Where the Hell Is Chestermere? Letter To The Premier And Others

To: Office of the Premier; Danielle Smith Cc: ministryofjustice@gov.ab.ca; Airdrie-Cochrane; Airdrie-Cochrane

Dear Premier Danielle Smith,

  The more we learn about the disturbing and ongoing events and details surrounding the municipality of Chestermere, the more we think that this matter warrants further investigation and action. Transparency, accountability and ethics seem to be at the core of a situation that is not being well managed by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs or covered by the limited, incomplete and possibly compromised legacy media. From what we gather, Minister Ric McIver and his brother-in-law, who was Mayor of Chestermere, along with other council members were included for investigation in an ASIRT, which allegedly implicated McIver and others in multiple instances of wrongdoing and conflicts of interest. Why was Minister McIver able to fire the mayor and councilors who generated the ASIRT and stop the ASIRT from proceeding? Further, and perhaps more troubling is that the RCMP seem to be implicated in wrongdoing or mismanagement throughout this affair as well. The optics are less than favorable.

  I recognize, appreciate and support the other important issues you are undertaking to support hardworking families, child protection, economic growth and provincial sovereignty but we hazard to guess that the majority of your support comes from rural townships and smaller cities where grass roots conservatism is still valued. It’s apparent that there is more interest and movement by these communities to demand more transparency and accountability from their municipal governments, ones that seem to have greater allegiance to non-government organizations and personal interests than to the citizens they are to serve. Would it not be prudent to get to the bottom of this and other related matters and ahead of the negative media fallout when this matter becomes public knowledge as it proceeds though a hopefully fair judicial process?

  There should be a full and transparent investigation into the Chestermere affair that will if anything help other municipalities refocus their efforts on serving the interests of citizens and re-establishing trust in government at all levels.

  A substantive response would be appreciated and appropriate.

Sincerely, With Others,

Al Neitsch

Airdrie, Alberta