Council’s boycott decision looks better now
By Letter to the Editor on June 4, 2019.
Some people poo-pooed Medicine Hat City Council’s stand for not attending the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Well lo and behold, look what transpired at the conference. Other Alberta attendees hoped to win over those leaders in Eastern Canada who have ignored or rejected Alberta’s pleas for help. However, a panel discussion on energy was scheduled for Sunday at 7 a.m. Anybody at 7 a.m. Sunday wanting to talk energy? Not likely! Worse still, a resolution to have federal support for the energy industry was not allowed to be formally debated on the Conference floor – period! Alberta’s concerns do not rate high enough to even get a listen on the national stage. To those who say the Medicine Hat boycott was wrong, I say “there is none so blind as he who will not see.” Further, I think it is totally unnecessary that all councillors, plus the mayor, attend each of these perk conferences at a time of austerity when council is raising residential taxes 20% over the next four years. One conference for each councillor per four-year term with attendees reporting back to council as a whole is sufficient. John MacLaren Medicine Hat 7-6
I agree 100% John, quebec has no problem with an open hand grabbing our hard earned cash in transfer payments. That is the only hand Alberta will get from them. Well played City Councillors.