Sunday, April 24, 2016

Sunday April 24, 2016


Ladies and Gentlemen



Our on again – off again spring is off again. In spite of the cool weather, that hardy breed known as the Georgian Bay boater is already out on the water.  A tip of the hat but I will watch from shore.



Monday April 25th has two meetings. At 6:00 pm is a closed meeting of Council to deal with two personal matters. At 7:00 pm is the regular meeting of Council. The agenda includes:

-       Two deputations

o    Midland Rotary Club update

o    Midland Cultural Centre update

-       Presentation to the Town by Gunter Hille, a well-regarded local photographer

-       Letters on the Development Charges associated with second suites

-       Direction regarding a $2M increase in the cost of the new Public Works depot

-       Selection of a consulting firm for the hiring of the full time CAO

-       Councilor Strathearn will present a motion to clarify the financial targets from our strategic plan



On Tuesday the 26th I am at County Council for 9:00 am. County will be dealing with such topics as the collection of a court awarded settlement from the AWARE group; and information about the Canada Census that is due to start in May 2016. 



At 1:30 pm it’s the Blue Skies and Butterflies Spring Fashion Show.  This annual Askennonia event takes place in the Community Hall at the NSSRC.  Tickets are $20. 



Then right to Friday the 29th at 10:00 am when an update meeting for the Midland Bay Landing Steering Committee takes place at Town Hall.  At 5:30 pm it’s the Museum’s Heritage Dinner at the NSSRC. The guest speaker is John Hartman who will interpret the 1909 trip up the bay by Midland photographer J.W. Bald. Then at 7:30 pm, join the Battle of the Bands at MCC.  This promises to be an exciting event with talent such as the Sandra Good Band, Mad Hatters, Crossfire and more.



Weekend



Saturday



-       6:30 pm the Quest Art School + Gallery hosts their inaugural Kaleidoscope of the Arts. Music by Scott Cooper and two artists painting/sketching on-site.  Guests will then move to Rotary Hall to enjoy a sit-down dinner catered by Ciboulette et Cie.  John French will be on the grand piano and Chuck Baker will perform during dessert.  After a live auction, the Shawn Mei band will have guests dancing the night away. Proceeds will support visual arts programs for children, teens, adults and seniors.



-       7:30 pm Seranata Choir hosts its “Spring Sing” at St Pauls





Sunday



-       12:30 pm Hospice Huronia holds it’s annual Hike for Hospice. The event starts with a soup lunch at the Penetanguishene Curling Club. The walk starts at 1:30 pm.



Council Issues Update





GBGH



A very busy week in the public life of our hospital. A bus load of citizens were down at Queens Park on Wednesday to protest health care cuts and to present a 15,000 name petition supporting GBGH hospital services.  Then on Saturday some of our physicians gathered at Queens Park to voice their concern about cuts to the fees paid to doctors. If you add to this the 108 recommendations from the recent operations review at GBGH, you can appreciate the complexity of trying to make needed changes to healthcare in North Simcoe.



Behind the scenes, your mayors are continuing their effort to have the province change the hospital funding formula to properly fund mid-sized hospitals. Our efforts in concert with GBGH, the LHIN, area doctors, the Ministry and mayors from across the province seem to be making progress. We have been invited to meet ministerial staff in early May to discuss our imitative and inform the Ministry’s review of the funding formula. Look for a media release tomorrow giving a bit more background on what the mayors have been up to.





Gord McKay





Your Year for Getting Aboard – Midland is on the Move - 2016

                                                                                              






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