Cornwall ON – This is going to be a true test of Social Networking. Local School teacher, poet, photographer, musician, writer, and political activist Jason Setnyk has announced his candidacy for City Council on Cornwall Ontario today.
He’s using Facebook as a tool in his campaign as well as tried and true methods like door to door canvassing and making sure to be at events.
He’s the founder of the Rock for Charity series which has raised funds for local charities across Cornwall.
Hello Friends,
My name is Jason Setnyk and I am running for City Council in Cornwall
Ontario. The municipal election is on Monday October 25th 2010. First
I would like to introduce myself, and then I would like to share my
vision of Cornwall Ontario with you. I also want to hear from you, and
my email address is below.I grew up in Cornwall Ontario. I graduated St. Joseph’s Secondary
School, and then attended the University of Ottawa. I graduated with
three Bachelor of Arts degrees, in Honours English , Honours History,
and Education. I now teach English and Social Sciences at the Ontario
Hockey Academy, a private school located here in Cornwall Ontario. I
sometimes work as a freelance journalist. I also volunteer, I am the
founder and event co-ordinator of Rock for Charity, which raises money
each month for different charities and non profit organizations. My
hobbies include writing, photography, exercise, and music. I am
married, my wife and I have a house here, and Cornwall is our home. I
think Cornwall is a great place, but I want to help make Cornwall
become an even better city! I am ready to work on City Council to
achieve these goals!Here is my platform to help make Cornwall an even better city:
-More job growth and a diverse economy – including good paying jobs
-Update and expand incentives for job creation and businesses that go green
-Cut the red tape, especially for new businesses starting up in Cornwall
-Long term municipal planning, with clear goals and objectives
-Affordable City Transit to help make Cornwall a more green city
-More bicycle stands along Montreal Road and other high traffic areas.
-Investigate the possibility of getting a University in Cornwall.
-Stronger funding for local sports, arts and culture, especially for youth
-More outreach programs to reduce narcotics use and help reduce crime
-Promote more infant daycares spots for mothers
-Work with the Cornwall Police and residents to help keep our streets
clean and safe
-Resolution that City Council cannot vote themselves more than a 1%
raise in a yearServing the constituents of Cornwall Ontario would be both a privilege
and an honour. I hope to earn your vote. I am here to listen to what
you have to say. I want to make Cornwall an even better place to live.
My platform above is just the beginning, I will listen to what the
people of Cornwall have to say.Thank you for your time.
Be the change!-Jason Setnyk
Contact: jasonsetnyk@gmail.com
Jason’s actually 1st place in the poll we started for the Municipal elections that take place October 25th across Ontario. What do you say Cornwall Ontario? Will you vote for Jason Setnyk? You can vote in our poll until the election.
You can choose up to 10 selections in the poll.
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-Resolution that City Council cannot vote themselves more than a 1% raise in a year!
Nice, may you make it in 🙂 Good luck. Perhaps you’ll be able to teach the other fatcats a few things.
Oh look another significantly pensioned individual running for politics. Good luck! with all the teachers and their associated friends and organizations luck is on your side
I work for the Ontario Hockey Academy. It’s a private school. I’m not unionized, and I buy mutual funds. Thanks!
Just what we need, another teacher.
If you can ever over come my profession, please drop me an email. I’d like to hear your perspectives on how we can make Cornwall an even better community. Thank you.
Good Luck Jason and all the best!
Question: What will you do to accomplish all the things mentioned in your platform?
One person on city council has one voice. The platform listed above are things I want to achieve for the city, but I can not do it alone. I am looking forward to the prospect of working with others. It’s going to require pragmatism and patience, finding like minded people on city council, negotiating and balancing different perspectives on a topic, and finding areas of consensus. But that is the key, one issue at a time, and finding common ground others can agree with.
A couple of examples: For new businesses, maybe we can look at all the bylaws and cut some of the red tape, and make it easier to start up a new business.
I think the telemarketing jobs we’re getting in Cornwall is a good start, but how about a think tank, what other jobs could we feasible attract to our city? What is our long term plan for Cornwall? We should have a plan, and any decisions council makes should conform to where we want our city to go over the next couple of decades.
I think offering businesses in our city additional tax cuts and/or benefits for creating new jobs is a good way to reward companies for job creation.
Maybe a study could be done to see if Cornwall could get a University, I think a University would be a good boost to the economy as well.
For more affordable City Transit, I would be happy to talk our MP and MPP and see if we could get more funding from each of the governments to make Transit more affordable or even free to help promote a more green city.
I’d be happy to talk to the Cornwall Police and concerned citizens about organizing more modern neighbourhood watch programs.
I’d also like to make sure that children under the poverty line get opportunities to participate in sports and arts.
I’d like to help pass a bylaw prohibiting smoking in front of a school even if it is on the sidewalk. Children and adults should not be smoking anywhere near a school.
I could get into more detail, and talk about more subjects, and I would be happy to in an email. Mike, you or anyone else can email me at: jasonsetnyk@gmail.com
Truth is, I don’t have all the answers, nor do I think anyone would expect me too, but I do want to work hard to make Cornwall an even better place, and I think what I’m saying is at least feasible and worth trying.
Hi Jason,
I own a local business and spent almost $500,000 in renovations. There are government grants readily available along with very simple but strict guidelines set forth by the Ontario Building Code. The only thing that could be critized about the process is that the City could improve services with decreased wait times which may deter perspective investors. You can not cut “the red tape” you speak of and must familiarize yourself with business a little more before making promises that can not be kept!
Do you know the legal ramifications of decreasing taxes for a select group of businesses only?
Did you know 80% of the municipal funding comes from the province and only about 20% is from local tax payers directly?
You have some good ideas with youth,which I believe you have some experience with, need to brush up a little on the business side,if your going to promote your candidacy as a “Business Supporter”. Business owner’s want politician who support a strong economy and continual growth;so that money is continually re-invested at all levels private investments, corporate investments, municipal projects, provincial funding and federal funding. None of which will be accomplished unless each party works together like you have mentioned.
All the luck in the world Jason and I only mention these points in the hopes that all candidates will make firm decisions if elected based on the quality of information provided to them.
Thank You,
Mike Bedard
Councillor Candidate
How will you get over the “can’t do mentality” of current infrastructure? Also the old names involved in politics and the promises you will have to make in order to get elected by these groups.
What is your goal in creating a schedule or five year plan for the city?
If you have not yet come across them then you may be elected but as only of the last resorts or more of a stick used to move an uncooperative individual out of the system.
I know it’s done and seen it done on a few elections. Though some of the people running these back door elections are dead, their legacy lives on. How else would you explain people like Kilger, Rivette, Carr, McDOnald and Grant, none of which has accomplished anything yet remain in the local system?
Hi Mike,
Offering tax cuts and/or incentives to businesses who want to create new jobs in our community is a progressive idea. Please explain the legal ramifications of offering all local businesses in Cornwall incentives to create jobs? Sorry, maybe I misunderstood something?
In regards to red tape, I’ve talked at length with local business owners, who had a lot of trouble opening their businesses, having to wait months and months for this or that permit or inspection. If people want to start a business in Cornwall, why are we hindering them instead of helping them get to work as soon as possible?
In regards to business knowledge, most of my knowledge comes from other business owners I know have to say, and teaching Grade 12 Economics, so I have some basic knowledge, it’s my foundation and a good place for me to start. You are right though, I have lots to learn, and that’s perfectly alright, I’m happy to research and study and learn. I would be worried if anyone running for council thought they knew it all or had all the answers. Being on city council requires lots of research on a large array of topics. I look forward to these challenges and learning!
To S’mee, I don’t believe in a “can’t do mentality”, I believe in a can-do mentality. If I get elected, I’m going to work hard, and I’m going to stay positive. I think a can-do mentality is very infectious, and I think there are other good candidates who have a can-do mentality as well. At the end of the day the voters will decide if I am on City Council or not, and that is what makes democracy great, because it‘s always the people that get to decide.
In regards to a five year, ten year, thirty year plan, and so fourth, I think we need to ask some fundamental questions, such as where are we as a city right now, and where do we want to go and how can we realistically get there? With study and research and examining what we have in Cornwall and what other municipalities are doing, lets write up a clear plan. Once we have clear objectives and ideas, lets get to work on it.
Fundamental questions may include: What kind of jobs can we draw to Cornwall? What can we do with the water front? How can we draw in tourism? What effects would a University have on our city? How can we make our city greener? What sports, recreation, and arts infrastructure will we need down the road to maintain and increase the quality of life for those who live here. Do we want public spaces with wireless Internet? Will Cornwall attract businesses by 2020 that will create new jobs surrounding Baby Boomers and their retirement, such as retirement homes, recreational facilities, etc?
If we decide a University is feasible, lets get one, if it turns out the old Domtar site would be a great location for a golf course, lets help a business set one up there. – these are just figurative examples. I’m not afraid to brainstorm ideas. That doesn’t mean that everyone will agree on every idea, but an idea is a vital starting point. Once we agree on an idea, networking with other people who can help get the job done is essential.
Hi Jason,
Have you sbmitted your nomination form, yet? If so, you might want to have your name posted on the Cornwall.ca web-site; so that potential voters and other forms of media know that you are running.
Mike
Tax cuts are not permitted by the Ontario legislature, which is not to say it doesn’t happen with the use of semantics and backroom politics, just that it is suppose to be illegal. Not a good thing to promote in your election campaign.
I thought you were teaching grade twelve economics?
The legal ramifications are only a small portion of the problems you are promoting. It is more like the old hillbillies and inbreeding that is the huge problem.
On the topic of old town politics, what is this Ontario Hockey Academy? Nobody in the immediate area really knows too much about it. Is Kilger involved I bet balls deep he is?
“The Ontario Hockey Academy is the prep school for the student-athlete wanting elite academics and elite hockey featuring Athletic Republic training”
Basic Qualifications
Intermediate and Senior Divisions, English
Intermediate and Senior Divisions, History
And you teach Economics? Can’t understand the elite portion sorry
To Mike, the nomination form was submitted yesterday. I’ll inquire about the city website. Thank you.
To S’mee, I’m not a bear, stop trying to bait me.
…oh oh are we about to break the tradition of the ignorant leading the uneducated? Mr.Setnyk can think, talk, risk ideas, work with others and is willing to sit at the table. Brave and bold, perhaps? Pay the man with a ballot. Give him a raise if it works out.
To Foucault, I’m never going to ask for a raise, just votes. To S’mee, here is an idea for an admendement to my platform: Update and expand incentives for job creation and incentives for businesses that go green. (See it’s a work in progress).
What kind of jobs can we draw to Cornwall?
For the most part we will have to stay the course with telemarketing; it best suits the general education level. However some promising future perspectives could change that, a goal to work for if you will.
You will also have to overcome the controlling entities in the area. A couple of years ago I was offered a position with a local manufacturing company in Cornwall. They nearly had a coronary when I asked for $65,000 as my rate. The answer was “you will never get that in Cornwall”
It seems the companies that were frustrated with the likes of Domtar, and other high paying jobs are now controlling the wages. It matters not to me as my services are in demand on a global scale. However it is ruefully unfair for people in the area working for minimum wage. This is not because they deserve the wage but solely due to the fact industry can make them work in those conditions.
What can we do with the water front?
Develop it!
Many other places have moved to improving the water front why not Cornwall. Yes natives have been involved in the discussions when living in the area and participation was the answer. So that is obviously not a problem that cannot be rectified. Visit your nearest engineering firm still has the old designs for improving the canal. Mac and frends had done a great job to include a lift lock over the top of the dam. Most was preliminary and some more detailed.
What effects would a University have on our city
That would depend on what courses are offered and what the market will honestly support.
You are a teacher graduated in 2007. There is an abundance of teachers and not enough work to go around, yet OCTF still graduates about 17, 000 teachers every year. Ontario’s Minister of Training, Colleges, and Universities, John Milloy, announced this week that Ontario will cut 1,000 spaces from its teacher training programs in an attempt to correct an oversupply of unemployed B.Ed graduates. On average 29% find work, Now we will have 12,00 unemployed teachers owing tuition.
Universities have little interest in regulating the flow of graduates from their programs – once they have the student’s tuition and government funding units, their interests are fulfilled.
If I may take a positive approach, look to trades. We are all getting old and nobody is there with the smarts to fill in.
What sports, recreation, and arts infrastructure will we need down the road to maintain and increase the quality of life for those who live here.
A heated race track for the wheel chairs would be in order.
retirement homes, recreational facilities, etc?
This is the best idea so far and I can assure Kilger/Fitzpatrick is looking at you with a smile. It would fit right in with their Master Plan. Keep people poor the intelligent too busy to challenge and we can get rich on old peoples homes.
Another concern is having the money to live there.
Also once you reduce the cost of living in an area it not only attracts seniors but the lazy as well. Now you have a place that looks like the Bronx use to.
Thank you S’mee. I’ve read your comments, and I agree with some of your points. I want to see the Water Front developed, I also think a University would create jobs, bring new money into our city, and attract new people to our city, all positives.
Although this is a provincial issue, even if we reduce 1000 spaces from our teacher training programs, that won’t make a difference until we stop or control or reduce the number of Canadians that graudate from schools like Potsdam and are certified to teach here in Ontario.
What a whirlwind! O.K., I first came on this site to see the names of other potential candidiates and now realize that the majority of this site is dedicated to its writers and rightfully so! However, to maliciously attack a candidate is not of any interest to me. My recommendations were to help and feel out a potential candidate and potential colleague.
Our city is full of people who negatively portray to outsiders and then wonder why our children believe their parents were unsuccessful in live because they lived in Cornwall. There are many very successful individuals and businesses with plenty of reconition that just don’t have the time or are uninterested in running for politics. This does not mean they do not have great pride or ideas for our City.
Please Stop sucking the life out of someone who just wants to improve our City.
Thank You,
Mike Bedard
66% of the local population are either on welfare or are retiree’s. Has anyone taken that into account?
Mike this site, its writers, management, or affiliated parties, do not maliciously attack anyone. The “Free” in Cornwall Free News is that we allow Free Speech. We are a soapbox and sometimes when you get on a soapbox people are apt to throw a tomato or two. It happens to me as well and I’m the editor. And if you look at say….that daily paper in Cornwall, you can see some very very nasty comments too.
That’s the internet today. You should see what they can say on Facebook and message boards!
If you have read our material you’ll see that we think that Cornwall is a wonderful place full of opportunity, and we especially embrace those that think that too.
Not everyone agrees in this world we share, but as long as the comments are civil, don’t get us sued, and are part of the conversation we don’t believe in censoring or leaving them out of the community.
Welcome to The Cornwall Free News by the way.
Jamie Gilcig – Editor – The Cornwall Free News
Mike, while I understand where you’re coming from with your last statement, indeed, there is a lot of crap flinging going on online. Not much can be done about that.
I agree though, give Jason a chance, I mean if we don’t get new faces into municipal politics, we’ll never see any change and things will remain status quo.
At least some people are willing to toss their hats into the ring and try to do something about our city lives.
And above all, this is one of the best places to discuss this information anyways. Regardless of the opinion’s posted, at least its being discussed.
Thank you Mike and Grimalot for the kind words. I will do my absolute best if elected.
If the city of Cornwall bought locally, that alone would create more jobs. Ron Martelle implemented a 5% difference for local businesses. He didn’t need to offer tax cuts to do so. Politicians are to busy complicating the simple things with jargon.
Jason
Potsdam has to be one of the few colleges which recognised by OTF, and OCT. However, most teachers working here having attended Potsdam live in Canada. They just attend Potsdam as it is more convenient and easier then the methods used in Ontario,
The profession is its own worst enemy. Can you imagine have experience and education in your field and it is not recognized because you gained the education and experience prior to being a teacher. The belief is “ You did not have the mind set of being a teacher”. Now you have OCT creating a PLAR (Prior Learning Assessment Recognition) program. It is a step forward but OTF thinks it’s a bad idea as it would devastate the old unqualified teachers and cause huge union repercussions. Who cares it’s what is best for the kids.
But enough about teaching, I appreciate you are somewhat inexperienced but please make sure you are informed before speaking out. I don’t think tax payers want to pay for your education in local politics.
Then i ask you Mr.Setnyk.Why do the college councillers recommend going to potsdam to get your teaching degree?My daughter was given this advice(potsdam) from the local college counciller.
I like you sir Always wondered why even suggest Potsdam NY
Good luck in the election it truely is time for new thinking.and new people.
Hi Willie,
There has been a recent campaign to buy locally, which I have always supported on a personal level as I buy locally often, and I encourage others I know to do the same as well. I saw an ad on the city bus today to buy locally, and I was happy to see it. I will continue to support the Buy Local campaign on a grassroots level by spending money in my community. If I were elected to City Council, I would continue to support Buy Locally, but in a broader capacity, because I would have more of a voice to promote it and help local businesses. I believe job growth can be promoted in many different ways, and yes, buying locally is one of them.
P.S. do not hold this in my favour or against me, but Ron Martelle was my wife’s uncle. Like him or hate him, Ron worked very hard to serve our community.
Here’s an idea…..
first…we need a vision for the city. What do we want Cornwall to look and be in 20 years from today? Once we have a vision…our decisions can be aligned with this goal. Urban planning can be based around the over all vision for the city… zoning and what sort of economy we will have can also be considered
1. Establish relationships with Universities to expand their reach and enrolment by building a “virtual” university that can bring university education to our citizens.
2. set up a city funded small business incubator to help seed the ideas of our local entrepreneurs. Putting our money where our mouth is… investing in our talented citizens and create great companies.
3. new green industry… one based on research and development of new technologies that we could export outside of the area. The manufacturing sector is gone, telemarketing and these customer service jobs are not a long term strategy. We need to become a city that creates new technologies to help the world. We are in a global economy and I believe with the right education, resources, and funding we can compete.
Remember to advertise locally too. We’re the only locally owned media company in Cornwall 🙂
Jason H, you have some excellent suggestions, kudos!
I also wonder if it would be feasible to invest in green energy like wind power? I know the windmill at the college doesn’t work, but I wonder if Wind Energy could power Cornwall‘s future? Building the infrastructure would create jobs, maintaining the windmills would create jobs, and the energy from windmills could create profits locally. Wind energy would give consumers more choice of what kind of power runs their homes. In theory more competition would bring prices of energy down, and further benefit consumers. It would be worth studying and figuring this out.
Finally a topic worth a group discussion!
Now we are starting to develop what is the most important part of a company’s (or in this case cities) basic foundation. When starting a company you must first develop a business plan and the first step is the vision and mission statements followed usually by corporate objectives. It is of great use in determining your place in the market and how you will achieve and measure succcess! The hardest part about politics is pleasing everybody; which is impossible unless your willing to over promise and under deliver (old school politics)!
The vision for our city in my opinion is obvious; GROWTH pretty it up all you want but that is what it boils down to. If you want more shopping options, more businesses, more opportunities, bigger schools, more social funding you need one simple thing – a bigger tax base! This can be accomplished in two fashions – increase taxes (not an option) or increase the number of people paying taxes (the preferred choice by all)! The actually started working on this sometime ago with the CHOOSE CORNWALL campaign but has really let it slip away as of late. There are several hard working business representatives and officials on the committee and have made a plan to increase our population by advertising in Ottawa and Montreal. I believe this is were us as prospective candidates and community leaders can pick up the ball and start running with it!
A Vision Statement is a long term (Usually 10 to 20 year) big picture view of what you want to achieve!
A Mission Statement answers why the company exists and makes the vision more concrete by answering the who, what, where, when, why and how!
This is the part I believe in that we need to firm up and come to an agreement on. As Councillor Incumbents and Candidates the group elected should best represent the ideas that answer to the calling of the Mission.
Objectives are the steps that need to be met in order to fulfill the mission statement and the simple question of “Where are we now and where do we need to be in 3 to 5 years?” – This is often confused with a Vision Statement but it is just a small (but necessary) step in a large journey. All objectives need to be SMART and I’m not being a SMART A##. Smart is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. This will be the everyday work life the City Council.
These are a simple quick view of what type of entrepreneurial creativity and knowledge that will lead community out the “dark ages” and into the bright future.
That is ……………if voters decide we need change?
Tahnk You,
Mike Bedard
Owner
Roy’s Pools and Spas
I think the real focus for Cornwall and energy should be water turbines. The flow of the mighty river that runs by us can supply an awful lot of juice.
The problem with wind and solar right now is that they take up a lot of space and land.
Admin. writes “Mike this site, its writers, management, or affiliated parties, do not maliciously attack anyone” – except for Bible Believing Christians. Isn’t that right Jamie!
Tom I’ve never attacked you. I challenged some of your comments, and your religion has nothing to do with it otherwise you wouldn’t be posting on this site, right? I believe that people should be able to believe and practice whatever they want as long as they don’t try to impose it on others; especially if it’s not desired.
I’ve even come to your defense on occasion. Are you feeling a little needy this rainy morning or are the Corn Flakes too soggy?
I also wonder if it would be feasible to invest in green energy like wind power?
Inefficient for the area, reviews are complete. Solar maybe but it uses lots of space.
Building the infrastructure would create jobs, maintaining the windmills would create jobs
It didn’t work too well for Don Quixote . Way would you build something for efficiency then open a business around it. Kind of like the current green push, build new efficient light bulbs then create a group to rid ourselves of the toxic waste from them
Hydro electricity is still one of the best. The inefficiency is the people running the system, their lack of fortitude combined with government
In theory more competition would bring prices of energy down,
“The truth of a theory is in your mind, not in your eyes.” Einstein
It’s a good idea, but how do you suggest we distribute the power. I am thinking we would have to use the competitions distribution system. I wonder if that would be free?
Sell them the energy, sure we pay for example, $0.50KWh, they pay $0.15KWh.
Currently Bruce power can compensate for any brown outs in the Toronto area. The problem is distribution, they can’t get it there. I think for the energy you should look into privatizing hydro and enforcing some laws to improve the 100 yr old system and people. With out make work programs
It would be worth studying and figuring this out
Already been done see first statement
Hi S’mee, I’d like to read these reviews on wind power in the area. Do you know if they are online? Thanks.
To Mike, you are absolutely right, the key word is “GROWTH”. I appreciate and like how you think. A vision statement is a great place to start.
To Jason Setnyk:
All the best of luck to you. You have my vote.
To the pastor:
Umm, when those bible thumping Christians go and attack other people and their beliefs, then yeah, definitely, at least Ill admit to that.
One of the main guidelines that should be learned from the bibles is respect, and tolerance, of which you show none towards gays, pot smokers, astrology readers, Muslims, Catholics, and various other groups and people.
I’d have to say you started most of the crap you brought onto yourself pastor tom..
Do unto others preacher do unto others
Grimalot, you have given your vote to Jason….now be careful and don’t mistakenly vote for the Pastor.
I can differentiate between the name Jason and tom. 😉
No one under 30 plans on voting in the election. It’s an unprecedented phenomenon that threatens the democratic fiber of the nation in a real way. How will you address that?
Honestly, how can he address that? All he can do is bring more light to council, and hopefully promote less apathy. But unfortunately, its not because of Jason that things are the way they are. And I think the roots of where that all started is much deeper than what Jason may be able to get to.
I don’t know, Grim but I’ll tell you. Anyone who does make inroads on answering that question will deserve to do well and represent well.
Oh that I can agree with. 🙂
Since 2003 I have hosted a yearly event in Cornwall called Rock the Vote. The attendance has been any where between 200-400 Cornwall youth most years. We mixed rock bands with local political guest speakers. I don’t know if Rock the Vote makes a difference or not, but even if I only convinced a few more young people to vote, that is still a few more than before. Democracy is like a muscle, for it to be strong, people must exercise it. There are no easy answers, but on a grass roots level, I have tried my best to address this issue with Rock the Vote. An event like that is a start, but it can’t finish there. It’s up to parents and family and school teachers and other community leaders to talk with Cornwall youth about why politics, voting, and being active in your community is important. Getting more young people to vote is a grass roots effort, a challenging one, but also an important one.
I have said that if “Apathy” were a candidate we’d have no minority governments. People have lost their political souls. The challenge for all of us regardless of our political bent is to breathe life back into people’s political lives.
Well said JG!
Rock the Vote
George Samis tried that approach too. Just make sure you encourage the people to vote and not, Like Samis, use it as a venue to brain wash kids into supporting you.
Jason
You could probably find that research yourself with a little work.
What are the GPA’s for the kids in the Hockey School?
If I voted I would vote for Jason.
@Smee… you seem to be very negative. My father once told me that it is EASY to complain and criticize, the challenge is coming up with viable SOLUTIONS. What solutions do you propose to the concerns you have raised here?