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"...where I come from they call that democracy." -Walter
Robinson |
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NEWS ITEM:
Rural Council
holds public meeting
at the Kinburn
Community Centre
November 8th,
2004
Guest Speaker:
Walter Robinson
LINK TO
MEETING NOTICE - PRESS RELEASE
(A link to
Walter Robinson's speaking notes are at bottom of this page.) |
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Ottawa Valley News --------------
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A city boy's
take on the emerging rural agenda
By Karen Secord
Ottawa Valley NewsNovember 10, 2004
Early on in his presentation Walter
Robinson, the past federal director of the Canadian Taxpayer's
Federation, engaged his mostly disgruntled rural audience at the
Kinburn Community Centre on Monday evening, when he described his
past occupation as a "national tax fighter" and his present one as a
"Member of Parliament in exile."
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Guest speaker Walter
Robinson, the former Federal Director for the Canadian
Taxpayers Federation, with Donrobin resident Peter
Scott-Smith |
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"I've seen many
organizations of anger fizzle into oblivion," he told
the 150 or so in attendance for a Rural Council meeting.
"Congratulations to the Rural Council for turning your
anger into advocacy, irritation into information, and
resignation into a resolve for recognition, respect and
results."
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I've seen many organizations of
anger fizzle into oblivion," he told the 150 or so in attendance for
a Rural Council meeting. "Congratulations to the Rural Council for
turning your anger into advocacy, irritation into information, and
resignation into a resolve for recognition, respect and results."
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On this night there were
representatives in attendance from the West Carleton Rural
Association, the Ottawa Farmers' Business Association, the Lanark
Landowners Association, the Richmond Village Association, the
Osgoode Chamber of Commerce, and the Willola Beach Property Owners
Association.
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Robinson was introduced by Rural
Council president Bob McKinley. "Walter resigned his position with
the Taxpayer's Federation to run for the Conservatives.
Unfortunately the voters lacked the good judgement to elect him."
With only 735 days left before the
November 13, 2006 municipal election, Robinson had the audience in
the palm of his hand when he reminded them that "democracy ceases to
exist if we cannot criticize."
"If you're getting under the skin
of your councillors then good for you," he said.
The Rural Council is an
organization that was formed in March 2004 when rural businesses,
farmers, and landowners within the City of Ottawa came together at
the Nepean Sportsplex to offer their support for a new way to deal
with what they perceive as inequitable treatment in the amalgamated
city structure.
On this night there were
representatives in attendance from the West Carleton Rural
Association, the Ottawa Farmers' Business Association, the Lanark
Landowners Association, the Richmond Village Association, the
Osgoode Chamber of Commerce, and the Willola Beach Property Owners
Association. Rideau Coun. Glen Brooks and
Osgoode Coun. Doug Thompson were also present. West Carleton Coun.
Eli El-Chantiry sent his regrets.
Robinson continued by sharing his
belief that the issues facing rural Ottawa are hardly unique. |
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Mike Campbell, President
of the Willola Beach Property Owners Association, with
Rural Council President Bob McKinley. |
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"Rural residents across the country
are telling elected officials and policy wonks that the citys agenda
-- while it is important and real -- cannot and must not become the
sole preoccupation of politicians to the detriment of real rural
concerns," he said.
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"...
they are complaining a lot these days... it's great
isn't it... where I come from they call it democracy."
"...democracy ceases to exist if we cannot criticize."
-Walter Robinson
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Robinson attempted to explain "a
perception problem in the downtown corridor and among the economic
development community as a whole" by recalling a conversation he had
recently had with a city official, and a simple research project he
undertook.
"I mentioned to a city official...
late last week that I was looking forward to my speech this evening.
His response was terse: 'Ah, yes, the rural whiners, regardless of
what we do, they'll never be happy, all they do is complain and
criticize' and on he went with his vitriol..."
Robinson's response was positive
yet biting.
"You know, you're absolutely
right... they are complaining a lot these days... it's great isn't
it... where I come from they call it democracy."
But it was probably his recounting
of the research he had done on Ottawa's top three web sites that
really caught people's attention.
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"There is no mention of the 100,000
people who live in the rural area or 95 percent of the geographic
footprint of Ottawa. And there is no mention of the economic
contribution or the hi-tech innovation that you bring into the city.
And on the city's website, Ottawa.ca, there is nothing about the
people who live in the rural areas."
-Walter Robinson
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While the Ottawa Carleton Research
and Innovation (OCRI) site and Ottawa.com site are the catchall for
every imaginable fact and figure about Ottawa, Robinson was
surprised to discover that there is little mention of the city's
rural component.
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"There is not one person on the
city payroll who has any ability to inform the city on rural
issues."
..."If your councillor doesn't represent you, doesn't
share your values, then start looking for someone who
does."
-Bob
McKinley, President of the Rural Council
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"There is no mention of the 100,000
people who live in the rural area or 95 percent of the geographic
footprint of Ottawa. And there is no mention of the economic
contribution or the hi-tech innovation that you bring into the city.
And on the city's website, Ottawa.ca, there is nothing about the
people who live in the rural areas."
However, on the subject of
de-amalgamation Robinson and McKinley did not see eye-to-eye.
"I don't think we can put the
toothpaste back in the tube," said Robinson, who admitted to being a
key proponent of amalgamation. "I think as the city continues to
grow there might be a way to have a two tier municipal structure,
but not under the guise of de-amalgamation."
"There is not one person on the
city payroll who has any ability to inform the city on rural
issues," countered McKinley.
"If your councillor doesn't
represent you, doesn't share your values, then start looking for
someone who does," he added. "One thing a politician hates more than
anything else is to be voted out of power. We need to expand the
basis of our influence and use it during the election of 2006. We
can hold the balance of power."
For more information on the
activities of the Rural Council, or to find out how you can become a
member, go to
www.ruralcouncil.ca.
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