Newmarket Era February 25

Page 1

CUDDY SHARK

FEB. 29 LORE

OUR VIEW

FORMING BONDS PAGE B7 KEY TO JR. A LOOP

FUN FACTS THAT LEAP AT US PAGE A3 EVERY 4 YEARS

POP THAT DOWNTOWN VISIONARY BUBBLE PAGE A6

THE ERA NEWMARKET

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Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016

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COLDEST NIGHT SMASHES GOAL

Should mayors have supported councils’ vote? Regional politicians free to vote with their conscience BY LISA QUEEN

W

lqueen@yrmg.com

hen four York Region mayors voted against NewmarketAurora MPP Chris Ballard’s private member’s bill advocating for an elected regional chair — even though their local councils supported it — it raised an interesting question. Should mayors vote in favour of the wishes of their local councils if they disagree or according to their own conscience? According to the Municipal Act, a mayor, as chief executive officer of a municipality, shall uphold and promote the purposes of the municipality. Last week at regional council, Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti, Newmarket Mayor Tony Van

GET CONNECTED ❑

For more stories on this issue, follow bit.ly/1mLRgN0 or email tkibble@yrmg.com

Bynen, Aurora Mayor Geoff Dawe and East Gwillimbury Mayor Virginia Hackson voted contrary to the positions their local council had taken on Ballard’s bill, although they did agree to look at the idea of an elected chair as part of a governance review. Whitchurch-Stouffville Mayor Justin Altmann was the only mayor whose municipality had considered the issue who voted in favour of Ballard’s bill at regional council, which mirrored his vote See page A4.

ONLINE NEWS

STAFF PHOTO/STEVE SOMERVILLE

Anastasia Trutneva, Patrick Derry and Kelly Stacy lead a fun dance exercise on stage during Saturday’s local Coldest Night of the Year walk that started at Riverwalk Commons. For the story and more photos, go to yorkregion.com by following bit.ly/1L9QPru. For more, visit innfromthecold.ca or call 905-895-8889.

PUBLIC TRANSIT

Service improvements bring worries, hopes DON’T SEE IT IN THE PAPER? CHECK OUT MORE STORIES ONLINE INCLUDING:

❐ POLICE DISAPPOINTED: People just aren’t getting ‘don’t drink/drive’ message: bit.ly/20QMlb1

❐ DINE SAFE YORK: Find out which restaurants and pubs aren’t meeting health standards: bit.ly/1KpTRrt ❐ 2 HIT & RUNS: York Region man arrested following two incidents in Oshawa: bit.ly/1QagbT3

❐ LIFE STORY: Decorated Second World War veteran from Newmarket remembered: bit.ly/20TDoh9

It’s an ‘unprecedented time in transit. There’s a lot going on’ BY LISA QUEEN

W

lqueen@yrmg.com

hen Jen Bowie and her husband bought their Aurora home almost three years ago, they deliberately chose a house backing on the railway tracks because they didn’t want neighbours behind them. Now, with the promise of 15-minute GO train service arriving over coming years, the mother of a toddler and baby is wondering whether constant disruptive, noisy trains will soon be her new “neighbours.” “Where we lived before, we were in a fish bowl, so this time, we wanted something where we didn’t

COMMUNICATION

FILE PHOTO

have people’s backyards backing on to us,” the Walton Drive resident said in explaining their decision to buy a house backing on to the train tracks. “My main thing is if (train service is going to be) every 15 minutes,

E

BY CHRIS SIMON

GET CONNECTED

AFTER

‘I’m truly sorry’, Muzzo tells court

Councillors and former

council candidate debate the very politician has a right to use social media merits of ‘blocking’ residents in any capacity he or on social media she deems fit, even if it means blocking some constituents, most Newmarket council members argued Monday. In probably the liveliest portion of this week’s committee of the whole meeting, Newmarket council members debated the merits and role of social media as a method of communicating with residents. They did this during a deputation from John Heckbert, THINKSTOCK who ran unsuccessfully for the Debate heats up over whether politicians have the right to block Ward 5 seat in the 2014 municiharassment, ‘trolls’ over social media. pal election, and who called on councillors to consider a provision their elected representatives in in council’s draft code of conduct any manner they choose; any regarding social media. attempt to prevent citizens exerBasically, he wants to prevent cising this right is undemocratic, ❑ What do you think about this ispoliticians from blocking or cenunethical and unprofessional,” sue? How should it be handled? soring a resident’s ability to see Heckbert said, though he did Email tkibble@yrmg.com their posts, specifically referring applaud the town’s current effort to the privately operated social to update its code. media site, Twitter. Each member Tony Van Bynen, Heckbert said. “Social media is here to stay. of council has an account on that “I base my comments around The mayor has specifically idenplatform, but he’s currently barred democracy being one of the key from seeing posts made by Countenets for the right of citizens cillor Dave Kerwin and Mayor being able to question and engage See page A4.

BEFORE

See page A8.

JUSTICE

Council gets riled up regarding social media csimon@yrmg.com

even every half an hour, and we can see them from our backyard because there is a hill at the back, it’s the

Man who killed 4 people apologizes to family

‘I

BY CHRIS SIMON

csimon@yrmg.com

’m truly sorry... from the bottom of my heart.” Choking back tears, Marco Muzzo says he has been “tortured” by his decision to drive drunk, which led to a crash that caused the deaths of four members of the Neville-Lake family Sept. 27. Muzzo gave a statement lasting several minutes to the packed courtroom of Justice Michelle Fuerst in Newmarket Wednesday. It was another emotional day at the courthouse, as Crown and defence attorneys took turns making sentencing statements.

i

For more stories on this issue, follow bit.ly/1KI9bjr. Comments? Email tkibble@yrmg.com

“I stand here... with great remorse,” he said. “I’ve listened to the catastrophic consequences of my actions. I’m at a loss for words and in constant search for the right way to express my sorrow. There are no actions that can ever change what happened.” The Crown is pushing for Muzzo to be sentenced to 10 to 12 years in See page A12.

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