Reaction to OMB decision

Thu, November 24, 2005

By FREE PRESS STAFF



"Obviously, there are pros and cons. One of the pros, you know who your representative is and chances are you can get to that representative more easily.


"On the other hand, when there are two representatives, if you got nowhere with one you could go to other. . . . One thing I will say is I'm amazed one person on the OMB can do this. I find this shocking that one person can change the entire representation (system) in the city.''

Bob Young, University of Western Ontario political scientist

"I'm particularly surprised when you think of the context of this, in that (the city) had two referendums -- one abolished board of control, the other reducing council -- and those were both discussed in the ruling but the end result . . . doesn't eliminate board of control or reduce size of council."

Andrew Sancton, University of Western Ontario political scientist

"The OMB shouldn't exist. It should be the right of the community to decide what goes on in their city. Ontario is the only place in North America where there is such a body. And while council is accountable to the voters, the OMB is accountable to no one."

Mike Bradley, Sarnia mayor

"It's a bit disturbing that (a petition signed by) 900 people can entirely change the shape of a city of more than 300,000. The next time 900 people band together and petition to change the name of London to Woodstock the Annex, would the OMB rule in favour of that? My preference would have been to have council and the citizens work this out without interference from the OMB."

Gerry Macartney, general manager, London Chamber of Commerce

"Imagine London put together a fantastic proposal, but it may not be the only proposal out there. City council could have had more public meetings, they could have had an education campaign . . . they've been more focused on meeting deadlines than engaging in a process that is representative of the citizens of London."

Joshua Morgan, Ward 1 candidate in 2003 election, in a presentation to city council May 17 regarding the need for greater public input on the issue of city governance