Good morning Everyone


My name is Patricia Sinclair and I have been an area resident for the
last 29 years.


Over this time I have seen my neighbourhood go from DESIREABLE to PRIORITY.


As a member of the working group for this Area Study, I have come to
understand why the level of community services, infrastracture, public
transit, to name but a few essentials, have not kept pace with our
growing population, changing demographics and economic realities.


Our planners didn't plan

Our politicians didn't act

Our citizens didn't demand


My opening greeting was not a mistake, rather an advisement that we are
at the dawn of a new beginning.  Grassroots Democracy where power, to be
best exercised, is vested in the local *community*.


First though we must dispell the apathy of the past decades and show
that the community is capable of leadership.


As our famous neighbour to the south says, "Out of many, we are one;
that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and
doubt, and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that
timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people."  YES WE CAN.


In the context of Land Development we asked ourselves 5 questions:

   1. Can we rally the community interest, overcome lack of knowledge,
      provide access to information about the planning process and
      reduce the feelings of marginalization?

   2. Can we create community review boards with decision rights, to
      review development applications and recommend changes to the
      secondary plan as neighbourhoods evolve?

   3. Can we abolish the OMB's planning authority over the City of Toronto?

   4. Can we demand all levels of government be accountable to the
      people and work together in the best interests of the citizens
      they promised to serve?

   5. Can the Community working together with owners, developers,
      planners and elected officials create a better society?


We begin tonight to rebuild OUR neighbourhood.