Blog Posts - OSHAWA ROSEMARY

OSHAWA ROSEMARY

World Autism Awareness Day Flag Raising at Oshawa City Hall

4/2/2019

WHEREAS Autism Ontario provides a valuable service to citizens of this community, thereby demonstrating good citizenship, contributing to and enriching the quality of life within this community, and

WHEREAS City Council wishes to recognize such dedication, and contribution, and is of the opinion that a specific period should be set apart and designated in recognition of this worthy services,

NOW THEREFORE let it be known that the Council of the Corporation of the City of Oshawa hereby proclaims April 2, 2019 as World Autism Awareness Day in the City of Oshawa and

Further take notice and let it be known that the Council of the Corporation of the City of Oshawa hereby urges all citizens to recognize this event and fittingly join in its observance.

2018 Oshawa Public Sector Salary Disclosure over $100K

3/31/2019

Some STATs for those interested in the 2018 Sunshine list published this week. Oshawa has 267 employees on it, out of the City's total 773 Full Time Employees.
Of the 267 listed, there are 161 Fire Services employees (which is 83% of the total 195 FTE in Oshawa's Fire Services Department)
There are 44 new names on the list from 2017 and 21 others left the City in 2018. (I've left off the names, as they are a distraction, it's the salaries that are interesting...By the way, Oshawa's Sunshine list salaries for 2018 total $30,353,490 compared to $27,288,502 in 2017.

Take Back The Night Walk

3/29/2019

Kudos to Trent Durham students (and especially Taryn Amber) for organizing their first Take Back the Night Walk March 28, 2019 to help end sexual violence..

I was happy to attend, hear the introductory speeches and then join in the walk from Thornton Rd. to City Hall and back...approximately 6 km, in just over an hour.

I learned from the Domestic Violence Unit officer who provided some history that the 1st Take back the Night Walk began in Germany in 1973 when women began a protest after a series of rapes and murders in their town. The next year it was repeated in the U.S. after a young student was attacked and in Canada it was started in 1978 in Vancouver.

The lead Detective Officer told the audience that in 2018 Durham Regional Police had 526 cases of sexual assault and 942 cases of domestic assault where somebody was charged. In his words 'these are staggering numbers'.
The DRP Domestic Violence Unit was started in 2016. They have special training and provide support to victims, with strong support and relationships with external groups such as Denise House, Herizon House, Bethesda House, Luke's Place, the Catholic Family Services and Muslim Welfare Centre and lots of partner agencies to assist women in their time of need.

Before we left for the Walk, he announced a special change of plans, that instead of walking to City Hall we were going to continue to Townline Rd. and back and would need to quicken our pace...for a few minutes people were looking around in shock, until they realized he was joking.

On the way back it was positive to hear many were already talking about making plans for next year's Take Back the Night Walk in Oshawa.

TWO SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETINGS

3/26/2019

Two nights of back-to-back Special Council meetings.
During the one Monday, which finished around 10:30 p.m., we unanimously appointed a new Oshawa City Manager, Paul Ralph who has been Commissioner of Development Services and with the City for 30 years.

Then Tuesday night's special meeting, which ended after midnight, Council voted down the Lakeridge, Region Health Dept. and John Howard Society's plan for a Consumption & Treatment Service Injection Site in the Midtown Mall. The vote was 6-5 with John Gray, Jane Hurst, Tito Dante Marimpietri, Brad Marks, me and John Neal voting against...and Bob Chapman, Dan Carter, Derek Giberson and Rick Kerr in favour.

There were 30 citizens who made heartfelt delegations and in total, and they split 15-15 on either side.
Five of the 30 were recovered addicts who spoke movingly and with courage, All 5 of them were opposed to an injection site in Oshawa.

Interestingly there was a PART 2 motion that Council unanimously did pass, that the City of Oshawa urge the federal and provincial governments to take action and declare the opioid crisis a national emergency.

Logo Design Competition, Win $200 & Help a Good Cause

3/23/2019

The Oshawa Accessibility Advisory Committee is having a Logo Design Competition! For more info check out the poster and this link: www.oshawa.ca/accessibilitylogo!

Note: the winning logo will be printed on the new OAAC flag to be raised at Oshawa City Hall during National AccessAbility Week May 26 - June 1, 2019. AND THE WINNER WILL BE AWARDED $200!!

The OAAC, an important and hardworking committee, is responsible for advising Oshawa Council in fulfilling its responsibilities under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA). The Committee is consulted on several matters and reviews all new building plans and plans of subdivision for compliance with the AODA.

The logo competition is just one item on the 2019 workplan, and one that is about engaging the community and raising community awareness of the goals of the AODA to make goods, services, and facilities accessible to customers with disabilities.

Since I've been the Council member to the Oshawa Accessibility Advisory for just three months now the committee has considered, developed and had input on a variety of matters, from accomplishing a review of Oshawa's street signs for visibility in comparison to other municipalities (and making a recommendation to Council to increase the size), as well as reviewing the list of city facilities being audited in 2019 and investigating the available funds in the budget for barrier free improvements.

All submissions to the Logo Competition must be in by Monday April 15th.
Email access@oshawa.ca

Please spread the word! I'm hoping many people will brainstorm and begin designing something special to promote a barrier free community! Anyone who would like copies of the flyer to share with people or at places to generate interest, please message me!

2 motions I made at council that passed re: bus rides and access to Oshawa's only city-owned outdoor pool free for kids 12 and under this summer!

3/20/2019

At Oshawa's March 18th Regular Council meeting first I made the following 'time sensitive motion':

"Whereas beginning March 9, 2019 children 12 and under are now allowed to ride GO Transit fare-free

And whereas Durham Region 2019 budget deliberations are taking place this week

And whereas there is environmental, cultural and economic benefits to encouraging ridership and family outings in and around our communities, especially in our short spring summer seasons,

Now therefore the City of Oshawa urge the Oshawa members of the Region of Durham Council to press for and support the immediate provision of free transit to those children 12 years and younger."

(The next day Oshawa Regional Councillor Brian Nicholson followed up with it at the Region DRT 2019 Budget meeting and happy to report the motion for free DRT rides for youth 12 and under was approved!)

Also at the Oshawa March 18th Oshawa Council meeting I made an amendment to the Rotary Park Pool Pilot Project report with the words I added (in red) being approved!

Therefore be it resolved that staff operate Rotary Pool for the summer of 2019 and provide some instructional programming and increased lane swimming opportunities; and that during the hours the pool is open to the public for non-instructional programming that there be no admission charge; and that a report be presented to Council on attendance for the 2019 summer outdoor pool season.

Two good news stories, that will increase kids' enjoyment of Oshawa 2019! When people, especially our youth learn more about and circulate around their community they expand their experiences, which can lead to a stronger ‘sense of place’ in their community. For youth getting to know their town better there can a heightened sense of belonging and appreciation. Benefits can include increased business traffic, decreased cars on the road and fuel consumption, as well as the creation of pleasant memory ‘firsts’ and special times for young people out and about learning what is available in their city.

Concerned about traffic in Oshawa's neighbourhoods? Time for a comprehensive review and update to the City's traffic management strategies!

3/3/2019

One of my election campaign platforms was the City needed to improve neighbourhood traffic management. Following up on this, at the January 28th Council meeting I made a Notice of Motion to Council. Now on the Monday, March 4th Agenda for Community Services Committee's meeting there is a recommendation that "staff engage a consultant for approximately $50,000 funded from the Operations Reserve to update the City of Oshawa Neighbourhood Traffic Management Guide. Looking forward to the discussion on this!

Public Planning Committee Meeting tonight 6:30 in Oshawa Council Chamber

2/25/2019

In addition to the Corporate Services and Development Services Committee meetings today, this evening in the Council Chamber, starting at 6:30, there is a Public Planning Meeting concerning the following three Reports:
DS-19-25 re properties on east side of Simcoe St and north side of Colborne St;
DS-19-29 re a plan of subdivision for 925 Harmony Rd. N. and
DS-19-27 re amendments to the Northwoods Business Park plan (east and west sides of Thornton Rd., N. of Taunton S of Conlin ) For more info see Report links and pictures posted below.

Link to Report DS-19-25 (Simcoe St. N and Colborne Street East properties) http://app.oshawa.ca/.../developm.../2019/02-25/ds-19-25.pdf

Link to Report DS-19-29 (925 Harmony Rd N plan of subdivision) to permit
one block for townhouses, one residential lot for the existing single detached dwelling, one block for the future Beatrice Street East extension, one open space block and two road widening blocks at 925 Harmony Road N http://app.oshawa.ca/.../developm.../2019/02-25/ds-19-29.pdf

Link to Report DS-19-27 (Northwood Business Park, -Thornton Rd. N. east and west sides from Taunton to Conlin Rds) http://app.oshawa.ca/.../developm.../2019/02-25/ds-19-27.pdf

My Motion for action to lay Broadband cable to Ward I's Rural Community

2/23/2019

At the Oshawa Council meeting on Tuesday, February 19th, 2019 I made the motion copied below to ensure cable was laid during the Simcoe St. Winchester Road reconstruction which is to begin this month. My motion was passed unanimously. Hopefully it will help to expedite improvements that will give Oshawa's rural community access to high speed internet service.

Whereas Oshawa Council approved Report DS-18-62 on September 24, 2018 regarding the City’s Broadband Strategy which stated:

1) The majority of Oshawa, with the exception of the rural areas, is offered private sector internet services that would achieve the CRTC service level objective; and that

2) City staff will continue to monitor the Dig Once discussion and make recommendations to current priorities where clear financial and community benefits are possible; and
3) Monitor Dig Once policies and programs of the Region of Durham and area municipalities and adopt new practices where benefit is demonstrated and continue to consult with telecom providers on City road reconstruction projects; and

Whereas on January 24, 2019 the Region announced it awarded contract D2018-054 for the reconstruction of Simcoe Street from 500 metres south of Winchester Road to 250 metres north of Winchester Road and Winchester Road from 320 metres west of Simcoe Street to 410 metres east of Simcoe Street; and

Whereas the reconstruction of Simcoe Street and Winchester Road is to commence February 2019 and be completed December 2019 and includes roadway reconstruction, additional through and right turn lanes, new curb and gutter, traffic signal reconstruction, street lighting and hydro duct banks;

Whereas high speed internet service is not available in the rural area of Oshawa north of Winchester Road and Simcoe St;

Therefore the City of Oshawa forthwith request the Region of Durham to include broadband/fibre infrastructure cable in the Simcoe Street/Winchester Rd. reconstruction project.

My position on the proposed Consumption & Treatment Services Centre/Safe Injection Site for Oshawa

2/18/2019

Irrespective of the many who, with strong convictions, seemingly supportive data and eloquent expression, would recommend Oshawa endorse a Consumption and Treatment Service (CTS) centre, I am not persuaded. I do not believe this is the right choice at this time for the City of Oshawa.

It has been a tough decision, one I've been wrestling with since speaking with the Lakeridge Health Director of Mental Health and Addictions almost a week ago. I know he has accomplished some remarkable work at Lakeridge Health and commend his effort and dedication.

In fact, I was feeling quite sure, when speaking with him, that his proposal for a CTS was the pathway to follow.

But that was at first, and with my heart. With my head, as an elected representative, I believe my responsibility is to arrive at a rational decision that best serves the public interest of the citizens of Oshawa.

It is more complex than saying safe injection sites save lives, period. The seemingly comforting claims that there has not been a death in a safe injection site does not mean drug users who frequent a safe injection site haven’t died outside, or around the corner from one. Stats have not been methodically tracked. Deaths by drug overdose continue to rise in cities with safe injection sites and the number of drug users rises exponentially every year.

Yes, an overdose death is averted when naloxone can be immediately administered by a nurse. And yes, with clean needles the spread of AIDS and Hepatitis is reduced. And yes, we need to do more to help with the opiate crisis. But a community welcome centre with supervised injection of illicit drugs and free supplies and counselling for users, although a solution advocated by so many, is tellingly not reducing addiction. It might make people think something is being done to help users overcome their addiction, but it is a panacea. The road to recovery is with treatment and rehab.

PLEASE GIVE ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING:

1. Once an Oshawa CTS is set up, there will be no reversing the decision. Vancouver has demonstrated this is what happens. When the Federal government tried to shut it down, they couldn't. So obviously there is no way a lower tier municipality like Oshawa stands a chance should a majority of our long time, law-abiding and dedicated Oshawa citizens find its impact grim and detrimental to their city.

2. Last year Oshawa Council requested the Region of Durham have a public consultation on the Safe Injection Site issue, involving Durham Region Police and other organizations. This should take place BEFORE Oshawa Council votes on this issue.

3. The extremely narrow definition of ‘harm reduction’ amounts to a philosophy that fails to address to the harm that is caused, not only to the community where a safe injection site facility is located (which will become by necessity a police “no-go” area), but more importantly, it fails to address the harm to the illicit drug user, by ignoring the root of the harm, the addiction.

4. Illicit drug use absolutely needs to be addressed, with an extensive outreach program and intensive counselling to truly help the drug users overcome their addiction. It is the addiction that is the greatest harm to the user.

TO BE WELL INFORMED PLEASE WATCH THIS VIDEO ABOUT VANCOUVER’S SAFE INJECTION SITE www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMglr-pgTkM&fbclid=IwAR1RCLIrHDD1umBQaeW1dqIWcu9XNi-YDcX1OzKd9FUyUHv-vXLdP0sx1pM