Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Petition fails in the Crowsnest Pass

Well the results are in the petition to Municipal Affairs failed, 1150 valid signatures were required the Representative from the "Citizens to save the Crowsnest Pass" claimed they had 1201 signatures so somewhere between 51 or more signatures were determined to be invalid.

Will we ever know how many signatures for sure were thrown out? No the ministry only rules wether the petition was valid or invalid. So in theory there is somewhere between one and 1149 valid signatures on the petition, I'm sure either side of this debate will argue in the direction that works for them.

Some questions that were asked of myself regarding this petition, my answers are purely my opinion.

What started this petition? Some very vocal members of the public who disagree with the position of the majority of council.

Who was behind the petition? A group called the "Citizens to save the Crowsnest Pass"

If these people were so concerned why did they not run in the last election?
Maybe they did, or maybe they are laying the ground work for the next election

Did I believe that 20% of the taxpayers felt council was heading in the wrong direction?
No and obviously neither did the Minister of Municipal Affairs

Did I believe that some people felt they were misled into signing the petition? told that to clean up the river run mess, or to save the Blairmore arena they should sign the petition for example?
I have a tough time believing those statements that would be dishonest and misleading!

Should council be concerned about a large group of taxpayers signing a petition?
Of course we should, that is why the majority of council dealt with issues that were raised by the "Citizens to save the Crowsnest Pass" and many other taxpayers.

What issues were raised by this group that the majority of council as recognized?
Corporate review, taxes last year over 11% increase this year 3.8%. We preserved our reserves by not moving forward on the Coleman Shop and yes we should be building them. Services we had some minor reductions but the vast majority of our core services remain in tact.

Was I has a councilor concerned about a municipal review? not one bit the issue here in the Crowsnest Pass is not that democracy is not working, of course its working just not the way some people would like it to be.

The other reason I was not concerned about the review, prior to this petition being started the majority of council took the position that we should have a review of the municipality, that we need to determine where the strengths and weaknesses are.

The Minister's letter stated the following:
"However, I suggest that the municipality consider engaging a third party to conduct a review of the administrative and governance processes in place. The review presents an opportunity to evaluate the municipality's strengths and identify potentials for improvement."
Does that not sound like a corporate review?

Do I respect the opinions of the people that signed that petition? of course I do 99% of those people are good people but lets move forward now, lets recognize that some people are using the tools they have at hand to promote their future political ambitions.

Elections are a great part of the democratic process, I would encourage anybody that as the interest to step forward in October of 2010.

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

Reading the story on line about this tonight, do you ever notice with these people it is always somebody elses fault when they fail.
Maybe they will start a petition to overturn the decision from municipal affairs

Anonymous said...

I think we, the citizens of the Pass, are tires of the Syguteks poking their nose in everywhere.

Leave us alone, Gail and Lisa... you caused this and the Crowsnest Centre petitions to fail.

Anonymous said...

I see in the paper they blame the failure on everyone but themselves. It is time for them to realise that the Pass has had enough of them. They couldn`t even get 20% of the Pass to agree with them. The people of the Pass has spoken-did not want her as a Councilor-did not want her as Mayor-Voted against the Crowsnest Centre- Did not sign the petition. Enough is enough. The time has come for change.

Anonymous said...

I can smell the sinister work of the Dalai Lama on this one, all the forces of evil known to mankind came together to stop this petition.

Anonymous said...

Okay, that Dalai Lama one was genius. Finally some intellegent retorts in an area that is lacking. Now I will have to keep up on this mindless drivel that is "politics" in the Crowsnest Pass. Thanks for laugh and correct spelling!

Anonymous said...

It was a cold night in Edmonton, Minister Danyluk was fast asleep, all of a sudden he heard a voice and from nowhere came a old lady. She was praising the Minister for his work on the Crowsnest petition of 2008, it was a good petition people were not tricked we did not sign people up at volunteer suppers, minor hockey banquets, weddings those were all rumours, but it did not matter because the petition was good. Minister Danyluk woke up what a horrible dream, the woman even though she was full of praise he knew she could turn on him like a rabid dog, he indeed had been visted by the ghost of petitions past. So the Minister rolled over and fell by to sleep shortly he began to dream a much younger voice came to him, she was angry very angry, the courier was late with our delivery, there was fifty one names erased, our MLA let us down, it went on and on. Suddenly the minister could take it no more and awoke in a terrible sweat and panic he had been visted by the ghost of petitions present. Now the poor minister barely sleeps. When will the ghost of petitions future visit. Will she be full of praise or hate.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

Amen on the Sygutek bashing!!! Let tie them to a railway tie and run 'em outta town, just like the good ole days! Those two have caused more division and bad blood in our town... Sour grapes Syguteks.... And yes I am Anonymous because I don't wanna be bashed in their newspaper like so many others, my business is doing poorly enough!!

Anonymous said...

The fact of the poll is quite simply that most of the voting public of the Crowsnest Pass want the current council replaced with competent members. Todays society insists on fair taxes and leadership with direction, and this is something that both current and past memebers fail to exhibit.

Anonymous said...

I should think that the answer to your question could be answered by sitting down with a group or commitee designed to fix the problems of the CNP. However, that would also mean that councillors would also be entitled to payment for sitting on it. Seems they have a lot of bases covered whether they do good or bad in this town...

Anonymous said...

Good point, seems like all these groups that do essentially nothing are padding councillor's bank accounts with tax payers money, adding to the grief that starts petitions like the ones the Sygutek woman initiated. Interesting predicament with so many days left till the next election and so many declarations made and not held up... What ever happend to that deal where a bunch of these guys were going "bail off of council" if things did not return favorably? Ethics seem to be a little "sparce" in these here hills...
I know who you are, see you @ 1330 hrs at the hub.

Anonymous said...

Aren't you quite the sleuth... (that means "detective")
See you there!

Anonymous said...

Have you noticed that you can vote on these polls every day that you sign on? I voted 14 times on one here a few weeks back... I hope that nobody is taking them seriously and using them to sway public opinion.

Anonymous said...

Skirting the issues by offering up the job to anyone who is interested in fixing problems that the current council cannot, is not a positive approach.
Is that the politico answer for all things CNP? If you have concerns about something, than you run for office in a year and a half and try and fix it yourself?
When dealing with the word "Democracy" (as you have referred to several times in your posts), the voting public elects individuals into a position such as council to which a certain degree of power and trust is thust upon them to take on the issues and solve them in a reasonable and timely matter.
It would seem that your house is in a state of total disorder and back-peddling with responses that answer nothing solves nothing.
A bit of advice would be to stop with the "countdown to the next election" and take a little selfrespecting pride in the fact that you were trusted at the time of your election to solve what ever issues that were to be laid in front of you.

Crowsnest Pass Home said...

The countdown to the next election is for those that feel they could do a better job than the present councilors. Over the years I have often found that the greatest critics disappear during a nomination period.
I personally have no problem dealing with whatever issues are presented.
And as far as the statement about out house being in a total state of disorder, I do not agree with that. As far as Governance I think this council as done just fine. Yes we have been trusted by the public to vote and deal with issues. And we are just not to some peoples satisfaction.
Do I recognize that there is a small very vocal group that as had its way for a long time, but not getting its own way now.
Of course I see that.
Any way I do look forward to the next election, election are the one true test to measure if the public feels the politicians are doing the job or not.

Anonymous said...

1200 individuals signatures on a petition is hardly a "small" group.

Anonymous said...

Everything seems fine in a 4 to 3 world.

Anonymous said...

Why is it that so many people have a problem with democracy?

Anonymous said...

1200 signatures. Is that the majority of the voters? I think not. Even the Minister didn`t believe they had 1200. Why can`t they respect the wishes of the majority? I see in the paper today they have an article on the Crowsnest Centre. Bookings until Dec 2010 even though council told them they would only guarantee bookings until March 31, 2009. Are they going to be in operation? Maybe or maybe not. Another form of pressure tactics used by this group. Who is responsible if the Centre closes and these bookings have to be cancelled? Will the companies sue the council, the Manager, the Society or maybe all three. How can you guarantee bookings when you don`t even know if you are going to be in operation.

Anonymous said...

What is happening with the Center? Last I heard it was supposed to be torn down and here it is party central again. Why did we even have a vote? how much money did that vote cost us? The same amount our taxes went up this year?

Anonymous said...

What is happening in the Crowsnest Pass is hardly a democracy. Secret meetings and one sided votes clearly point otherwise.

Crowsnest Pass Home said...

The petition was not 1200 signatures the minister as already confirmed that.

Crowsnest Pass Home said...

Secret Meetings?

Is this in the past tense?
I had a previous member of council mention to me about 4 councilors that used to meet on a Monday night at one of our local community centres?

4-3 is a one sided vote?

Anonymous said...

What is this about secret meetings and one sided votes. Are they talking about the Crowsnest Centre Society?

Anonymous said...

Knock the number down to whatever you like, any way you look at it we are not talking about a small group.
Meeting government stated numbers and being turned down by an "elected" official also does not make what happened here right.
(Ralph Klein was proof that a person of low intellegence can sit in office)
Bad practices being put forward by a group that has not fixed any of the big picture problems that plague this area has sent it spiraling downward even further.
We, as a public that are suffering greatly due to numerous other problems in the world, need responsible local government now more than ever.
Direction is needed by strong individuals with true passion that do not separate business from pleasure but rather make pleasure of their business.

Anonymous said...

What did Ralph Klein ever do for Alberta????? Surplus, Surplus, Surplus, Not much I guess.

Anonymous said...

They went door to door trying to get that petition to have enough names.They did not get 1200 legitmate names over a 3 month period tells me that the MAJORITY of people is fine with council .The 4- 3 vote is also fine ,it has always been that way just now it is 4-3 for what the majority of the people want.
The weekenders I know love it here and do not feel out of place at all.Some weekenders are starting to get a complex as they think the locals do not want them here, they are wrong.Remember why you bought property here, to enjoy life and the great outdoors that we offer.
The biggest problem the CNP faces is jobs.We need industry,many of you weekenders are very good business people, maybe bring your businesses down here and you can live here full time.Ask not what your town can do for you,but what you can do for your town.

Anonymous said...

Knowing him personally, I can assure you that you are wrong.

John Prince said...

Anon @ 4:04 PM
Ralph gave us DEREGULATION, DEREGULATION and DEREGULATION and we have all been PAYING, PAYING and PAYNG for it ever since. In addition, during the years of milk and honey when the coffers were over-flowing, he socked it to the ordinary people night and day. Now that we hit a bump in the road we are into massive deficits and ordinary people will once again pay the price. Ya, 'conservatism' is great! For the 'fat and happy' guys... but not so for the ordinary guy.

Anon @ 6:08 PM
Good comments!

Anonymous said...

Don't pull out that Kennedy line as ammo unless you have a real scenario in which to use it like a war. Using it for this is unjust and hypocritical to the man and his time.
That aside, tell me what they have accomplished? Infighting and a lack of confidence that goes far beyond the confines of the chamber.
Sure, basic civic problems get answered somewhat as they should, but what about the empty stores and and lack of maintenance and rising taxes that have risen unreasonably every year? I'll bet that your assessment won't be going down this year even though your property value has.
As for someone fixing your problems, it is not the responsabilty of outsiders to come and save the day for the people of the Pass, it is the responsability of the people of the Pass to build businesses to attract them...
The only thing that is attracting people to the area right now is the nature factor and an operational hospital, and once your Klein loving government are done with their plans for that, (and believe me plans are in the works), you can expect your taxes to increase even more.
Fixing problems is difficult and unless the area gets angry and does something about it, it will remain in the same rut that it is in, and that includes how the Provincial Government is looking at it, because believe you me, they have absolutely no idea or interest in doing anything with it either.
So fix it before some sonofabitch with a "fresh idea" comes along and puts you in a position that you will not appreciate.
And by the way, I live in Edmonton, and not the Crowsnest Pass.

John Prince said...

Anon @ 7:30 PM
The problems we have in this community have not come about because of the actions (or inactions) of this council, who have only been in office for about 1-1/2 years. They were long in the making, having a steady hand at the helm for the past dozen years or so.

Until he and his henchmen are removed from positions of power you will have more of the same here, unless the majority on council does in fact, come together, to ram through change. Now, while they can.

Anonymous said...

Ironic that 3:14 sounds like he writes on a biblical scale, I figure your right here in town