Information & Active Living Fair This event is hosted by The Township of Woolwich in partnership with the Older Adult Centres’ Association of Ontario (OACAO) and sponsored by the Ministry of Seniors and Accessibility.
Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019
REGISTRATION REQUIRED! RSVP BY FEBRUARY 7, 2019
9 am - 1:30 pm Calvary United Church
48 Hawkesville Road, St. Jacobs
PLEASE CALL 519-664-1900 OR
TOLL-FREE 1-855-664-1900
Join us for this FREE event!
Speakers, displays on community supports for seniors, door prizes and lunch/snacks included!
01 | 31 | 2019 VOLUME 24 | ISSUE 05
TIMING IS KEY WHEN CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN THE ARTS PAGE 14
COMMENT PAGE 6
POLITICIANS HAVE TO START ASKING QUESTIONS
COUNCIL / WELLESLEY
Wellesley councillors take a united stance against the prospect of amalgamation
ROCK-ING THE HOUSE AT THE WMC
WELLESLEY | 4
PROVINCE / REGIONAL REVIEW
Too early to say if amalgamation is an option Former Waterloo Region chair is getting set for consultation stage as province reviews regional governance
FAISAL ALI If amalgamation is on the agenda as part of the Doug Ford’s ersatz review of regional government, provincial officials would have plenty to think about had they sat in last week on a Wellesley council meeting. The local buzz has been overwhelmingly negative. Full of questions and concerns but short on answers, township councillors spoke in turn about the regional government review and its implications. Mayor Joe Nowak opened the floor to discussion to fellow Wellesley council members, who were resoundingly of one mind on any attempt made to fold the smaller townships into the neighbouring cities. “I think it’s going to be a mistake, and I would definitely not support it,” said Ward 2 Coun. Herb Neher, who gave a long list of concerns and problems that an amalgamated system of government would risk. “Well I’ve got a few of them. Bigger is not always better, that’s been proven,” said Neher. “Usually they do not save money as they claim they’re
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FAISAL ALI
Rachel Homan of Team Homan takes on Team Tippin during curling action Wednesday at the Woolwich Memorial Centre. Hers was Canada’s team at the 2018 Winter Olympics, and took the gold at the 2017 World Women’s Curling Championship. [FAISAL ALI]
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Ken Seiling spent 33 years at the helm of Waterloo Region, helping to steer the municipality through many changes. Though now retired, he may be involved in more transformations. That will depend, however, on what comes of the province’s review of regional governments. Seiling was selected as one of two special advisors for the Ford government’s review, which will see some nine upper-tier governments and 73 lower-tier governments put under the microscope – and possibly on the dissection table as well. Along with former deputy minister Michael Fenn, he’ll be advising Queen’s Park about possible changes to the structure of regional governance. Locally, the review has raised concerns of the possibility of amalgamation,
with the smaller townships facing the risk of being absorbed by their bigger neighbours. “There’s not a lot I can say to you right now,” said Seiling in an interview this week. “We’re just designing the consultation and trying to get a handle on how we’re going to proceed, because it’s a pretty short timeframe to do such a major review. So I really can’t say much more than I’m pleased to be working with Michael Fenn.” The timing is indeed tight, as the special advisors will have until the summer to complete their interviews and research, and submit their recommendations on the 82 municipalities. They’ll be answering such specific questions as “are two-tier structures appropriate for all of these municipalities?” and “does the distribution of AMALGAMATION | 4
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