Patrick Reid

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

OrilliaMatters

26

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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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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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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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.

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.

6

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

OrilliaMatters

15

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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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

2

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.

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.

3

'Worst times': Single dad fighting cancer becomes homeless

OrilliaMatters

9

The article states some fraudulent activity led to the credit score issue. He's also been out of work for months due to cancer. I don't know anything about this man there than what I can pull out of the article. Your comment is uninformed amd insensitive, unless you have actual knowledge of what you state. And if you do, then you're just piling on and thats 'on you'.

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COLUMN: Oval Office meltdown a 'truly sickening display'

OrilliaMatters

7

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

OrilliaMatters

9

He is not the councillors boss, not the ceo. This was unethical.

North, West, and Central zone school buses cancelled today

OrilliaMatters

5

Who knew all you need to do is look out a window and decide that whatever you see is a- going to going to stick around all day, and b- be the same in all the weather zones across a massive county? 50 car pile up on hwy 11, guess those folks didn't have a window.

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All Simcoe County school buses cancelled today

OrilliaMatters

7

Freezing rain is occurring right now. Accidents on the west st bridge have closed the ramp to 400 southbound I have seen 4 people fall this morning so far. By all means, get all those kindergarten kids on those yellow tin cans, and show what you're made of....! Bunch of woke snowflake children right? Incidentally, the drivers do not make the decision, you might want to check that fact before playing the blame game. Driving can be risky, unexpectedly, see the 2 day highway closure, but, if you've got 'nerves of steel' why not risk it? It's just kids.

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'It's kind of hard': Winter playing havoc with buses, classroom time

OrilliaMatters

6

We heard you the first 12 times

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Orillia invites public input on 2026 municipal budget

OrilliaMatters

6

'Cpuncil makes important decisions'? Not anymore.

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

OrilliaMatters

6

Regardless of how good a person is, or how good their intent is, if you do something wrong, it's still wrong. And this was democratically, and ethically, wrong!

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North and West Zone school buses cancelled today

OrilliaMatters

2

Weather experts say 'possible' deliberately, because they know squalls are unpredictable. Have you never been in a car when white-outs happen you didnt expect? I've been in a vehicle many times when its calm in Oriilia, and near zero visibility in Hawkestone, not clearing until Mapleview again.Harrowing isn't it? To not be able to see? How about if you had 10 or 60 passengers in a tin can on wheels? Would you accept the oncoming liability if a tragedy happens? Or simply decide it was worth the risk? Snowflakes ,these kids just need to toughen up. If parents drive their own kids to school and something happens, that's terrible, doesn't an unnecessary mass incident make it worse? Yes, it's inconvenient, no question. I sincerely doubt anyone makes the decision lightly. Especially in today's angry online world. Schools are open.

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

OrilliaMatters

6

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.