Mail-in-voting decision shocking
Dear editor,

Shocking, absolutely shocking !

I am still in total disbelief that our current Innisfil town council could repeal their original decision on " mail-in-voting".

On January 4th /06 ( just 7 months ago ) council, in a close recorded vote, agreed to finally get with the vast majority of other Ontario cottage areas (read lakefront if you wish ) and use mail-in-voting in municipal elections, beginning this November. To his credit.....this sensible and fair minded move was spearheaded by current Mayor Brian Jackson.

Innisfil has very many seasonal residents who are away in November when all municipalities hold their elections. Mail-in-voting is the only sensible solution to increase Innisfil's voter turnout and obviously the greater the voter turnout.....the more representative the election!

In January, council recorded the vote. The four against mail-in-voting were Deputy Mayor Baguley and councillors Beleskey, Dollin and Wardlaw (none of these councilors have lakefront constituents).

Now.....are you ready for this .......these same four (even though Beleskey has stated he is not running again) wait until one of the original yes votes is away from council for one meeting and perpetrate a reversal of the original yes to mail-in-voting !!! Talk about blind-siding Innisfil residents.......Talk about blind siding Mayor Jackson, who has already addressed Innisfil residents on mail-in-voting in his July/august newsletter. Talk about casting serious doubts as to their integrity!! Talk about "if you won't play my way....I'll take my ball and bat and go home". Who cares about integrity and fair play???

This council should be ashamed......and most especially the four councilors who created this fiasco.....treating the Innisfil electors as fools!

What a waste of taxpayers money to instruct the town clerk to "put the wheels and machinery in motion" to be ready for election day November 2006 ! What a waste of time too ! Shameful!

This council needs a serious overhauling......and I for one certainly hope sensible, fair minded Innisfil taxpayers and residents will take the opportunity this November to rebuke this kind of stupidity !

Tom Kinnear Full time resident.