Dawn Gallagher Murphy’s third “free” BBQ on 29 September 2024 at Newmarket's Riverwalk Commons has cost the taxpayers a modest $881 - so far.  We shall have to wait until 1 March 2025 to find the true cost.  Personally, I find these so-called “free” BBQs a scandalous waste of public money. They are designed with one aim in mind: to butter up the voters. These extravagant events - billed to the taxpayers - are becoming normalised. And that's a problem. Giving money away In the old days Doug Ford used to hand people $20 bills from his own wallet. Now he prefers the public purse. Gallag ..read more

One year ago today, on 29 November 2023, the developer Michael Rice was making a last-ditch effort to persuade the Ford Government to permit development on the protected Greenbelt lands at Bathurst in King which he purchased on 15 September 2022 for $80M. (Photo Right) At the time the Government was reversing its catastrophic decision to permit development on parts of the protected Greenbelt – including the huge 2.7 sq km tract of land at Bathurst. In November 2022 Rice said he wanted to give Southlake some of his newly acquired land for a new hospital. Ontario’s then Auditor General, Bo ..read more

This morning I wander down to Newmarket Public Library to get some new information from Metrolinx on their much hyped plans for a 15 minute all-day two-way GO Train service on the Barrie Corridor. The first phase would bring the fast service to Aurora on our southern border.  I am a big fan of GO train expansion plans. What’s the alternative? Ford’s fantasy tunnel?  We need fast trains but we also want more details from Metrolinx. They can’t keep kicking the can down the road, promising answers tomorrow. And, in the meantime, serving up endlessly reheated announcements. (Graphic ..read more

On 24 October 2024 the long serving chair of York Regional Council, Wayne Emmerson, announced his retirement, two years early. In an emotional farewell to members of the Regional Council he said his last day would be 29 November 2024.  So, why is he going now? Emmerson, clearly exhausted, sees battles ahead with the Ford Government.  And he no longer has the stamina for it. He says the Regional Council needs someone to: “lead you through those changes for the next two years and the four years to come… these are going to be difficult for you all… so don’t dig your heels in. Work with ..read more

Two long running appeals to Ontario’s Information and Privacy Commissioner (IPC) requesting Southlake Regional Health Centre disclose key records relating to their now abandoned plans for a new acute hospital at Bathurst in the Protected Greenbelt have ended their so-called “mediation” phase.  The appeals are to be transferred to an Adjudicator later this month who will decide whether to conduct an inquiry.  In the mediation phase of an appeal the IPC tries to get all the parties to reach a settlement. But if that is not possible and the matter is not fully settled “an Adjudica ..read more

What will Dawn Gallagher Murphy MPP do with the $200 “rebate” she will be getting early next year?  She thinks the handout is a great idea. But I am left wondering what our Progressive Conservative MPP is going to do with this unexpected windfall. I think she should tell us.  Everyone gets the money The Gallagher Murphy household will be $600 better off with Ford’s “special rebate” which will go to 15M people in Ontario at a cost of $3 Billion. I can see her celebrating with a couple of bottles of the LCBO’s Bollinger Special Cuvée Brut Champagne. The $3 billion giveaway wi ..read more

 At 2.59pm on Saturday 19 October 2024 the Chair of the Newmarket-Aurora Federal Liberal Association told members and supporters by email that the Association was searching for a new candidate to replace Tony Van Bynen who is retiring.  Matt Gunning invited the riding’s Liberals to suggest suitable people to the Search Committee who would take it from there.  He told members he was looking forward to hearing from them! The rigorous process of selecting a candidate worthy of representing the riding in the Federal Parliament would then begin. Acclamation At 1.40pm on Tuesday ..read more

The Library Board agenda for tomorrow’s meeting (16 October) reports that in September 2024 the library had 22,935 members and more than a quarter -  5,830 - come from out-of-town.  17,105 members are Newmarket residents. This is the smallest membership in a decade – perhaps longer. (Library agendas going back to 2014 are posted on-line by the Town).  Where have all the Newmarket members gone? Exploded It is a different story for the out-of-towners whose numbers have exploded in recent years. Library membership is now open to all Ontario residents. We now have the highest n ..read more

{Youtube}00SuIritT6E{/Youtube} Doug Ford is the surprise celebrity at Dawn Gallagher Murphy’s third annual tax-payer funded BBQ yesterday at Riverwalk Commons in downtown Newmarket. It is a beautiful warm sunny day.  The premier tells the packed crowd:  “We are so blessed to have Dawn down at Queen's Park and having a voice for Newmarket and the entire region. And I just want to say Dawn, thank you. Down there she’s the hardest working MPP we have at Queen's Park. Done an incredible job.”  He spots Newmarket’s Mayor, John Taylor, who is there along with a contingent from the Tow ..read more

Tomorrow (Sunday 29 September 2024) Dawn Gallagher Murphy, Progressive Conservative MPP for Newmarket-Aurora, will be holding her third taxpayer-funded BBQ from 2pm-4pm at the Riverwalk Commons in Downtown Newmarket. She says it is “free” but, in reality, we all pay for it. Her first “Annual BBQ” on 16 October 2022 cost taxpayers $11,160. Her second BBQ on 22 October 2023 cost us $11,495. The costs come out of Gallagher Murphy’s “Office Operations” budget.  She says it is an "absolutely appropriate" use of taxpayers' money and is within the rules. Public subsidy Gallagher Murphy - persona ..read more