Patrick Reid

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Did mayor blow the lid off CAO firing controversy with 'hypothetical' scenario?

OrilliaMatters

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Hypothetical: What of someone runs for mayor, or council, and they have no experience hiring/firing people? I'd they are elected, then the electorate decided they are competent and capable of making decisions in all matters council need to deal withThis stinks to high heaven. Deflect, deny, pr pound the table.

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City council set to discuss ward vs. at-large elections, Winter Games at Monday's meeting

OrilliaMatters

24

If the ward system remains, candidates should be required to live in the ward they are running to represent. Currently this is not requirement.

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New Champlain Monument design on council agenda Monday

OrilliaMatters

19

I was always of the opinion that any return of the monument could be accomplished only with considerable, empathetic, and researched dialogue. I was not in any hurry, especially considering our neighbours had real ideological wounds associated with the monument. If your friends are going to be angered by something, do you just ignore it? I never saw a signal that it would never return under any circumstances. This sleight of hand manoeuvre has taken a simmering flame and poured jet fuel on it. Guess the plan to unilaterally put it back and just wait people out while it sits tarped up isnt going so well. The hatred online from 'both' sides is now full on toxic. Well done. I suppose the upside is that we should have increased police presence in 'the park', we're going to need it. As well, we now have record number of passionate 'history' experts in Orillia. I grew up with the monument in the park, I thought it was pretty cool. I could've survived without it. What a disgusting shame.

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Mayor 'has a lot of explaining to do' over firing of CAO: councillor

OrilliaMatters

22

"OrilliaMatters asked McIsaac what made him change his mind on the choice of CAO."I think you've already been told that," he said before abruptly hanging up the phone."This is untenable. Do the honorable thing. There is no support for continuing. This is just sad, and not what Orillia expects of their officials

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City, Trevor Lee reach 'amicable, confidential' settlement deal

OrilliaMatters

21

No surprise it's an NDA. What isn't resolved, is, why do an authoritarian end-run, ignoring council, and the electorate, when there were ways to do it properly, and quickly, if necessary. The method still stinks, settlement or not.

COLUMN: McIsaac's dismissal of new CAO is a 'shameful power grab'

OrilliaMatters

20

Then he should have called an in camera emergency council meeting, outlining the egregious reason why this hire cannot go ahead,explained it to council as a whole, then gone ahead with council's support. The way it was done is a slap in the face to council, staff, the electorate, the incoming CAO, anx the deputy CAO. There is right way to do this, if necessary, and a wrong way. Undemocratic to the core. Save the 'he must've had a good reason' argument. If the justification was solid, he would've had councils' support. Obviously, he has disdain for their abilities.

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Automated speed enforcement cameras coming to Orillia in 90 days

OrilliaMatters

12

The city will make money from this? Awesome, can't see a downside. Put them on every street.

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Orillia's wings clipped in bid to become bird-friendly city

OrilliaMatters

18

We call ourselves bee friendly. A few years ago, a vigorous call went out to hang the city employee that made the mistake of thinking the order to "weed" the gardens at Hillcrest Park,meant pulling up milkweed. We held a vigil for the Monarchs affected. Ans just a few years later we backhoe the very same gardens, and plant grass. Take that bees and Monarchs! Other than the usual virtue signaling, why are we doing this now? When its, in effect, meaningless. Let's call us scorpion friendly while we're at it. Now that I can feel good about.

City budget will be 'entirely different' with strong mayor powers

OrilliaMatters

14

Those pesky councillors shouldn't expect to have any say in the financials...they were put in place by the unwashed masses. God save the King

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'Frustrating experience': Special council meeting on strong mayor powers cut short

OrilliaMatters

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This just in: Good people make bad decisions all the time. I know the Mayor is of good character, but that's not the point. This is about a bad decision that voided the franchise of the voters that supported their councilors. It also puts staff on notice to tow the line with a,single power broker. SMP is authoritarian, not democratic. Regardless of what Mayor, and what belief you have in their 'goodness" I trust that had the councilors been presented with the 'illuminating' evidence of why the hire should have been halted, they would have made the right call, because they also have the cities best interest at heart. They were not consulted. That is the problem. Just stop with the blind faith argument. Follow the democratic procedures.

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Sweet news: Coco's Cookies staying put, encourages people to shop local

OrilliaMatters

11

If you have nothing good to say...

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Ice storm, power outage push Orillia businesses into 'survival mode'

OrilliaMatters

14

What a ridiculous and sad comment. These folks are the best of us,and deserve to be applauded loudly, and often. Instead of working so hard to dazzle us with your cynicism, maybe work on having 1/1000 of the level of altruism amd humanity they practice.

All Simcoe County school buses cancelled today

OrilliaMatters

7

Instead of taking pot shots, give us your solution.You have 100 percent certainty at 5:30 AM what the weather will be at 3 PM? You know for certain that all kids will be completely safe, or not stranded, in a school bus if the weather risk materializes? You won't sue the consortium, bus company, environment Canada for taking an unnecessary gamble? Schools are open by the way.Currently snowing, but I dont need to tell you that, do I?

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Mayor outlines updates on speed cameras, train station, housing

OrilliaMatters

13

False. Champlain monument was gone long before the last election.

City's new stop sign policy aims to remove politics from decisions

OrilliaMatters

9

Staff will decide. Their track record is to deny, and use 'data' to deny every request. The citizen request will simply be rejected, as it always was before. Councillors have had their hand slapped for listening to neighborhood concerns. Strong Staff Powers.

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'Money grab': Petition challenges fairness of Orillia speed cameras

OrilliaMatters

7

Can we get two more cameras and put them on the routes these entitled folks use now to avoid the current cameras? They believe it is their right to speed, after all, it's not like they got tickets before. Boo hoo

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The Social aims to breathe new life into former Fionn MacCool's space

OrilliaMatters

12

Absurd that you think an unrelated owner has a duty to rehire employees from the last business. Logistically nuts. The article doesn't say they wouldn't hire them. I would expect if they show up with a resume that impresses, they would stand a good chance of onboarding. If it was the same owner, they would be expected ethically, but not legally, to rehire those that they put out of work, and jerked around. Best of luck to the new owners, and the staff that join the effort.

Doug Ford triggers provincial election

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I sincerely look forward to flushing my vote down the toilet in this riding. Issues have never mattered. Just whose team granpappie was on. Every vote wasted since Gord Smith and doc rynard (but for one brief period) Would love to be proven wrong. But, as always, it'll be the election Blues. Go team. Do the new online Ford ' tax'on-the-poor' betting sites allow an over/under wager? The money made could help with the Ontario place wellness spa. Ontario, yours to plunder.

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Orillia speed cameras nab over 2,000 drivers within first month

OrilliaMatters

7

Lol. What happens if you 'forget' about a stop sign, Do Not Enter, Yield sign.? I forgot the limit on hwy 400 was 100k, I was doing 140? No prob? I forgot.

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COLUMN: Oval Office meltdown a 'truly sickening display'

OrilliaMatters

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Carleton, hard to equate Donny's strategy and intellect with a fox. Foxes don't hunt because of hate, anger, and false machismo. With president felon, the hurt and the hate is the point, and the gift, as you point out.

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