Smart: WC gives gifts world needs

DUNROBIN – No stranger to West Carleton, Kanata-Carleton MPP Karen McCrimmon’s career has included three decades in the Canadian Forces followed by six years as a Liberal MP for Kanata-Carleton (2015-2021).

In this second story of our series, West Carleton: The gift that keeps on giving, McCrimmon talks about what many West Carleton residents already know – it all comes down to using your blessings to make the world a better place.

 McCrimmon says it has been an unusual year starting with the snap election called by the Ontario progressive conservative government in mid-February.  

“It was called a year early and it challenged us all,” McCrimmon told West Carleton Online Dec. 10. “I thank the people of Kanata-Carleton for placing their trust in me once again. It was quite an adventure, but we managed. Unfortunately, the rest of Ontario stayed with voting for the Progressive Conservatives.”

McCrimmon says sitting in opposition to a majority government, “is hard.”

She is frustrated the current government has shut down committees which means bills go through without committee review.

“I mean, if it was a somewhat capable government who were willing to listen to good ideas, that would be one thing,” she said. “We have had 20 bills go through that were not sent to committee. But committee is when you get your experts to testify and you get the expertise of people with lived experience. The Ontario Conservatives can put things forward and in to law because they have a super majority. Then they see the problems with it after because they didn’t want to listen to the experts.”

The provincial government’s move to centralize power, according to McCrimmon, is also problematic.

“They are taking leadership away from the local level and bringing everything to Toronto to the minister’s office,” she said. “By cancelling legislation and making it into regulations the ministers can amend it at the drop of a hat. It doesn’t matter if you are talking school boards, health care, long-term care, or home care. It is all being centralized and concentrated and that is dangerous.”

McCrimmon says the recent decision to ban traffic cameras was unfortunate because, in her opinion, one was needed on the Dunrobin Road.

“I have heard from people in West Carleton and they are not happy with that decision,” she said. “It (a camera) would have done good work. Even if you had put it within 500 metres of the school (West Carleton Secondary School), okay, fine. You still would have had that speed camera there. But to have outlawed and banned them completely is really foolish.  It is going to cost municipalities money in that they are going to use other traffic calming measures.”

Other speed control options proposed by the Ford government will be costly according to McCrimmon.

“If you have to deal with speed bumps, and round abouts and things like that it is going to cost a lot of money,” she said. “And speed cameras work. Even the Ontario Chiefs of Police as an organization said they work. I’m sure that is one of the reasons the government did not put the decision to ban speed cameras to committee because you would have had all the police chiefs saying, ‘no they work, don’t do this.’”

When the legislature is sitting McCrimmon says she spends at least 100 hours of the week in Toronto.

“The hard part of being in Toronto is that I don’t get to spend that time in the riding,” she said. “I get energized when I am here; when I am with people and can help them. That is what lifts me up and keeps me going. I don’t mind the travel so much because I have done that all my life, in the air force. I lived out of a suitcase for many years. That doesn’t bother me, but being away from the people in the riding does.”

McCrimmon says staff at the Kanata-Carleton constituency office (555 Legget Dr., Suite 109, Kanata) are always available to connect with people and help solve problems.

“We have a real mix of issues we can help people with,” she said. “Everything from birth certificates and driver’s licenses, to veteran’s services, practical things people need a hand with, my staff does a really good job. They know what they are there for and that is to help the people in Kanata-Carleton. They do their very best.”

When McCrimmon returns to the riding at the end of the week she usually attends an average of four to five events spread out over Friday, Saturday, and sometimes Sundays.

“For the first time this year I attended the Fitzroy Harbour Children’s Christmas Party,” she said. “We had a great time. Everyone was so friendly. It just lifts my spirits. I think it’s important that people know I am here. If they see me at a Christmas parade then maybe if they run into trouble, they will reach out to me. I tell people this all the time. If you don’t know where to go, call us and if it’s not something we do, we can point you in the right direction. If people feel I am accessible and involved in the community, maybe they will reach out. I think that is one of the big things for me and why it is important to be there.”

McCrimmon says holiday events in West Carleton are a favorite.  

“The holiday season does provide more opportunities,” she said. “Plus, I love going to the holiday bazaars. People are happy to see you. If you look at West Carleton, the number of fabulous Christmas bazaars and markets is unbelievable with the Legion, the churches, and the community centres. I love doing my Christmas shopping here.”

Of the events McCrimmon attends in West Carleton throughout the year, she estimates most of them are volunteer-led.

“We are so lucky to have so many people who are so well invested in their community,” she said. “Look at all our little towns. That is all volunteers. All of the community associations, the people that run the community centres and the rinks, that is all volunteer-run, along with other organizations like the West Carleton Food Access Centre (WCFAC) and the ReSource Rack, all volunteers. People step up when people need them. It just does my heart good.”

Mccrimmon says West Carleton is exactly what we need now – a wonderful place where people are still committed to their community and to each other.

“We have had some tough times in West Carleton too,” she said. “And the volunteers step up. I’m very proud and I’m glad you want to celebrate them (in this story series) because that is exactly what we should be doing.”

In these challenging times McCrimmon says it’s never been more important to look after each other and work together.

“This time of year, not everybody is lucky, especially people who have had a loss,” she said. “People out there are hurting. So, I just want to ask everyone to make an effort to everybody you see on the street. When you pass by say, Merry Christmas, take care, good to see you, acknowledge them; even just look them in the eye and give them a smile. Let them know that you see them. This time of year a lot of people feel invisible, let’s not let that happen. Let them know they are not alone.”

McCrimmon recalled how difficult it can be to be away from family at Christmas.

“I think it was in 1991, I had to depart on Christmas day for Somalia,” she said. “My dad had just passed away and my mom was in Toronto with my brothers and sisters. I had to leave, because I had had to go back to Trenton, ON, to fly to Somalia. That was really, really hard. But I knew I was doing something that could maybe help somehow. I have been to more than 75 countries around the world. And I know how lucky we are to live in a country like Canada. People don’t realize it. There are those we can see around the world that want to take democracy apart. And we just have to look south of the border at what is happening in the United States. It’s unheard of. We are in their sights. We all have to be willing to step up and do what we can do.”

McCrimmon says her mom once told her, “not everyone is as lucky as you. You have a good head on your shoulders and a good heart so you have to help those who are not as lucky.”

“The way we make our way through this is to stick together,” McCrimmon said. “And if anybody is going to do that, it is the people of West Carleton. Because that is what leaders do and right now people are looking for those kinds of examples. We can be that example. The best gifts are the gift of love; gifts of peace; gift of a smile; a greeting; gifts of community. Those are the kind of gifts the world needs more of. I thank the people of West Carleton for being so generous with all of their gifts.”