From his office window at 77 City Centre Dr., Grant Ouellette sees trouble on the horizon.
“They’re changing the city into Toronto,” complains the 45-year-old, who signed up Friday to become the third candidate to run against Hazel McCallion on Nov. 13 for the mayor's chair.
He sees a good omen in the fact that he was candidate number 99 to sign up for the election. Maybe some of Wayne Gretzky’s greatness will rub off on him, jokes the chartered accountant, who works for Ontario’s Ministry of Finance auditing corporate tax returns.
A father of five children between the ages of 4 and 12, the first-time candidate can see City Hall from his window, and the 30-storey buildings that have popped up behind it. Those buildings make him mad.
Smart growth is not in Ouellette’s vocabulary.
“I’m thinking about calling for a 15-storey maximum (height limitation for buildings) in the campaign,” said Ouellette. “I don’t see why we need 52 storeys anywhere.
“And how come they call it the Marilyn Monroe building? Where’s the Canadian identity in that? Why not the Pamela Anderson building? I’m very patriotic. We have to look out for our country and our city.”
Although he’s never attended a City council meeting, the resident has watched many on Rogers Television. “I laugh a lot,” he says. “Laughing is almost as good for you as exercise,” he explains. He doesn’t specify whether he’s laughing with them or at ’em.
The car has been cast as the devil in the suburban pantheon, but Ouellette doesn’t see it that way.
“People want to drive their cars,” he said. “We need more money for roads. We should really put an extra lane in everywhere when we build something.”
McCallion has generally done a good job, but she’s, “been there a long time,” and perhaps is too close to the people who have built the municipality over the years.
“Things have been way too far to the left,” said Ouellette who would like to try his hand at provincial politics one day. “I’m more of a right-wing individual.”
He opposes market value assessment, would like to see more tourism developed in the city and says reducing the size of high rise buildings might mean you don’t have to stop for a red light on every corner.
The fence bylaw also needs to be repaired, he says, after witnessing a number of nasty disputes between neighbours.
His friends have been urging him to run for years because he is a political animal. “I can’t shut up about it,” said Ouellette, who plans to make a campaign video outlining his platform.
If you’re counting, that makes three ostensible opponents for McCallion — Ouellette, Roy Willis and Donald Barber.
Comments (3)
Its nice to see that you are still on the scene in Miss, John. Hope you are doing well.
The four year term is really bringing out the candidates isn't it? I won't be one of them even tho I could use the oh so too rich paydays (not being a resident of the City any longer - soon to move to Simcoe,Ont) I do follow the News on the i/net . Things haven't really changed all that much have they? Best personal regards ; Ted
Posted by Ted Southorn , ex Councillor Ward 9 | September 14, 2006 12:12 AM
Posted on September 14, 2006 00:12
Regarding the mayoralty race, you wrote:
"If you’re counting, that makes three ostensible opponents for McCallion — Ouellette, Roy Willis and Donald Barber."
I headed for the dictionary, John...
OSTENSIBLE
1 : intended for display : open to view
2 : being such in appearance : plausible rather than demonstrably true or real [the ostensible purpose for the trip]
AH! Like, the ostensible purpose of a municipal election makes a municipal election ostensible!
synonym see APPARENT
APPARENT
1 : open to view : VISIBLE
2 : clear or manifest to the understanding [reasons that are readily apparent]
3 : appearing as actual to the eye or mind
4 : having an indefeasible right to succeed to a title or estate
(ah HAH! Found your meaning!)
5 : manifest to the senses or mind as real or true on the basis of evidence that may or may not be factually valid [the air of spontaneity is perhaps more apparent than real -- J. R. Sutherland]
We can revamp this Sutherland quote as follows:
[the air of a municipal election is perhaps more apparent than real]
Revisiting your words, "that makes three ostensible opponents for McCallion"...
Precise "hit" on the word "ostensible" for describing the three challengers to Mayor McCallion (Lord Love Her).
"ostensible" --one elegant word, meaning: "if these three dudes are lucky they might just get their two hundred bucks back."
As you know I'm a self-proclaimed ostensible candidate in Ward 1. I've only attended three council meetings since mid-June and this I already know about future NON-ostensible Mississauga mayoral Post-McCallion candidates.
First, that There's Only One.
The next mayor of Mississauga is sitting right now on council --just biding time until Our Hazel (Lord Love Her) packs it in. Then there will be an ostensible election where ostensible challengers (possibly even Barber, Ouellette, and Willis) will ostensibly challenge the Corporation-approved Councillor-Mayor candidate.
The Public Relations Corporate machine of Mississauga will go into overdrive to support their mayoral-candidate, churning out good-new press releases, manipulating the media --even *gasp* The Mississauga News-- and Mississaugans will actually think ---oops, never mind, you have to be paying attention to do that...
John, regarding Mr. Ouellette, you wrote:
Although he’s never attended a City council meeting, the resident has watched many on Rogers Television. “I laugh a lot,” he says. “Laughing is almost as good for you as exercise,” he explains. He doesn’t specify whether he’s laughing with them or at ’em."
Grant Ouellette doesn't know laughter until he's read the document, "Ontario’s Position in a New Constitutional Round POLS 310 - Group Project" and comes upon the proclamation:
"Municipal governments are responsible governments"
Yep.
"Municipal governments are responsible governments"
Really. That's Ontario's Position, "Municipal governments are responsible governments"
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA*SNORK*HAHAHAHAHAHAH!!! Now THAT'S laughter!
(Wipes tears from her eyes)
And try this, John. GOOGLE the EXACT phrase "Municipal governments are responsible governments" and you'll get just one hit.
JUST ONE HIT! Try it.
That means in the entire world, the five English words, "Municipal governments are responsible governments" in that precise order, were created IN ONTARIO --and exist-- ONLY IN ONTARIO!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA*SNORK*HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA
*CHORTLE*HAHAHAHAHAHAAH*SNORK*SNORK*HAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!
I tell you. I don't know what is a greater source of amusement --municipal governance. Or a provincial government that can (there's your word again) ostensibly and contemptuously (my word) shovel "Municipal governments are responsible governments" up to a snoozing public.
Signed,
The Mississauga Muse
(Ostensible Candidate Ward 1)
Researching for "MISSISS(Centre of the Universe)AUGA --THE BOOK"
Quote to leave you with:
"Sometimes, you know, you have to practise what you preach."
Mayor Hazel McCallion [General Committee meeting September 6, 2006] who does her best to do so.
Posted by The Mississauga Muse | September 12, 2006 8:38 AM
Posted on September 12, 2006 08:38
Hazel will certainly be my most favorite mayor, but as officially recorded by hansard, the only Marilyn Munroe’s and Pamela Andersen’s seen frequent the Southside Shuffle once a year since MPP Tim Peterson had to restore the local deficit through local charities.
It’s not fair to adjoining municipals to be pooled on and certainly a tribute to Chuck Jackson and hard working parliamentarians when Nashville and New Orleans self sustain our community through the music and arts businesses.
Posted by Wayne Nagy | September 11, 2006 9:41 PM
Posted on September 11, 2006 21:41