Doug Griffin for Chelsea, Quebec Ward 1 councillor
Doug Griffin
Welcome to the blog page for Doug Griffin.
The Low Down has invited him to post his campaign platform, ideas, and any other information about the candidate here. We also invite comments from the public in the comments section at the bottom of this page.
Doug Griffin’s Campaign Platform:
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN CHELSEA
As residents of this beautiful place, we like to think that politics in Chelsea is different from politics elsewhere. Sadly, whether you are in Beijing, Washington or Chelsea, the key political question is always the same: In whose interests are decisions being made? Read more.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I was curious Mr. Griffin about you views about the Meredith Centre. You did say during the debate that “if” the project goes ahead we need to be clear where the money is coming from. I thought the sources were clear, the province and federal government and the municipality. I was wondering what other sources you were talking about and what was not clear.
I would not want to see the election become an opportunity to get some needed infrastructure for the children and future families of Chelsea get shelved. The municipality members had the opportunity to vote and the reluctant majority spoke, not some small interest group. Our council should be making sure that it happens and that it is done right and stop questioning whether it should happen at all. I think your ward would like to know your views. I had a few questions about your platform. I was not clear if you supported the “a” or “b” options. Was also curious to know how you define “a benefit, managed debt and what can be afforded”? Finally how would you balance 4b and 5b when the majority has spoken?
Thank you,
One of the reluctant majority
Mathieu:
What I meant by my comment during the debate was that the clock has run out on the $6.1 M funding agreement. This agreement contains very specific milestones and dates that had to be met for the funding to be provided. None has been met. The most important condition was completion of the project by March 31, 2010. Since this is now impossible, this agreement is null and void, and another agreement would be required. Mr. Paul St-Louis, Chelsea’s Director General, wrote to me on October 20, 2009 stating that he is not aware of any new funding agreement. If anyone would know about it, it would be Mr. St-Louis.
Thanks for your comment.
I was reading a recent article in the Low Dow that stated that despite the delays, arguments could easily be made for an extension to the agreement seeing the resources were committed.
I guess my question is regarding your commitment to the Meredith Centre. Would you be fighting to make sure the agreement is extended and the Centre built or would you prefer the Centre not be build at all?
Mathieu - What I object to is the statement made by other candidates that, right now, the $6.1M is secure. I object, because that statement is simply untrue. The only existing agreement has run out of time.
That deception of residents is the election issue. I think it’s time to have a Council that doesn’t deceive residents. I don’t think that’s too much to ask. Of course these candidates would rather change the subject and debate about what might or might not happen in the future, but that’s not the issue. In the future, the feds may offer $12M, or they might offer zero. Nobody can predict that.
Mathieu - with regard to supporting or opposing Meredith - sorry I forgot to mention - I consider it is not the role of councilors to push their own ideas on unwilling or unsuspecting residents. I think it is the role of Council to work to reach a consensus that the majority of residents support. And right now, I believe that the majority of residents would like to have a recreation centre but only if this does not cause a big jump in our already excessive debt, which has clinbed a $million a year for the past 8 years without a new recreation centre. How will we start to manage the debt? As you may know, it was the original vision of Foundation Chelsea to have a centre that would not impose a burden on taxpayers. Council abandoned that approach and I think that was a mistake. I also think it is a mistake to make a decision on any specific proposal without taking the big picture into account. For example, if we did a proper survey, which do you think residents would choose - a new health-care facility or a recreati0n centre? It’s a question of priorities.