Page A-4 • Opinion
2018
Wednesday, March 2018 Wednesday, March 21, 21, 2018
ditor
Letter the Editor Letter to to the Editor
Opinion Opinion Opinion OPINION www.thompsoncitizen.net
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2, 2022 Thompson CitizenWednesday, February Thompson Citizen Thompson Citizen 141 Commercial Place, Box 887 141141 Commercial Place, Commercial Place, BoxBox 887887 Thompson Citizen Thompson, Manitoba R8N 1T1 Thompson, Thompson, Manitoba R8N Manitoba R8N 1T11T1 Commercial Place, 887 Phone: 677-4534 • Fax 677-3681141 Phone: 677-4534 •Box Fax 677-3681 Phone: 677-4534 • Fax 677-3681 Thompson, MB R8N 1T1 e-mail: generalmanager@thompsoncitizen.net e-mail: generalmanager@thompsoncitizen.net e-mail: generalmanager@thompsoncitizen.net Phone 204-677-4534 Fax 204-677-3681 Page 4 www.thompsoncitizen.net Page www.thompsoncitizen.net Page 4 4 generalmanager@thompsoncitizen.net
p fightingKeep Keepfifi ghting ghting tuberculosis againsttuberculosis tuberculosis against Editor: To To thethe Editor:
is a highly contagious disease, Tuberculosis (TB) a highly contagious disease, Tuberculosis (TB) is ais highly contagious disease, Each year, caused TB caused claims the lives Each bacteria. Each year, claims lives by by bacteria. year, TB TB claims thethe lives le worldwide. ismillion not only a worldwide. of million people worldwide. is not only of TB 1.71.7 people TB TB is not only a a orld countries, but also here in problem Third World countries, also here problem in in Third World countries, butbut also here in in er prevalenceCanada, inCanada, the north. with a higher prevalence in the north. with a higher prevalence in the north. vaccination, disease to the lack of vaccination, disease prevention DueDue to prevention the lack of vaccination, disease prevention Additionally,is some TB bacteria Additionally, is most important. Additionally, some bacteria most important. some TB TB bacteria the years, giving rise to forms have changed over years, giving forms have changed over thethe years, giving riserise to to forms ant TB, which means treatment multi-drug resistant which means treatment of of multi-drug resistant TB,TB, which means treatment ted and accompanied bycomplicated severe is lengthy, complicated accompanied severe is lengthy, andand accompanied by by severe side effects. side effects. t one in four people inyou this world know that in four people in this world DidDid you know that oneone in four people in this world is World TB have day, raising awarehave TB? March is World day, raising awareTB? March 24 24 is World TB TB day, raising awarean opportunity to mobilize fundsan an ness and providing opportunity to mobilize funds ness and providing opportunity to mobilize funds ion. I am glad to seeTB Canada as towards TB elimination. I am glad to see Canada towards elimination. I am glad to see Canada as as lobal fund toa fight tuberculosis. a top donor to the global fund to fight tuberculosis. top donor to the global fund to fight tuberculosis. mitment continues in that the future I hope this commitment continues in the future I hope that this commitment continues in the future our goal to stop TB. that meet goal to stop so so that we we cancan meet ourour goal to stop TB.TB. Karolin Klement Calgary
Karolin Klement Karolin Klement Calgary Calgary
Editorial Editorial
chool board opts for status quo, School board opts for status quo, School board opts for status quo, Public should have a chance to ask questions at council meetings which willway citywill council go? which way will citycouncil councilgo? go? which city C way BB
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EDITORIAL
ouncil’s proposed on alternating Mondays, also council meetings. At any rate, ed, assuming that it is, does not residents with questions unrelat- eliminated makes council less change to the or- makes them more accessible to explicit mention of that agenda in itself prevent people from ed to the matters dealt with at publicly accountable than it has ganizational bylaw, residents, many of whom have item is no longer mentioned in seeking and even receiving an- the meeting wouldn’t have to been over at least the past 15 which would see the body’s jobs working the day shift. With the bylaw, as it was in the pro- swers from those who are an- sit through the whole thing in years, and most likely longer. mer councillor many of councillor the people workload around and forswerable reducing members, the citizens of of Thompmer councillor Luke many people workload around and reducing members, citizens Thompothoth ofLuke ThompLuke many ofinofeffect thethe people workload around and fortofor reducing members, thethe citizens of of Thomporder make theirThompquery. That committee structure go from one the mer standing committees, meetcedural bylaw since to them, but it does Granted, community comRobinson, served opposed to the plan allows for diwhether they belong son elected more truly with severalwho standing commitingsRobinson, were often held on week2020. Ifopposed this isgreater theto case, passing push it allows from the ofdiaddition increased accountabilments feedback was often son’s local Robinson, who served tothe theplan plan for greater diwhether they belong son elected more truly son’s local who served opposed allows forforeground greater whether they belong sonand elected more truly atone 10 a.m. or 12 p.m. orcouncil 4 versity tees with official representthe are neware bylaw does not move forum the back- independent-thinking ity. After it had been in placeboard forboard usedindependent-thinking asindependent-thinking a soapbox for council’s one termtwo on council aredays, the regular critics of viewpoints, to a public the school board elected bodies term oncouncil regular critics versity ofviewpoints, viewpoints, the school elected bodies one term on thethe regular critics versity ofinto to tothe school p.m. and were rarely attended accountability forward butattend ac-attend atives from eachbealong What exactly the reason a while, thecouncil, question at itopponents to try towho embarrass from 2010 to considered 2014 of council who though Ryan Land was orground. council, is Ryan that it was candidates who aren’t havecouncil profrom 2010 to 2014 becouncil who though Land was isthat that itcandidates candidates who aren’t have considered profrom 2010 toattend 2014 beof of council who though Ryan Land or orcouncil, isperiod aren’t tually retrenches it. withbeing the mayor, who belonged by members of the public. It for the change is, which could the end was done away with, them or score cheap pointsaligning in fore defeated by meetings and ask their mostly correct in saywill save money. The married to aligning posalsto toreduce reducethethefore fore being defeated meetings theirmostly mostly correct say-willwill save money. married to to posals being defeated by bymeetings andand askask their correct in in saysave money. TheThemarried aligning be efficiency ornot something less themselves to all of Dennis them, to a committee of elected was evenofficials difficult for questhe media ing Obviously, a democracy, apparently because it was con- some sort of political pissing Mayor Fenske that, in in terms ofquesamount is that, large with any number of representaMayorDennis DennisFenske Fenskeelected elected officials quesin terms ofamount amount notlarge largethemselves themselveswith withanyany of in representaMayor officials inging that, is is not defensible, hasn’tin beenterms spelled ofsidered the number whole model, which all to attend many, as news outlets the ultimate form of accountredundant. Doing that contest. Perhaps that was unin the racecomprising to becomethem tionsinweek after week, classtions and ethnicity, the overall –class about $20,000 particular side, because tives comprising them in the race to become tions week after week, and ethnicity, the overall – about $20,000 particular side, because tives the race to become week after week, class and ethnicity, the overall – about $20,000 particular side, because of council participates in com- in Thompson do not have more ability is having to appeal for out specifically. But this is also had the effect of making some comfortable for some members head of council last their opinions notandlast trustees really innot salarright the number and one of them made headof ofmay council last their opinions may trusteesaren’t really in councillors’ salarright the number and one of offer them made council opinions may not trustees really innow, councillors’ salarright now, the number mittee work, does certain people wait longer for answer. thanhead a single journalist each the their votes ofaren’t residents every four thecouncillors’ continuation ofaren’t a precedof council but ifnow, they don’t like time that Thompsonites be enough to dissuade a microcosm of the ies per year plus apof opinions on council a choice March 13 not time that Thompsonites be enough to dissuade a microcosm of the ies per year plus apof opinions on council a choice March 13 not time that Thompsonites be enough to dissuade a microcosm of the ies per year plus apof opinions on council Assume you had a question public scrutiny, they could aladvantages with respect to sim- several committees a week eats years, in the case of Manitoba ent, one established not by this went the polls the from forSchool District ofwhat Mysproximately that is about generally two –half for shrink its numbers, the about majority from forSchool District of Mysproximately halfthat that is generally – for council but byDistrict ahalf previous plicity and transparency. intomajority thewent number of paidpolls hours municipalities. If you something that happened ways not run for office. Not tototo shrink its about numbers, went to to the polls about thethe majority from forSchool ofone. Mysproximately isjust generally twotwo – for three-and-half years ging ahead, especially tery Lake’s population amount, onLake’s average, against. You don’t have board to go thattrustfartrustthisthree-and-half newspaper or CHTM radio are ging doing is really unpopular, At one time, there was no and during a meeting.on Aton one time, all questions were necessarily school board three-and-half years ging ahead, especially tery population amount, average, against. as as school years ahead, especially tery Lake’s population amount, average, andand against. youfor might get an answer at the back to recall the same comdedicate producing news won’t get But for council meetfrivolous and the removing the turnago –ees was in favour of against since the of as asince whole. If you’ve travel Maybe the low turnees voted 6-1 ago –number was favour of since thenumber number ofannual as a of whole. If you’ve for annual travel Maybe the voted 6-1 against ago –towas in in favour ofyou there-elected. ofsuch asportion a whole. Ifand you’ve annual travel andand Maybe lowlow turnability to ask ones that were mittee model being used in stories. in a broader sense, democracy ings. There was however, a conclusion of the evening. If the reducing the numbers, people who care about been to many school expenses. For the city, out of people with a resolution trusteereducing reducing numbers,people people who care aboutbeen beento tomany manyschool schoolexpenses. expenses. city,outoutof ofpeople peoplewith with a resolution by by trustee thethe numbers, who care about ForFor thethe city, the timethe thisother paper seven went board Thompson before, or look out- this should this not beone limited to merely question period at the concluanswerwhich was not available, you genuinely seeking information with theRyan other seven opone way or another which has ameetings budget of (and opinions onhas Land (the onlyAt with opway or another board meetings (and ahow budget opinions how Ryan Land (the only with the other seven opthismeetings one way or(and another board which has a budget of ofopinions on on how to press, council hadreach just con- apart side theAlthough province to counfind other doesn’t trudging to the polls every few around sion of the meeting, during many mightcouncillors not get it untilthere the next or explanations in order to avoid posed. even from members $30 million, vote in support) to reposed. Although coundoesn’t even reach apart from members around $30 million, many councillors there vote in support) toinre-sidered posed. coun-years, doesn’t even reachwhich apart from members around $30later.million, councillors there municipalities who operate secondAlthough and third reading marking an X (or sevresidents or members of meeting, two weeks After the many ones driven by other mocilthe hasn’t yet voted on double digits. of eral the media, well, you that ofrepresents probshould beperiod isn’t an ex-theprobduce the number cil hasn’t voted on double digits. of the media, well, you that represents should isn’t an duce the number ofofofthe cilbylaw hasn’t yetyet voted on double the media, well, you that represents should be be isn’t anout ex-exsame way, and it continues the previous evenXs) on adigits. ballot and then the media were able to ask quesquestion was axed, probtives seems like throwing second reading of that Whether or not the haven’t), you would ably less than a drop in pression of apathy but trustees from seven to second reading of that Whether or not the haven’t), you would ably less than a drop in pression of apathy trustees from seven to second reading of that Whether or not the haven’t), you would ably less than a drop in pression of apathy but a trend that was started the ing, so we cannot say definitive- just complaining to friends tions of elected officials in a time you might wait doubled. the baby with the bathwater. but bylaw, the stage of this councillors know that don’t proverbial bucket, of You pragmatism. Experifive. the next stage number of councillors know that they don’t the proverbial bucket, of pragmatism. Experithe next stage ofFacebook councillors know that they don’t the proverbial bucket, of you pragmatism. Experilastfive. time thisnext council looked number ly atbylaw, thebylaw, time is being writandnumber family orthey on or the public forum. The other elected wouldn’t have an opportunNow, can only appear betowards becoming orten school board trust-butofoften feature as though it feature isfeature about a as ence has shown whether it it was council ashas a shown delegation or quite at howOne ititOne does business, when even letters tonearly the editor until body inoften Thompson, the School ity publicly ask a meetnightofearlier, towards itpassed, becoming ofor school board trustnearly asto though itis quite isabout aboutafore aence ence shown night earlier, towards becoming orin school board trustoften nearly though it about has quite that five the to make a presentation, which what were previously separate District of Mystery Lake, next vote. People pay ing fifth until the next meeting, and ficial, there’s at more least athan ees bemembers reduced much debate orbewho divfifth of much the overall cost often that council slightly ashould ficial, there’s at least ees should be reduced debate ordivdivfifth of overall cost often that this council slightly more than agiven ficial, there’s at of least atheaees should reduced much debate or still ofthis thethe overall cost often that this council committees were combined to is nine-member if the answer was notand atitand hand, council (which taxes, who a mayor question period atcouncil their basically requires permission. better than even chance not the sort ofeven quesision as city council of has the coun– and before – counhalf-dozen Thompsonbetter than even chance is even not the sort of quesisionasand as city council of the mayor – and others before half-dozen Thompsonbetter than chance is and not thethose sort ofdon’t, quesision city ofothers the mayor coun– and others before it –it – it couldcil. be four weeks after the It’s a little create a smaller overallupnumincludes the mayor) were in have ation rightatfor to least have a not saythere in cil.meetings, though the subject of isnot bit liketobeing told the that it will be approved. tion forthat which there isfa- meetings, ites showed to voice it will be approved. which meetings, least is going what ites showed up to voice that it will be approved. tion for which there is ismeetings, at at least not going cil. to do what the is going to do do what the (For instance, what was a vour of first reading, seems over how their governments operate Critics the question is limited, at least majority event before a question was an- civil disobedience is only alAsber. watchers of council right or watchers wrongofitanpast couple of the proof its members their opinion on a proAs of councila the a right or wrong an-over over the past couple Critics Critics ofthethepropro-majority majority of its members their opinion on a proAs watchers council right or wrong anthe past couple of of its members previously the recreation and pretty likely that it will have or, at the very least, make their in theory, to matters dealt with swered in the same forum where lowed if you follow all the rules. will posed have noticed, the swer.will On the pro noticed, side of years. ButOn they’ve posed reduction say thinkposed isposed right, regard- saysaythink posed bylaw that would will have swer. the pro side of years. But they’ve right, regardbylaw that would have swer. On the prowho side ofmeeting years. they’ve reduction is is right, regardcommunity services commitcome into effect bynoticed, the time thisthethe opinions known to those in the thatBut immediately it was asked. So, inreduction effect, addWhothink knows? Maybe it will proposals that make of keeping the current made their decision that it will prevent less of what the most see council shrink from proposals that make of keeping the current made their decision that it will prevent less of what the see council shrink from proposals that make of keeping the current made their decision that it will prevent less of what the most ing general inquiries and then turn out that public questioning most tee was amalgamated with appears in print. make the decisions. And elected preceded it. it the toeight the council floor numbers, the option and it numbers, appears there “new blood” from being vocal taxpayers think. eight councillors the council floor theoption option andityears itappears appears there “new blood” from being vocal taxpayers think. councillors to toThere it it tois,to the council floor numbers, the and there “new blood” from being vocal taxpayers think. removing question period was public safety committee.) however, another officials should want voters to Several ago, council of council has not been eliminhave a tendency to be that all but one of the will be seven school elected and, theoreticIf that is the case, does not including have abylaw, tendency beengaged. that seven school elected and, theoreticIf ifthat is the case, does ated. itisis,the at some point, Holding the of thethethe aspect of athetendency which added awill section known as school gennot elected a wash, butand, really atheoretichalf-step six,six, notcommittee including have to to bebe that all all butbut oneone of of thethe will be beseven If But that case, does approved by Only atOnly least board members board trustees atcommunity least ally, reduce the it really matter fact that the to do away with the whole meetings outside of school eralboard inquiries totrustees itsdiversmeetings, backwards, in accountability those made the decision to how mayor. ofapproved approved leastThe school board members board least ally, reduce the diversitreally really matterhow mayor. oneone ofappears by by at at least school board members trustees at at least ally, reduce thehow diversit who matter community andmemnormal business hours, the comments and feedback section to correspondence terms. Getting rid ofthere the reado so will still tothem answer two-thirds ofhandful its memopted for, is comments theofarguuntil 2022. ityprior ofuntil opinions, but thatand many of that of people two-thirds of opted for, the arguuntil 2022. ofthem opinions, but that many ofthem there that handful of at people two-thirds its its memopted for, is is the argu2022. ity ity of opinions, but that many ofhave there feedback section of given regular theirare? choice. same time as given council meetings of council meetings isiteliminatresolutions and bylaws, soifthat are? sonwould thatwould the question period was bers and, that that it spreads the that One of the arguments would only true with an opinion –ment forbers and,given that ment that spreads the One of the arguments only true with an opinion – forbers and, ment that it spreads the One ofbe the arguments only be be true ifforifare?
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