CORNWALL Ontario – In election years many politicians pander to the public hoping to gain or retain support. It’s not rocket science. Some governments play with budgets even so as to have a war chest to spend. Some simply throw bones not caring that taxes will go up.
Last night our council reversed a decision they took on garbage collection in our city. The price tag may exceed $100,000 per year.
Essentially apartment buildings and residences that used large container bins had in the past been given a credit by the city to help offset their cost.
The theory was that they received these credits in lieu of the normal free garbage pick up that most residents have.
But these types of buildings require some consideration. The cost of large containers should be in strata fees or rents. The argument that large apartment buildings would forgo bulk containers and that all the residents would drag their bags to the curb….well that’s a pretty hollow threat in my opinion. People like the convenience of dropping their garbage down a shoot. If anything a challenge like this scenario might push people to use their recycle bins more.
Sadly this being an election year the Kilger government decided to reverse its decision and cost taxpayers money to curry favor with the Dick Aubry crowd and other groups living in buildings like the Cotton Mill lofts.
It’s kinda stinky and not what true leadership is about.
Do you want your taxes to go up or down, or simply stabilize? Remember we get the government we vote for…or don’t.
In 2014 let’s change Cornwall and cross the bridge to a better future!