What message do you think the outgoing 2008 -11 DNV Council and CNV Councils need to hear from the taxpayers? Would you pat them on the back or let them have it? Only a crystal ball would tell us what the configuration of these respective municipal councils will end up being on November 19 but, what would you like to give these councils to think about as their terms come to a close? Leave your message here on the blog (they do read the blog contrary to popular belief) or better still at this Monday nights ( Nov. 7th.) last regular council meeting and have your say in two minutes or less.
43 comments:
We are looking into the incumbents' FONVCA questionnaire answers over the last 15 years. We will be asking them how they feel about their previous "specific" answers. And did they follow through with their promises?
Two weeks to go... This is my prediction in order.
DNV - Mayor
Walton - Elected
DNV - Council
Hicks
Little
Muri
Bassam
Mackay-Dunn
Gilmour (Nixon Runner-up)
DNV - School Board
Stratton
Forward
Gerlach
Binion
CNV - Mayor
Mussatto
CNV - Council
Bookham
Keeting
Heywood
Bell
Clark
Buchanan - (Fearnley runner up))
CNV - School Board
Skinner
Tasi
Bayne - (Dorais runner up)
I think Kevin Macauley will be the new comer to the DNV council. That my prediction.
I've asked around and found the people I have spoken to really don't give an owl's hoot about the DNV election. And a few young people's response?
"Who cares. The politicians never listen to us."
Will we beat the record low percentage turnout of voter apathy we saw in 2008? Anon 3:10's prediction for DNV Council sounds dismal.
Macauley's quotes in today's NS News are not reassuring. Union bias. Doubt that will resound in DNV.
Honestly, as a 67 year old British Columbian, I am very disappointed that so many intelligent mayors and councillors failed to achieve any new Rapid Transit, i.e. skytrain or express, from North Shore to Vancouver.
Yet the cost of maintaining both councils was extremely expensive.
Hence we got only token service but paid the highest going rate.
Yes, they are educated and intelligent, but they have failed to solve the Lions Gate Bridge and Iron Worker Memorial Bridge problem that will get worst in the next 12 months.
I get the impression that they have wasted valuable time and money. Hence they should retire and let others solve this problem.
The two councils have not solved any problems. They have caused them. Traffic is terrible any time except at night. There is no transparency in government. Because more than 90% of votes are unanimous, there is virtually no public debate.
A realtor should not be on council. It is an immediate conflict of interest. But the apathetic public did not turn out to vote, hence we get the wrong people elected, i.e. the people who get their friends to vote.
I think we really need some new faces in DNV council. Not overly happy about the options. Gilmour being a developer... conflict of interest... I think so from his past dealings Im aware of. That young kid, not thanks. Macauley.. I could see being good in there. At least he's retired and this won't just be a part time/second job for him. And he seems like a honest person too which is a nice change. Quershi.. maybe but I have heard a few bad things about her too. What to do...???
Wouldn't mind Gilmour as many of council's decisions involve construction/building, meeting building standards etc. He would understand industry expectations and be helpful in the same way that Hicks understands finance and MacKay-Dunn gets public safety issues.
Lisa is a "green balance", Little a sensible voice Holly Back has considerable business experience and savvy.
Macaulay is a nice guy but obligated to the unions who are both coming up for new contracts so a non-starter.
I have no problem with a realtor or developer sitting on council as they would be obligated to excuse themselves from voting on any projects that would be considered a conflict of interest. Will the fire fighter recognize a conflict of interest when contracts come up for negotiation?
Not a chance.
All contracts must be approved by Metro Vancouver long before council approves anything
GVRD negotiates all Union contracts for the DNV. The Council has no influence whats so ever.
Most Councils in Metro Vancouver want to pull out of the joint bargaining committee and the City of North Van should do so.
We have only given that power up to the joint committee but we, not Metro have the final say.
Metro Vancouver, when the Regional Growth Strategy passes has been given a veto of development projects in the whole area. Our Official Community Plan has to meet their requirements and if they think we are not meeting their goals, then can punish us.
They have a target of 35,000 people per year in the next 10 years and as Darryl says "we have to take our share".
Those who oppose a sensible amalgamation of North Van, should fear the inevitable goal of Metro Vancouver as happened in Toronto. The loss of our regional Council and a Metro Council running everything.
please fill out this survey:
http://blogs.theprovince.com/2011/11/04/municipal-matters-poll-should-a-municipal-auditor-general-be-appointed/
Amalgamation should only take place with the Fire Department, police and health care. Amalgamation with the two North Vancouvers will only give more power to politicians and greater distance from the taxpayers.
The greatest threat to public services is mismanagement, nepotism, and sycophants
With two weeks to go, this will be the final results on November 19th:
Candidate elected in order of rankings:
District: Once again, very dull race without much change. Status quo is the name of the game. Only difference is Nixon will be replaced by Gilmour. Lynn Valley voters are a powerful force and they want Gilmour elected, so someone has to make room. Gerlach will make it on to School Board along with McGraw as the only other newcomers to the District's political scene.
DNV - Mayor
Walton
DNV - Council
Hicks
Muri
Mackay-Dunn
Little
Bassam
Gilmour
DNV - School Board
Stratton
Forward
Gerlach
McGraw
City of North Van: There is just far too many candidates to process on a very crowded ballot. Voters will retreat to the most familiar names. Only changes will be Don Bell added to Council and Bayne added to School Board. All incumbents will be re-elected.
CNV - Mayor
Mussatto
CNV - Council
Bookham
Clark
Heywood
Bell
Keating
Fearnley
CNV - School Board
Skinner
Tasi
Bayne
The greatest threat to public services is the escalting cost of wages and benefits of those providing the services.
One day, and it could be soon, the taxpayer will just say no and staff will be reduced which will reduce service levels.
Anon 10:54 says, "GVRD negotiates all Union contracts for the DNV. The Council has no influence whats so ever."
This person has no clue how negotiations work.
DNV and every other municipality in the region may opt in or out of having GVRD negotiate union contracts for them at the will of council.
Some years ago Delta's council (which was not union sponsored councillor dominated) refused to ratify the firefighter's draft agreement and a lengthy labour dispute ensued.
During last last round of labour negotiations Richmond broke ranks and settled a very generous agreement with CUPE undermining the GVRD negotiations.
Negotiating separate municipal agreements is one of the union strategies called "ratcheting" whereby one union tries to build upon the success of another.
This is why is is very important to unions to endorse and financially support the campaigns of council candidates.
If they can dominate just a few jurisdictions then a favourable contract settlement there can provide a basis for settlements in other non-union sponsored councils, especially if the contract negotiation is sent to arbitration.
The majority of the current CNV council accepted union financial sponsorship.
None of the current DNV councillors accepted union sponsorship.
John Gilmour has been supplied support from by CUPE amongst others
Is that so? Are there any other DNV candidates beside him and Kevin Macauley being supported by the unions?
I take George that in the course of amalgamation there is a cake and we should eat it too?
I would say any move towards amalgamation really moves you closer to a Metro Vancouver. So do you want Mayor Anton telling you your wrong, or Mayor Robinson telling you where you should stick your bike lanes? I don't want that. Many of our citizens do not want that.
Yes 50%+1 is a common number but with apathy of the common voter what it tells me is you are ok with a 45,000 population you are willing to let 3000 of them make your decision for you. Yes 3000 that is half of Darrel's last election numbers when somebody actually voted for something.
The hard work for developing your platform is summarily thrown out the window for your position of trust for the apathetic people.
There should be a referendum but I trust in the 75% becasue if you challange a movement of this nature you have to get the Province to Legislate the new city you create. Would you not want a sense of a strong support for a move such as this?
To me this tells me you're no better than Walton when the fool voted for the gas tax for the new Evergreen Line. Of the seven Mayors who did vote 2 were from the North Shore!
If I was Mayor it would be me whistleblowing the press with the stupidty of the decision and not Corrigan. Our Mayor was silent as always about this decision.
The vote for the Evergreen Line is no different than the decision to Spend 500+ million of Provincial tax dollars on that eye sore of a stadium down town.
The vote is equivalent to the Province giving schools $350 million for renovations when the Federal government goes and DONATES 350$ million to the third world hunger program.
I appreciate goodwill when it has a purpose but I did not have a say in the fact that amy federal government just gave 10$ for every man women and child in this country to a program that does nothing to feed the hungry in Canada. And worse I don't even get the charity contribution tax credit that money was spent on.
So amalgamate this - I want clout when the Province say why bother to change the status quo. I can say "because 75% of the voting population said YES DO IT!" Then when the other 39000 constituents ask me why did you do it. I can say with a clear conscience because "The voting public with a clear majority said DO IT!"
Certain decisions require clarity.
Certain judgements require clarity.
The general public is apathetic to our ability to deal with administrative needs of the city because they think we are not listening to them anyway, so why care at all what the problems are.
It is easier for them to complain about the status quo than it is for them to step up and suggest ways for us to make things better.
I go to the All-candidate meetings and what I see so far is the 1% of the population who has questions about their little universe called themselves. But in truth we go to these meetings and talk to all the other candidates because nobody else is present.
Our elevator pitches only tell these people - who has the best ability to speak. It barely scratches the surface as to whether any of us has any true skill to deal with the problems we will be presented with in the future. Any one of us may have great ideas but it is the leadership and influence of that leadership that is white washed when it comes to ideas. The team is where the ideas get fleshed out and made into reality.
www.Nichols4mayor.org
If I make a promise I would like to think there is no way I am going to break it. Circumstances may say I have no choice; but, I will not make that choice before public saying why. One of the problems with everybosy from the present council to Chrsity Clark is that flip-flopping is easy if you do not consider it something worth being accountable for.
By being Mayor of this City I have 45000 reasons to be responsible and accountable for my choices and how they affect everyone.
I support renters rights, I have been a renter, and I have been on both ends of the renters debate.
Affordability can only be acheived through proper redevelopment of the market structure and not through building charity homes for the poverty line families it tries to encompass. I am not being cold hearted by this statement I am simply pointing out the reality of the situation.
Yes I want everyone with a roof over their heads and food on their table and money in their pocket. Some need help to acheive that and some do not.
It is not the city's job to do any more than help people to help themselves. It is not the city's job to give it to them for nothing. The city is not a charity it is a corporation in charge of the health and welfare of its citizens only inso far as it can help those that want it.
If I could vote in DNV,
Walton
Back
Bassam
Gilmour
Little
Nixon
Hicks
... I have forgotten the name but someone really great ran last election and has not reentered. It'll come back to me soon. He was very much a "green" candidate but did a fantastic job on committees where we worked together.
John Fair... He moved away.
Go Chris...you'll make the trains run on time!
NV Predictor, where on earth do you get the idea that Lynn Valleyites want Gilmour elected? He wants to densify the hell out of it. Did you know there is a little petition signed by over 1000 people in Lynn Valley that is totally against highrises that will encourage more traffic and pollution.
If people want highrises in Lynn Valley they should be built to attract people who will not bring vehicles with them. Therefore the public transit infrastructure needs to be improved. Then, and only then will the true definition of sustainability be realized. People living in highrises, walking distance to amenities, and reasonable public transport when they need to leave the community.
Gilmour wants to build the highrises now at the expense of the livability of all Lynn Valley residents.
The costs associated with the inefficient bureaucracy and poor decisions within local government would keep any food bank on the north shore filled and some.
The costs associated with annual union raises in excess of CPI within local government would keep the food banks filled with the surplus going to the Sally Ann.
So unless local government cleans up its act, the taxpayer will need to continue to support this bloated mess and this may mean taking on 2 or 3 jobs to preserve middle class? Sounds like a micro version of Greece.
Exactly.
Holly Back has also been supported by CUPE
Financially?
Gilmour has his hands in a bunch of developments in the DNV. If elected I see a massive conflict of interest. I hope people can see this...
This bloated mess called local government. Who is the best mayoral candidate in the city and the district that will take on the challenge of cost cutting? Opinions please.
Well neither of them have done it yet.
Mussatto is in bed with the unions so he will never do it. Haven't heard much about CNV mayoral slash and burn candidates.
There is no serious challenge to Walton, so no real choice in DNV.
As a general rule avoid candidates that have taken funding from the civic unions and you've got a slim chance.
With the funding recipients you've got no chance.
Too much frivolous spending in the District. Did we elect a DNV Council, or did we elect DNV Management Staff? It becoming harder to determine.
Management staff spend within a budget as approved by council. The buck stops there and they're responsible for oversight.
You forgot that Mussatto, Keating and whatever team they are supporting are also in bed with the developers as well as CUPE and the Fire fighters.
Makes sense, the Union workers are the only ones who can afford to live in the City of North Vancouver along with the wealthy immigrants
Nonsense! I don't belong to a union, nor am I an immigrant. I own my home because of hard work. Stop blaming others for your own inadequacy! You come off as both classist and racist. Hardly admirable qualities.
Well said!!!!
Hard work now, doesn't cut it anymore.
Those were the days, you have to have
a CUPE job with a Pension now, the
average wage doesn't cut it anymore,
I will be voting for the independent candidates in the City.
What utter crap. How many home owners on the North Shore are members of CUPE vs. employed in the private sector? All the people I know are employed in the private sector and are home owners on the North Shore. Hard work and sound decision making got us where we are. We're certainly not rich, either. Again, stop blaming others for your own inadequacies! Pull up your socks and apply yourself. Don't sit there with your hand out waiting for someone else to do it for you.
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