Markham Farmer Continues to Fight for Right to Stay

Not officially zoned yet so piling dirt as such is actually illegal on14th Avenue in Markham, but ignored.

Sam Orrico's experience with being expropriated from land started back in the 70's, when, as a Farmer farming land in Pickering, he was asked to move because of the airport that never was. He moved to farming in the nearby Markham area afterward and became very familiar with municipal planning and bylaws in the process. In fact, he has been sitting in on the recent YR Planning meetings as an interested party right up to present, 2015, as well as attending many Markham Council meetings.

King City sold 105 farmland acres to Magna recently

Through this he's noticed whenever they've decided to rezone an area that was previously for farming there's a trend towards ousting them / him at any cost. Sam has lived through two house fires with Toronto Star headlines then declaring, " Farmer Escapes by Miracle", as well including one where he still currently resides and farms albeit not as much as he'd like, what with declining health and having to fight the system and developers and the town at every step.

In the latest front they've been trying to essentially evict him using newly written bylaws " Keep Markham Beautiful", designed for residential areas ordering him to "clean up" his farm land and equipment. And what does someone farming do with a tractor on 72 hours notice, as they 1st tried to intimidate him with? His trailer too, or rather his home, they said had to go. Never mind that the bylaw is missing, on page 6, section 21, making it null and void.

Long time Newmarket farm has developer's signs up

But he fought back. Again. Geez, they even had him arrested on trumped up charges one year to keep him out of the election so scared of this frail-ish old man they were (and the truth). Charges Sam tells me were a farce, based on one persons say so, that he spoke a threat about a third party, Mayor Scarpitti, also running for Mayor then. They then not only incarcerated him, but a judge also tagged a gag order on him throughout that election in the media for a year after. A judge who also wanted to run for politics. Hmm. Now how often do you see that?

Firstly the bylaw as written is incomplete, with complete sections of it missing. Sam has attempted to get this item added to the Markham Council agenda but is repeatedly stone-walled by the clerk who refuses to add it. Who's running the show there anyway? This proud man has farmed for decades here and now they try and toss him away like a piece of garbage.

His deal is not overly complicated, but essentially he had struck deals with land owners over the years which allow for him to farm and reside in lieu of them receiving tax breaks and cost breaks - INCLUDING - the landowners not having to cut grass etc and keep it up as a residential neighbourhood would. Of course underneath all the action against Sam is the fact they are now trying to change the official plan to have  where he farms and lives declared residential and not industrial. This is a common practice by developers. That would mean he'd have to go, but that hasn't even been ratified yet as they moved to have him removed via this bylaw. Easier to ratify if no Farmer stands in the way though.

Sam attended planning meetings since 70's. " You can't just change an official plan"

When new owners took over, likely hoping to change its zoning eventually and develop it into homes at some point in the future, and somehow banking on the plan being changed to accommodate this, had to agree to all liens and conditions that came with it which included it's designation as industrial land and the agreements made with the farmer(s). This in turn kept ( keeps) them receiving preferred tax perks and maintenance cost relief as a result and kept Sam legally on that land. Now they have served him eviction papers claiming rent arrears.

Adjacent property announces

Sam is wily though, and knows his rights better than they it seems, having had to fight off the developers and municipalities against him for so long now, alone, and it's about time he had some support.

The latest foe involves a seasoned lawyer he's locked horns with before but one that worries him because he has been around onside with the developers for many years too, and, with mounting health concerns, Sam wonders if he'll be able to keep it all up with the various courts and possible costs.

He just received an "N4" notice which can lead to eviction with the person serving it coming onto his property and photographing him and called me for advice on next steps. Last time when they illegally tried to intimidate him to leave they even brought police who left after realizing he had rights to be on the land. Too bad his crops takes years to move not days.

He may be old, but he's no fool, and he's one of Markham's last Farmers, who needs to escape through one last miracle.

YRMG's Era Banner needs to respect Grassroots Voices

Recently I had a call from The Newmarket Era Banner asking me to comment on the Ontario government's announcements regarding their latest poverty reduction announcements. I'm reluctant sometimes to do interviews with the paper as at times they misquote me, and, for a number of years now, have not published any of my many letters to the Editor nor any pictures.

The pics one is odd, as another recent time they'd actually asked me to come for a pic after being asked to comment about the fact that York Region Council had voted to raise transit costs again - they are already the countries highest for local transit. I came down, they did the pic and they didn't run it. No explanation and the article went on to replace my statement of it being the among highest in the entire country  to "already high".

In the most recent article they quoted me fairly well, however in  the following issue in " Letters to the Editor", allowed to go unchecked, a letter to, by a writer claiming PACC was in lock- step with the government. One need only Google the terms ' Poverty York Region" to find that is far from the case. The letter writer had used it as a sedge-way to discuss their own pet peeve, non-related to the subject of homelessness agenda, and I / we were left without defense or rebuttal so I wrote a letter to the Editor. Again, no print.

Little whispers tell me designs being changed several times caused delays

Our lock-step point had been they should simply raise O.D.S.P. - Ontario Disabilities Support Program and welfare rates as their 'anti-homelessness" strategy and they'd be able to eliminate most of the "need" for many 'programs, and such a heavy reliance on food bank solutions. Hardly a "lock step" position, yet it made " Letter to the Editor" without question, and left for all to surmise it true since the column it referred to with my quotes was not in the same issue leaving the reader with a final false impression and notion about PACC. I wonder if any other groups get this kind of treatment, where no pics and no letters or no articles are ever published by the newspaper, yet they still call you on occasion for controlled quotes because they must. The letter to the Editor letter had also insinuated we were highly paid 'experts', when in fact no PACCer get any salary. Go figure, but no rebuttal printed on this either by YRMG.

Funny, PACC's work is recognized by the Region and by the community at large as shown through the chair being nominated for and  receiving The Queens Jubilee Award for contributions to country, and co-authoring the region's social audit, our creation of youth road hockey and scholarship awards and community development like hosting annual BBQ's in lower income communities and connecting families to supports.

PACC's expertise and experience gets us invited to consult with government and various departments in order to help steer the direction they take, not because of any lock-step arrangement. They recognize who we are. It's time YRMG did as well and allow our voices truly heard.

How about a feature on PACC and all they've managed to accomplish, without government funding, for over 10 years, despite the silo they've been given to work in at times.

Getting media coverage like pulling teeth for these kids

This week on Ontario budget day I will be locked in prior to the announcement and able to see the budget before the public does and ask questions of the Minister / assistants prior to the budget announcement.leading up to this budget being tabled, we were asked to participate in input sessions to examine the directions the government would / should take - often at odds with what we felt priorities should be.

We didn't attend to say how wonderful they were doing, we attended to try and influence the direction in a way that is fair, but we always come back to a simple deduction - raise the rates first to pre- Mike Harris-like levels, and then you'll eliminate most of your "at risk" population. Add real addictions services - including gambling and drug alcohol rehabs and you'll eliminate it even further.

Join Dan's Stroll & Roll to Freedom

Simple Math - A LOCAL ROOM FOR RENT AD - $525 is the only ad I see for shared accommodation in the the Era Banner I have now. Welfare rates top out at around $600. Food banks give 3 days rations per month.

You can show your support for a BETTER DEAL for those on disability support on the Stroll & Roll to Freedom.

TP out

Mulcair borders on Rock Star Status in Toronto

Recently I got taken to school...well not exactly but I got an opportunity to ride a school bus, an orange one of course, having been invited to hear and report on what Thom Mulcair had to say at Toronto's Metro Convention Centre with a group of NDP supporters from Newmarket including area federal leader hopeful Yvonne Kelly.

The TPE video report attests that Mulcair is adored like a rock star by a throng of supporters, NDP in this case, but increasingly more than that. The NDP leader, who easily slides in and out of both official languages seamlessly, seems to be on a bit of a roll with the issue of Bill C51 fresh on every Canadian's brains.

#tm4pm is the twitter call

It's one of those issues that seemed to start in crawl mode but has quickly risen like a pizza dough that's been left out all night. A sticky one too, one that could make or break the election and one that could put Mulcair alone out in front...or alone period. It's a gamble he / they are taking and seems a principled one, although in these political times one wonders if that's possible, but at any rate it is risky, yet steeped in principle as well.

I've spoofed about joking about "Jihad" and as a consequence being arrested, but I jest only half so, always an eye on what could be, given my propensity towards sometimes criticizing governments in power. That's part of our rights and freedoms to do so, and it helps keep governments in check.

There have been incidents in life where innocent people have been prosecuted under current laws, so one can only imagine that number would increase by making the process less controlled. The laws, as they currently sit, seem  just fine. CSIS was never intended to do the physical policing, just the investigative, elimnating yet another oversight measure. All accomplished through fear mongering and a majority government that is steam rolling straight ahead despite objections. Like Canadians just gave a green light to everything they have ever conceived. Even a voter of a particular party might be doing so to vote against another party or for one that has some issue stand they can agree with, but rarely everything the party offers up  unless ts a sheep we're referring to here.

Surely this government doesn't need Thom Mulcair to tell them that the majority of Canadians don't want this now that they are becoming more aware of what the implications actually are.
No, I think when Canadians are vocal enough that they want more reflection and debate and information before we steam-roll ahead on an important all encompassing issue such as bill c51. I think they should have it and if not boot them to the curb first chance.

Niqabs notwithstanding, make no mistake, this is the issue around which the next government will be formed. Was Trudeau too preemptive by embracing the Bill C51 law changes when he did? Does that show his decisiveness or naivety? Thom Mulcair thinks he knows, and he also thinks it's time for Harper to go. Of course he would though. Lol.

Any government that gets in power a little too long and has worked with a majority can get smug and complacent at times and I'm a big

believer that no matter the party, you have to change things up every now and then just to keep everyone as honest as can be....and especially if one is perceived to be destroying some the the most treasured institutions of Canada. Our Canada.


Is Mulcair the man who can deliver? He seems genuine from afar, and, as he says experienced. I did interview him. Well, not exactly, we met briefly as I was going in and he was coming out of the men's room after the event. Not that event. well both actually i imagine. Ha.  Anyway, I opened the in door and there he was, and, for a brief second, I was like a deer in headlights, but I offered my hand instinctively told him he did a good job and that I liked his message and his energy. Hey, as I said, deer-in-lights-syndrome! I hope he washed his hands! Ha.

Tom Out!..The other one!

Toronto Taxpayers Coalition brings Ombudsman to York Region

Recently, I attended a recent closed door meeting at Richmond Hill's Sheraton Hotel; featuring Ontario Ombudsman Andre Marin. The meeting, which was organized by The Toronto Taxpayers Coalition's Mathew Mcguire, focused on the municipal issues and how the sunshine laws and Bill 8 work or are supposed to work.

Ontario Ombudsman Andre Marin visits York Region

Sunshine laws were set up to protect taxpayers by holding elected officials accountable for city business and expressly allows for private meetings only under a few exceptions. Handbooks outlining its guidelines have been sent to all municipalities across Ontario. As Ombudsman Marin stated during the meeting,

"There is no provision in the law that says that council need meet in private. It says they may meet under certain narrow conditions, but, unfortunately, politicians have taken the exceptions clause and stretched it like a rubber band,"

Toronto Taxpayers Coalition President Mathew Mcguire

The Ombudsman went on to cite examples of the retreat that York Region council recently went on that cost taxpayers $15,000 using the "educational purposes" reason, one of the few exceptions for meeting away from council behind closed doors, however, as Mr. Marin explains in the video report  - eduction means learning computer skills or being trained in HR policy, it does not mean for strategic planning."

See and hear more of the Ombudsman had to say on his visit to York Region on the video report.

The Toronto Taxpayers Coalition also announced an expansion, opening up a York Region Chapter and naming former Newmarket councilor Maddie Dimuccio at the helm.

TP out.