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Riggé’Shmé l BAGEE0. 2 . WM HULK) CHMICLE . Wednesday, November dl :00? Since 1 979 Voted " Bagel in The Region - Always Fresh - q NO OILS . NO FATS q NO PRESERVA'nVES Open fig!!! {Sunni-y Continued from page t He also talked about fire services. Despite co-operation agreements between local departments, he said it would take a cata- strophic event to get a Waterloo fire truck to answer a Kitchener fire call even though that station might be closer. He was joined in the argument for a single- tier government by another former Waterloo city councillor. John Shortreed. who argued that there were efficiencies to be found by hav- ing those services all under one control. In fact, the trend towards streamlining services was already occurring as the region now pro- vides 70 per cent of local services like policing. another example of wasted municipal tax dol has caused by competing local municipalities. Shortreed also said it would give the munic, ipality stronger bargaining power if it was speaking with one voice on issues ranging from cultural grants to transportation and infrastructure funding. As well, it would aid in the marketing of the area and drawing more new business since the loonie has taken flight. _ "We just put a suggestion on the table. We needed a starting point -- something to talk about." But the response to the idea from the local grassroots group wasn't positive as they grilled the members of the municipal government reform group on everything hom its composi- tion and funding, to the outcomes they envi- sion and the effect it will have on the identity of local communities. He said he knows there are some concerns about spiraling costs that came out of other amalgamations in Toronto. Ottawa and Hamil- ton. but those were forced by the province. This is a local effort that should address those concerns. “We're trying to engage the grassroots," said Shortreed. "We're trying to engage them in helping to come up with what is the best process. thraitttrtttltttt is the answer, say INttt"ttittttttt "If the province forced amalgamation on this region, how would that forced amalgama- tion be different than what you are proposing here?" asked Steve LindL "Aspire to something higher guys, and come back to us when you have something to talk about." Erb said his group's report. called Finding a Better Way, was purposely written in that way to make it as accessible as possible so that ordinary people could relate to it. But Lindt just found it ordinary. "With all the innovation and new thinking we have available, this is the best you can come up wirhr'_he said, _ - - _ - Peter Mansell. another member of the local community council, said most of the argu- ments he was hearing were for better co-Oper- ation and not necessarily amalgamation. "When you delve down into the horror sto- ries ofdup1ication, 1 think, yeah there's a prob- lem there, but is a problem solved by amalga- mation," he said. It was a theme picked up by former Water- loo councillor Jim Bolger, who also cited the need for more co-operation, such as shared ice time between different municipalities. But that could be done by getting more people around the same table instead of fort- ing “gem there, - _ -- A A _ _ “Irwe have the political will to do that, it far exceeds anything we can accomplish under amalgamation." said Bolggr. - _ - "Aspire to something higher guys, and come back to us when you have something to talk about." Rdben Fleming a weiianown local demon -- Steve Lind! Concerned citizen racy advocate, wondered what it would do to growth in the area if it was all under one plan- ning authority and how it would lead to sus- tainable development when we already strug- gle with the concept. More importantly, how would local citizens' voices be heard in a struc- ture that can be dominated by developers instead of the "real" grassroots? The most vocal opponent to the proposal was Benton Leong. who has fought a long bat- tle to increase citizen panicipau'on in the local political process. "My reaction to this plan for amalgamation is it's unnecessary. it's ineffective in terms of what they propose. and worse than that it's harmful," said Leong. "That seems like an oxymoron to me that we have to grow to have more grassroots," he He called it rubbish to say that the area has to be bigger to be more innovative. Innovation comes from small and agile places, and Water- loo is proofof that. And it fundamentally doesn't do anything to address the difference in community identi- ty Waterloo is a very different city than Kitch~ ener in everything from funding priorities to community involvement. he said. "You're suggesting that in order to keep community identity we come up with commu- nity councils." said Leong. "We sedan example of that with our local school boards which have been completely emasculated. and we want this fy our region?" "'These community céuncils would have no powers. They would have responsibilities but no authority Representatives for Citizens for Better Gov- ernment acknowledged that this was the most vociferous debate yet. and would have to work to come up with some answers to the concerns presented. - Their next public meeting will be tonight at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex's Hauser Hans starting at 7 pan.