Vote outside the box
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Updated: November 02, 2009 1:53 PM
Editor:
In a recent article, our MLA Bill Bennett was speculating about a new concept for Mount Baker Secondary School referred to as a "Neighbourhood of Learning". Bennett was quoted, "You've got to think outside the box and it won't work unless you have the strong involvement of the community."
When our citizenry was consulted before the development of Spirit Square on 10th Avenue and the building of our new library, the outcome was spectacular. Why? Because there was input and strong involvement of the community.
When I hear the tone of 'debate' in our media about the East Hill Boundary expansion, I am saddened. Unfortunately our community appears to be polarized, feeling very strongly for or against the question.
I was one of many who knocked on doors in August to get the required number of Electoral Response Forms to consider a referendum. I felt we needed to carefully look at the East Hill and - as a community - consider it from many points of view.
Rather than taking the necessary time for deliberation, our mayor and council felt it best to immediately go to referendum. Councillor Whetham wanted a period for our community to settle down and examine our options rationally and with fact based, informed dialogue. Unfortunately not one other councillor would second Whetham's motion so his proposal wasn't even debated.
The result is our community has become galvanized for or against the question. Dialogue and thinking outside the box has been replaced by assumptions, innuendo and accusations. Did we not learn anything from the lack of public awareness and consultation that brought Shadow Mountain into our city limits? When the ability of our region's citizens to respond to growth pressures is squashed by our elected officials, it is likely that the resource limits and capacities of our city will be ignored or quickly exceeded. Unfortunately, our city council has not invited opportunities to 'think outside the box' or allowed for 'the strong involvement of the community' on this vital question.
Gerry Sobie
Cranbrook
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