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North Gower journalist's
newspaper dedicated to anti-amalgamation fight
By DEREK
PUDDICOMBE,
Ottawa Sun
THE VOICE for
a provincewide grassroots movement to fight amalgamation got
louder this month. North Gower author and journalist Doug Clark,
fed up with how Ottawa's rural residents have been treated since
they were amalgamated in 2000, has launched a newspaper aimed at
like-minded Ontarians.
"It gives a
lot of people who are angry and frustrated a way to fight back,"
said Clark. "It's purely grassroots."
He and others
grew increasingly frustrated over the past few years with some
of Ottawa's mainstream media who were suggesting how lucky rural
residents have been since amalgamating with their urban
neighbours.
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"This is not
just an issue in the small towns or the countryside.
Everyone
admits that amalgamation screwed people in Nepean and Kanata
worse than it did us. I hope to tell them how."
-Doug Clark, Editor, Free Press Advocate
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NO AGENDA
But if the
genesis of the newspaper was politically motivated, Clark says
it has no agenda other than telling readers what's really
happening.
"We aren't
right wing and we aren't left wing," he said. "We aren't out to
'get anyone.' I'm out to get information."
Clark's
initial plan was to launch in rural Ottawa.
But after a
visit to Fergus, north of Guelph, almost two years ago, he
realized that people in that amalgamated municipality were
talking about the same issues Ottawa residents were frustrated
with -- higher taxes and decreased services -- and critically
analyzing the benefits of amalgamation.
When word
quickly spread about the North Gower writer's idea via a network
of activist community groups, his phone began to ring. And it
didn't stop.
Those on the
other end were promising cheques to finance his venture, while
others called to offer their moral support.
"I got calls
from Chatham, Flamborough and Kawartha Lakes, all telling me I
had to do this provincewide," said Clark.
40,000 COPIES
So with some
private financial support and money coming in from community
associations, Clark launched the Free Press Advocate on Sept.
10, shipping 40,000 copies across Ontario.
"For once, we
are all on the same page," said Clark.
"They have one
source of information that's telling them what others aren't
reporting."
Clark hopes to
start publishing his paper twice a month in the new year,
supported by subscribers, advertisers and "a few good friends."
He wants to
expand into the suburbs and the cities, insisting that what
affects rural residents will also impact them.
"This is not
just an issue in the small towns or the countryside," he said.
"Everyone
admits that amalgamation screwed people in Nepean and Kanata
worse than it did us. I hope to tell them how."
derek.puddicombe@ott.sunpub.com |
