SWSDA THINKS ... PEOPLE DON'T CARE!

-------- Your tax dollars at work ---------

Politicians often attribute their lack of effort at public consultation to a lack of interest by people.... People just don't care ... they say..... look at meetings of Council and Council Committee meetings that are open to the public.... hardly anyone ever comes... they say......

THE SOLUTIONS..... may lie in what they do in other constituencies.

1- Never, ever, hold secret meetings when you shouldn't or when you don't have to.

2. Let the public know as soon as possible and in as much detail as possible, what transpired in secret as soon as a decision is made on the subject discussed.

3. Invite the public before the meeting:

a) to add things to the agenda for discussion,
b) ask questions that might be entertained during the meeting on issues that are on the agenda.

4. During the meeting invite the public to:
a) make comments about issues that were raised,
b) seek clarification about issues discussed or resolved.

5. After the meeting provide the public with an opportunity to make comments about the meeting.

Anyway, I know PG often referred to the lack of public attendance at meetings about bylaws as a demonstration of a lack of public interest. I believe he was wrong.......

Here's my take on it.
I've sat through Council and Committee meetings and watched mind and bum-numbing proceedings and debate about issues Council did not appear to know much about, when members of the audience could have easily enlightened the debate.

I've watched Reg Ridgley (the former Acting CAO in MOS) provide a report to Council about the appointment of municipal representatives to the SWSDA Board that was pure Frank Anderson party line and had precious little to do with what actually happened or what the SWSDA Bylaws actually said. If it was research that he based his report on, it was research that was poorly done ...otherwise it was simply propaganda to help SWSDA defend its losing position before the courts about public access to SWSDA's documents.... a battle I am glad I had a role in waging and winning. It gives one confidence in the system again.

Prohibited from speaking, I watched as Council accepted Ridgely's report as gospel. It still amazes me that I continue to go to Council meetings, notwithstanding the anger I feel towards the restrictions this arbitrary system imposes on civil participation and enlightened dialogue. Little wonder folks often don't care to attend Council meetings where Councillors have decided before the meeting what the decision will be without reference to the public or open debate and administrators limit public access to documents in the name of penny-pinching on photocopy costs..... this is false economics..... For God's sake ... save the forests and put all this stuff on your web page ..... before the meeting..... ahead of time.... this is the 21st Century last time I checked!

The hundreds of folks who attended budget meetings of MOS a few years ago showed that anger... indeed rage at a broken system that permits misinformation and factually wrong statements to be made unchallenged..... a system that politicians and staff seem to hide behind and refuse to improve to increase citizen information and/or participation.

Does anyone else remember Paulette Scott advising us that it was 9:00 PM and we had asked enough questions! (Wonder where Paulette is these days... I hear she no longer works for Jimmie and Mary at the Base. Can't imagine how they are coping without their reportedly non-conflicted and supposedly talented Financial Officer.) Just remembered something else that Ms. Scott shared with Frank Anderson.... didn't she also used to work in a Bank?!?

Given my stated desire to see more public awareness and participation you will appreciate my elation at what this blog has shown!

In the first 9 nine days since the launch of this blog on SWSDA Accountability, we have more than 9,250 visitors. More importantly, 167 of our readers have taken the time to write comments about the blog, the issues, the solutions and the alternatives to share with their fellow readers or to ask questions...... And, We've only begun!

Keep up the good work and let politicians and civil servants know that you want to be informed and consulted.... you have views that you want heard... and you have insights that you want to share with each other and them.

MORE IMPORTANTLY..... YOU HAVE QUESTIONS YOU WANT ANSWERED!

START ASKING THEM NOW ... AND DEMAND THAT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE:

a) ask them at the upcoming SWSDA Board Meeting this week,
b) report the answers back to you and the public after the meeting.

Good Luck!