MFIPPA Correspondence Request Item 1

Correspondence Request Item 1 From: Jennifer Allan To: Kim Bressan Subject: FW: Ontario Philharmonic " official correspondence " Date: Wednesday, February 06, 2013 8:14:45 AM -----Original Message---- From: Bill Steele Sec. 14(1) MFIPPA Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2013 5:45 AM To: John Henry Cc: John Aker; Roger Bouma; Bob Chapman; Nancy Diamond; Amy England; Tito- Dante Marimpietri; John Neal; Nester Pidwerbecki; Doug Sanders; Bruce Wood; Lindsay Cole; clerks; The Star Kennedy; Toronto Star; Bob Duignan; Barb Parrott Subject: Ontario Philharmonic ' official correspondence ' Dear Mayor Henry. I am (again) asking that Oshawa's tax dollars do NOT go to the Ontario Philharmonic based in Oshawa. First of all, year after year, city staff does not recommend that any "grants" or funds be handed over to the Ontario Philharmonic because they do not qualify for any money because they indeed receive TENS OF THOUSANDS of dollars from other levels of government. This has always been a policy of the City of Oshawa, but this council as a WHOLE has gone against staff recommendation, and gifted the Ontario Philharmonic tens of thousands of dollar year after year. Why ? The Ontario Philharmonic, based in Oshawa is NOT a physical group of musicians. It is 3 or 4 paid people who arrange guest musicians to perform at 2 or 3 events per year in rented facilities. The Ontario Philharmonic basically acts as a non profit "booking agency", and a VERY expensive one at that. I see very little cultural value the Ontario Philharmonic adds to the City of Oshawa. The events are expensive, poorly attended, provide minimum pay scales for musicians, and events are staffed by volunteers. I do hit see this expanding, or contributing to what makes this City a great place. So where do we see this registered Charity show "cultural experiences" for over half a Million to almost one Million dollars in revenue per year ? This charity give a grand total of ZERO dollars to any charity (as filed with revenue Canada), it provides 3 or 4 part time "jobs" in a rented office (office rent - $50,000 a year - revenue Canada filing) it has listed over $200,000 in "management" fees. (Again, listed with revenue Canada). They receive MORE than enough funding from other levels of government to continue on. They DON'T need my tax money. Mayor Henry, you have taken it upon yourself to lend the "City of Oshawa's" good name as endorsement with an annual "Mayor's Fundraising Gala" that adds an "additional" tens of thousands of dollars for the Ontario Philharmonic. $80,000.00 annually if I remember correctly ? It's also been reported as a Municipal Contribution with Revenue Canada. This has been in addition to our yearly large financial contribution . The Ontario Ph ilharmonic has received more than one complaint about its financial operations, and expenditures in regard to its Charity Status, and staff payments, and poorly described "management fees" approaching hundreds of thousands of dollars. I am again asking staff, all of council, and our Mayor to follow our own City Pol icies and reject any funding requests for the Ontario Philharmonic. I look forward to any questions or additional information you may need. I can provide Revenue Canada documents to back up any statements I have made. I may be contacted via email or phone. Thank you. Bill Steele · ec. 14(1) MFIPP..Al Serving- Oshawa ON, Toronto ON , Pictou NS, Teeswater ON , and Bruce County ON . Confidentiality Warning : As regulated by the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, S.C.2000 C5, this message and any attachments are intended only for the use of the intended recipient(s), are confidential , and may be privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, retransmission, conversion to hard copy, copying, circulation or other use of this message and any attachments is strictly prohibited . If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately by return e-mail, and delete this message and any attachments from your system. Thank you . Correspondence Request Item 1.

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