In the News

May 14, 2012 - Councillor Mike Cluett discusses cell tower application with CHCH News.

April 20, 2012 – Hospital Funding in Jeopardy Health Minister Says - The Hamilton Spectator

Milton’s Ward 6 Councillor Mike Cluett got one of the Liberal party calls Tuesday night and his wife answered it.

“She was upset,” Cluett said. “I think it’s time for the games to stop.

We were told when the hospital expansion was approved days before the election campaign that everything was costed, all the i’s have been dotted and the t’s crossed and it’s been through the Treasury Board, it’s a go. Now all of a sudden, it might not be. Something doesn’t smell right.”

March 27, 2012 – Ontario Budget Wont Affect Milton District Hospital – Milton Canadian Champion

Speaking to the Champion from Queen’s Park, Councillor Mike Cluett was happy to confirm that MDH is not one of the four hospital projects that have been cancelled in Ontario’s 2012 budget.  

“Halton Healthcare Services is working on a plan for the expansion and has never stopped with the planning from what we’ve heard,” said Cluett (who attended the budget presentation) 

Cluett said the (Grow Milton Hospital campaign) will continue to advocate for the expansion until construction is complete – which was previously estimated for 2015 or 2016. “I give credit to the people of Milton for speaking their mind and letting the government know that we’re not backing down.”

March 22, 2012 – Here’s What Your Councillor Earns – Milton Canadian Champion

He put the taxpayers’ money where his mouth is.  Councillor Mike Cluett, a critic of council’s yearly wage adjustments, chose not to accept a two per cent salary increase that was approved in the 2011 budget.  Financial documents released this week show the Ward 6 Councillor earned a base salary of $26,495 last year, while his council counterparts took in $26,751.

March 20, 2012 - Proposed Cell Tower Causes Controversy - Milton Canadian Champion

Ward 6 Councillor Mike Cluett posted information about the cell tower proposal on his website last week in hopes of getting as much information out prior to an April 12 public meeting.  “This is like a fluoride battle. There’s so much information on either side, whether it’s positive or negative. It’s not easy to get a clear picture,” he said.  Cluett said town council can comment on the tower, but ultimately approval is up to the federal government.

January 24, 2012 – Have Your Say On Velodrome – Milton Canadian Champion Editorial

“While the deadline for input to the Town on the indoor cycling facility ended Wednesday, an open house has been organized by councillors Colin Best and Mike Cluett this Thursday at the Milton Sports Centre.”

December 15, 2011 – Infrastructure Motion Voted Down By Councillors – Milton Canadian Champion

“This is too serious of an issue to address in a knee jerk reaction,” said Councillor Mike Cluett. “We should address staff for a forecast on what needs to be done. Tax increases should be the last resort not the first course of action.”

November 17, 2011 – Citizen Based Compensation Committee Could Be Formed - Milton Canadian Champion

“Ward 6 Councillor Mike Cluett, who in the past has criticized council’s yearly raises, said it’s important Miltonians understand it’s residents, not councillors, who would determine how well council should be compensated through the review process.

“I don’t think there’s a prevailing feeling in the public that we’re overpaid…but I think we should take the citizens’ committee recommendation seriously, but remembering that it is an advisory committee and we can accept whatever the pay increase may be, we can take it back or we can try to defer it to a future date of council. That’s something we might want to consider.”

October 19, 2011 – Want a Velodrome? CHCH NEWS Hamilton

June 23, 2011 – Taxes Could Rise by 4% – Milton Canadian Champion

“The hospital tax levy was a pretty contentious issue,” said Ward 5 Councillor Mike Cluett.  He was one of five councillors who voted against the levy, which narrowly passed by a 6-5 vote in January.

June 2nd, 2011 - Sponsorship to be sought for walking piano stairs – Milton Canadian Champion

“(Councillor Mike Cluett) voted against exploring the feature as they believe down the road taxpayer money will be used to maintain the attraction.”  - Voting in favour were Mayor Krantz, Clr’s Arnold Huffman (originally moved the motion who felt that this would be”the cherry on top of the sundae), Cindy Lunau, Zeeshan Hamid, Tony Lambert, Sharon Barkley & Colin Best.

 

April 19, 2011 - Citizens Rally for Milton Hospital Expansion – Milton Canadian Champion

“Well we’d rather go down swinging than not do anything at all. We want to let the provincial government know that it starts with them. Give us the go ahead, and we’ll figure the rest out. (said Cluett)”

 

April 5, 2011 - Milton’s Municipal Election Campaign Expenses Filed – Milton Canadian Champion

“Ward 6 Councillor Mile Cluett ran the leanest campaign, totaling $2,577 in campaign costs and won 1,216 votes. His opponent Maqsood Soomro spent slightly more at $3,011 and won a significantly less 329 votes.”

 

February 24, 2011 - New Milton Councillors Get How To Training Course - Halton Compass (Ann Kornuta) 

“The training we got with the Town staff and this course will give us a better understanding of how we direct and get answers from staff and get those answers back to the people.” (…)

February 10, 2011 - Town Approves MDH Tax Levy ( page one / page two ) - Halton Compass (Stuart Service) 

“The previous council made a motion (in June) that they were going to engage the public,” Cluett said.  “Thats not happening with this.  We’re telling you what we’re doing and then we’re going to try and explain it afterwards.  To me, that’s not engaging the public.”

January 27, 2011 - Town Budget Barely Passes - Milton Canadian Champion

“Voting against the budget were Krantz and councillors Tony Lambert, Greg Nelson, Rick Malboeuf and Mike Cluett. Voting for the budget were councillors Colin Best, Sharon Barkley, Cindy Lunau, Arnold Huffman, Rick Di Lorenzo and Zeeshan Hamid.“  (…)

January 20, 2011 – Ontario Premier Twitters With Miltonians – Halton Compass (Stuart Service)

“There was some political talk there because (Ward 6 Milton Councillor Mike Cluett) was there.  Its his first term so he was talking about with him (McGuinty) the joys of being a new councillor.” (…)

January 20, 2011 - Hospital Levy Increases Tax Hike by 1%  - Milton Canadian Champion

“Where I have some difficulty is the fact mere months after being elected — and after many of us around this table talked about accountability with regards to the voters — I have a very difficult time accepting a 1 per cent tax levy with very little, if not any, public consultation,” said Cluett.” (…)

January 18, 2011 - McGuinty Attends Tweetup - Milton Canadian Champion

“Even just getting the Premier of Ontario to say the words “Milton Hospital expansion” is great! (Cluett said)” (…)

December 23, 2010 - Municipal Taxes Could Double By 2021: Report - Milton Canadian Champion

“There are a lot of other options we have available, like possibly looking at delaying the opening of these facilities (Milton Centre for the Arts / Central Library) to hold back on some of the potential increase in taxes.” (…)

December 23, 2010 - Milton Home Bursts Into Flames Near School – Halton Compass Page 1, Page 2

“Ward 6 Milton Councillor Mike Cluett was one of the first witnesses of the blaze, keeping his Twitter feed updated throughout December 15th to keep local residents informed.” (…)

December 16, 2010 - Fire Victims Thankful for Donations, but decline - Milton Canadian Champion

“People want to give so the family doesn’t have to go without. I even have people from Oakville looking to donate,” (Cluett) said.” (…)

December 9, 2010 - Towns Financial Strength Priority - Milton Canadian Champion

“We need to sharpen our pencils and look hard at our priorities and ensure were getting value for our tax dollar.” (…)

November 18, 2010 - Miltonians Growing Mustaches In Fundraising Craze - Milton Canadian Champion

“Councillor-elect Mike Cluett has also added pictures and profiles of other Movember participants.” (…)

October 26, 2010  – Landslide Victory for Cluett - Milton Canadian Champion

“Mike Cluett has become the new councillor for Ward 6 following a landslide victory.” (…)

October 12, 2010  – Fate of Bruce Street Library Big Issue At Meeting – Milton Canadian Champion

“Ward 6 candidate Mike Cluett earned some applause from the audience saying “Milton Town Council will have the loudest voice at Queen’s Park for the hospital expansion!” (…)

August 18, 2010  – Oshawa, Milton take hard look at taking in Tabbies - The Toronto Sun

“We need to keep the team here in Southern Ontario,” Cluett said, adding the new team would be connected by highways linking Hamilton, Toronto and Kitchener-Waterloo. (…)

August 17, 2010  – Milton Shows Interest In TigerCats – Milton Canadian Champion

Days after Tiger-Cats owner Bob Young announced the team is at risk of leaving Hamilton, Mayor Gord Krantz has expressed interest in bringing the team to Milton. (…)

August 12, 2010  – Election Candidates Take to Cyber World - Milton Canadian Champion

Ward 6 candidate Mike Cluett began blogging about Milton issues in 2006 when he was running for a position as Ward 1 councillor, which he lost by 93 votes. He admitted that online, people seem to be less hesitant with their criticism.

“I want to hear the good and I want to hear the bad,” said Cluett of his online feedback. “That makes it a discussion…The negative feedback is good. Sometimes you can change people’s opinions by giving them a little more information.” (…)

August 12, 2010  – Milton Has Eye For The Tiger Cats - Hamilton Spectator

Ward 6 Candidate for Milton Town Council … (Mike) Cluett said he wants the team to stay in Hamilton but if the Cats and city can’t come to terms on a stadium, Milton has the highway access and parking opportunity the football club says it needs for long-term surivival. (…)

July 22, 2010  – Showing support for the Oakville / Milton Humane Society – Halton Compass

On Saturday Halton MP Lisa Raitt held a chairty BBQ in support of the Oakville & Milton Humane Society and Ward 6 Council Candidate Mike Cluett with others showed their support (…)
 

July 2, 2010  – Town to help fund future hospital expansion – Milton Canadian Champion

And Ward 6 councillor candidate Mike Cluett said all municipalities should be urged to pressure the Province to allow development charges to fund hospitals. (…)

February 4, 2010 – Cluett takes second run at council - Halton Compass

Mike Cluett is hoping the second time’s a charm as he runs for Milton council again.  Even though he lost the first time, he found he can still make a difference (…)

January 21, 2010 – Cluett to try once more in Ward 6 – Milton Canadian Champion

A Milton man who came close to securing a seat on council in the last municipal election is hoping the second time’s a charm.  Mike Cluett, who was only 93 votes shy of unseating long-time Councillor Brian Penman in 2006, has filed to run for councillor in the newly-created Ward 6 this fall (…)

June 26, 2009 – “Pay increase tough to swallow” – Milton Canadian Champion

Most municipalities, like Milton, use citizen advisory committees to come up with what their increases should be. But, in the case of the councillors, the pay increase should also take effect when the next council sits.(…)

August 8, 2008 – “Towns potential 10% tax increase simply too high” – Milton Canadian Champion

The Town seems to be throwing money around with no long-term vision. Anyone who has ever talked with a financial advisor knows that you have to keep an eye to the future and the impacts of the decisions you make now. It doesn’t seem like that thought is on the Town’s radar whatsoever. (…)

November 9, 2007 – “Intersection dangerous: Residents” – Milton Canadian Champion

“…local resident Mike Cluett — who has been a strong advocate for local road safety — thinks something needs to be done to rectify the situation at Yates Drive and March Crossing.  He said he’s heard from residents in the area who either want a four-way stop at the intersection or even speed bumps. “There are a number of options we’d like to look at,” he remarked. “(I support) anything that will make it safer for kids.” (…)

November 7, 2007 – “Intersection at Yates and March (Crossing) remains a major safety concern” – Milton Canadian Champion

“The speed limit on Yates is 50 km/h. During last fall’s election campaign, I spoke with many people about community safety and what we as citizens could do to make our streets safer. Many of you favoured reducing the speed limit on streets.  Would a 40km/h speed limit have saved this homeowner from yet another insurance claim and time away from their life to repair the damage to their home that someone else caused?” (…)

July 17, 2007 – “Councillors’ pay increases should not be approved in the current term” - Milton Canadian Champion

Councillors should not be able to vote themselves a pay increase. They do vote on all budget matters, but this current council should not benefit from this decision. When it comes to pay increases, we should have these decisions made effective the date the next council is elected. (…)

June 20, 2006 – “All way stop sign near park likely to remain” – Milton Canadian Champion

“However, Yates Drive resident Mike Cluett argued that the high volume of children crossing the road means the stop signs need to stay in place.” … “

“During the spring and summer months, the amount of pedestrian traffic increases throughout the day and the removal of these stop signs can pose a risk to the people, mainly children, who use that park,” he told the committee. “The removal of the stop signs can impose a risk and confusion for children who have now been accustomed to these safety rules that they have learned.” … “Cluett, in conjunction with the residents in the area of Barclay Circle and March Crossing, requested that the stop signs remain installed.” (…)