MCC quick to respond following earthquake that struck Turkey, Syria

she explained. Richard Clausi of the Elmira branch of the Legion emphasized the level of respect in Mitchell’s entry.

“Quite often people see in art something that the artist may not have put in, I guess it’s the beauty of poetry, essays and especially art. You bring your own interpretation to it. If it can create a little bit of reflection, a little bit of thought, it is a good piece of art. This one does get you thinking – there’s simplicity and yet a depth in the drawing. When I saw that, I was moved and our veterans were moved,” he explained.

However, Mitchell did not have a specific message she was trying to send with her poster.

“I just wanted to capture the [impact it had on] people and just they fought for freedom.”

→ POSTER 24

Bill Atwood Observer Staff

WITH THE DEATH TOLL FROM last week’s 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Turkey and Syria reaching more than 38,000, the Mennonite Central Committee is working with its volunteers on the ground to provide emergency relief.

“MCC has been working in Syria for decades. And particularly over the past

10 plus years as a conflict has been going on there with different armed groups….So when the earthquake happened, our partners were already on the ground doing work… and were able to pivot really quickly to begin to offer emergency services and support for people on the ground,” said MCC spokesperson Laura Kalmar.

Working mostly in the city of Aleppo, the volun- teers are coordinating with their eight partner organizations who are opening shelter centers in churches and community buildings and providing emergency food, shelter, hygiene, sanitation supplies and trauma counselling.

One MCC volunteer described the devastation the earthquake left in its wake.

“We are only beginning to see the enormity of this disaster,” said Garry Mayhew, who, along with his wife Kate, are MCC representatives for Lebanon, Syria and Iraq.

“The sheer numbers of lives lost, injured and displaced are overwhelming, and numbers will continue to grow in the days ahead,” Mayhew said in a release.

The earthquake is the latest tragedy in a country that has been rocked by → MCC 8

WELLESLEY: Township looks to hold more public meetings to get the word out

→ FROM 3 said. “The other part of lack of transparency is the fact that the budget just gets approved with a ridiculous number without consultation within the community.”

Nowak said the process for the recreation centre costing and tax increase was completely public, referring to the ‘frequently asked questions’ page released last week by the township.

The FAQ says the cost of the project increased from $22 to $27.2 million because of the pandemic. The contract for the increased cost of the complex was discussed and eventually approved at a public meeting held at the Linwood recreation centre in December 2021.

Five days prior, township staff published a release on the website advertising this meeting, and encouraged the public to come. It said the sole purpose of the meeting was to “review the Wellesley Township Recreation Complex contract.” It did not explicitly state the possible increase to taxes. Proof of vaccination was required to attend, and the meeting was streamed on the township’s YouTube channel.

Multiple comments from residents in support of the project are recorded in the meeting’s minutes, with no presentations from any residents opposed.

Rakowski said the December meeting and its implications were not common knowledge, adding a survey with the updated numbers should have been sent out directly to residents.

“I myself was not aware of the meeting,” said Rakowski, noting others in the Wellesley Township Concerned Citizens group were likewise unaware of it. “So, I guess I would like to know why people were not more clued-in unless you were in favour of it.”

The debenture for $8 million and its impact on taxpayers was discussed and eventually approved at a council meeting in March 2022. The agenda for that meeting does not include mention that council was going to vote on the debenture that day, but was added in an addendum. A report included in the addendum, prepared the day before, included the anticipated increase in yearly tax paid by the average household of $112.80. This was based on the 2016 MPAC assessment of the average property value in the township.

“Every stage of this from 2019 on, every stage of the approval process for the recreation complex was considered in a public forum and with public reports. Public meetings, open council sessions,” said Nowak.

Nowak wrote about the original projected amount to taxpayers based on the average property assessment in the township of $47 per year on Facebook in June 2021. When asked why the township staff and council did not communicate about the changes to the cost and tax rate more aggressively, he responded:

“We put our agendas on our web page. I believe they can be accessed on social media. When the agendas are coming out, I sometimes put them online. We do, I think, what most communities do as far as getting the message out. We would hope that people would read the newspapers and I guess the website is the place where most of this information can be had.

I don’t know how much more aggressive we can be. But I think that’s pretty standard procedure, in all communities.” He later added, “I believe we can always do better and will endeavour to do so.”

Nowak noted there were numerous options for people to voice their ‘want list’ as a new recreation complex was first being considered, adding that no one attended the 2023 budget meetings.

“The budget sessions were held, they were two full days. Line by line, each department defended their line items and we looked at them vigorously. To suggest that council just sort of rubber stamped this is absolutely wrong,” he said.

“As mayor I’ve gone through eight budgets, and in each case, we put out that those budget discussions are happening and they’re open sessions, people are allowed to come, and they’re allowed to make presentations. I can think of one person in eight years that actually made a presentation. So, transparent, I’ll stand by that. This council has been extremely transparent. They worked hard for those two days.”

Nowak acknowledges a 14 per cent tax increase is high. “Of course it is, I have to pay it too. I understand full well that it’s an increase,” he said.

Residents were also angry that attendees of last week’s council meeting were not allowed to speak after Rakowski’s delegation. According to the township website, anyone can ask to speak at a public meeting, and a member of council can put forth a motion to let them speak for five minutes.

In response, Nowak said, “It appeared to me at the time, what with some of the comments heard at the time, that it would be difficult to maintain a civil discussion. It is possible to allow for unregistered guests to address council but that is at the chair’s discretion. Were a member of council to make a motion, proper procedures would be followed. I also hoped at the time that my invitation to meet with them in another forum would be satisfactory. Our CAO did explain the differences between an open forum and a council meeting.”

Rakowski says the Wellesley Township Concerned Citizens group is reaching out to staff and council to schedule that meeting.

She noted members of the group realize the recreation centre is going to be built whether or not they agree, and are now taking a closer look at the budget for 2023 that was passed by council last month.

“The main focus now is budget. Budget and transparency, and understanding why, for a population of 11,500 people, our expenses are so high,” she said.

She says earlier this week the group dropped flyers at Canada Post destined for every household in the township, are putting up lawn signs and will be following up with council and staff to have that meeting.

“If there is nothing to hide, then they should not have an issue about wanting a civil discussion. It will be monitored. And through an open and honest dialogue, taxpayers can understand the decision making made by staff and approved by council.”

Nowak said that council is considering having more public forums in the township’s villages to facilitate more open, roundtable discussions going forward.

OPP reports collisions, fatalities rose in 2022 over previous year

New data released this week by the Ontario Provincial Police show both the number of collisions and fatalities increased last year over 2021 figures.

The data provide a two-year comparison snapshot of traffic fatalities, collisions and their contributing factors, and the most compelling reminder that roads, waterways and trails are only as safe as the actions and behaviours of those who use them, police said in a release, noting the information dispels the notion that traffic fatalities are “accidents,” when in fact, the majority are the result of conscious, poor decisions around taking risks that cause or contribute to people losing their lives. The number of colli- sions on OPP-monitored roads rose to 74,173 in 2022 versus 60,659 the year prior. There were 359 fatalities, up from 315.

Of those fatalities, 85 last year were speed-related (81 in 2021), while 61 were blamed on inattentiveness (up from 60).

Sixty-four were attributed to alcohol or drug use (32 in 2021), and 61 were seatbelt-related (47). There were 44 deaths in motorcycle collisions, up from 35. That the riders lost control contributed to seven of the deaths.

Police point out that they recognize that adopting and maintaining safe, lawful actions and behaviours falls on everyone who uses the roadways, highways, waterways and trails.

Anonymous tips can be submitted online by visiting www.waterloocrimestoppers.com.

February 8

10:15 AM | Perth County OPP have charged one person after a domestic investigation following a disturbance at a Perth Line 55 address in the Township of Perth East.

It was reported that the accused attended the victim’s residence and damaged a door. A 41-year-old resident of Perth East was arrested and charged with ‘mischief – domestic’ and ‘fail to comply with probation order.’ The accused was released from custody and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Stratford at a later date to answer to the charges.

10 : 45 PM | Police received a report of a theft from a vehicle that was parked on Charlotta Street in Baden. Anyone with information is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.

10 : 54 PM | Waterloo

Regional Police received a report of a vehicle striking a deer while travelling on Notre Dame Drive in Wilmot Township.

FEBRUARY 9

9 : 40 AM | The Perth County OPP are investigating a stolen truck with keys left in the vehicle from the Township of Perth East. The vehicle, a black 2012 GMC Sierra, was taken some time overnight from the victim’s residence on Line 47 in Perth East. Anyone with information regarding this or any incident is asked to call the OPP at 1-888-3101122 or online at www. opp.ca/reporting. Should you wish to remain anonymous you can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-2228477 (TIPS) or leave an anonymous online message at www.P3tips. com where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000

3 : 00 PM | Police received a report of a

WETLANDS: Areas declining even as we are more dependent on them

wetlands. And because their connections are less apparent, a lot of times when you’re trying to pave over land, they don’t have as much protection.”

Basu and her team found these isolated wetlands actually outperform connected wetlands when it comes to filtering and cleaning pollutants.

When nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus make their way through the watershed to wetlands, one of the main ways they clean these pollutants is through micro-bacteria that live in them. The micro-bacteria can break nitrogen down quickly, but need the time to be in contact with the nutrient, says Frederick Cheng, a postdoctoral researcher now at Colorado State University who worked with Basu on the research.

He said whereas more connected wetlands tend to flush nutrient-laden water to continue to move it through the watershed, these less connected wetlands hold the water and give the bacteria time to digest it.

“In isolated wetlands, most of the water leaves through evaporation, so the water leaves and the nitrogen stays in the wetland, so that increases the time that the microbes can then transform the nitrogen,” he said.

Cheng notes the process is actually pretty fast. “It’s just a matter of letting the nitrogen come into contact with the micro-bacteria which tend to live in the soil portion of the wetlands, so it can happen in a matter of hours or days. As long as there’s that contact.”

They studied 30 years of satellite imagery measuring water levels in 3,700 wetlands across the United States, and compared this with pre-established measurements of how much pollution wetlands at these water levels can filter to establish a model comparing connected and isolated wetlands. shoplifting incident from a business on Farmers Market Road in Woolwich Township. As a result of the investigation, a 34-year-old Kitchener man was arrested and charged with ‘theft under $5,000’ and ‘possession of stolen property under $5,000.’ Anyone with information is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.

Basu said that when a small wetland is connected continuously to a downstream water body, it removes about 40 per cent of the nitrogen that comes in. But when the same wetland is disconnected, it removes about 84 per cent.

February 10

8 : 46 AM | Waterloo Regional Police made a fifth arrest in connection to disturbances involving youths that took place in Elmira on September 28. The Woolwich Township youth was charged with ‘Administer Noxious Substance’ and ‘Assault with a Weapon.’ The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 519-570-9777 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-2228477. Anonymous tips can be submitted online by visiting www.waterloocrimestoppers.com.

February 12

9 : 15 AM | A Kitchener man faces charges related to a stolen vehicle after being arrested in Wilmot Township. Police initially received a report of a stolen Toyota RAV4 from an address in Waterloo. Shortly after, police received another call that reported a driver of a RAV4 was driving erratically. The stolen vehicle was located by police in a parking lot in the area of Erbsville Road and Erb Street in Waterloo. As police approached the vehicle, the driver fled the scene, striking a police cruiser, before continuing to flee at a high rate of speed. A short time later, the same vehicle was located by officers in Wilmot Township, where the driver was placed under arrest. The 32-year-old man was charged with a long list of offences, including ‘theft of a motor vehicle,’ ‘flight from police,’ impaired operation’ and ‘breach of a judicial order.’

The wetlands in question don’t need to be large. In fact, many of the wetlands studied for this research were less than 0.5 hectares, and some smaller than 0.1.

Excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous cause algal blooms in the Great Lakes by providing more food for algae. These blooms can be potentially toxic and cause the closure of beaches. In 2014, the water supply for Toledo, Ohio on the coast of Lake Erie was shut off due to toxic algal bloom.

Recently, protection for wetlands in Ontario has been reduced, which Basu sees as disconnected from the research showing their importance.

“I’ve been thinking about it quite a lot. And this is true in southern Ontario, where we’ve already lost over 70 per cent of our wetlands and now we are at risk of losing more. And we argue that we need to do this because we need to build more houses. But the challenge of that is, if you add more people to our landscape, you create more pollution. And so you will need these wetlands even more. We will be taking them away at a time when we need them even more. And that’s the dissonance that is really striking.”

Opinion

When

Connect: observerxtra.com/staff

Verbatim

“Let’s not blame ‘the market’ for our woes. Landlords choose to hike rents to increase profits, and our governments choose to let them.”

Ricardo Tranjan, a political economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, notes rents have increased by an average 18% between tenancies, a key part of soaring prices.

With their protests against tax increases, Wellesley residents are setting an example that should be followed by other municipal ratepayers.

A 14 per cent tax hike would be a bridge too far at any time, but is especially irksome given the economic burden already heaped on residents.

More than half of the tax increase represents debt payments on a new township recreation complex. In opting to spend a large chunk of money on the facility, council knew there would be a large burden spread out over a fairly small tax base – such is the reality of spending in all of the townships and especially in Wellesley.

The township went through the usual public process, but only now are questions and concerns being raised, as residents face the real financial consequences of that decision. A large general tax increase is also under fire, with residents scrutinizing many of the budget items that we’ve long decried as problematic.

Wellesley is not alone in both using the cover of “public consultation” and routinely making spending choices with little input. In fact, it’s historically been more conscious of such issues, its size putting a limit on revenues and, thus, spending options. The kind of scrutiny now underway is long overdue. Profligacy is rampant at every municipality in the area, the regional government being the most egregious of the lot.

Municipal councils do have a great deal of influence over the quality of life in their communities. That’s especially true in the townships, where even small decisions can have a noticeable impact.

Co-opted into the bubble, local politicians have largely taken on the mindset of the public sector employees whose interests are increasingly at odds with residents’ needs, particularly when it comes to spending priorities and keeping budgets under control.

For the system to work properly, even municipal politics must be like the legal system: adversarial. When warranted, council members must be at odds with staff and even with each other, as debate makes for better representation. Unfortunately, such democratic and accountable action is in short supply.

Where things could improve is the use of direct democracy –taking much of the power away from politicians and bureaucrats and putting it in the hands of voters. Major spending and other changes would demand a referendum, one in which a majority of voters would have to take part.

Given the increasingly undemocratic nature of governments globally, even in the ersatz democracies of the West, anything that provides us with a more representative democracy is a good idea. By that I mean democracy that represents the will of the people, as opposed to our system of representative democracy wherein we elect a few people to make decisions in our name. That’s a system that’s clearly showing some strain.

Only the most partisan among us would agree we’re well governed: from the autocratic financial mismanagement in Ottawa and Queen’s Park right on down through regional and local governments, we’re hardly getting full value, yet along anything resembling true representation.

The fact that government has deteriorated to its current state is testament to what happens when we disengage from politics, ironically. In giving the power to a few elected officials and overzealous bureaucrats, we have politicians who make themselves unaccountable for their actions, civil servants pursuing pet projects and pestering of citizens in equal measures.

Those in power – those officially so and those pulling the strings – won’t cede control easily. The public will have to take it. Communication technology theoretically provides the means to exercise direct control, though only if it widens the disingenuous public consultation farce we see from governments today: so few people participate as to not only render it undemocratic, but the process opens the door to the tyranny of the minority while providing cover to officials bent on circumventing the public will.

The Monitor

Canadians already pay the highest taxes on beer in the G7. Yet, the federal government is on track to raise its beer taxes by another 6.3% on April 1, 2023, the biggest increase in 40 years – at the same time as the cost of living for Canadian families is already skyrocketing. Beer Canada