AWARE Simcoe gathers strength – meetings set for Collingwood and Innisfil

Accountability and transparency a key concern
Mews release AWARe Simcoe August 8, 2010
SIMCOE COUNTY — Collingwood and Innisfil are the next communities where AWARE Simcoe has scheduled meetings, part of the group’s preparation for the October 25 municipal election. -On Saturday August 14 in the Father Ellard Hall of St Mary’s Church, 63 Elgin St., Collingwood, from 10am-12 noon
-On Saturday August 21 at Innisfil Community Church, The Life Center, 1571 Innisfil Beach Road, Innisfil, from 10am-1pm
The Collingwood and Innisfil events follow meetings in Barrie, Bradford, Utopia, Penetanguishene and Coldwater.
Across the county, AWARE Simcoe has found a common thread of concern regarding a lack of accountability and transparency at the municipal level.
“This seems to be something residents everywhere have experienced,” said AWARE Simcoe interim chair Don Morgan. “People object to councillors having private discussions about public projects – and the public only finding out after key decisions have been made. The debate and the process must be open. Don’t deal with matters of public interest behind closed doors.”
 Other important issues that have voters looking for a change on a number of municipal councils:
-Adverse impacts on agricultural land and the environment. “Our air, land and water resources are finite,” Morgan stressed.
-Wasteful spending. At the county level, debt repayment costs are projected to quadruple from $5.4 million to $22 million annually in the next 10 years