Inside Stratford / Perth Editorial
In an editorial in this week's Inside Stratford / Perth on the St Marys Ontario Pyramid Centre, editor Richard Roth writes:
"(Andrew Atlin's) group does not oppose the recreation complex for the sake of opposition. It has assembled troubling numbers to show the town is precariously close to going over its provincially approved debt load with this recreation complex. In fact, according to Atlin and others, the municipality can't help but go over the top if it honours the other commitments it has made."
Roth continues:
"The issue is, has the town done its due diligence? Has it looked forward enough? More to the point, why doesn't it pause, take a breath, and explain this situation to its citizenry based on the figures that have come forward? Or is it unable to explain?
"As Atlin noted, there are more than 1,000 names on a petition asking council to put the brakes on this complex until some pointed questions are answered. It is not an unreasonable request. In fact, it is a particularly compelling request considering it is backed by almost as many names as votes that were cast in favour of the mayor during the last election. A petition representing that many voters is one that must be taken seriously if 'representative' democracy is to have any meaning at all.
"Council needs to have a full and open meeting on this issue, allow citizen input, carry out a sensible debate and then - and only than - can it be morally justified in proceeding with the recreation complex.
"(Andrew Atlin's) group does not oppose the recreation complex for the sake of opposition. It has assembled troubling numbers to show the town is precariously close to going over its provincially approved debt load with this recreation complex. In fact, according to Atlin and others, the municipality can't help but go over the top if it honours the other commitments it has made."
Roth continues:
"The issue is, has the town done its due diligence? Has it looked forward enough? More to the point, why doesn't it pause, take a breath, and explain this situation to its citizenry based on the figures that have come forward? Or is it unable to explain?
"As Atlin noted, there are more than 1,000 names on a petition asking council to put the brakes on this complex until some pointed questions are answered. It is not an unreasonable request. In fact, it is a particularly compelling request considering it is backed by almost as many names as votes that were cast in favour of the mayor during the last election. A petition representing that many voters is one that must be taken seriously if 'representative' democracy is to have any meaning at all.
"Council needs to have a full and open meeting on this issue, allow citizen input, carry out a sensible debate and then - and only than - can it be morally justified in proceeding with the recreation complex.
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