Good news for Oshawa! $4 Million Federal/Provincial Phase 1 of the Safe Restart money is coming to Oshawa immediately and a possible second payment to Oshawa may be available in Phase 2, in early 2021.

The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Steve Clark. wrote the City of Oshawa today with further details about the federal funds secured up to $4 billion in emergency assistance to provide Ontario’s 444 municipalities with the support they need to respond to COVID- 19.
The funds are allocated on a per household basis and the share that the City of Oshawa will receive is a payment of $4,012,300 to support Oshawa’s COVID-19 operating costs and pressures.

Canadian municipalities were asking since the COVID spring, and the federal and provincial governments recently responded, $4billion to the 444 Ontario's municipalities (Toronto is separate, with its own City of Toronto Act and maybe you heard, it is getting $400 Million).

There was "$1.6 billion in critical funding today to help strengthen our communities and safely restart our economy," said Premier Ford. "This first round of funding will address the most urgent needs of our communities, ensuring critical services like transit and shelters are there when people need them most."

Interesting to see all the local municipalities announcing how much they are receiving. Compared to Oshawa's $4M, Barrie is receiving $6.6M; Orillia $1.7M; Perry Sound Muskoka $10M; Belleville $2.8M; Mississauga $46M....

https://news.ontario.ca/.../ontario-providing...

Finally! The eyesore Petrocor tanks will be soon gone!

The Hamilton and Oshawa Ports amalgamated in June 2019 and in December 2019 HOPA purchased the adjacent old Petrocor property at 1615 Simcoe St. S. 

An August 3, 2020 Dry Bulk industry magazine article  states: "Starting this week, on the port’s west wharf, the dilapidated former Petrocor tank facility is being decommissioned and removed."  

Interestingly the same article also describes a new initiative involving Parkland Fuel Corporation  -Parkland has filed a "Notice of Permission to evaluate investment in a modern liquid bulk transfer facility on the port’s east wharf, to serve the regional market."  In addition to its many businesses, oil refinery, gasoline, propane and diesel retail services stations and network of convenience stores such as 'On the Run' across Canada, northern U.S. and in the Caribbean, Parkland most notably has  "extensive experience operating commodity transload terminals in Ontario".


According to the Parkland website "Parkland delivers competitive petroleum products and serves local communities across North America and the Caribbean. Parkland owns several proprietary brands, holds a license to use the Ultramar brand and is also a branded distributor of major fuel brands, such as Chevron and Esso", Pioneer and Racetrac.

As the article, which is also on the City of Oshawa website, notes:  in just over its first year HOPA is "attracting investment, and building new awareness of its role as a gateway to the Greater Toronto Area."

A Parkland Senior Vice-President is quoted as saying "an import terminal in Oshawa would complement our existing transloading facilities in the Greater Toronto Area.”
The import terminal would represent an incremental expansion of Parkland’s strategic supply infrastructure in Ontario. The terminal would strengthen the company’s ability to reliably and cost efficiently supply its almost 700 Ontario retail, commercial, and wholesale locations, including the Pioneer, Ultramar, and Sparlings brands.
“We have a track record of prudent capital investment in opportunities that advance our strategy, We believe we can leverage the Port of Oshawa’s marine and rail infrastructure and focus our potential investment on tank construction, wharf connectivity, and load-out capabilities to efficiently extend our supply advantage.”


A Question Concerning One Unmentioned Aspect of the Good News Story:

Is the road infrastructure to the Port lands in Oshawa going to be ready to accommodate the new Oshawa Port growth?

With the Sollio grain silo now in full operation and more grain silos planned, and potential Parkland Fuel Corporation liquid bulk tanks, that means a lot of truck haulage on the next leg of the supply chain network. Anyone observing the current traffic conditions on Farewell St. and at the Harmony/401 interchange will understand how this road system is not up to meeting an explosion of truck traffic.

HOPA President, Ian  Hamilton says $25 million is needed "in work such as dock reconstruction, lighting and dredging that are essential for the port to fulfil its trade-enabling mission." and “The population of the GTHA will soon surpass 8 million people. We’ve got to be thinking about the transportation network and industrial supply chains needed to sustain a population of that size.” 

But it is the Region of Durham and Province of Ontario who are responsible for the transportation infrastructure to and from the Port.  Many millions of tax dollars will be needed to reconstruct the Harmony/Farewell/401 interchange. Where are the announcements from Durham Region Chair John Henry and Ontario Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney about this one key component of ensuring the investments at the Port succeed?  

Could it be, with the Region's climate change policies, there may not be support for a fossil fuel transfer facility at the Oshawa port. Besides, the economics of the facility remain to be seen:

"Starting in August 2020, Parkland will use the seven-month due diligence period to complete engineering design plans, prepare for various regulatory filings, and conclude economics."

Meanwhile we are told, "for its part, HOPA Ports is focused on ensuring the port has the critical supply chain infrastructure to serve the near-term needs of jump-starting economic sectors like construction and manufacturing."

​Oshawa Public Utilities says power outage for the night and trees down in Oshawa's Hamlet of Raglan and north to Coates Rd. Drive with care!

The City of Oshawa has for a long time now employed private security, and it clearly has evolved over the years.

As a new City Councillor I learned during the 2019 budget deliberations how much the City pays for private security, over 1 Million dollars, and was shocked it was that high.  This amount is in addition to the costs of the City's Municipal By-law Enforcement department.

I won't forget while in the City's security office 18 months ago, waiting to receive my electronic door-swipe card, how surreal it seemed to watch the bio tracking features on the video screens, and the incredible extent of security cameras (over 400) that are monitored by the private security and used to surveil  movements at City Hall and other City properties and facilities.

During the pandemic this spring, at the City's first electronic Council meeting  April 27, 2020,  the contract with G4S, the City's private security company was renewed for $1.16 million as follows:

"1. That the Manager, Purchasing Services be authorized to extend a one year contract as detailed in Report FIN-20-22 dated March 4, 2020 to G4S Secure Solutions (Canada) Ltd. for the provision of corporate security services; and

2. That the Manager, Purchasing Services be authorized to extend the contract for an additional three, one-year terms, subject to favorable service, pricing and Council approval.. Council renewed the contract in April."

The renewal was based on the March 4th, 2020 Staff Report which was written before the COVID-19 Declaration of Emergency.

It states that the G4S service for Oshawa includes:

"11 security guards and one supervisor to provide security to over 40 facilities, 24/7, 365 days per year. Security shifts are organized into day shifts (7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.), afternoon shifts (3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.), and night shifts (7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.)."

It includes further details such as:

"There are three to four security guards and one supervisor providing security guard services at any point in time to perform various duties including but not limited to:
• monitoring approximately 400 surveillance cameras including regular review to ensure ongoing functionality
• monitoring card access activities, alerts, and fire alarms 
• providing mobile guard services for patrols of approximately 40 City facilities (mobile and foot patrols of buildings and property)
• receiving urgent after-hours calls and dispatching to various City departments as appropriate
• providing additional guard services for Special events, Committee/Council meetings and By-law Screenings and Hearings
• securing of fire scenes while awaiting the Ontario Fire Marshal’s arrival on site
• coordinate with emergency services as required in response to incidents
• enforcing hours of park operations
• respond to intercoms located in City elevators and parking garages
• document incidents including response and resolution and advising facility operators as appropriate"

The facts are this Council is committed to improving the plight of the homeless and marginalized in the City,  Many efforts have been made to balance compassion with security of property and safety for all.

The City has committed funding and dedicated resources, time and support to several initiatives, with support from the Region of Durham, the John Howard Society, the Downtown BIA, the CAREA Community Health Centre and various service and church groups.

​Here are links to the City's website that provide details of the services and support made available to those in need: "Contact Us - Finding Help" https://www.oshawa.ca/residents/contact-us-finding-help.asp and "It Begins with Us" https://www.oshawa.ca/residents/it-begins-with-us.asp  "Working Together" https://www.oshawa.ca/residents/working-together.asp

​On October 3, 2019 the City held a 4 and 1/2 hour Special Council meeting to hear from over a dozen presenters concerning programs and care services offered by Non-Profits; in addition to over a dozen citizen delegations who were speaking "in response to some of the negative impacts of individuals living in area greenspaces and other impacts on neighbouring residential communities".

At this Special Public Meeting Council unanimously approved the following motions:

1. “That Council adopt the recommendation contained in Report CNCL-19-62 concerning City’s efforts to assist those living unsheltered.” and
2. "That the Chief of the Durham Regional Police Service be invited to a future meeting of Oshawa City Council to explain what steps are being taken to address the out of control drug use, prostitution and associated criminal activity that is plaguing the downtown and south central communities of Oshawa."
   
   

Since then, although the Chief of DRPS has not yet attended a meeting of Oshawa City Council, the City continued efforts to provide support and resolve difficulties, putting in place beginning November 2019 the Welcoming Streets initiative based on a successful model used in the City of Guelph; and seeing that a Warming Centre was put in place before Christmas, with key involvement from the First Light Foundation of Hope and funding assistance from the Region of Durham.

When the COVID-19 shutdowns began mid March this year, there was a need to step up protection of the vulnerable and several discussions between the City and the Region saw the services provided by the Back Door Mission for Relief of Poverty charity organization at the Simcoe St United Church recently expanded to the Mission United Hub, with meals increased to 7 days a week, with their food bank and free clothing, washroom facilities, and new showers and clothes washing machines services made available to those in need.

In addition to the Mission United Hub, the Region together with two lead agencies, Oshawa's First Light Foundation of Hope and Ajax's Christian Faith Outreach Centre opened Kitchie Lodge at Camp Samac as a temporary shelter during COVID-19 in a program called In and Out of the Crisis. Since it opened in early April, over 70 individuals have been assisted there with many very positive outcomes. 

With strong advocates from Oshawa seeking proactive follow up measures, the Region now how plans to advance this program with a new modular building in Beaverton with units for 50 and an additional 5,000 sq.ft. structure for mental health assistance, and social support, with a communal dining area, as well as building 10 affordable micro houses in Oshawa. This was just given pre-budget approval by Region Council this week, on July 29th. The Commissioner of Health and Social Services Stella Danos-Papaconstantinou said they have a list of 89 unsheltered or individuals vulnerable because of mental health or addiction issues that meet the criteria and would be assisted with this project.

PART II - MY PERSPECTIVE & MY ACTIONS

To the above backstory I will add a few of my personal experiences that relate to some of the above, simply because many are asking me to justify my decision to approve the motion this past  June to hire the private security company CDN Protection Ltd. this summer.  

During the spring and summer of 2019 I visited the tent cities both opposite Fire Hall Number 1 and on Quebec St.  On these occasions I had some long discussions with several staying at these sites and some who were involved in giving them support.

As I was aware of the washroom needs of many of the homeless, at the May 21, 2019 Council meeting I made a motion for the City of Oshawa to initiate a pilot project to open the accessible washrooms at Memorial Park to the public during the summer from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. seven days a week, with a security patrol person engaged outside the washrooms to ensure the area is kept safe. This Notice of Motion went to Community Services Committee meeting as 'CS-19-79' and on June 10th was rejected by Council with only Councillors Nicholson and Giberson supporting my motion.

As the Council member on the Oshawa Accessibility Advisory Committee a couple weeks earlier I had participated in an accessibility audit of the Bandshell, its basement and washrooms and saw how many were using an outside corner of the building beside the washroom to urinate and defecate. Note this was a year before COVID-19.  City staff present indicated it was a constant problem and said that the year before they had to repair and cover the exterior Bandshell wall beside the washrooms when vandals ripped out a new outside water fountain that had cost the city over $1000 to install only two months earlier.

At the beginning of December, 2019  I submitted a Notice of Motion to open a Warming Centre for the unsheltered in the City as soon as possible. It was placed on the December 16th Council Meeting Agenda and led to a new motion from Councillor Nicholson, which I supported, involving the First Light Foundation of Home and the Region of Durham setting up of the Warming Centre at a location near the downtown.

This spring I volunteered at the Back Door Mission/Mission United Hub, serving food, organizing the pantry and between then and now have been assisting a number of individuals and single mothers needing food picked up from Simcoe Hall Settlement House. During this time I have become acquainted with many 'living rough' and also have spoken with the Durham Region Police officer on the Simcoe St./John St. area foot patrol and both the City's Municipal By-law officers and the City's GS4 officers around Memorial Park when downtown during COVID 19. 

A) UNSHELTERED AT CITY HALL FOR THE NIGHT APRIL 16TH:

Just before 10:00 pm. April 16th I was alerted on social media to the fact that a pipe had burst at the Warming Centre causing a major flood. The Warming Centre could not open for its 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. scheduled time and there were half a dozen people already lined up waiting to get in from the cold. The temperature outside was minus 1 degree C.  After I tried calling the Mayor, four Regional Councillors and senior staff, I finally reached Councillor Kerr, who I told of my only plan, that I would go down and open City Hall for those individuals needing a place out of the cold. The Warming Centre volunteer assistants Ryan and Jonathon could meet me at City Hall, and I would give G4S Security a head's up I was planning to do this, as there didn't seem to be many other options.  Councillor Kerr suggested he would call the Holiday Inn Express downtown and see if they would be receptive to opening some rooms. I said with his support, I would go ahead to City Hall and open the doors to those who need a place right away while he worked that out.

When I got to City Hall there were 12 people with the two Warming Centre volunteers Ryan and Jonathan waiting outside the locked doors. I let them in. The City's private security officers were flummoxed (best word I can use to describe the situation). The G4S  Manager and then the G4S company owner arrived shortly after. But by that time all 12 unsheltered individuals were signed in, and resting in chairs I had quickly arranged 6 feet apart in the area  under the staircase and along the walls, inside the main lower level sliding door entry.

Ryan and Jonathon soon had the First Light Foundation of Hope yoga matts brought over.  I made sure they were all placed 6 feet apart and everyone moved from the chairs to the mats.  All were quiet and some instantly fell asleep. Councilor Kerr arrived and after conversations with the Holiday Inn and the  FLFH volunteers he agreed it worked best not to bother moving the 12 individuals and they would stay put for the night.  Then the senior staff member I had left a voice message arrived and another senior staff member. They had called Durham Region Police and two police vans showed up, looked around and saw nothing seemed amiss. After a conversation with city staff and the private security DRP left.

It was just after midnight when the Mayor called and was apprised of the situation. I sent him pictures to reassure him the situation was under control. He messaged back he would work on a plan moving forward, since the burst pipe damage meant the Warming Centre needed to relocate during the restoration and repair work. As all seemed well I left at 3:00 a.m. just after one more unsheltered individual showed up to spend the night in City Hall with the other 12.

B) ANDREW CLARKE, CDN PROTECTION LTD. OWNER SAVING A LIFE

A few days later, while leaving the Mission United Hub a person rushed up to me asking for Naloxone …someone was having an overdose on Bagot Street. I ran to retrieve a kit from my car.  When we made it to the side door of the Simcoe St. United Church there was a  woman literally turning blue/purple. Andrew Clarke, the owner of CDN was already administering naloxone.  With some care she finally gasped for air and began to shake.

C) INSERTING A TAMPON ON THE MAIN STREET

Later the next week, driving north on Simcoe Street, between Bond and Richmond, the main street of Oshawa's downtown around 5:00 p.m. on a sunny day I witnessed a woman pulling down her pants squatting showing her bare bum to the traffic driving by and inserting a tampon. 

These experiences, and the conversations I had in April, May and June, with a City’s municipal by-law officer in Memorial Park; the Durham Region Police officer on Simcoe St;  and the GS4 officer parked on McGrigor St. beside the Bandshell; as well as visitors to Memorial Park and my conversation with the CEO of the Oshawa Clinic Group who employed CDN Protection to stop the break-ins in the Clinic parking lot and overdoses around the Clinic property, all contributed to me believing hiring CDN in June, 2020 was the right decision.

Understandably it is a controversial decision. Although members of Council voted unanimously to hire this additional private security company and each would have voted for different reasons from mine, I can say there was no way it was a knee jerk decision by any. Nor did it happen in a vacuum. 

From the moment I posted the decision on social media following the June 9th Special Council meeting, people were divided in giving comments...some writing 'a big thank you' and 'about time', and others making comments that were filled with scorn and condemnation, one of the milder ones calling it a 'dog-shit solution'. 

Some seem to want to stir up a lot of dirt during this 3 month pilot project. One commenter called the hiring 'nepotism' Really? How's that. A few local unsuccessful candidates from past municipal and provincial elections appear determined to foment outrage and make this as their cause celebre this summer. I listened to the video tape of their June 24th rally. I heard the vitriol from speakers claiming there needs to be respect for everyone, while spreading innuendo and hate about a local private security company and its owner, calling him a 'racist dickhead' and "telling him to stay the fuck away'. Their lack of self-awareness was eye-popping. Sociologists often indicate that a lot of hate in the world is due to people’s lack of self-awareness. 

The second Motion was to add pre-budget funding for 3 mental health nurses:
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