say it is….doesn’t mean it is so.

13. We have a voice and a will. From recent wins such as the power plant, we know we can shape our future. We will flex our political and social muscle if we need to. We are a community with great people, facilities, and nature and we need to start appreciating that and giving back.

14. We are not a stupid or naive community. We have a voice and a will and hopefully this election season we have just done just that….voted with that in mind. So for each of you who won tonight and will govern tomorrow …..remember we will be watching and listening ……

So how do we move forward….

Going forward I hope that OakvilleChitChat.com can be a vehicle to voice opinions, hopes and ideas. That was its intention.

Please help us grow and be part of the conversation over the next 4 years so that we can ensure the politicians voted in will govern in a responsible way.

Please join our various social network groups to get the latest articles. Join 1 or all groups.

Twitter

Facebook

My Space

RSS feed (this allows you to get updates by email)