OrilliaMatters welcomes letters to the editor ([email protected]). This letter talks about public accountability during election year.
*************************
Election year is when public accountability is at its highest level during the 48-month term of a municipal council.
Election year is the notional period from Nov. 1 of the third year to Oct. 31 of the final year in the term of a council. During that time a lot can happen.
The taxpayers and voters benefit from increased accountability and attention from their elected councillors.
Those who are not going to run again polish their image and work to complete things they cared about. Those who are running for office and possibly higher office use this time to present themselves to the public in their campaign style. All that is good, but the public should keep in mind what their contributions were while they were in office.
Fortunately, Orillia has a ward system and ineffective councillors can be sorted out and dealt with in their ward by voters who know them. There was a time when the first eight past the post were elected. As a result, an ineffective councillor could be re-elected more times than he or she should have been.
One thing I would like to see candidates talk about in the election year is the definition of what properly belongs “in camera” or “sensitive.” Who decides and what are the criteria that the public would understand and appreciate?
Too much “in camera” can lead to a municipal council being seen as secretive and hiding something, which is something they should wish to avoid. Also when something is out in the open and up for debate the public are able to approach members of council and put forward their point of view ahead of the vote, rather than be faced with a fait accompli.
Not only does the taxpayer get more accountability they also get roads paved and painted. No longer will you have to search for the intersections and wonder how close you are to the centre line. Your taxpayer-friendly municipality will paint them for you in election year and take some of the guess work out of driving.
We have a wonderful system in Ontario. Sure it needs tweaking and oversight, but that comes about eventually due to the checks and balances of our democratic system.
Doug Lewis
Orillia
*************************
