Covert slate of pro-amalgamation candidates in Duncan?
In this Duncan election I believe there is a slate of people running for council that are more like a covert local political group, rather than the usually expected unaligned independents.
In the last election candidates Roger Bruce, John Horgan, Martin Barker, George Nielsen, and Travis Peterson shared some of their election expenses. Would that have been because they all were intending to promote possibly the only real interest that Roger Bruce showed during his four years on council — amalgamation? Do we really need more of that? Fortunately, not all of them were elected.
This election we have Martin Barker, Roger Bruce, George Nielsen, Bob Brooke, and Lura McCallum running for council, among others. All of these people were pro-amalgamation in the recent referendum. There could be other similar candidates as well. Could there again be an ulterior motive, or hidden agenda in running for council? Why, if they do not believe Duncan should exist as its own unique entity, should they sit on Duncan council?
The recent amalgamation referendum cost the taxpayers over $278,000. However, there was more than just a monetary cost associated with that stressful, tedious process. There was a human cost as well. People cannot work efficiently when their job security is threatened. There are distractions within the workplace, important projects are waylaid, morale is low and retaining and hiring qualified people becomes very difficult when the people do not know if they will have a future job. What a waste of valuable human and financial resources.
I believe there is another attempt to stack the deck on council with pro-amalgamation people. Unless you want more of what we just went through with the amalgamation referendum, I strongly suggest that you ask each of the candidates what their position is on further efforts at amalgamation. Ask them, “If elected, will you be advancing anything at all related to amalgamation during your four years in office?”
Tom Ireland
former Duncan CAO & Professional Planner
Duncan
