The food was great and the service excellent.  We throughly enjoyed our meal.  When we left my wife accidentally left her glasses behind.  Two days later when she was looking for her glasses she concluded that she had last had them at Milestones when she was reading the menu.  I called and talked to Sarah, who was amazing, she tracked  down the glasses for us.  I offered to send them a self addressed envelope to return the glasses and she told me that they would look after that.

The very next day we received the glasses by courier,  no charge.  With businesses trying to wring every nickel they can out of you and the constant drop in the level of service, this was an amazing show of kindness. They knew we were not from their area so this act of kindness was not driven by the thought of getting business. My hat goes off to Sarah and the staff at Milestones for their unselfish and kind behavior.  Keep up the good work.

Roger

By Dr. Cindy Gordon

In the last couple of years, Facebook has gone from a college photo-sharing site to a burgeoning business- networking platform for self-promotion, advertising and multimedia interaction. With new apps and add-ons, Facebook users can send each other a virtual drink, create and host events, advertise their businesses through social ads, and more.
There are now over 66 million “active” users, with an average of 250,000 new registrations per day. Facebook claims over 65 billion pages views per month, and that people spend an average of 20 minutes on the site every day.
Recently, Facebook began working on translating the site into different languages in order to make the site available internationally. This will increase its reach to more global audiences, and make it even more valuable target for marketing campaigns.
According to Hitwise, over 72% of all U.S. social network traffic in 2007 went to MySpace. Although, Facebook’s traffic increased 50% last year and MySpace traffic decreased 8%, these numbers remind us of there is still tremendous value in MySpace and its eyeball reach.
One of the questions we are often asked in supporting our clients develop stronger business innovation strategies leveraging social mediated technologies is how do we make sense of how these new toolkits can be applied to reach our customers, employees and suppliers differently.
Facebook is one of literally thousands of social networking toolkits, Linked IN, Google’s opensocial, Twitter, Spock etc…all are examples of potential social networking solutions. It is important to have an overall strategy and architecture vision to ensure you are using
Below is an excerpt from the Facebook 100 tools and Tips to Tap the Facebook Customer that we thought was exceptionally, good published on January 23, 2008 by the Editors of CRM.

Why Facebook?
Why has Facebook become the go-to networking site for marketers? Check out these articles to read up on the rise of this networking giant.

1. Inside Facebook: This blog is devoted to “tracking Facebook and the Facebook Platform.” You’ll find useful stats, marketing tips and more.
   
2. Facebook’s Ads Page: This page explains how Facebook provides business owners with self-service solutions, market-research solutions and integrated solutions when it comes to advertising.
   
3. Should You Advertise on Facebook?: This article helps U.K.-based businesses decide whether or not they should advertise on Facebook.
   
4. The Value of Facebook: Even in its earlier days, Facebook was considered a hot commodity in the industry. This post uncovers why there’s good reason for all the hype.
   
5. What’s the Big Deal About Facebook’s Social Ads?: This article discusses why Facebook’s social ads are such a hit.
   
6. $240 Million! Think of All the Beer We Can Buy!: When Microsoft shows a $240 million interest in your company, you know you’ve made it. Advertisers will also want to take note.
   
7. Why Is Facebook Suddenly So Popular Among We Geezers?: A CNET blogger wonders how Facebook’s popularity has stretched from its original base of the under-25 crowd.
   
8. Ten Reasons Why Facebook Is So Popular: This tongue-in-cheek article explains exactly why Facebook is such a popular site.
   
9. How Did Facebook Become So Popular?: This blogger tracks Facebook’s rise to social-networking stardom and its technique of “utilizing one of the most powerful viral marketing strategies ever conceived.”
   
10. Facebook: More Popular Than Porn: Time magazine’s Web site discovers that Facebook is more popular than porn sites among college students.
    
11. Fifteen Reasons Facebook May Be Worth $15 Billion: Back when Microsoft decided to invest $240 million in Facebook, it also declared the social-networking site to be worth around $15 billion total. The reasons for the site’s popularity still hold true in 2008.
    
12. The Impact of Facebook’s Platform: This article from ReadWriteWeb compares Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg to a young Steve Jobs and applauds Facebook for opening up its company to developers and advertisers.
    

Advertising
Learn about current and future advertising opportunities on Facebook by reading these posts.

13. Sponsored Groups: Sponsor your own group on Facebook by purchasing a link that hosts ad content, message boards and more.
    
14. Mini-Feed: When it first came out, members weren’t sure if they wanted to be updated each time a friend added new photos, changed their status or even wrote on someone else’s Wall. As an advertiser, though, you can track your Mini-Feed to find out what your friends have been up to and more closely study your target audience.
    
15. AceBucks: Facebook users earn AceBucks by playing games and taking surveys, then cashing them in for real-life prizes like Wii systems and iPods. Create your own survey or game to promote your business, then invite others to play.
    
16. Five Moneymaking Opportunities on Facebook: Mashable! lists several moneymaking strategies available on Facebook, advertising and otherwise.
    
17. Facebook’s Secret Rate Card: This article explores which Facebook advertising methods are worth your money and effort, and which aren’t.
    
18. Could Facebook Change Web Advertising?: Listen to this NPR (National Public Radio) report to uncover the newest trends in Web advertising.
    
19. How to Effectively Advertise on Facebook: Trendcatching’s post explores some of the more lucrative strategies advertisers have used to tap into the Facebook market.
    
20. How Does Facebook Figure into Your Online Advertising Campaign?: This article is a must-read for business owners who are thinking about incorporating Facebook marketing into their own advertising campaigns.
    
21. Social Networks Find Ways to Monetize User Data: Learn how to make money off of your Facebook friends (it’s not as sleazy as it sounds) with the tips and analyses provided here.
    
22. Digging into Facebook’s Ad Future: CNET News.com believes that Facebook has the capabilities to become an “advertiser’s paradise,” despite some social-networking sites’ inability to make serious profits.
    
23. Promote Your Cause on Facebook in Six Easy Steps: TechSoup shows nonprofits how to use Facebook for self-promotion.
    
24. Facebook Ads: Facebook’s official advertising page strives to prove how social ads, profile pages and paid ads can increase a company’s business.
    

Free Marketing Opportunities
The beauty of using Facebook as a marketing tool comes from the endless ways in which you can advertise your business for free. Once you’ve set up a free account, use your creativity to maximize these features.

25. Profile Page: All Facebook members get their own profile page when they sign up. Use this as your canvas to upload pictures, logos and other information about your company.
    
26. Groups: Use the site’s Groups feature to network with your target audience. You can join existing groups or create one just for your business to amp up the buzz about its services.
    
27. Facebook Marketplace: College kids use the site’s Marketplace to scout out used couches and find roommates, but a savvy business owner can advertise services and product sales, as well as search for new employees.
    
28. Networks: Ignoring the Networks question when you create your company’s profile could lose it a lot of business. List your business’s city, industry, neighborhood and any other relevant information to let potential customers and business partners know where they can find you.
    
29. Facebook Badge: Facebook describes its Badge feature as “a customizable way to share your Facebook information on other Web sites.” Creating your own Badge will link Facebook friends to your company’s Web site.
    
30. Events: Instead of printing out flyers and mailers the next time you want to advertise an event, use the free Facebook Events app to get the word out.
    
31. FunWall: Mass emails are so yesteryear. If you want to keep in close contact with your Facebook friends, use the FunWall to create a message or send a greeting to everyone at once.
    
32. Top Friends Network: Reward your top friends by sending them a virtual drink or writing on their FunWalls. As a marketing tool, the Top Friends network serves as another way to group your contacts, keep an eye on your target demographic, and quickly and effectively reach out to your company’s best customers.
    
33. Inbox: Send secure, private messages to your clients on Facebook with the Inbox app. You can still send out mass messages, but only to the contacts you select.
    
34. Notes: Mashable! calls Facebook’s Notes application a blogging feature because of the way users post links, messages, photos and other information that they want to share with friends. Even if you maintain a blog elsewhere, give your Facebook friends an exclusive peek into your company’s news and behind-the-scenes schedule by posting here.
    
35. Contact Importer: The contact importer helps you “find your friends on Facebook.” If you want to find out if your clients or other work-related contacts use Facebook but think it’s a little lame to come right out and ask, upload your contacts from AIM, Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail and more to find out if they’re online.
    
36. Share Partners: When you publish updates to your company blog or Web site, add the link or a link and a photo to your Facebook profile using the Share Partners app.
    

Tools and Applications
Facebook add-ons allow you to customize your profile page and build up virtual relationships with clients and customers. Check out these tools and applications that will give your marketing plan a boost.

37. Facebook Social Ads: Pinpoint your company’s Facebook friends and friend wannabes by creating a social ad that reveals itself to visitors of your profile and friends of friends of friends … you get the idea.
    
38. Facebook Pages: A more business-savvy name for Profile, the Facebook Page now includes all kinds of add-ons so that you can post videos, logos, pictures and other marketing info.
    
39. Facebook Polls: Businesses can effectively find out what their target audiences are thinking by utilizing this polling service on Facebook.
    
40. Facebook Beacon: Connect your company’s Web site to your customers’ Facebook profiles with the Beacon action alerts. By integrating just three lines of code, your customers can choose to let their friends see what they viewed and bought on your company’s Web site and more.
    
41. Facebook Insights: Through charts and mapping devices, companies can accurately track their “presence and promotion on Facebook.”
    
42. Facebook Platform: If you want stand out from the thousands of other Facebook advertisers, create your own tools and applications with Platform. This system helps Facebook users design interactive apps so that visitors and friends can easily explore what your company has to offer.
    
43. FeedBurner: Advertise your company’s blog or podcast with the FeedBurner app for Facebook. A feed will appear on your profile, so visitors to your page are instantly updated with new postings, videos and more.
    
44. Gydget: Small companies, bands, nonprofit groups and other organizations should try out Gydget, “a stand-alone viral-promotions tool” that you can add to your Facebook page and also encourage others to integrate with their own pages Update fans and clients with details about upcoming events, networking opportunities, sales and product launches.
    
45. Ether: Charge by the phone call when you list your Ether number on Facebook with this ingenious app. By adding the button to your Facebook page, you can advertise your expertise and invite friends to call you for advice.
    
46. Jobster: Attract new talent from the Facebook pool by integrating a Jobster button with your profile. Your company can build its own job network, submit a listing in the Jobster network and more.
    
47. QOOP: QOOP helps you create promotional items like T-shirts and mugs from digital photos. Facebook users can use the QOOP app to share the items by letting friends view and purchase your marketing creations.
    
48. Oodle Classifieds: Organize your company’s advertisements, job postings and classifieds on Facebook with the Oodle app.
    

Targeting the Right Demographic
Before you decide to tackle the entire Facebook market, try narrowing down your strategy by researching each of Facebook’s demographics.

49. Big Brands and Facebook: Demographics, Case Studies and Best Practices: This slideshow from Forrester breaks down Facebook’s primary demographics by age, country and other dividers to give advertisers insight into effective marketing campaigns.
    
50. Facebook Polls Launches Tonight: Marketing Research Paradise: This article details the ways in which Facebook’s Polls app can help your company get in touch with its target demographic.
    
51. Could Facebook Become the New MySpace: Many have speculated over the relationship between Facebook and MySpace.com, and this article explores the specific demographics of each.
    
52. Facebook by the Numbers: This article is from May 2007, but readers can still use the post as a guide to study Facebook’s age demographics.
    
53. Facebook Users Up 89 Percent Over Last Year; Demographic Shift: Find out how Facebook’s overall demographic has changed from its inception to today.
    
54. Facebook’s Most Popular Apps So Far: Want to know where to slip in ads and find your company’s audience? Find out which apps people are using the most on Facebook.
    
55. Facebook Goes Beyond College, High School Markets: Even if your company’s target audience isn’t made up of college students, Facebook is still a viable marketing platform. This article explains why.
    
56. Facebook Market Research Secrets: Discover the sneaky way to perform market research by using Facebook’s tools.
    
57. Facebook: The Future of Market Research?: This market research analysis holds that “sites [like Facebook] are providing useful business solutions not only to advertisers, but also to market research companies and marketing services companies.” Read the whole article to find out why.
    
58. Facebook Provides Fascinating Glimpse Into Society, Media Demographics: This analysis of Facebook’s advertisers also gives tips on how to look for marketing clues from your target audience.
    
59. Social-Networking Demographics: This article tracks the general demographic stats of social networking sites like Facebook.
    
60. Exercise for the Reader: Facebook Member Stats: The author of this post decided “to pull together some stats on relative numbers of members from each country.” Find out the results by reading the entire article.
    

How-to Guides
Follow these how-to guides to navigate the limitless marketing possibilities and tailor your own Facebook marketing strategy.

61. Six Ways to Market on Facebook: This article should help those business owners who are still relatively new to the Facebook world. Simple tips include “host an event and post it” and “post news articles.”
    
62. Inside//Out: Facebook: This blogger gives great tips on how to effectively market your company on Facebook without disrupting the advertiser-customer relationship.
    
63. Tips to Marketing on Facebook: Writer Janet Meiners considers some of the basic but effective marketing tools that Facebook has to offer.
    
64. Facebook Marketing. It Can Be a Good Thing: BusinessWeek’s article about Facebook marketing considers the pros and cons of placing ads on the networking site.
    
65. Eight Marketing Ideas from Facebook Groups: The Influential Marketing Blog dissects seven different Facebook groups and general event groups to find out what works and what doesn’t when promoting your event or business.
    
66. Ten Killer Facebook Marketing Tips: From sending virtual gifts to adding friends, this article explains why certain Facebook actions are great self-promoters.
    
67. Facebook Usage and Marketing: Check out this guide for tips on how to make Facebook’s apps work for you and your business.
    
68. How to Create a Successful Facebook Group: If your business wants to create a group on Facebook to reach a bigger audience, use these tips to gain a large following of fans.
    
69. Target Niche Audiences With Facebook Advertising: AllBusiness.com publishes this post to help advertisers understand the pros and cons of using Facebook as a marketing platform.
    
70. How Marketers Use Facebook: This upbeat article has some useful tips to introduce marketers into the world of Facebook.
    
71. Facebook Marketing: Social Networking at its Best: You don’t have to go all out with social ads and beacons to use Facebook as a marketing tool. This article explains the benefits of setting up your profile page and networking with new friends.
    
72. How to Use Facebook Status for Marketing Purposes: Instead of letting friends know that you’re “sleeping” or “at work,” use the Status feature to clue customers in on what big business idea you’re working on.
    

Small Business Strategies
Even if you don’t have the budget to promote a presidential election with ABC, your small business can benefit from Facebook’s marketing strategies. Find out how with this list of tools and tips.

73. Networking: Use Facebook as a Marketing Tool: This article focuses on how entrepreneurs can use Facebook as a self-promotion tool and turn social networking into professional networking.
    
74. Top Five Viral Facebook Techniques: Learn how to make the most of referrals, giveaways and other simple apps with the tips in this article.
    
75. Web 3.0 Marketing with Facebook: Find out why Facebook is great for small businesses wanting to tap into a large, global market.
    
76. Facebook as a B2B Marketing Tool: This article chronicles how ordinary Facebook users have begun to use the social networking community as a place to self-promote and improve business.
    
77. Top Ten Ways to Use Facebook to Promote Your Business for Free: If your company doesn’t have a huge marketing budget, don’t worry. This article gives tips on using Facebook’s free features to reach consumers.
    
78. Entrepreneurs Need Both Facebook and LinkedIn: This article from the Small Business Trends website details why entrepreneurs should take advantage of the many self-promotion and networking opportunities that Facebook offers its members.
    
79. Time for Facebook?: This author tries to figure out why Facebook, not just e-mail, is a useful tool for keeping contacts. Readers will also find tips on how to become more savvy at online networking.
    
80. Make Money with Facebook Applications: Web designers and developers are encouraged to create their own Facebook applications as an on-the-side moneymaking project.
    
81. Using Facebook for Business: A Real Life Example: The analysis of a real-life Facebook marketing strategy will help other small-business owners determine if a similar technique is right for their company.
    
82. Facebook Platform: This page includes “everything you need to get started building a Facebook Application.” Ready, set, design!
    
83. Facebook, a Marketer’s Friend: This article from The Wall Street Journal tracks a small-business owner and her lucrative, profitable adventures with Facebook marketing.
    
84. Five Ways Small Business Can Benefit from Social Media/Networking Sites: Small-business owners will find ways to use Facebook to meet their unique marketing needs.
    

The Danger of Facebook
Before you invest all of your company’s hard-earned marketing budget into Facebook advertising, check out these guides that discuss some of the negative challenges you might encounter.

85. Why Facebook Is Not a Viable Marketing Platform: Blogger Muhammad Saleem considers the reasons why Facebook marketing isn’t always a good idea. From lack of focus to lack of visibility, he argues that there are several reasons to avoid this strategy.
    
86. Facebook Grooming Us for Intrusive Marketing?: A blog at CNET News.com suggests that Facebook’s cozy relationship with advertisers treads on the dangerous concept of intrusive marketing.
    
87. Facebook Marketing Stunt Backfires: This article reveals how careless marketing tactics can lead to controversial, shady ad campaigns and bad public relations.
    
88. Five Things That Could Kill Facebook: From inbox contamination to application noise, learn how not to overdo your Facebook activity.
    
89. A Failed Facebook Marketing Campaign: Discover why Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s Facebook marketing campaign wasn’t a success, and what your company can learn from its mistakes.
    
90. Facebook’s New Ads: If You’re a Good Person, Why Should You Want Privacy?: Can advertising on Facebook backfire? This article thinks that it can, if members are annoyed that big businesses prey on social- networking sites just to spy on their consumers.
    
91. Facebook Beacon: A Cautionary Tale About New-Media Monopolies: This article condemns certain Facebook marketing opportunities like Beacon by calling the technique “a classic case of overreaching.” Read this post before setting up a Facebook-oriented marketing strategy.
    
92. Madison Avenue Stampedes Onto Facebook: This video/article combination warns Facebook users against huge corporations that are “using Facebook … to exploit the site’s functions for their own business-networking pursuits, personal expression and just plain goofy fun.” Make sure you steer clear of these sketchy techniques if you want to attract new customers via Facebook.
    
93. Ten Reasons Why Social-Media Marketing Sucks: From undefined goals to all-around randomness, see why this blogger thinks social-media marketing sucks.
    

Miscellaneous Resources
These resources provide even more insight into the many ways that advertisers can capitalize on Facebook’s popularity.

94. Social-Media Marketing in a Nutshell: Dosh Dosh introduces the concept of using social-media sites as venues for cutting-edge marketing techniques.
    
95. Facebook is the Marketing Story of ‘07: According to Influxinsights, “Facebook emerged from college dorms late in 2006 and then exploded onto the cultural scene in the U.S., U.K. and Canada in 2007.” Read the rest of the article to learn why 2007 was Facebook’s year.
    
96. Facebook Lets Advertisers Reach Members Via Free Apps: To reach customers on a “deeper level,” get tips on utilizing Facebook’s many applications.
    
97. Employers Reach Out to Recruits with Facebook: Besides marketing your business to consumers, why not market it to fresh recruits? This article shows you how.
    
98. Inside Facebook: The Facebook Book: This blog provides analyses and excerpts from the book “Inside Facebook” to help businesses understand what the social-networking trend can do for them.
    
99. Facebook Members Sell Their Own Ads: Though it’s currently against the rules, “more than 1,500 Facebook users have started placing advertisements on their own profile pages.” Find out how selling ads on your profile eventually backfires.
    
100. Why Your Company Needs to Be on Facebook: Harvard Business School’s Conversation Starter site publishes this article from Forrester’s Charlene Li. Check out the many reasons why all companies should consider joining Facebook.
     

If your organization is interested in investigating Facebook as a marketing channel further, the following resources may be helpful:
·                       The Facebook Marketing Bible: 24
·                       The Updated Unofficial and Smartass Guide to Using Facebook
·                       CIO: Facebook CEO Appearance on 60 Minutes Leaves Many Underwhelmed
·                       Facebook as a B2B Marketing Tool
·                       How to Market Yourself & Your Company on Facebook
·                       Facebook Marketing: Articles and Resources
·                       Wikipedia: Facebook
·                       Mahalo: Facebook

Summary

      Facebook is a solution that will continue to evolve and have impact on your future business models. Is your organization prepared to take advantage of these new forms of social media tools?

Democracy suffers under barrage of strategic lawsuits

Toronto StarRick Smith
Devon Page

Opinion Editorial

As the old saying goes, “Big oaks from little acorns grow.”

So it has been in recent years in southern Ontario with small local land management disputes mushrooming into much more widespread and profound debates.

The standoff between concerned citizens and developers on the crest of the Oak Ridges Moraine in October 2003 led the newly elected McGuinty government to expedite its greenbelt commitment. Sometimes the very name of a specific controversy – “Ipperwash” for instance – comes to symbolize much larger social issues.

What we are witnessing at the moment is the making of another such seminal land use conflict.

On the western shore of Lake Simcoe at a place called Big Bay Point a dispute between concerned citizens and a developer is fast becoming another key test for all Ontarians and their provincial government.

What is at stake is nothing less than the democratic process itself. And whether ordinary citizens can continue to defend their communities and their environment without fear of devastating financial liability.

The proposed Big Bay Point development is a resort proposal of unprecedented size for this part of the province. In December, the Ontario Municipal Board approved a huge hotel and condominium complex including substantial commercial space and a 1,000 slip mega-marina.

Because the developer, Geranium Corporation, actually owns only about 200 feet of expensive lake frontage, the creation of this huge project will necessitate the digging of a new thirty-acre lake, the equivalent of more than 15 football fields.

Not surprisingly, the Big Bay Point development has elicited opposition because of its potential negative impact on the already threatened Lake Simcoe and the precedent it will set.

Opposition to the project is hazardous: Geranium has filed at least four separate lawsuits against its critics for a total of approximately $90 million. These lawsuits allege things like libel, intentional interference with economic relations and conspiracy.

In addition, the local ratepayer group (the Innisfil District Association or IDA) and its lawyers are the subject of an extraordinary cost claim for $3.6 million at the OMB. The developer has taken the highly unusual step of seeking the award against the lawyers personally and against their firm. As a result, the law firm has had to withdraw from the case and hire its own lawyer to defend itself.

Geranium has indicated that opposition to its project was justified until the various public agencies signed off at the OMB. From that point on, it argues, the actions of the IDA and its lawyers were vexatious and they should receive indemnity for every penny spent.

Some local residents were too frightened to testify at the OMB hearing despite being given assurances their testimony was protected privilege. And at least one other citizens group in Simcoe County has dropped its opposition to an ongoing development project specifically citing their fear of liability for the kinds of costs being sought in the Big Bay Point case as the reason.

This type of litigation could be characterized as Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (”SLAPP”) as the phenomenon has been recognized by some legislators and judges in the United States and British Columbia. An action which effectively silences any and all criticism.

According to the SLAPP Resource Centre at the University of Colorado, a “SLAPP” is a civil complaint or counterclaim filed against individuals or organizations arising from their communications to government or speech on an issue of public interest or concern.

SLAPPs often are brought by corporations, real estate developers, government officials and others against individuals and community groups who oppose them on issues of public concern. SLAPP filers frequently use lawsuits based on ordinary civil claims as a means of transforming public debate into lawsuits.

Statements of defence filed by members of the IDA are nearly identical: “This action, like many actions commenced by Geranium in this and other jurisdictions, is being brought by the plaintiff for the improper purpose of exerting pressure on (the IDA member) so that he would not publicly oppose the Plaintiff’s project (Big Bay Point resort).”

While most SLAPPs lose in court, they succeed in the public arena. This is because defending a SLAPP, even when the legal defence is strong, requires a substantial investment of money, time and resources. The resulting effect is a “chill” on public participation in, and open debate on, important public issues. This chilling effect is not limited to the SLAPP target(s): fearful of being the target of future litigation, others refrain from speaking on, or participating in, issues of public concern.

The developer at Big Bay Point argues the citizens and their lawyers wasted a lot of time at the hearing. The total length of IDA’s direct evidence was five days, the whole hearing lasted less than 25, making it one of the shorter OMB hearings in Ontario history for a project of this size.

Environmental Defence has launched an application before the OMB to intervene and oppose the motion for $3.6 million in costs. Specifically, it will put before the OMB the latest legal understanding of SLAPP suit litigation to enable the board to evaluate this unprecedented cost application in a proper legal context. Environmental Defence has hired eminent civil rights lawyer Clayton Ruby to argue this case on its behalf.

The threat of chilling public participation in planning is already occurring and the McGuinty government has the power and is obliged to stop it. As a party to the original OMB hearing, the Ontario government must oppose this cost application as being inimical to democratic participation and Ontario must catch up to the 20 or so U.S. states and British Columbia that have passed anti-SLAPP legislation to protect their citizens. Ontario needs such legislation as soon as possible.

Protection for the public from future intimidation must become the legacy of this awful episode in land-use planning history. In the absence of government action, no citizen in their would ever again appear in front of the Ontario Municipal Board.

Rick Smith is executive director of Environmental Defence. Devon Page is acting executive director of Ecojustice Canada.

Ontario is the only province in Canada to have an appointed board, whose only purpose would seem, to overturn decisions by elected officials in order that big developers may proceed without the blessing of the residents or majority of politicians.

Case after case, the OMB is just rolling along scorning taxpayers and elected representatives.  Will no one take a stand against this group of political appointees and shed some light on this travesty of justice?

Our politicians have sold out the people in this area when it came to protecting the drinking water. There is not a sane person who would, after reading the facts, could believe anyone could support site 41, and to heap more injustice on this rural community, now we are building over 400 homes in an area that is not suited for it and has no services for them, and no facilities to support them.  What do they expect this large influx of medium and low income housing families to do for entertainment? I might suggest they go to the local council meetings and hang out.  Perhaps they should also keep their eyes open for the “village idiot”, seems he has been seen sitting at the council table.

The local schools are not impressed with the fact that this quiet edifice is about to be replaced with bells and sirens erupting at all hours of the day which will be an added disruption to their students.

Quoting millions of dollars in funds to upgrade the old Barrie arena seems to be the main point of contention. The haste in which this decision has been taken leads one to wonder about the alternatives available. One glaring option is that if this building was a heritage building then these expensive upgrades would not be a necessity, also under Part 11 of the building code, once a building is over 5 years old, which I am sure this building qualifies for, then there are Alternate Measures which can be applied rather than trying to comply with todays more stringent codes. This is common practice and would be used in most cities and probably is in place already for this building.

As usual when a person controls the numbers and information being released they also control the truth, sometimes this is not always in the best interest of the taxpayer. Sound familiar?

So this never ending love - hate relationship with trains and Barrie started way back in 1864 and continues to this day.  Ironic that originally Barrie was “miffed” that the train didn’t come to Barrie, and today, over a 130 years later, there are still people trying to get the train to go back to its original station located in Allendale.

This is a very Interesting relationship that Barrie continues to have with trains, will Barrie ever resolve its relationship or will this continue for another century or two before Barrie is truly happy with its trains?

Feel free to express your comments on this issue

Randy and Tammy Wigley have put together an awesome Real Estate site to answer many of the questions that plague new home buyers and the seasoned investor. This dedicated Real Estate site has many items of interest including, Feature Home of the week, Open Houses, Mortgage Information, Home Inspections, Virtual Tours, and many answers to the various questions you may have.

Use the best team in Barrie when considering your next Real Estate transaction.

Many homes have had electrical additions made over the years.  This is the major cause of minor electrical deficiencies during the home inspection process.  There are homes that have no deficiencies, but they are few and far between. The most common deficiencies are listed below.

GFCI OUTLETS 

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters – designed to trip when a very low current (5.m.a.) passes to ground. Note:  I personally have encountered many GFCI outlets that when using their built in test button function properly, but when tested with a properly designed tester, fail to trip at 7 ma. (0.007 ampere).

EXTERIOR GFCI OUTLETS 

Single residential homes are required to have exterior outlet for use of appliances outside the home. It is recommended that these outlets be switched and also installed at both front and rear of home on a dedicated circuit. Exterior outlets can be protected at either the panel or at the outlet.  Canadian Electrical Code recommends that these outlets be installed horizontally, but this is not a code requirement. These outlets must be protected by a weather type box and seal when installed at an angle of 45 deg or less from the horizontal.

RECEPTACLES IN BASEMENTS 

An “Unfinished basement” is only required to have one duplex outlet. Any finished wall in a basement must fully wired. (Unfinished defined as wall not being finished to a height of 17.7 inches above floor.)

Washing machine should be on its own circuit and is in addition to minimum plug requirements.  These outlets are not required to be GFCI protected as long as they are kept no more than 23.6 inches above the floor and are located behind washing machine.

BATHROOM RECEPTACLES 

Bathroom with a wash basin must have a receptacle installed within 39 inches of one of the wash basins and it must be GFCI protected. All receptacles must be at least 39 inches from bathtub or stall shower. Rule 26-710(g) does allow minimum distance of 39 inches to be reduced to 19.7 in bathrooms that are very small and distance of 39 inches is not possible.

REQUIRED  RECEPTACLES  

Receptacles are required in every bathroom that has a basin; every enclosed balcony or porch; every kitchen for each refrigerator, behind every area for free-standing gas range; built in microwave ovens; one T-slot outlet for every fixed island counter space in kitchen; any eating area in kitchen must have electrical outlet. Garages are required to have one duplex outlet for every vehicle parking spot and be on a separate circuit with only lighting for garage being added.

POLARIZATION OF RECETACLES

This is by far the most common defect found during the home inspection. Each outlet has a brass and chrome plated terminal screw.  The hot wire always goes to the brass wire with the neutral going to the chrome plated terminal screw.  This is usually a quick fix which should only be performed by a qualified electrician, which involves just changing the wires around. Polarity tester finds these problems quickly and identifies which wiring is incorrect without removing covers.

SERVICE BOXES 

Any box used for service equipment must be marked with CSA or other Certification Agency’s label with the wording “suitable for use as service equipment” or similar wording.

JOINTS AND SPLICES

In branch circuit wiring all joints and splices can usually be made in outlet boxes, junction boxes so that junction boxes are rarely used. Junction boxes and other fittings with removable covers may not be buried in the walls or ceilings, these boxes and fittings must be set like any outlet box and remain accessible after the finish material is in place.

These are some of the common problems that are encountered by the Barrie Home Inspector, Roger Frost, during normal residential inspections. If you have any questions regarding any of these deficiencies, or want clarification on more technical issues, feel free to contact the Barrie Home Inspector at 705-795-8255 or barriehomeinspector@sympatico.ca

There are different types of air conditioners that can be used in your home. We will be discussing the split system central air conditioner typically found in residential homes. Air conditions are one of the most expensive mechanical systems in your home and have a relatively short life span. According to the Carson Dunlop training manual there are some limitations to inspecting your central air conditioning system, which are; you shouldn’t test an air conditioner when the ambient air is below 65 degrees F or has been below 65 degrees in the past 24 hours, don’t test if the power has been off for at least 12 to 24 hours because compressor could seize, most parts of air conditioner are not visible without removing plates etc which is beyond the scope of a home inspection and the interior cooling coil is normally not visible for inspection. Central air conditioners operate by using Freon gas between two coils. Cool liquid in the cooling coil contacts warm air of your house and attracts the heat as it boils off from liquid to a gas. The gas is then compress by the compressor to increase temperature from approximately 170 to 230 degrees F which then allows the cooler outdoor air to absorb heat from gas when it is moved through the outdoor coil. This liquid, which has been cooled down to approximately 95 to 110 degrees F, is then restricted by passing through a capillary tube or thermostatic expansion valve which brings temperature back down and then cycle is repeated over and over, cooling down your home in the process. Another function of the air conditioner unit is to dehumidify the air. This function is performed as air passes over the evaporator coil, cooling air to past the dew point, which converts moisture in the air into condensation. This water is collected in a pan and then drains through condensate line to drain etc. A properly functioning air condition will drop the ambient air by 15 to 20 degrees F. This will seem much cooler because of the dehumidifying of the homes air. Some air conditioners have a block heater or sump heater that warms the oil and release the gas from the lubricant. This can take from 12 to 24 hours, which is why you cannot just power up a central air condition unit and test right away. I recently came across a situation where a real estate lady, who was representing both buyer and seller, apparently told buyers not to worry because the air conditioner was in working condition. I had told the clients that I was unable to test unit because ambient temperature was below zero at time of inspection. Imagine the homebuyer surprise when they moved in and the air conditioner was not working. Checking with the agent, they were informed that it was disclosed that air conditioner was working in uneven manner. They maintain that on their final walk through the agent, who represented both buyer and seller, reassured them that the air condition was working. Their A/C tech, who inspected unit for them, informed them that the unit had not been working for up to two years. Now the real estate agent states that she never makes any statements about condition of anything unless in writing. This has left a bad impression on these particular homeowners, who do not feel that she represented their interests. It is so important to get those small details in writing, especially when your agent was originally representing the seller. Air condition compressors come in five different types, which are: reciprocating (piston), scroll, rotary, centrifugal and screw. Residential compressors are normally piston, rotary or scroll types. Most air conditioners have a 5 minute delay built in to prevent starting unit when high-pressure gas is still in system. These types of air condition usually start up with gas being equal on each side of system. Failing to wait can cause damage to compressor. This is also true for your fridges or freezers, you should always wait 5 minutes before plugging them back in. The compressor is the guts of the air conditioner and is usually the place where most problems occur. Here are some common problems that are encountered with compressors; Excess noise or vibration, Short cycling, Out of level, Excessive current draw, Wrong breaker size, Wiring too small, Missing electrical shut off, Inadequate cooling. The life expectancy of an air conditioner can depends on where you live and your climate. They can last as little as 8 to 10 years in hot climates to as long as 15 to 20 years in Northern climates. Many older air conditioners may have had their compressors replaced, which would extend their life span considerably. Tips Read your contract carefully before signing it so that you understand the rights and obligations of all parties. Never rely on a verbal agreement–agreements must be in writing to be valid. Don’t locate your air conditioner in direct sunlight-particularly on the south side of your home where it will be forced to work much harder to do its job. Indoor unit coils should be cleaned periodically with a vacuum cleaner or brush. The outdoor coils should be kept free of grass, leaves, shrubbery and other obstructions. Check your owner’s manuals for information about proper start-up and operation of their equipment. Also, make sure that registers and vents are not restricted or blocked by furniture, carpets, rugs or curtains. Brought to you by the Barrie House Inspector

Barrie Home Inspector