Daily Archives: January 22, 2007

Municipal

Well DUH!

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Penticton $9.7 million provincial grant secured BEFORE project presented to public; Langley $15 million provincial grant secured BEFORE project presented to public, project modified to maximize grant; Abbotsford $0.00 provincial grant secured BEFORE project presented to public.

In the Friday Abbotsford Times much gnashing of teeth and cries of “we was robbed” by Abbotsford City Hall. Common sense dictates, for those possessing common sense (which evidence suggests is nonexistent at Abbotsford City Hall) that your maximum leverage on a senior level of government for grants is before you fund the project when they (province; federal) can be blamed for the project not proceeding. This was the case in the recent extortion of $2 million each from both the federal and provincial governments for Stanley Park restoration making Vancouver’s contribution $ZERO$.

When asked during the referendum campaign why they had not and if they should not have gotten grants BEFORE coming to the taxpayers for approval, as any rational, fiscally responsible City (i.e. Langley, Penticton) would do, Abbotsford City Hall blew off those posing the questions as “naysayers” and “negative people”.

It turns out that it is Abbotsford City Hall which was/is negative, or is that negligent, to the tune of $millions$ of taxpayer dollars. This may have taxpayers justifiably wanting to say Nay to Abbotsford City Hall and its cavalier and careless attitude to taxpayer’s money.

{shake head} – I am left contemplating how much good could have been accomplished in addressing affordable housing, poverty reduction and homelessness with the $$$ millions Abbotsford City Hall’s carelessness is costing the City. Abbotsford City Hall could have satisfied their hasty drive to saddle taxpayers with $85 million in debt and had a major impact on these growing social problems by diverting borrowings in an amount matching any government grants into investments in meeting the social needs of our community.

But then the one thing the behaviour of Abbotsford City Hall has made very clear during this entire process is that it is not about dealing with the needs for facilities or social issues of the citizens of Abbotsford, but about satisfying the wants of Abbotsford City Hall.

It is also very, very clear Abbotsford taxpayers simply cannot afford to continue to fund Abbotsford City Hall’s record of failure and co$tly mistakes.

Consider, Homeless

Politics at is morally bankrupt worst

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On Tuesday January 9, 2007 I sent a letter to CanWest and various newspapers expressing my thoughts on the complete lack of judgement evidenced by Global’s Vancouver television station and their telethon for Stanley Park. With all the important issues that need funding and public awareness it was to aggravating to remain silent on the insult offered to all those in true need of assistance.

Imagine then how infuriating it was on Thursday to watch the politically desperate behaviour of the NDP, a party that claims to champion those society views as disposable. There, in a disgusting display of opportunism, were various members of the NDP caucus and party as they sought to score meaningless political points against Gordon Campbell for the province not donating millions more to “restoring” Stanley Park. As if nature, another area it would appear the NDP pay only lip service to, were not capable of healing Stanley Park without any “help”.

To add further injury to the numerous insults good judgment, ethical behaviour and a sense of priorities have taken over Stanley Park this week, Gordon Campbell showed a total lack of backbone and jumped on this decadent and senseless Stanley Park bandwagon. Apparently Mr. Campbell’s “NO” is only firm when denying funding to the poor, homeless and those in real need. Appeasement is seemingly the policy of Mr. Campbell and his Liberal’s when the decision has such a potential to negatively affect Liberal party coffers or political fortunes.

Watching this vile display of moral bankruptcy and politics leaves one yearning, make that praying, for the addition to the BC political landscape of a new party with ideas, ideals, honour, the ability to say “NO” and a sense of priorities based on principal and reality. Otherwise I and many others are left disenfranchised, lacking as we do any party or candidates worthy of our support or deserving of being entrusted with the governance of British Columbia.