Happy New Year!

Karmageddon By Mr. ‘X’ ~ John Mutton CENTRAL EXCLUSIVE Happy New Year! The New Year has started with a bang. With the municipal election just ten months away, we are already seeing declarations of intent across the province. In Durham Region alone, we are facing two open mayoral seats—in Ajax and Oshawa—and we already have two serious contenders announcing their intentions to run: Regional Councillor Marilyn Crawford and Regional Councillor Tito Dante Marimpietri. To be clear, candidates are allowed to announce their intention to run, but they cannot file nomination papers, fundraise, or spend money until the official nomination period opens. Both Crawford and Marimpietri bring significant experience to the table, and what I find refreshing about each of them is that they are not simply rubber stamps for staff reports. That matters. We’ve seen very clearly this year that the ability to make independent political decisions—and to withstand peer pressure, especially at the regional level—is not just a nice quality, but a necessary one for any mayor in Ontario. In Ajax, Councillor Crawford would be well positioned to succeed current Mayor Shaun Collier. Expect homelessness to be a key issue, and look for challenges from extreme left-wing voices, including Councillor Sterling Lee. In Oshawa, the strength of Tito’s potential run lies in fiscal responsibility—particularly his unwavering support for the creation of an Auditor General, both locally and at the regional level. These are only two mayoral contenders so far. Expect more names to come forward and make these races increasingly interesting. As I write this column, it comes as no surprise that polling shows the Premier’s proposed Highway 401 tunnel being viewed by the general public as exactly what it sounds like: ridiculous. Most people know I am a strong supporter of the Premier. That said, not every move deserves blind loyalty. Having spent time around construction and roadwork, I know one of the biggest cost drivers is unknown soil conditions. A tunnel under the 401 is, quite frankly, f***ing ridiculous. The real bombshell Mr. X is dropping this week concerns Bowmanville. The tragic downtown fire was one of the most significant local news stories of the year. The community came together in an incredible way to support the affected businesses and families. What Mr. X has uncovered, however, is deeply troubling. Just months before the fire, the administration of the Municipality of Clarington made a decision to stop proactively conducting fire prevention inspections in the residential units above downtown storefronts—specifically in the area where the fire later occurred. I have spoken with two former staff members and one current staff member who were either included on, or directly aware of, an internal email chain. In those emails, administration instructed both the Building Department and the Fire Department to cease inspections in the downtown core because the issue was deemed “too politically volatile.” Let me be clear: proactive fire prevention could very well have prevented this tragedy. I certainly would not want to be on the receiving end of the class-action lawsuit that may follow, and the Municipality of Clarington has placed itself squarely in that position. I am proud of the former and current employees who had the courage to come forward and expose the immense liability the municipality has created by abandoning fire inspections for political convenience. If any municipality in Durham Region needs change—from the top down—it is the Municipality of Clarington. Stay tuned. More mayoral announcements are coming across Ontario.