The Civic Square

There seems to be some dispute with the developer of the Downtown Civic Square and final plans are not certain. My suggestion is for the Civic Square to remain just a large hole in the ground. Once a year the local citizens could gather and watch as large amounts of cash are shovelled into this hole then set on fire. It would provide some entertainment and would probably be cheaper and just as useful as whatever shape the square finally takes.

The Casino Dividend

The city has received its quarterly dividend from the Casino but as usual most of the money is committed to the University and the Downtown Renewal (ha,ha), for now and well into the future. When the idea of the Casino was first proposed we were told that Brantford would receive large sums of money that would be spent partially to pay for the extra costs associated with the Casino, such as the extra policing costs and new roads, etc. and the rest would go to help reduce taxes and benefit other civic projects. Seems that this is all forgotten (a little goes to the police but doesn't cover all the calls to the Casino and associated crime investigations) and only the Downtown has seen any spending from this legacy fund. The rest of the city has just seen higher, not reduced, taxes as a result of the Casino. But isn't this always the way. The politicians make big promises but then change their tune when it comes time to deliver. This Casino revenue should be shared equally throughout the city and not just on the Council's pet project , "the Downtown".

John Starkey

I don't know Mr. Starkey personally and don't always agree with his positions, but I admire his honesty and his "call them like he sees them" stlye. These are qualities that have made him less than popular with some of his fellow councillors, the civic bureaucracy and the Expositor.

Income Tax and the Poverty Line

The Canada Council on Social Development in 2003 (latest statistics I could find) set the poverty line for a single person in Canada in a range from $13,680- $19,795 depending on where one lived. For a community about the size of Brantford it was set at $16,979. Yet the Federal Government set the basic personal exemption for a single taxpayer at $7,756 for 2003. That means that people who were living below the poverty line were still required to pay income tax on a portion of their earnings and even those at or just above the poverty line were also taxed to below the poverty line. This makes little sense to me. The basic exemption should at least reflect the poverty line in Canada and not tax people into poverty. It's not like the Federal Government is short of money with their hugh surpluses, but I guess it's up to the poor people to have to pay for David Dingwall's gum.

The Liberal Expositor

The Brantford Expositor claiming that it is not a "Liberal" paper is like Michael Jackson claiming that he is not strange. I used to think that Paul Martin must be editing the Expositor but he probably doesn't have enough time after he edits the Toronto Star.

Drugs

Where is the best place in Brantford to get a prescription filled? Victoria Park.

Downtown Brantford

Brantford has a thriving downtown. It has just moved from Colborne Street to King George Road. Would someone please inform the Mayor and City Council.

Trees

If a tree fell in Brantford, would the City Council hear it?