OP-ED: PROTECT LOCAL DEMOCRACY

Why should we care if Bills 18 and 20 give Edmonton more power over municipal affairs? They would get to approve or disapprove any and all agreements between the City and Ottawa.

They could get a say in civic elections and even decide to get rid of a duly elected mayor and or councillors if they so choose. Well, there are several reasons we should care.

We can, and do, spend a lot of time and effort railing about politicians in Ottawa and Edmonton, particularly for the sin of not paying any attention to us.

My contact with any given politician depends on proximity. I have met with our Saskatchewan Member of Parliament (MP) Rosemarie Falk on two occasions, but I have never met our Alberta MP, Shannon Stubbs. As to our Saskatchewan and Alberta MLA’s, I have met with them on numerous occasions and know them quite well. I have met the premiers of both Alberta and Saskatchewan. But, it sometimes takes some work to get in touch with them because they seem to be busy.

On the other hand, our city mayor and councillors are right in front of us and are, I am sure, ures like Tiger Woods, Wayne Gretzky, Sydney Crosby and Connor McDavid all talk about the important role their dads played in tired of meeting with me; but they are easily and readily available. Why? Because this is our community and they are a part of it. They live among us and what goes on here is their primary focus.

Our city politicians are the most direct political relationship we as members of the community have. And while it may appear from time to time they don’t listen, I can tell you from having run and campaigned for council, sat in on council meetings, and met with both councillors and administration folks on behalf of various groups and people, that they do indeed listen and hear.

They don’t always agree but in the end, they make decisions that they believe are in the best interests of this city.

Politics is a dynamic. You not only have the privilege of voting, but you can also reach out to your local elected representatives and speak. You absolutely have a right to be heard. I might think your opinion is nuts, but I will absolutely defend your right to “have” an opinion. The beauty of civic politics is that your audience, the mayor and councillors, are close at hand.

I for one do not, under any circumstances want to see Edmonton stick their fingers in our political pie any more than they already do.

- Darrell Dunn