'Time to think ahead'
In October and November we go to the polls for Provincial and Local elections, a time to reflect on what our political leaders have done and to consider what we want for the next four years. It may mean we step up and run if that鈥檚 our wish or find the right candidate to lead us. Finally, we come out to cast our ballot. We are privileged to live in a democracy where the citizens choose their governments; we have the freedom and the right to vote as we choose; we have a duty and responsibility to vote and then to support our elected representatives.
Let鈥檚 not wait until two weeks before, or worse yet, the day before, we make our choice. Now is the time to think ahead to the elections that are coming. Part of thinking ahead is to review what has been done until now. I cannot cover everything in this one article. If you are pleased with what our elected representatives have done, you should be telling them so. If there are shortcomings, they need to know. This article will be directed to local affairs.
Almost everyone has seen a substantial tax increase since the last election. To be honest I saw it coming. Past councils have been reluctant to ask the taxpayers for more, even when it meant putting off major projects. Our Town was slipping backwards and needed more fiscal capacity. We need to ask where that extra money has gone. We still don鈥檛 have the promised new fire hall, our streets continue to deteriorate and a portion of the highway through Town was supposed to be paved.
Our elected representatives need to be more open in their decisions, allowing the citizens to see major decisions before they happen. Three events happened without any prior and meaningful consultation with the public - the termination of our celebrated, made in Outlook recycling program, the ending of a model approach of cooperative sharing of a municipal office, administrator and staff (the envy of many local governments around the province), and the closing of the Outlook Airport without indicating a replacement. Should we be happy with these choices? It鈥檚 hard when so much are done deals.
Where did the concept of 鈥渂uy and support local鈥� go? Three local men were left without jobs and a local business ended by signing on with Loraas. Our money is going outside our community. How much extra waste is being directed towards our landfill as a result? Some is because Loraas doesn鈥檛 accept all that our program did. Should we be sending our waste elsewhere? Shouldn鈥檛 that be our responsibility? The street sweeping went to an outside firm. Can鈥檛 we maintain our equipment? More money leaving Outlook.
Start thinking ahead. Ask questions. If you鈥檙e not satisfied with the answers, keeping asking. We live in Canada and have the right to be informed.
Tony Peter
Outlook, SK
