I have followed politics ever since I moved to Pickering in 1971, just graduated from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute as a Public Health Inspector, and just married in 1970, with our baby daughter Paula. Working for the City of Scarborough, I was very involved in politics. As a Supervisor I wrote replies to Councillors inquiries regarding health related issues. I also served as the CUPE local V.P., and Chair of the Occupational Health & Safety committee.
My first involvement in Pickering was as Chair of the Parent-Teacher Association at Fairport Public School attended by both our children. Lookout Point was being developed and young families were moving in and wanted a PTA voice in the public school. I decided to run for Ward 1 Local Councillor in 1977 along with Violet Swan, a former Reeve, and Laurie Cahill. Mr.Cahill was elected.
My next run at office was in 1994, for Ward 1 Local Councillor along with David Ryan. Mr.Ryan was elected and subsequently went on to become Mayor in 2003-2022. In 2003 I decided to run for Ward 1 Regional Councillor against the incumbent Maurice Brenner. I received 1953 votes out of 21,604 eligible voters. Mr.Brenner was reelected with over 4000 votes.
My last run for office was in 2006, for Ward 1 Local Councillor, along with Kevin Ashe, and Jennifer O’Connell. Ms. O’Connell was elected, and subsequently went on to serve as our M.P. for Pickering-Uxbridge.
I decided to keep serving my community of Fairport Beach as the President of Fairport Beach Neighbourhood Association, (Incorporated in 1949) from 1989-2025. Throughout all those years I have worked with every politician who was elected in Pickering, and served on several committees of Council. Two terms(6 years) on the Committee of Adjustments with Rick Johnson, Mark Holland, and Kevin Ashe. Sherry Sennis was Ward 2 Councillor, and we collaborated with Janet Eker- provincial Minister, and Dan McTeague- M.P., to repatriate a young lady back to Pickering, who was in a rehab hospital in Pennsylvania. I mention these names because to get things done you have to work collaboratively and gain consensus on important issues. That’s how a City moves forward. Throughout the decades we could always count on Maurice Brenner to help out with local issues and regional issues. In 2004, Maurice and Bill McLean co-chaired the Red Cross Relief Fund for the Indonesian Tsunami. Our community Association donated $10,000. Fast forward to 2022 and the Municipal elections. Fairport Beach Neighbourhood Association(FBNA) and Pickering West Shore Community Association(PWSCA) were the only groups to hold an “all candidates debate” at the Pickering Recreation Centre for Local, Regional, and Mayoral positions; there were 8 candidates for Local Councillor. Lisa Robinson was elected with 1634(22%) votes out of 24,137 eligible voters. She had previously run twice for this position.
Here’s where I have an issue with her track record to date. Besides her underwhelming number of voters who put her in office. – In 2023 one of the first meetings held by Council for the Civic Awards presentation to worthy citizens doing commendable work in Pickering; FBNA had 2 award recipients; the Mayor and five Councillors were in attendance; where was our newly elected Ward 1 Councillor? She turned up on the late newscast in Whitby at the Durham Region School Board Headquarters with a bullhorn in hand leading a disparate band of agitators. Why was she meddling in school Trustee issues? The trustees are also elected to office.
Prior to this happening I had reached out to Lisa on several occasions to invite her to meet, so I could bring her up to date on many issues pertaining to the waterfront trail, and what has been accomplished to date working with both our Local Councillor, Maurice Brenner, and our Regional Councillor, Kevin Ashe. She never followed up. I also delegated before Council with these facts.
She has brought ridicule and dispersion to our City with her antics within and outside the Council chambers with the many news reports in the newspapers and tv channels that serve the GTA and Province; I still get inquiries from friends all over the Province asking me about her and what is driving her agenda?
She has not only been censured by the Integrity Commissioner by holding back her pay, but has defaulted serving ALL the citizens of Ward 1 for the better part of half her term in office.
In her election brochure she promised to hold “Town Hall” meetings for Ward 1; initially she was at meetings hosted by Maurice Brenner; when she held her own “Town Hall” meeting at the George Ashe library it turned into a fiasco with yelling and shouting.
In my short 55 years living in Ward 1, I have never experienced anyone, let alone an elected official, bring so much animosity and confusion to the office of Councillor. She will not be getting my vote next year.
Paul White
POSTS somewhat related to the above post...
OPINION: Long time Pickering resident comments on Lisa Robinson
My first involvement in Pickering was as Chair of the Parent-Teacher Association at Fairport Public School attended by both our children. Lookout Point was being developed and young families were moving in and wanted a PTA voice in the public school. I decided to run for Ward 1 Local Councillor in 1977 along with Violet Swan, a former Reeve, and Laurie Cahill. Mr.Cahill was elected.
My next run at office was in 1994, for Ward 1 Local Councillor along with David Ryan. Mr.Ryan was elected and subsequently went on to become Mayor in 2003-2022. In 2003 I decided to run for Ward 1 Regional Councillor against the incumbent Maurice Brenner. I received 1953 votes out of 21,604 eligible voters. Mr.Brenner was reelected with over 4000 votes.
My last run for office was in 2006, for Ward 1 Local Councillor, along with Kevin Ashe, and Jennifer O’Connell. Ms. O’Connell was elected, and subsequently went on to serve as our M.P. for Pickering-Uxbridge.
I decided to keep serving my community of Fairport Beach as the President of Fairport Beach Neighbourhood Association, (Incorporated in 1949) from 1989-2025. Throughout all those years I have worked with every politician who was elected in Pickering, and served on several committees of Council. Two terms(6 years) on the Committee of Adjustments with Rick Johnson, Mark Holland, and Kevin Ashe. Sherry Sennis was Ward 2 Councillor, and we collaborated with Janet Eker- provincial Minister, and Dan McTeague- M.P., to repatriate a young lady back to Pickering, who was in a rehab hospital in Pennsylvania. I mention these names because to get things done you have to work collaboratively and gain consensus on important issues. That’s how a City moves forward. Throughout the decades we could always count on Maurice Brenner to help out with local issues and regional issues. In 2004, Maurice and Bill McLean co-chaired the Red Cross Relief Fund for the Indonesian Tsunami. Our community Association donated $10,000. Fast forward to 2022 and the Municipal elections. Fairport Beach Neighbourhood Association(FBNA) and Pickering West Shore Community Association(PWSCA) were the only groups to hold an “all candidates debate” at the Pickering Recreation Centre for Local, Regional, and Mayoral positions; there were 8 candidates for Local Councillor. Lisa Robinson was elected with 1634(22%) votes out of 24,137 eligible voters. She had previously run twice for this position.
Here’s where I have an issue with her track record to date. Besides her underwhelming number of voters who put her in office. – In 2023 one of the first meetings held by Council for the Civic Awards presentation to worthy citizens doing commendable work in Pickering; FBNA had 2 award recipients; the Mayor and five Councillors were in attendance; where was our newly elected Ward 1 Councillor? She turned up on the late newscast in Whitby at the Durham Region School Board Headquarters with a bullhorn in hand leading a disparate band of agitators. Why was she meddling in school Trustee issues? The trustees are also elected to office.
Prior to this happening I had reached out to Lisa on several occasions to invite her to meet, so I could bring her up to date on many issues pertaining to the waterfront trail, and what has been accomplished to date working with both our Local Councillor, Maurice Brenner, and our Regional Councillor, Kevin Ashe. She never followed up. I also delegated before Council with these facts.
She has brought ridicule and dispersion to our City with her antics within and outside the Council chambers with the many news reports in the newspapers and tv channels that serve the GTA and Province; I still get inquiries from friends all over the Province asking me about her and what is driving her agenda?
She has not only been censured by the Integrity Commissioner by holding back her pay, but has defaulted serving ALL the citizens of Ward 1 for the better part of half her term in office.
In her election brochure she promised to hold “Town Hall” meetings for Ward 1; initially she was at meetings hosted by Maurice Brenner; when she held her own “Town Hall” meeting at the George Ashe library it turned into a fiasco with yelling and shouting.
In my short 55 years living in Ward 1, I have never experienced anyone, let alone an elected official, bring so much animosity and confusion to the office of Councillor. She will not be getting my vote next year.
Paul White
POSTS somewhat related to the above post...