In case you missed my speech yesterday....

You can read it right here.

Mayors Outlook Luncheon

I want to invite everyone to come out to hear me speak at the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce annual Mayor’s Outlook Luncheon. The event begins at 11:30am at the Venetian Banquet and Hospitality Centre, 219 Romina Drive, Concord.

I have a positive message to deliver. Although Vaughan is feeling the effects of the current global economic slowdown, I am confident of our ability to overcome the current economic challenges. The City of Vaughan is well positioned to move ahead, to grow and to enhance our quality of life.

I hope to see you there.

Building a Better Vaughan, Now

The federal government has opened the door to new possibilities with its big spending budget. Ottawa has set out a plan that includes nearly $70 billion in new money for tax relief, skills development and transition support and infrastructure.

The infrastructure envelope is approximately $12 billion over two years including:

- $4 billion for a new Infrastructure Stimulus Fund;
- $1 billion over five years for a green infrastructure fund; and,
- $500 million over 2 years for community recreation facilities.

Ottawa has made it clear that it is looking for “shovel ready” projects to help stimulate the economy right away. Here in Vaughan, we are more than ready to do our part. We have identified $82.3 million in capital projects, everything from road construction and road resurfacing to replacement of water mains throughout the city. Nearly $63 million in projects have been recommended for approval as part of our 2009 budget deliberations.

Funding from the federal government will allow us to complete our 2009 projects and move forward on those planned for 2010 and 2011.

This is an opportunity to build a better Vaughan and we must seize this opportunity now. In this budget, Ottawa’s stimulus package has a two year expiration date. Now that may be adjusted as time goes on and economic conditions change. But we must use this infrastructure money while it is available. That will be my focus for the foreseeable future.

It was a flippin good time

I want to thank everyone who attended my second annual pancake breakfast at the Vellore Village Community Centre on Saturday. Approximately 1,000 friends and neighbours turned out making it a tremendous success.

This was truly a community event. BBQ Gourmet donated and cooked the pancakes and Fontana Gardens donated the hot chocolate and coffee. We had an army of volunteers including many enthusiastic high school students and the Air Cadets Squadron 283 from Woodbridge. Whether it was donating the food and drinks or donating their time, the generosity of many people is very much appreciated.

The kids were entertained. Doo Doo the Clown put on another great show and the Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service brought along the newest member of the service, a donated robotic Sparky dog driving a firetruck. The firefighters also took the opportunity to promote fire safety.

On Saturday night I attended an ALS fundraiser for Maple resident Joe Sottosanti. I understand the money is going to be used to make some renovations to Joe’s house. I wish him all the best.

It was an event filled weekend. On Sunday I joined Ronald McDonald for the reopening of a McDonald’s restaurant in Maple. It’s these types of events that make being Mayor so fulfilling. They allow me to get out and speak with Vaughan residents and hear their comments firsthand.

Now back to City Hall.

Linda and Maple resident Joe Sottosanti at an ALS fundraiser for Joe

Speak Out For Vellore Village

Are you aware of the plans to develop the lands at Weston Road and Major Mackenzie? Developers are proposing to build 632 apartments, including two 22 storey towers and townhouse complexes, on a tiny piece of land at that site. The apartment buildings are in direct contravention to the Vellore Village District Central Plan. The plan as it currently stands does not allow high-rise residential development over six stories.

In response, the Vellore Woods Ratepayer’s Association has started an online petition in an attempt to speak out against this development. I support the residents of Vellore Village and I hope others will join me and support them as well. I encourage everyone to sign the petition. It may seem like a modest, almost futile step. But I firmly believe that voices DO MATTER and that there is strength in numbers.

Here is a link to the petition:

http://www.petitiononline.com/twintwr/petition.html

If you want more information you can contact the Vellore Woods Ratepayers Association by sending an email to: vellorewoods@hotmail.com

Again, don’t forget, the Mayor’s Annual Pancake Breakfast is tomorrow (January 24) at the Vellore Village Community Centre at 1 Villa Royale Avenue in Vaughan. It runs from 10am until 12:30pm and DooDoo the clown will be there to entertain the kids. I encourage everyone to come out and join me. The food is great and better yet, it’s free.

JOIN ME AT THE MAYOR’S PANCAKE BREAKFAST ON SATURDAY

It has been a few days since my last blog posting and I would like to take the opportunity to fill you in on what has been happening.

I spent some time with my family late last week and over the weekend. On Friday I joined my 6 year old grandson Stefano at his school for a day with the scientists. It was a truly enjoyable experience. The students learned about various shapes and the difference between span and enclosure. Boy, did I get a greater appreciation for our teachers. It brought a whole new meaning to the term “patience is a virtue”.

Earlier this week at City Hall we began interviews for a new Integrity Commissioner. This is a core component of our “Working Together for Vaughan” campaign. I am hoping we can fill this position as soon as possible because it is crucial to helping improve accountability and transparency.

Talking about the “Working Together for Vaughan” campaign, I began meeting with Members of Council this week. I had hoped to meet individually so we could have a forthright conversation about where we need to go as a City and how Council can work better together. Unfortunately, Joyce Frustaglio brought along Councillor Shefman for her meeting and Peter Meffe brought along Mario Ferri. I expressed disappointment that they didn’t feel they could come and meet with me privately. With that being said, they were productive meetings, but I believe they could have been better as one-on-one’s. I will keep you posted on the progress of future meetings.

Finally, don’t forget, the Mayor’s Annual Pancake Breakfast is this Saturday (January 24) at the Vellore Village Community Centre at 1 Villa Royale Avenue in Vaughan. It runs from 10am until 12:30pm and DooDoo the clown will be there to entertain the kids. I encourage everyone to come out and join me. The food is great and better yet, it’s free.

What do you think?

According to the old Chinese proverb a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. I believe that step was taken on Sunday when I launched the Working Together for Vaughan campaign.

I have set aside my personal differences and have started reaching out to my colleagues on Council. In fact, yesterday I invited every Member of Council to meet with me individually over the next couple of weeks to discuss City priorities. I want to talk about our ten point plan and review the specific timelines for implementation and where needed, update the specific strategy for each initiative.

With respect to other infrastructure needs, York Region has submitted a list of priority projects to the federal government with input from all Vaughan Regional Councillors. Although our projects weren’t listed in the Toronto Star today, I can assure you we have been working hard to make sure Ottawa knows what projects are important to the City of Vaughan leading up to the federal budget on Tuesday, January 27, 2009.

I am hopeful that all Members of Council can move forward together in a civil and professional manner. A good start might be reappointing me to the board of Powerstream. I was disappointed by the lack of consultation leading up to that decision. Reappointing me would be a positive gesture that we could all point to as a concrete sign of re-establishing conciliation and cooperation at City Hall.

What do you think?

Why we need to raise the bar

You know, I am an optimistic person. I truly believe that Members of Council can set aside their personal differences and animosity and work effectively on behalf of the residents of Vaughan.

The point of the Working Together for Vaughan campaign is to restore professionalism and accountability and transparency at City Hall. As I stated on Sunday’s launch, my goal is to make the City of Vaughan the standard bearer in Canada for accountability and transparency when it comes to expenses. I don’t believe my suggestion to post receipts along with our expense claims on the City website is unreasonable. What do you think?

I believe we need to raise the bar to an entirely new level when it comes to issues such as office expenses and I will continue to work towards that goal. I hope my colleagues on City Council, including Councillor DiVona, will join me and go that extra mile. We need to ensure the issue of expenses never again become an impediment to the good work we have to do at City Hall.

As for the issue of the priorities plan for the year presented at Committee of the Whole, I didn’t receive a copy of it until the last minute and obviously had no input into the document. I am hoping that in future, we can improve the process so that all elected members are treated equally and get an opportunity to provide their suggestions. All nine Members of Council have something to bring to the table and deserve to be treated with the utmost of respect. (Even if we disagree on an issue.)

Working Together for Vaughan – Progress Report

Since launching the Working Together for Vaughan campaign on Sunday, public support has been growing. More people have offered positive feedback to me personally, over the phone, through email and on Facebook.

The residents of Vaughan support my commitment to work with all Members of Council to try and set aside our personal differences, return professionalism to City Hall and improve accountability and transparency.

I have taken the next step towards improving the City Expenditure Policy. Yesterday I presented a series of sweeping changes to the Working Session of Committee of the Whole. Among my recommendations are:

• Requiring that three signatures be obtained to verify the accuracy of expense claims;
• Mandate specific standards for the use of cell phones and blackberries;
• Mandate specific standards for the Mayor’s and Senior Management Fleet Vehicles;
• Restrict expense claims to business meals only, no alcohol;
• Mandate specific standards for personal expenses, the use of corporate credit cards, and companion expenses; and,
• Mandate specific rules for campaign related city expenses.

To ensure we hit the mark I am recommending that the City seek independent third party expertise to review the existing policy and the proposed changes. As a matter of fact, I have had an initial conversation with the former Auditor General of Ontario, Erik Peters to see if he would be interested in the job. I will keep you posted on my progress.

In the meantime, my recommendations to strengthen the City Expenditure Policy will now go to the Audit and Operational Review Committee. As soon as I know the date and time of the meeting, I will post it right here.

Councillor's and citizens are Working Together for Vaughan

Since launching the “Working Together for Vaughan” campaign yesterday I have received positive comments, emails and phone calls from a great many constituents. The people of Vaughan want City Council to work together cooperatively on their behalf.

I just want to take this opportunity to again thank two of my Council colleagues for attending yesterday’s launch and offering their support. Here is what Regional Councillor Gino Rosati had to say;

“ I am very very happy with what the Mayor had to say today. She has taken the initiative and she comments, positive comments and I fully agree with her and I am excited about it and I am ready to move forward with the Mayor and the rest of Council.”

Here is what City Councillor Peter Meffe had to say;

“I look forward to seeing us come back together and move forward for the interests of the citizens of Vaughan. People are having a tough time with respect to their mortgages paying tuition and all sort of daily things that all of us have to do. And it’s too important for us not to cross that bridge and cross that river. I think this is an opportunity to do that.”

The Working Together for Vaughan campaign includes a recommendation to make sweeping changes to the City’s Expenditure Policy, including a complete ban on expensing alcohol.

I explained that this morning during a tough, but fair interview with CFRB’s Bill Carroll. But afterwards Bill suggested that I had perhaps gone too far by recommending a complete ban on alcohol. I would have to disagree with Bill.

Although alcohol is allowed under the current City Expenditure Policy and many Members of Council and Senior Staff have expensed alcohol in the past, it is time to move forward. We can never again let the issue of expenses become an impediment to the important work we have to do at City Hall. By removing alcohol as an expense, we can avoid an ongoing debate over what is and is not appropriate.

With that being said, I am recommending that an independent third party expert review the City Expenditure policy and our changes to ensure we are on the right track.

My goal is to make the City of Vaughan the standard bearer in Canada for accountability and transparency when it comes to expenses.

Pictures from my news conference to launch Working Together for Vaughan

Why “Working Together for Vaughan” is more than just another campaign promise

Today, I had the pleasure of launching my new campaign at the Vellore Village Community Centre.

“A new campaign?” you say. “What’s that all about?”

I’ll get to that in a moment, but first why is Vellore Village so important?

Growing up I watched my mother work, first as a city councillor, and then as Mayor to the great City of Vaughan. Politics – at all levels – was a big part of my childhood. I had the opportunity to see first-hand what it was like to be an elected official. I learned that some of it can be truly remarkable, and some of it can be disheartening.

As a Regional Councillor I experienced the remarkable part by working together with my colleagues from City council and the York Catholic District School Board to make Vellore Village Community Centre a reality. We helped create a place where families and students come together to swim, to skate, to play basketball and to take part in all kinds of community programs. As I said in my speech today, it’s a place where friendships are forged and neighbours get to know neighbours.

It is truly an example of what hard work, vision and cooperation can deliver. Something I think we need more of in light of recent events at City Hall.

I want to be clear: no one person is to blame for the recent political difficulties. I firmly believe that. But now, the beginning of the New Year, is the time to turn the page and move forward together. And that’s what “Working Together for Vaughan” is all about.

The taxpayers of Vaughan rightfully expect that we approach our job in a civil, responsible and professional manner. That’s what they do every day, and they want to know their elected officials are doing the same.

However, I believe we should be held to a higher standard.

That’s why a key component of the campaign is to strengthen the existing City Expenditure Policy. Today, I proposed bringing in tough new regulations that will restrict the use of expenditures and make the City of Vaughan the standard bearer in Canada for accountability and transparency.

I know you’re probably thinking: “Politicians make promises all the time. Why is the ‘Working Together for Vaughan’ campaign any different?”

It’s different because this isn’t just another campaign. It’s my personal commitment to work with all Members of Council to try and set aside our personal differences, return professionalism to City Hall and improve accountability and transparency. I truly believe, as my mother taught me, that this job is too important to let differences of opinion get in the way of our duties and responsibilities. We need to set the acrimony aside and get to work.

Welcome to my Blog!

For my first entry, I want to welcome all of you to my blog.

Over the last few years, many politicians have launched blogs to talk about why they do what they do. People like President-elect Barack Obama, former federal cabinet Minister Monte Solberg, and Liberal MP Bob Rae, to name a few. While format and subject matter varies, they all provide a peek behind the curtain of what life is like for an elected official.

I’m sure many of you have wondered: "What do they think they're doing down at City Hall?"

This blog is about answering that question.

My hope is that my musings will shed some light on the inner workings of municipal government, and help the citizens of Vaughan get to know their Mayor a bit better. From new policy initiatives to gardening triumphs – this blog is your window into my day.

I want to invite you to bookmark my page and come back often. I hope this blog will be one more way I can serve the great citizens of Vaughan.