Having attended four all candidates forums during the last couple of weeks I have learned a few things. I learned that this Council has achieved absolutely nothing during the last three years in office and they floundered in the wrong direction. At least that is what the former Councillors, vying for office again, would want to have you believe.
True, this Council did not vote for putting a massive housing development in the middle of an agricultural neighbourhood, did not spend $650,000 of taxpayers’ funds to extend sewer services for the benefit of said development and did not promote putting sports fields on a prime 100 acre operating agricultural field. They were looking for ways to preserve Coldstream's agricultural heritage and reaffirmed earlier policies that development must pay for itself, including sewer extension.
They provided necessary services and infrastructure for the community and kept taxes to a low rate. They corrected the unfair flat fee rate structure for sewer users and worked diligently to promote fair water rates. They arranged the construction of the grid road (College Way) in cooperation with senior governments. they built multi-use trails. They worked hard on negotiating a fair deal on the water and sewer governance issues.
It is interesting that no former Councillor ever showed up at any Council meetings nor have they complained by way of correspondence about the direction this Council was heading. It seems criticism at election time is the best remedy without offering a concrete solution.
I also learned that the issues in Coldstream are so simple that one can learn of all the problems with two years residency and just a couple of weeks of “research” prior to the election. You don’t need to attend any Council nor Regional District meetings, you just have to wave a magic wand and poof, you resolved everything. All this community needs is some accelerated DEVELOPMENT and all the issues will be dealt with. I am not convinced, it works that way.
True, this Council did not vote for putting a massive housing development in the middle of an agricultural neighbourhood, did not spend $650,000 of taxpayers’ funds to extend sewer services for the benefit of said development and did not promote putting sports fields on a prime 100 acre operating agricultural field. They were looking for ways to preserve Coldstream's agricultural heritage and reaffirmed earlier policies that development must pay for itself, including sewer extension.
They provided necessary services and infrastructure for the community and kept taxes to a low rate. They corrected the unfair flat fee rate structure for sewer users and worked diligently to promote fair water rates. They arranged the construction of the grid road (College Way) in cooperation with senior governments. they built multi-use trails. They worked hard on negotiating a fair deal on the water and sewer governance issues.
It is interesting that no former Councillor ever showed up at any Council meetings nor have they complained by way of correspondence about the direction this Council was heading. It seems criticism at election time is the best remedy without offering a concrete solution.
I also learned that the issues in Coldstream are so simple that one can learn of all the problems with two years residency and just a couple of weeks of “research” prior to the election. You don’t need to attend any Council nor Regional District meetings, you just have to wave a magic wand and poof, you resolved everything. All this community needs is some accelerated DEVELOPMENT and all the issues will be dealt with. I am not convinced, it works that way.
We will clean up Coldstream Creek even though we have to have use Ministry of Environment's tough regulations. We will pay up our debts at an accelerated rate (raising taxes?) even though our contract is for a minimum of 10-years. There are rules dictated by MFA and senior governments which must be observed by local governments. These rules need to be learned over years and the learning curve is steep. These rules are learned at university courses.
Anyway, these are some of the things I learned at nearly ten hours of debates and questioning. It was a useful experience. Now it is up to you, voters, to decide what you have learned at these forums and make your decisions at the polls. Most importantly, PLEASE GET OUT AND VOTE! IT IS YOUR PRIVILEGE and many people in other parts of the world would sacrifice their lives for this privilege.
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