after an election? There is an immediate
Will they
personality transformation. You vote for
Jekyll; you get Hyde.”
“I do believe that people are sincere,
however, there are times when reality sets
respect each
in and the members realize they cannot
achieve all that they had promised,” Mr.
Poo Poo offered.
other in the
“Some people are not cut out for
debate become extreme, when the discourse
never sure that the members,
municipal council,” added Waffle.
descends to an almost toxic level,” opined
notwithstanding their best intentions, will
“Certain people do not work well in
Mrs. Right. “I enjoy a free-wheeling spirited
succeed in fostering a collaborative spirit.
groups. We cannot assume that what
morning?
exchangeofideasasmuchasthenextperson.
A mandatory pre-election trait screening
works well in private business will work
But, often the tone of meetings deteriorates
process would at least provide a
in the public sector. Private businesses do
“So, what if, before anyone voted, we
into nothing short of squabbling. Just when
rudimentary insight into the candidates’
not hold votes when they want to do
were to subject all candidates to a pre-
does dysfunctional no longer become fun?
capability to work as a group.”
something.Timeismoney.Itislead,follow
election personality and-or compatibility
When does dissent become disastrous?
Waffle clued in. “I agree, I think, but I
orgetoutoftheway.Governmentdoesnot
test?”
When does cynical posturing lead to the
don’t need to know everything about a
work like that.”
The suggestion was raised during a
paralysis of the decision-making process?”
candidate before casting a ballot. And with
“Granted, the disconnect can be
scintillating political discussion last week.
Waffle was dazed. “When did this start
somepeople,iftheirtruecharactersemerged
problematic for those without a past
A varied agenda was tackled by this gaggle
sounding like a Sex And The City
during a campaign, they never would get
experience in government,” said Mrs.
of “experts,” who for obvious reasons, will
monologue? By the way, does anyone have
elected. Voters expect to be misled because
Right.
remain nameless.
a dictionary handy? That term “sophistry”
manyofuscannothandlethetruth.Besides,
“The transition can be difficult, but
A common theme of the edifying
has made me nervous.”
wearenotmovinginwiththesecandidates.
often it boils down to an inability to
clandestine debate was the rifts that tend to
Mrs. Right was not amused. “And you
Heck, many voters rarely actually meet
compromise,” commented Mr. Poo Poo.
beset local government from time to time.
wonder why you got kicked out of the book
their representatives. I don’t care if my
“There are fewwho can engage in a debate
“In-fightingisnotaveryseriousproblem.
club.” She continued unfazed, repeating
representatives are “nice.” I just want them
without becoming a little worked up. It is
Different folks, different strokes. People are
her suggestion that all aspirants for public
to reduce my taxes, not cut my services and
human nature to sting a little after you
bound to disagree. A little artful subterfuge
office ought to be required to undergo some
make sure the roads are passable.”
have lost a vote, or even worse, admit that
neverhurtanyone,”saidonepundit,known
sort of character evaluation.
“We have to assume from the outset that
somebody else may actually have a more
for blaming all the problems of theworld on
“You know, it does not sound all that
everyoneseekingpublicofficehasthesame
valid point.” “But that is what this is all
“human nature.”
crazy,” conceded Mr. Poo Poo. “You look at
goal – doing something good for their
about,” argued Waffle. “If people get
“Well,Mr.PooPoo,Iamshockedbyyour
some of the scrapping that goes on at some
community,” saidMr. Poo Poo. “And don’t
worked up, it shows they care. What is
shockingly lackadaisical attitude and your
local municipal councils and you wonder
make that face, Waffle.”
wrong with a little passion and emotion?
reliance, once again, on sophistry. I for one
what happened to all the harmony and
“You know you actually can fool some
The most important question is that after
believe that persistent internal dissent is
team work we were promised. Look at
of the people all of the time,” Waffle
they have had a heated meeting the night
not healthy for democracy,” countered
Hawkesbury and Grenville-sur-la-Rouge,
interrupted.
before, will they respect each other in the
another expert, known for taking umbrage
where the councils are as divided now as
“It must be pointed out that unforeseen
morning?”On that note, tired and rather
with everything.
they were before the new people were
circumstances can have an impact on the
happy, the debaters decided, by a show of
“OK, Mrs. Right, you do not have to get
elected.”
synergy of group dynamics,” pointed out
hands, that it was time to go home.
on your high horse,” interjected a wag
Mrs. Right had the answer, of course.
Mrs. Right.
The unofficial consensus was that
known as Waffle to his friends and
“The problem is that the campaign process
“People change, all right,” said Waffle.
members would reconvene at some point
something much worse to his foes. “Your
does not enable the electorate to scrutinize
“Have you ever met a candidate before and
in the future, if they felt like it.
consternation may be justified. You both
NEWS
all candidates from a personality
have a point. And, Mr. Poo Poo is that your
perspective. True, the focus must be on
real name?”
issues, but an important consideration must
“Seriously, though, we all know of
be the potential for team-building among
examples where the thrust and parry of
Argenteuil growing
the potential council members. Voters are
newsroom@eap.on.ca
In Grenville-sur-la-Rouge, the
The population of Argenteuil
population went from 2,721 to 2,746, for
increased by about seven per cent
an increase of about one per cent.
between 2006 and 2011, according to
Harrington grew by 9.8 per cent, from
figures released by Statistics Canada.
777 to 852.
The total number of people living in
Meanwhile,
in
neighbouring
Argenteuil rose from 29,992 to 32,117
Papineau, the population increased by
during that period.
3.1 per cent, from 21,863 to 22,541.
24 FÉVRIER 2012 13H À 19H30
The largest municipality in Argenteuil,
However, area communities saw their
BIENVENUE À TOUS ENTRÉE GRATUITE
the town of Lachute, got a little bigger,
numbers decrease between 2006 and
increasing by 6.1 per cent, from 11,832 to
2011.
12,551.
Montebello’s population dipped by
Brownsburg-Chatham saw its
one per cent, from 987 to 978.
Carrefour Argenteuil 505, avenue Béthany, Lachute www.emplois-argenteuil.com
ICI, MA QUALITÉ DE VIE, MON TRAVAIL !
population go from 6,664 to 7,209, a hike
Fassett’s population declined by 3.6
of 8.2 per cent.
per cent, from 468 to 451.
The population of the village of
Papineau’s population dropped by
Grenville rose by 12.8 per cent, from 1,398
two people, from 2,167 to 2,165.
to 1,577.
Tirage d’un iPad parmi les visiteurs
CINÉMA
E-sharing
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newsroom@eap.on.ca
H AWKESBURY
Grenville (Qc) 819-242-3131
LAURENTIAN
CINEMA
Anewelectronic information sharing
En français L’INSTINCT DE LA MORT ROY DUPUIS STARTING FRIDAY FEB. 17
system is being touted as a boon for area
patients.
The Hawkesbury and District General
Hospital and the Ottawa Hospital
announced last week a “milestone
initiative for patients in EasternOntario,”
a collaborative project between the
institutions to consolidate each hospital’s
VEN. ET SAM. À 6H30 ET 8H15 DIM. ET SUR SEM. À 7H00 DIMANCHE MATINÉE À 1H30
individual electronic health record (EHR)
system into one common system.
“By consolidating the two EHR
systems into one common system we get
TAXIBUS GRATUIT • 450 562-5797
a more complete view of a patient’s
medical history. It also saves valuable
time tracking down information from the
other hospital or from missing important
clinical information that may not have
www.cinemaclock.com Quebec Grenville FRI. & SAT. AT 6:30 & 8:35 SUN. & WEEKDAY AT 7:00 SUN. MATINEE AT 1:30
otherwisebeenprovided.Thisisonemore
way we are improving health care and
putting patients first,” says Hawkesbury
General CEO Marc LeBoutillier.
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