New Comers to Ajax

As the child of immigrant parents, I know what obstacles my mother and father faced – a new country, a new language , the challenges of finding employment and finding their way through a maze of social obstacles – those things we take for granted.

For example, who do we turn to for advice on finding work - and, if we find work, how do we get there?

Ajax, to its credit, does a pretty good job in providing orientation assistance to newcomers looking to start a new life in Canada.

One of the most important services available to newcomers to Ajax – and to Canada, for that matter - is the Community Development Council of Durham (CDCD).

CDCD has different programs that cater to the needs of immigrants like language instruction; helping new residents adapt to life in Ajax and employment counselling; introductions to youth programs, transportation and community services, and; services to assist in dealing with municipal, provincial and federal agencies.

CDCD can be contacted by telephone at 905-686-2661 and additional information on their range of services can be found on their website at http://www.cdcd.org/

The Town of Ajax also provides a translation line service in Portuguese, Tamil, Arabic, Dari, Tagalog, Hindi, Farsi, Spanish, Mandarin and Urdu.

It can be accessed at 905-427-8811. The Town’s website, in my opinion, is one of the best municipal sites in Canada. It can be found at http://www.townofajax.com/

If you know of someone who needs assistance settling into life in Ajax, please let them know these services are available to them.

Something new to offer

Convincing electors you have something new to offer them, or perhaps a new approach to politics at Ajax Town Council can be a daunting challenge.

Ward 1 voters’ are frustrated.  The issues?  They include taxation and value for money; the lack of availability of a good job closer to home, and;  the perception of the absence of accountability and transparency in the taxpayer-councillor relationship.

When you start stacking those other tax realities – the burden of the HST, for example, business and property taxes and personal income taxes on top of those indirect provincial taxes - and people start thinking, is this as good as it gets? What's left for my family?

So, what are some possible solutions?

Why are we so willing to accept repeated property tax increases? This year it is 2.75%. Our net incomes aren’t rising to meet those increases? Our families need more money to make ends meet.

What’s wrong with targeting a ZERO% tax increase over the next four years?

Why can’t we put a hold on some of our intended spending until we get the Town’s financial house in balance with our own?

People who know me know that I’m not shy about introducing common sense into problem-solving discussions. I believe that common sense, in an effort to retain more money in our wallets for our families, may just be that “new thing” people haven’t seen in Ajax for some time.

Closing the Deal

I attended the Saturday September 25/10 grand opening of Supreme Auto Group’s new  Bayley street facility. Congratulations on Supreme’s monumental achievement!

The mayor, councillors and members of the business community were on hand to participate in the event.

And I thought, as much as we need to attract more small and medium-sized businesses to Ajax, why has it taken our Town Council so long to come around to realizing the dire importance of encouraging business to establish here?

For over a decade, the Town of Ajax has been campaigning to entice businesses to come to Ajax. We have spent and plan to continue to spend tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars to promote Ajax.

That’s all well and good. But it’s NOT enough.

The Town of Ajax is a corporation. A business. And we – the taxpayers – are its shareholders.

Like any successful business enterprise, the key to success is closing the deal. How many times have the taxpayers of Ajax been undermined by a Town administration because we can’t close the deal and land new business?

Why can’t we compete with other municipalities? Given the intense competition and rivalry among Ontario municipalities for attracting new business, Ajax isn’t even in the game.

We generate business interest, but we can’t manage to execute contracts with international and national business organizations. Where is our business appetite? What incentives are we offering? Can we learn from the successes of other municipalities?

I know electors in Ward 1 want new business for two main reasons. They are:

1. To ease their current tax burden to keep more money in their wallets, and;
2. To provide an option to the Toronto commute to enable them to spend more time with their families.

Contact me if you feel the way I do.

My Remarks at the CDCD Candidates Debate last night

Good evening. My name is Katie Kortekaas and I’d like to thank the CDCD – the organizers of this evening’s debate for the opportunity to present my views.

I’d like to thank all the people who turned out tonight. I’m here to ask you for your vote.

And here’s why.

What’s missing in Ajax is financial leadership. Taxation and spending is eroding the quality of life for our families!

I say this as a wife, mother, grandmother and a resident of Ward 1 for the last 26 years.

The financial cost to our families, because of our quiet acceptance of tax increases year after year, are affecting our ability to meet our families’ daily needs.

You folks are like my family, and like any family facing major financial decisions, the time has come to do something about our mutual problem. Its FAMILY CONFERENCE TIME!

Taxes are up 2.5% this year. Add this to the 10% tax rise during the last four years!

Utility costs are up over 11%, food and transportation and other services cost more, but our salaries haven’t caught up to those increases.

So, what’s wrong with targeting a zero percent tax increase?

We need financial leadership!

Our tax dollars are stretched to the limit yet our town is in debt.

Our Town’s long-term development plan has been laid out for us by our last council and it looks toward going even further in debt to build more facilities, incurring more operating costs.

What’s wrong with this picture?

The recession started two years ago. Jobs have been lost and many households have been reduced to single incomes.

The Town’s lost revenues have not been offset by new sources of business, commercial, industrial, tourism or other non-residential tax sources.

Like any reasonable family approaching a spending decision, we stop and take a look at what’s in the bank and what our obligations are.

We assess money-in and money-out before we take on more obligations.

For example, when you get your VISA bill, you know exactly what you’ve spent your money on. When you get your TAX BILL, you’re not sure if you got value for your money!

After a 30-year career in public finance positions, and in particular, as a gatekeeper and watchdog on public spending, I know that right now, we need to open the books to eliminate waste, inefficiencies and duplication of spending.

We need to cut back our operating costs, and reconsider our future spending.

Our Town is fully prepared to build yet another facility instead of considering and using existing facilities which have already been paid for out of our taxes – our magnificent  schools.

Our schools are rich in space and facilities. They sit in the middle of our neighbourhoods and are largely underused after school hours, on weekends and during the summer.

Our tax dollars have paid for them and we continue to pay utilities for them year round.

What better place to use for our own community recreation and meeting spaces – especially for our youth and seniors. Can you think of a better place to get to know your neighbours?

We simply can’t afford to keep spending and not use what we have!

Our families’ lives are directly affected by our incomes – and no one has the money to throw at the duplication of expenses.

Our tax dollars MUST be used more efficiently. Looking at paring down operating expenses is a reasonable place to start.

Multi-purpose use of ALL public buildings is essential. Let’s start thinking outside the box. The world has changed and so have we.

Making better use of schools and other public facilities in my view, is a first step toward municipal financial rationalization and I challenge other communities in Ontario, and Canada to incorporate some creative municipal pioneering into their planning.

People who know me know I have a reputation for getting results.

So, if you’re with me – that taxation and spending need to be reigned in to protect our families – I want your vote.

Thank you.

Ward 1 Council Debate Tonight

I read in the News Advertiser this morning that only 12 people turned out for the Mayoral Debate between Ms. Clymer and Mr. Parish.

Have the people of Ajax become so disengaged with local politics they’ve washed their hands of any need to get involved?

Or is it because so many Ajacians are locked into meeting their own schedules of work; the commute home; feeding the kids, or; booting up their computers when they get home to continue work left over from their day at the office, among other things.

We’re heading toward 2011 folks. If technology could broadcast coverage of the Vancouver Winter Olympics around the world in HD, surely the organizers of the debate might have found a way to stream the Mayoral Debate into every home in Ajax with an internet connection.

If you want a first-hand opportunity to meet your candidates for Ward 1 Councillor, the debate begins this evening at 7 p.m. at Lincoln Alexander Public School on Church Street.

Let's not forget our Seniors!

It saddens me that we sometimes tend to forget one of our most valuable community resources – our seniors.

I received an email yesterday from a senior in Ward 1. His comments go directly to my election platform of supporting and promoting our families!

Many families have multi-generational households where the welfare of the young and the old are of equal concern. Our family units differ from household to household. Many are multi-generational. Our families are not just dealing with getting our kids to swimming lessons – but, also with our parents and community elders and their activities. Many of our seniors are still able to participate in recreation and social activities..

Let’s look at the world beyond Ajax for examples of how to treat our community elders! In some parts of Canada and Western Europe, local and national governments treat seniors with greater respect and appreciation for their contributions. They are not forgotten. They are a resource. They are our mentors and can offer much to the younger generations.

For example, seniors are provided subsidized housing, food allowances; free or very cheap public transportation and they have huge concessions and reductions on paying taxes after age 65. With an aging population, this is a huge challenge.

Obviously, the answer will not happen overnight. It will take years to meet such a challenge. BUT, there are things we can do at the local Ajax and Regional level to accommodate their needs in making retirement a little easier.

Simple things:  like extending bus services between St. Andrews Seniors Centre in Ward 3 to connect with the seniors living in Wards 1, 2 and 4.

We, as a community and a Region, have gone to great lengths to provide activities, which I understand are greatly appreciated by seniors who use the St. Andrews facilities.

We also have another un-tapped resource that we have already paid for! We need to start the communication process to use our schools as the local drop-in center for senior’s activities and as a ‘place to go’! We could have a "seniors spot" in every school! Most of us live 4-5 blocks away from our neighbourhood school or are we blind to this resource?

It is sad to hear that many seniors have no choice but to pay a $10 taxi charge to get home because they missed the last bus. They could walk home!

Trust must be earned

My large, magenta-coloured, recyclable campaign signs are up in Ward 1 and my smaller, bio-degradable lawn signs will start going up this week.

I’m encouraged by the support Ward 1 electors have shown towards me and look forward to representing them on Town Council.

My canvassing tours of Ward 1 neighbourhoods have given me an opportunity to fully appreciate the diversity of issues and opinions and especially your suggestions for improving the relationship between taxpayers and our Town Council.

I am amazed at the overwhelming amount of goodwill and generosity of our neighbourhoods, even among residents whose fortunes have declined because of circumstances beyond their control.

One of the recurring questions asked of me is: Are you going to be another one of the politicians who has little contact with the taxpayers after the election?

My answer is: If elected, I would not only have a mandate, but a moral obligation to represent and protect the interests of Ward 1 electors and would vote in a way that serves their interests and needs.

Trust, in all forms, must be earned. And I plan to earn that trust.

Thanks for your opinions!

It’s just five weeks away from the municipal election.  I’ve personally visited about 1500 homes in Ward 1 to introduce myself and find out what’s on YOUR minds.

People have been asking, “what would possess anyone to run for city council?”

Short answer: The burden of municipal taxation is eating away money that supports our families. 

It’s eroding our ability to meet our daily living needs; food, clothing, utilities and services costs. We pay some of the highest taxes in the GTA and as a taxpayer; I’m looking for value for money – same as you!

I’m running because I believe I can make a difference for and on behalf of Ward 1 electors. I am running so there is a strong voice at council to represent YOU, your families and your issues.

I have 30 years of professional experience as a financial ‘watchdog and gatekeeper’ for the spending of public funds. I know how to look for cost savings and I’m looking for ways to lowering our taxes.

Small Community, BIG HEART

You meet the nicest people in Ajax!

I was out canvassing again last night and met a woman, stricken with grief over her husband’s terminal illness, mounting bills, isolation and worrying about her uncut lawn that might be upsetting her neighbours, of all things. Her lawnmower had broken down and she had no means of fixing it.

As it happened, several houses away, a gentleman was out mowing his lawn. I introduced myself to him and we got talking. I asked him if he knew of his neighbour’s situation and he said he didn’t. He immediately volunteered to help her and proceded to push his lawn mower down the street to her house and mowed her lawn!

So, to him, and others like that very kind gentleman, THANK YOU!

Ajacians really do have a BIG heart.

More tomorrow

Vote Katie Kortekaas Ward 1 Ajax

People in Ward 1 tell me they are looking for change. They’re also looking for someone to show leadership, compassion, empathy and accessibility – characteristics that go to trust.

One of the best features of campaigning for Town Councillor in Ward 1 is getting out and meeting my neighbours – the electors who’ll decide on October 25^th which candidate they trust to represent them for the next four years.

There are some 17,000 eligible voters in Ward 1, and I’ll try my best to introduce myself personally to you over the next six weeks.

I have a vision and plan I believe can bring our communities together – taking some first small, realistic steps towards resolving those priority issues which everyone complains about, but no one has actually done anything about.

My family, my friends, colleagues and business clients know that I’m someone who works hard to achieve results. When I give you my word, it is my bond and I expect to be held to those promises I make. That is my way and that is who I am.

I believe in the strength of the family and the dignity of the individual – all individuals.

Like many of you, I am the child of immigrant parents who worked hard to make a better life for their children. Since graduating university I have lived and worked in other communities but Ajax, and Ward 1 in particular, has been my home for 26 years. And like you, my home requires both parents to work to meet our family’s needs and our other financial obligations.

I’ve also had the privilege of serving Ajax on six public committees or boards, and my professional background includes financial administration. Today, I’m a professional arborist and practice in an environmental consultancy.

My campaign theme is: “Protecting and Promoting the Family”

Taxes, crime, political accountability, education, the environment and other local issues are all linked to the quality of our lives. They have a direct impact on our families’ lives.

Like you, I’m looking for value – a return on the tax investment we continue to make in Ajax – and I plan to seek ways of lowering our taxes while improving the delivery of services to residents.

Improved childcare, better transportation services, safer streets are linked directly to Ajax’s partnerships with our Regional Council and the provincial government.

During the coming weeks, I’ll be introducing specific economic and social proposals – alone, and in partnership with the region and the province, to meet the issues we’re facing now in our Town.

In the meantime, I look forward to meeting with you with a plan to introduce ourselves to each other. We need to start solving our problems in the community, for the community.

Call me or email me if you’d like to talk.

More tomorrow.

Katie