On Sunday, June 7 many Monitor readers will be greatly inconvenienced by Le Tour de l’Ile de Montreal, a cycling event which last year cost Island of Montreal taxpayers over $600,000 to stage.
Fortunately, Cote St. Luc, Hampstead, DDO, Laval, Kirkland and Dorval will not allow the event through because of its not cooperating with charity, expense and inconvenience. Nonetheless, those in Hampstead, Cote St. Luc, NDG, Westmount, Cote des Neiges, Snowdon and other areas, plus those going to those areas, will face long delays.
As many Monitor readers are likely aware, the event refuses to cooperate with charity, as do thousands of similar events throughout the world.
I welcome everyone who has ever been inconvenienced by the event, and who will be inconvenienced on June 7, to send an email to Mayor Gerald Tremblay Maire@ville.montreal.qc.ca and encourage him to deny the streets of Montreal to Le Tour de l’Ile de Montreal in the future, unless the 45,000 participants of Velo QC events are invited to raise funds for charities. Copying the complaint to PHowe@velo.qc.ca will inform Velo QC of the feelings of Montreal’s residents.
Quebec is by far the worst place for both charitable giving and volunteerism north of the Rio Grande. The median annual receipted charitable contribution of tax filers in QC is $130. For the four provinces with less disposable income than ours, the median ranges from $300-$360.
In my personal opinion it is long overdue, that the people of Quebec shouldered their portion of the burden, for medical research and other worthwhile pursuits.
<@Rb>Murray Levine
Montreal
Murray's Blog http://murraymakingadifference.wordpress.com/
Inconvienced by the Tour de l'Ile? Then complain.
Inconvienced by the Tour de l'Ile? Then complain.
Dear Editor,
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- Murray Levine
- - July 4, 2011 at 10:21:52
At the June 27, 2011 CDN-NDG Borough Council meeting, Marvin Rotrand confirmed (at my request) that he will contact the NYC Marathon and Bike New York organizations regarding their experiences (good/bad) with having a charity option available to their participants. The NYC events raised about $32 million for charity in 2010 The NYC events have the same number of participants as the Montreal events, BUT in Montreal not even $32,000 was raised for worthy causes.
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- Ray Mannd
- - February 10, 2010 at 11:46:30
Has anyone done the math? I am not clear on what this costs. They have 45K participants, they charge $24 to $29 per adult (less if you buy a membership but that adds funds too). this is between $1M and 1.3M raised. The city gives $650K (Not sure if this includes overtime, etc) that brings us to $2M. They then have a few sponsors... They sell food and refreshments at the finish line. Not sure what number we are at but I am pretty sure we are well over $2.5M. Now none of this goes to charity? Wow! I have participated many times to this event. I would say most of the participants are already physically fit, most spectators (or those cheering us on ) should hop on their bikes... Of the 45K participants not sure many of them are in need of motivation to do healthy activity. It would be nice the municipality spend a little more money on making sure I can ride my bike safely (with my family) in my own neighborhood. I think that would go a longer way on making people in my neighborhood healthier (and safer). I am not knocking Velo Quebec, but it would be nice if nothing else they start a charity that works on helping the city improve its bike paths and road safety... My guess is they are considered a non-profit/charity to start with so the sponsors are getting a tax write off for their sponsorship, in short they are taking away money that could go to more note worthy charitable organizations. (i.e. that help more than 45K of already health people.)
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- Ian Robertson
- - February 10, 2010 at 11:46:29
I was at the CDN-NDG Council Meeting on Monday and heard Mr. Levine ask council to withdraw the $650,000 funding that Montreal gives to Le Tour de l'Ile. He asked Montreal to insist that Velo QC make it mandatory that helmets be worn in their events if they wanted the subsidy. The response of council was negative to a suggestion that makes a tremendous amount of sense.
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- Murray Levine
- - February 10, 2010 at 11:46:27
With regard to Rodney McGuigan's comments, my ideas now bring over $200 million/yr to charities. If Rodney were to do a search of the Transcontinental site he would see that I am essentially leading an effort to bring about $350 million/yr to Canada's health care system. Yesterday I gave an idea to the hospital foundation president that would bring $60,000/yr to his hospital, and that suggestion can help many Canadian hospitals to varying degrees. I am very comfortable that my contribution to humanity greatly exceeds that of the very closed minded Velo QC. As far as Mr. McGuigan's comments are concerned they are based on knowing absolutely nothing about me!
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- Rodney McGuigan
- - February 10, 2010 at 11:46:25
I fully support Velo quebec and the tour de l'ile, there is not a more public-spirited organization doing good in Montreal than Velo Quebec. Murray Levine should wish he had as much an impact to do good for the world as Velo Quebec does.
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- Murray Levine
- - June 22, 2010 at 10:51:39
Hmmm! Over 3,000 US triathlons are going to invite their participants to raise $$ for worthy causes as a result of my suggestion. I guess that Rodney is incorrect. :o)
Hmmm! Over 3,000 US triathlons are going to invite their participants to raise $$ for worthy causes as a result of my suggestion. I guess that Rodney is incorrect. :o)