A LOOK BACK AT SOME OF THE LOCAL ISSUES THAT MADE THE NEWS A MISCELLANY OF STORIES FROM MY NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS FILE

A LOOK BACK AT SOME OF THE LOCAL ISSUES THAT MADE THE NEWS A MISCELLANY OF STORIES FROM MY NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS FILE By Dean Hickey I always enjoy looking through my extensive collection of newspaper clippings which spans 45 years or more. In this week’s column, we’ll take a look at stories from the month of November 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2018. AUTO WORKERS UNION VOWS AGGRESSIVE CAMPAIGN TO KEEP GM PLANT OPEN… The Toronto Sun reported on November 27, 2018 that General Motors corporate leadership announced plans to close the Oshawa assembly plant. Don Cherry weighed in by encouraging soon-to-be unemployed General Motors workers to not give up. “I really, really felt bad for Oshawa and the great men and women who work at that plant,” said Cherry. “And I know the exact feeling those poor people are feeling. There is nothing worse than being unemployed. I went through it too.” The newspaper would go on to say: “When the McGuinty Liberals took power in 2003, Ontario was the jurisdiction with the biggest share of auto production in North America. That has not been the case for some time. Political policy matters, and 15 years of Liberal rule turned Ontario from the economic engine of the country to a province that has received equalization payments from the Federal government for the last several years. Prime Minister Trudeau and Premier Ford have both said they will put politics aside and do whatever they can for the workers affected.” In 2019, General Motors Canada would decide against closing the Oshawa assembly plant, and by 2021 it was retooled to build the Chevrolet Silverado Heavy Duty truck. MILLIONS IN TRIBUTE COMMUNITIES CENTRE NAMING RIGHTS… One of the local papers including this one reported on November 15, 2017 that the City of Oshawa was garnering nearly $2.5 million by allowing Tribute Communities (a large regional homebuilder) to have their name on the city’s downtown sports and entertainment venue. The naming rights agreement was obtained by the media after a lengthy Freedom of Information request. It laid out not only the money changing hands, but also the many perks and rules set out over the course of the 10-year agreement. “Due to the facility’s growth and notoriety, preliminary estimates place the opportunity value at approximately $250,000 per year” according to the GM Centre’s 2015 business plan. Mayor John Henry would tell the newspaper, “It was a great story for the city. For us it’s always trying to find a better way to leverage revenue for the city and it is substantially more than the previous agreement.” The Tribute Communities Centre, formerly known as the General Motors Centre or GM Centre, opened in November 2006. The arena was constructed during Ward 5 councillor John Gray’s term as mayor to replace the Oshawa Civic Auditorium. COST IS TOO HIGH TO REVIEW EARNINGS, COUNCILLORS SAY… It was reported on November 1, 2017 that city hall staff were recommending hiring a consultant to review what was seen as an aging remuneration bylaw, which covered the amount of money councillors were compensated for their work, but also any allowances, mileage and expenses, and retirement packages. The cost of the review was tagged at $50,000. The idea was quickly shot down by councillor John Aker at both committee and at council. “I have not heard one councillor suggesting changing the remuneration” he said. “I do not believe this council is going to spend $50,000 to review our salaries. There are other ways to spend that money. We have competent staff here in the building that can review it and know what needs to be done.” Council would vote down the recommendation by staff to hire the consultant. DURHAM CHAIRMAN ROGER ANDERSON DIAGNOSED WITH STOMACH CANCER… Local media including this newspaper reported on November 30, 2016 that Regional Chairman Roger Anderson had been diagnosed with cancer. Anderson had sent out an e-mail only days before to announce the news. In his email message he advised his colleagues that he began treatment, and said, “Thanks to the exceptional facilities and expertise available at the R.S. McLaughlin Durham Regional Cancer Centre, I can receive care close to home.” He would continue working, attending committee and council meetings, but with a reduced schedule of public events. His political career began when he was elected as a Councillor in Ajax, in 1985. From 1991 to 1997, he served as Regional Councillor and Deputy Mayor for the Town of Ajax. In 2014, he became the first elected Chairman of Durham Region. He was also the longest serving Chair, having held that office since he was first appointed, in 1997. Roger Anderson passed away in 2018 at the age of 65. OSHAWA SOCIAL JUSTICE CHAMPION DIES… The media reported on November 19, 2014 that Beverly McCloskey died at the age of 85 after decades of championing various social issues on behalf of the community. Born in Cornwall, Ms McCloskey began working at General Motors in 1949 as a 20 year old. In 1968, she co-founded the first women’s committee in Canada at the United Auto Workers Local 222. The committee would take their battle for equal rights to Queen’s Park and Oshawa NDP MPP Cliff Pilkey presented a Bill that banned sex and marital status discrimination in the workplace and amended the Human Rights Code of Ontario. It was passed in 1970. LUTCZYK’S BID FOR FREEDOM FALLS SHORT… The media reported on November 13, 2014 that a judge had rejected Robert Lutczyk’s bid for freedom, rejecting the former Oshawa councillor’s assertion that he was the victim of bias by judges who had denied him bail. Mr. Lutczyk had been charged with kidnapping, dangerous driving and possession of weapons and explosives, relating to his abduction of Oshawa city solicitor David Potts in October of 2012. Mr. Lutczyk pleaded guilty in December 2015 and was sentenced to eight years and four months in prison. With credit for pre-trial time in custody, he had three years and four months left to serve, and was freed on statutory release in May of 2018, with conditions that he have no contact with Potts and his family.