PKoning
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Push for transparency stalls as North Bay Council drops audit motion
BayToday
41Not sure eveyone on Council understands the depth of public concern over the political process in North Bay but a 38% voter turnout in the 2022 election leaves a huge hole for someone to seize the public interest and lead in the wrong direction.Still, 3 more councillors expressing support for further investigation, if the Integrity Commissioner's report indicates it is worthy, is a step in the right direction.
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Motion on transparency measures heads to council amid expense controversy
BayToday 38But....expense reports were filed as required by the Municipal Act....who signed off on those reports for 2023 and 2024 and were the personal expenses in those reports or did they get added after the report??
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Public urged to contact Integrity Commissioner in connection with North Bay Mayor expense probe
BayToday 30I agree the Integrity Commissioner lacks the ability to enforce the appropriate penalty....but the public outrage about this accountability failure needs to be loud in Council's ear as the process(es) unfold
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Councillor Vrebosch’s travel expenses under review after FOI release, and amid transparency push
BayToday 16Maybe she had a valid reason for not eating at the conference provided table....choosing to eat somewhere else and submitting a per diem does not constitute double dipping....when auditing politicians in public, it is important to get the whole story out there.
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I'm a Toronto investor. Here's what I think of North Bay
BayToday 20Will they be bringing family doctors?
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City leaders won't pull the chute on Americans at Armed Forces Day
BayToday 8Sure....we will just ask everyone else to bear the brunt of the economic war with the US, we will never let go of the dollar just to stay Canadian... Council's collective head may be stuck somewhere, but I dont think it is necessarily in the sand.
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North Bay councillor pushes back on Castle Arms motion ahead of tonight's meeting
BayToday 13I would like to know how much rent tenants are paying and what the criteria is for qualifying for "affordable rent". Other Social Service boards require disclosure of assets as well as income, but there is no requirement to disclose assets in Nipissing unless one is applying for "Rent Geared to Income". No matter who is in control, the rules should support getting the most needy people housed rather than those who can manipulate their income for any particular year.
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Salaries and benefits put school board in deficit
BayToday 14Who was in charge of the spreadsheet, how many reviewed it and what is the level of their expertise?
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North Bay Council backs new by-law for online disclosure of member spending
BayToday 10I would ask Councillor Bain to reveal where exactly the itemized statement of expenses required by the Municipal Act is posted for 2024...because if one knows enough to look at the Mar 25th 2025 meeting, one can see the report to council....but the schedules that are supposed to be attached to the report are not posted....Council is committed to transparency....right....
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Cassellholme fees ‘crippling for Mattawa’ Mayor Bélanger warns
BayToday 4I'd be willing to bet there is a significant variance in MPAC valuations in the town...meaning some people are hiding behind really low valuations and paying less tax than they should if everyone's property was valued in the same manner.Property that sold in 2024 for $245K valued at $88K in MPAC...even allowing for 2016 valuations that misses by a significant amountProperty that sold at $465K in 2024 valued at $201K in MPAC...Average house price in Ontario has gone up by 60% since 2016, not 178% and 131%Property tax assessment system in Ontario is broken...thats why no new assessments.
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School board and police quash rumour of teacher’s indecency
BayToday 8Would have voted for multiple answers
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Ontario elementary teachers awarded nearly 12 per cent raise in arbitration
BayToday 3Funny how corporate media always compound the raises of the workers so the 11.25% raise over 4 years increases to 11.75, thereby enabling the number 12 to be featured in the headline. Meanwhile CEO's are averaging 3% to 4% per year regardless of performance.
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Corbeil resident frustrated after cell outage linked to copper theft, OPP continue investigation
BayToday 5Well Archie...I dont see anything wrong with reaping the benefits of competition but the marketplace has not been properly regulated to provide it fairly...Little more complicated than buying some cheap knockoff...but thanks for the tip!
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Corbeil resident frustrated after cell outage linked to copper theft, OPP continue investigation
BayToday 6Thanks for the tip...did that twice
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