AMHERSTBURG TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL, September 9, 2019

AMHERSTBURG TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION

PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL, September 9, 2019

Good evening Mayor and Council.

I am a Canadian citizen, an Amherstburg taxpayer, a resident of Amherstburg for 73 years, the proud Vice Chair of the Amherstburg Taxpayers Association, a mother, a grandmother, and last but not least, Nancy Atkinson.

I would like to tell you about the Amherstburg Taxpayers Association, as opposed to you getting second or third hand information.

We are a group of residents concerned about our taxes, and how they are managed and spent. We are Canadian citizens and taxpayers.

Nancy Atkinson, Vice-Chair of the
Amherstburg Taxpayers Association

We are a not-for-profit group. Unlike other organizations, we do not serve special interests. We are open to every single taxpayer in Amherstburg. We do not have “clients.” We are a group of taxpayers, and only taxpayers.

Our thought process for our association was that concerned residents should approach Council as a group to ask the questions that everyone has. Also, it would help any taxpayer who may not feel comfortable expressing their concerns at a Council meeting or in person or on the phone with a Councillor. We want to provide an avenue for their concerns to be addressed by Council.

The recommendation on your agenda that affects our organization. I want to point something out to you:

Our first meeting was held on August 29, 2019.

In less than one week, your CAO moved to label us as “lobbyists.”

No other organization was targeted for this treatment.

No one from the Town ever contacted us about this.

Firstly, I would like to ask Council a question: do you usually do things this way? Do you vote on public organizations without even giving them notice or consulting them first? Wouldn’t you like to talk to your taxpayers first before you vote on this?

We are not lobbyists. We do not have clients. We do not lobby for anyone. We are simply doing what Canadians and taxpayers have a right to do… voice our concerns and hearing Council voice their responses in the chosen format of a not-for-profit association.

We are not like special interest groups. We neither ask for nor do we offer incentives to anyone. We simply ask our Councillors to do what they promised to do: Listen to the taxpayers, and not label them as loud, noisy, un-quantatative, disgruntled, or unprofessional just because they speak and voice their concerns.

This by-law will not silence the Amherstburg Taxpayers Association. This by-law will silence the Council. You should ask this question: Who wants to silence the Council?

We do not want our Councillors to be silenced. On the contrary, we want them to speak “loud and clear,” on behalf of the residents who elected them. Will we always agree with their decisions? Absolutely not. But that doesn’t mean we should not be allowed to speak our opinions.

This by-law will appoint a Lobbyist Registrar who will monitor your communications. Essentially, your CAO is telling you, the elected representatives of the taxpayers, that you cannot be trusted.

One final thought. We have heard a lot from the CAO on this matter. We don’t need to hear from him any more. We want to hear from our elected representatives. We want to hear from our Council. We want to hear our Council members speak.

Thank-you. I would be happy to answer your questions.

         

Nancy Atkinson, Vice-Chair

Amherstburg Taxpayers Association