Subject: Speaking of a cash-strapped Ontario. Re: GO Transit and lack of by-law enforcement
From: "C.J. Smith"
To: jerry.ouelletteco@pc.ola.org
Cc: "Mxxxx, Mxxxxxx", dmcguinty.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
Dear Mr. Ouellette,
I hope this email finds you well.
I'm the editor, writer and administrator for a website centered around commuting on GO Transit called, "Ride This Crazy Train". It's aptly titled, trust me.
I'm also a former Oshawa resident, now residing in Clarington. The Oshawa GO Station is my point of departure for my commute to my job in downtown Toronto.
Over the years, it's become quite apparent that many of the GO patrons at Oshawa are having trouble interpreting what a No Smoking sign means. This same phenomena also occurs at other GO stations throughout the GTA. It's a rather troublesome epidemic.
Yesterday's Ontario budget revealed some dire financial news for this province. The Liberal government has identified ways to increase revenue by hiking service fees and taxes, such as the land transfer tax, but seems to be unaware of the goldmine provided by smokers.
Yes, smokers.
I've written about this on my website and invite you to read my latest post.
Perhaps it's advantageous of me to think that fines can have any impact on the provincial deficit, but considering that fines never seem to materialize, maybe it's not unrealistic after all?
With Kind Regards,
Cindy J. Smith
Address withheld
Clarington, ON
L1E XXX
905 442 0352
cc: Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario
cc: Mxxxxx Mxxxxxxxx, GO Transit customer (Oakville)
13 comments:
Sending emails is armchair activism at its finest.
Showing up at Ouellette's door at Queen's Park demonstrates reality.
Nice try.
Politicians don't care. As long as they collect their big fat paycheck and pension, they have little time for the common man which is why Rob Ford is a force to be reckoned with.
Sad that many don't see that.
Anon said it all . . . sad, but true. Nice effort though.
You should probably remove your postal code -- Google it and you'll see just how close it can narrow down an address!
So I started with an email at least it's a start.
The postal code thing doesn't really concern me but I'll humour you. Thank you for looking out for me.
If you ask me, we don't tax smokers enough and in the other post, I kind of agree with a tax surplus on junk food.
I wouldn't say that about every politician. I've worked for a provincial rep in another province and she worked hard to help the people who call and write to her. Of course we also got calls from constituents of other politicians hoping we could help because their own rep was lazy.
This is bigger than one MPP though. You should also copy your email to Metrolinx and the Minister of Transportation, Bob Chiarelli.
Politicians are swayed by public opinion, if enough people write to them about something they will take notice.
emails do matter, politicans do pay attention to these as a general guide to understanding issues of importance in thier riding. It may or may not make it to caucus, but they do matter.
March on CJ!...or rather write on!
Vote Monster Raving Loony Party. You know it makes sense.
If someone has an entire blog that's been ongoing for year(s?) now about what's wrong with GO society and is in turn quite popular, I think it counts for just a little more than armchair activism.
Rob Ford's a funny thing. Fighting for some boondoggle subway out to Scarberia, but sucking out like a baby when he doesn't get his way, and neglecting any kind of higher-end transit in his own area, Etobicoke. More and more people are opening their eyes to what kind of a person he really is.
No, armchair activism is when people spread the message (ie. sharing on Fecesbook) but don't actually do anything about the issue at hand. Spreading the message is just part of the story - eventually, people have to get up and do something about it.
CJ has both spread the message via her blog and taken action by way of emailing her representatives. Like she says, it's a start, and it's more than the rest of us can say we've done.
Thanks for the support!
Well, I personally want to thank CJ for the support. I've been sending email and complaining for months. I think if you get enough people causing a stir you eventually reach a tipping point. The state of affairs at Oakville where the self-entitled butt suckers get to smoke freely under no-smoking signs did not happen overnight. It was an incremental growth - like mould or lung cancer or such. Direct action would not solve much, but constant pressure will eventually get things done...
You rock!
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