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Holwyn Peters (Orillia,ON), 21 days ago

Councillor Wanye Gardy's current campaign to unsure that taxpayers do not pay for alcoholic beverages when city staff or councillors are on business is either political opportunism, or an example of a narrow-minded, unsohpisticated view of the contemporary business etiquette.

Would Councillor Gardy be opposed to a city employee paying for a coffee or tea for a guest? How about bottled water, a soft drink, or a cappachino? All these are reasonable examples of beverages that might be consumed at a business meeting. What makes a glass of wine or beer any different.

Is Councillor Gardy implying that modest consumption of an alcoholic beverage is somehow evil, licentious, or some other undefined source of potential corruption?

Please Councillor Gardy, open your mind to contemporary standards of acceptable social behaviour and drop the sanctimonious persona of "protector of the people".

Ken Szijarto (Ramara Tsp,Ontario), 1 month ago

I just read a news article from Thunder Bay discussing Lakehead's current financial woes, and plans to cut jobs, in order to balance the books. It made me wonder what the citizen's of Thunder Bay think about Lakehead's plans to spend money here, while jobs are being cut there?

I was surprised to find out that Lakehead's financial footing, is less than stable. Their poor financial position was never hilighted in the local media here, or at any of the meetings I attended. I wonder if Lakehead's lack of funds played any role in delays here in Orillia?

I hope the city of Orillia did its' due diligence, in their negotiations with their unversity partner. It would be a shame to have Lakehead put its' hand out for more.... the citizens of Orillia have no more to give....

Ramara Tsp (Ken Szijarto,Ontario), 1 month ago

Re: Orillia to Consider Servicing Severn Properties

In the short term the cash grab makes sense. In the long term Orillia will be selling off capacity of a finite resource. If I lived in Orillia, I would want to know what happens when these systems are running at full capacity? These plants will need to be expanded. Who is going to pay for very expensive projects?

When you join a private golf club, there is an initiation fee, as well as an annual charge. Will Orillia demand any upfront charge? These funds could be held in reserve, to be used to fund future expansions, so that existing ratepayers, in Orillia, won't be responsible for any expansion costs.

Only when the city of Orillia can quarantee that existing users will not be liable for any growth related capital costs (including preconstruction planning and design studies) should the city of Orillia proceed with servicing any lands outside of its' jurisdictions.

Sharon (JR Smith,On), 2 months ago

re. the council turning down a request for a gate at the port of Orillia. Most major ports have a security gate.Orillia does not have the greatest reputation amonst boaters re security in general. I personally would never stay overnight at the port in my boat unless there was a gate

Orillia (Scott Fraser,Ont), 2 months ago

Great to see the article on kids for turtles and other volunteers picking up trash for earthday. Too bad that the teachers/administrators or students at Park Street didn't get involved. There is garbage fouling the boulevards, parking lot, school fences and neighbouring properties. Apparently there is no environmental awareness class at Park Street or is it better to just talk about it than to do something concrete.

trenton (Bill,nj), 3 months ago

To Bernie or Ernie whatever your name is.. the guy whining about plastic bags and fuel consumption: just so you know I will be idling my car in my driveway tonight as a tribute to you on earth day

Orillia (Jane Johnson,ON), 3 months ago

Murf on West St. Getting Safer every year! It's called 'dillution'. Who among us has not cleaned up a paintbrush with mineral spirits in a small tin can, looked left, then right, then poured it on a weed, or a bit of driveway gravel, for the rain to wash away? Have the opponents to the MURF on West (MOW) forgotten that for years NO new contaminents are being ADDED, rather, each year that passes, arguably the site becomes safer as more and more natural dillution occurs, IT CANNOT GET WORSE.... and while yes, there is some serious contamination 60 feet below the surface, have we forgotten the lowly turtle (living at ground zero!)? Thriving over the decades mucking around, still with just one head! And those employees who worked for 40 plus hours a week during the height of contamination, they continue to be productive and healthy memebers of our community. Are they all diseased and suffering? I think not. Our local health authorities may have noticed something by now, don't you think?
It is obvious there are about 300 people vehemently and vocally opposed to the MOW, however, it has been my experience over the past few years working as receptionist/administrator at my own company and now as an employee of another, that everyone coming into either business (when the topic arises) wants the MOW, fully understanding that there are always risks and escalating costs with a project of this magnitude. Also, it is not lost on anyone over the age of 30 that had Orillia had a liberal MPP, the approval process would have been completed by now. Farbeit for a Liberal bureuacrat to give a Conservative riding an easy go, it has always been thus. Nothing to do with safety whatsoever.
Please build the MURF ON WEST, and don't leave pollution for our children's children to deal with. Clean it up, build it proud, and those who feel that spending 1 or 6 hours a week is an extreme danger to their health, visit one of the fine facilities in our neighbouring Townships as they grow and prosper instead of Orillia!

Orillia (Clint Black,Ontario), 3 months ago

So Orillia city council got their “Wireless Revolution”. Ok, they’re getting fancy cell phones paid for, by us. Hmmm, weren’t some councilor already using cell phones and crack- berries? So the only thing that is different is who is paying their cell phone bill!

rama (jeremy williams,ont), 3 months ago

i was just trying to figure out how the Packet can write endless stories about the library (at least 1 a day), and a great piece of literature on the city buying a new street sweeper but only write 3 sentences on the body of a 20 year that was found by the lake. Nice reporting Packet, way to stay on top of the stories that matter.

Newspaper Reply It's a good question. We are limited to a large degree by what the Orillia OPP will tell us. In the case you mention, the police would only say "No foul play is suspected." That is usually the code police use when they are investigating a suicide. It is their policy to give no information in such cases. We believe that is wrong-headed, though well-intentioned, because such policies end up masking a very serious problem in our community and reinforcing the taboo and shame associated with it. I suggest a polite letter to the police, lobbying them to be more open with information about all investigations. In the meantime, we will continue to do our best with the limited information we are given. Mark Bisset, Managing Editor, The Packet & Times

Scarborough (Paul Davidson,Ontario), 3 months ago

On Thurs. Apr.10 we were visiting downtown Orilla to do some shopping as we have for many years after a trip to the casino. Our parking meter expired about 2 mins. before we got back to it. We were given a ticket from the parking guy. For a lousy $5 fine, businesses like the Mariposa Market and Webers are never going to see us again. Get you head out of the 18th century and allow people to spend there money in Orilla. We have spent a lot of time and money in Orilla but we won't be back. There was also a lot of cars besides us with tickets who we're sure felt the same way.
Don't want to hear how tourism is down and business in Orilla isn't very good. You do it by being oh so petty and Canadian!!!!
Paul & Linda Davidson