My Opinion – As Requested
City councillors recently received an anonymous email from a resident suggesting that one or two “women from the University” call all the shots at City Council. In addition to being an absolutely absurd proposition, the email was inflammatory and condescending in nature, nevertheless, I believe that it is incumbent upon councillors to be responsive to the electorate.
Original Email
From: ALICE
Sent: Thu 3/8/2007 6:11 PM
To: Undisclosed-Recipients:;
Subject: COUNCILLOR
It must be nice collecting all that money for being a city councillor and all you have to do is say yes to whatever Karen or the two women from the University who chair the most important committees tell you to vote for. And you don’t have to express any opinion, (if you have one), about any subject being voted on. Of course you are allowed to say… “I move we open the meeting” and “I move we close the meeting”.
My Response
Hi Alice
Interesting perspective.
You may find it insightful to watch or attend council meetings to get a better understanding of the issues and related opinions of city councillors. (Council meetings are televised on cable as well as broadcast online http://www.rogerstelevision.com/guelphcitycouncil )
If there are any particular issues you feel are not being represented by your councillor (or any of the very capable women you speak of for that matter…) you are encouraged to personally address the issue at any committee or council meeting. However, it is my opinion that getting involved in the solution often takes much more effort than simply complaining about the problem.
If you are interested in learning about MY opinions on the issues that I feel are particularly important, please visit my web site http://ward4guelph.ca The web site is setup to allow YOU to comment and provide YOUR opinion on the issues. You are more than welcome to disagree with my opinion… that’s OK. However, comments that are derogatory or offensive (much like your email) will not be posted.
Cheers
April 4th, 2007 at 8:59 pm
My goodness but don’t you have diplomacy down to a fine art.
Alice reminds me of the woman from Kate Quarrie’s campaign wake last fall who said that she thought it was awful that all these Brits were taking over the council from Canadians. It’s the beauty of free speech really, let people talk. Kind of like Art Linkleter, “Children say the darndest things.”
Yep, all them Brits and university women (the same people in fact).
Canada was better off before the Brits and educated women got here.