As the Amherstburg library branch celebrates its 110 year history, I reflect on what it took to ensure it was accessible to everyone.

The Ontario Human Rights Commission Investigator noted the town remained silent throughout my ten-year campaign to make the Carnegie library accessible. The Ontario Human Rights Commission highlighted the case in its Annual Report and the town credited others with my accomplishment.

In addition to ignoring my accessibility requests, the town disregarded government funding initiatives that prioritized accessibility. When I questioned the marina, instead of changing the priority project to the library, the town withdrew its funding application.

In 2001, I requested that council include accessibility in the tender for library repairs; instead, the town donated $710,000 for a replica of the HMS Detroit, for which taxpayers incurred a 9% tax hike over a two-year period.

Today, it’s disappointing to see the Amherstburg library promote sponsoring businesses that may have accessibility issues: River Bookshop, Richmond Popcorn, Caffeine and Co., Panneteria. Screenshot of Essex County Library page. I do not shop local if I encounter barriers.

It should be noted that heritage buildings can be made accessible so everyone could equally participate, but it requires a commitment to universal design, inclusivity and human rights.

I commented and also emailed the library board to let them know that the Essex County Library website may have accessibility issues.

The petition sets out seven reasons for the opposition of the Zoning By-law Amendment application regarding 256 Dalhousie Street and a proposed boutique hotel.

A Statutory Public Meeting to Consider a Zoning By-law Amendment will be held on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at 4:30 pm.The amendment, if approved at a future meeting of Council, will amend the existing site specific Commercial General Zone to permit 0 m rear yard setback where a 7.5 m rear yard setback is required.

Of interest, proposed Zoning By-Law Amendment for 256 Dalhousie Street. Read the full agenda posted to the town’s website.

View the 2022 candidates’ financial statements at the town website.

The 2022 notice included in a council member’s email response is more specific.

2022: the information in this e-mail is confidential, privileged and is subject to copyright. It is intended solely for the addressee(s) named. Access to this email by anyone else is unauthorized. If you are not the intended recipient, any dissemination, disclosure, copying, distribution or any action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on it is prohibited and may be unlawful and we ask that you notify us immediately by reply e-mail to the sender.

2023: the information in this e-mail is confidential, privileged and is subject to copyright and authorized solely for the addressee(s) named. The Town of Amherstburg is not responsible for any loss or damage arising from the use of this email or attachments.

As reported in the River Town Times, by Ron Giofu.

Councillor Diane Pouget issued a letter of apology late last week, with it being made known at a public planning meeting earlier in the week that e-mails sent to the council e-mail group are also sent to the CAO and clerk. Pouget opposed the practice at the meeting, believing residents were sending the e-mails thinking they were for council only, and sent a letter of apology later in the week.

The letter reads: “Dear residents of the Town of Amherstburg, Please be advised, that on Monday, March 27th I became aware that emails, that you sent or might have sent to the elected members of Amherstburg Town Council via Council Email Group were being read and/or monitored by administration. Please know, that I was unaware of this action and I do not condone this practice.

I sincerely apologize and I give you my word, that I will do everything in my power to change this situation. Respectfully submitted, Diane Pouget”

Although the document lacks some specific information that other municipalities include, like links to the actual declaration forms and agenda items, the spreadsheet has been updated and is available to view and download at the town’s website.

If you wish to complain that a government institution has breached your privacy, the Information and Privacy Commissioner Ontario now has an online form to complete with options: submit immediately online, or print and email it, or print and mail it in. Documents up to a maximum of 10 mb can be attached and submitted with the form.

During the March 27 Special Council Meeting, questions and comments were raised about emails to members of council being shared with administration.

Councillor McArthur acknowledged emails from residents in opposition to a project and asked have those emails been sent to administration?

Deputy CAO Melissa Osborne answered that provided the email went to all of council then the clerk is included in those and he ensures that they make it over to them and they review those concerns.

Councillor Pouget asked for clarification of Councillor McArthur’s question; are our emails being sent to us, the elected officials at the council email group, being monitored by administration?

CAO Critchley answered no, however, the clerk is included on that email group as is she so if anything comes in on a planning matter, it goes over to the planning department.

Councillor Pouget stated she was never informed of that and the public is not informed. They believe that when they’re sending emails to council, it’s private; it’s to the elected officials. And further to that whenever she wants to share something with administration, she always get permission from the person that sent it to her. She finds this completely unrealistic and it’s deplorable as far as she’s concerned.

Councillor Pouget finds that very objectionable and from now on, she’s going to ask people to send it to her individually.

Mayor Prue said she should because everybody should know when you send an email to the council email group and want a response back it could be any one of seven or staff who responds to it.