Colin Morton
419182 
Poll shows serious leakage of support from NDP, Liberals to Tories
SooToday
11You're describing Poilievre and the Conservatives more than Trudeau, the Liberals, or the NDP. Poilievre has nothing to offer but theatrics and the Conservatives' policies are entirely out of touch with reality.
22- Colin Morton
U.S. pauses tariffs on Canadian goods for a month
24Trudeau doesn’t appear to have traded away anything.
7- Colin Morton
Orillia could get strong mayor powers ... on a permanent basis
OrilliaMatters 27Has MacIsaac yet explained his abuse of his new powers?
- Colin Morton
Original $53M downtown revitalization plan pared down to $18M
OrilliaMatters 22Punting on the infrastructure work to focus on aesthetics isn’t going to save money in the long run. It just means all the beautification work being discussed will have to be redone when the infrastructure becomes too much of a problem to ignore. It’s penny wise and pound foolish.
3- Colin Morton
'Vindictive' ban by 'woke' local library follows book club remark
OrilliaMatters 15Nobody who uses the word “woke” as a pejorative is to be taken seriously, especially if they’re complaining that they’re being discriminated against because they’re an old white guy. He sounds like the bully here, not library staff.
10- Colin Morton
'Significant changes': Lauer sounds alarm about future of church properties, pre-zoning issues
OrilliaMatters 14“I don't believe that people three doors up the street here on Andrew know that a homeless shelter could go in beside them, without any further recourse or discussion.”Really, Tim? We’re in the middle of a housing crisis driven in no small part by NIMBY opposition to development, and you’re bringing up the spectre of a homeless shelter to scare people? I’m disappointed.
10- Colin Morton
BREAKING: McIssac uses new strong mayor powers to cancel hired CAO, appoint staffer
OrilliaMatters 19That sounds like the makings of an expensive lawsuit rather than sound leadership.
2- Colin Morton
City hits brakes on Colborne St. parking spots amid safety concerns
OrilliaMatters 8This is disappointing. While one can certainly question the need for more parking given the large lots on the other side of the building, anything that would slow traffic (and move it out of the curb lane where it's hard to see from West St.) would make that intersection safer. You can't complain on the one hand about people speeding and on the other hand complain about things that make it hard for them to.Staff aren't the problem here. The small-town "we're locals and we know best" attitude is.
12- Colin Morton
VIDEO: Ford government gives school board budgets a failing grade
13He’s got $85 million to remove bike lanes against the wishes of local residents but thinks schools and health care are the problem.
7- Colin Morton
'A sad situation': Island Princess set to sail away from Orillia
OrilliaMatters 16When was it ever the "No.1 landmark in Orillia"? Has it been anything but an eyesore since it stopped being used as a tour boat?
3- Colin Morton
Upcoming public forum vows to give Orillia residents 'a voice'
OrilliaMatters 11"Agenda 2030" is a UN plan for sustainable development adopted in 2015 and a frequent target of right-wing anti-government conspiracy types convinced that the UN is going to steal their land and set up a worldwide government or something. This event seems not to be about "local concerns" as much as the standard right-wing fringe.
6- Colin Morton
City budget will be 'entirely different' with strong mayor powers
OrilliaMatters 14The existing process was inclusive. This isn’t, and McIsaac needs to understand that as Mayor he is part of council. The role is not supposed to be superior to it.
2- Colin Morton
Height of proposed 8-storey Barrie Rd. apartment building criticized
OrilliaMatters 11That would be an improvement over the unbridled sprawl that it currently is.
4- Colin Morton
Council slams the brakes on Laclie Street bike lanes ... for now
OrilliaMatters 8“ Coun. Whitney Smith, who voted against the bike lanes in April, stood fast on that decision, noting the city's count of bike users along Laclie Street last summer was zero.”It was zero _because there are no bike lanes_. If people applied Smith's logic to cars there would never be a need to build more lanes because traffic fits in those that already exist.
7- Colin Morton
Premier blasts cost to 'build a damn tunnel' in Ontario
OrilliaMatters 13The problem is not that building tunnels is expensive. The problem is that tunnelling under the 401 is a phenomenally stupid idea, even for Ford. If he were serious about reducing traffic he’d toll the 401 to match 407 and put the proceeds into transit instead of doing everything he can to encourage more people to drive.
2- Colin Morton
A 31-one-bedroom condominium may be built on Colborne Street
OrilliaMatters 4Why would you need more parking than that? They’re one-bedroom units.
10- Colin Morton
'Pivotal moment': Possible boundary expansion on table at forum
OrilliaMatters 11I can’t believe we’re back to having discussions like this in 2025. Intensification is the only way to maintain the city's character. It can’t repeat the mistakes Barrie made (and continue to make) by sprawling into neighboring townships.
3- Colin Morton
'Really bad decision': City, developer ink deal on Orchard Point condo
OrilliaMatters 11I really don't see the arguments against this. "They see a huge commercial type building being constructed"? It's on Atherley Road. It's already lined with commercial buildings. "Concerns about the impact the development could have on shoreline wildlife"? The shoreline is hardly pristine to begin with. "The density of the project will breed adverse effects in the neighbourhood"? Such as what? Having to share the area with others?It's private property. This isn't public land being given over to developers, and pursuing density over sprawl is just good policy. This sort of development makes far more sense than, say, paving over more farmland out west of Highway 11, and it really does not affect those lucky enough to have property on Orchard Point already except to increase their property values.
3- Colin Morton
Downtown Tomorrow Plan update to guide city's core over 20 years
OrilliaMatters 6Housing helps attract industry, not tourists, and the solution to homelessness is more housing, not jobs.
8- Colin Morton
City council up in arms over 'undemocratic' strong mayor powers
OrilliaMatters 12Has McIsaac yet offered an explanation for his decision to overrule council and rob the incoming CAO of the job he accepted in good faith?
1- Colin Morton
