Airdrie Council Not Happy With Provinces ResponseTo Bill 20 Concerns

To: The Office of the Premier; Danielle Smith

Dear Premier Smith,

  I write to you again with confidence that your administration is making favorable decisions and developing policy for the greater benefit of all Albertans within Canada. I, along with other concerned Albertans continue to be engaged in municipal and provincial politics with limited favourable response. Even with involvement in our local constituencies, we still feel disengaged from the process – that our voices and questions are not being heard.  I look forward to direct and substantive conversation on the matter.

It is not surprising but rather amusing that Airdrie City Council, management and their corporate partners and stakeholders are not happy and in a state of “shock” and horror. Bill 20, The Municipal Affairs Amendment Act 2024 must pose a clear and present inconvenience to the current level of lack of transparency, accountability and oversight that they enjoy. A follow-up article on May 30 expresses further collective pearl clutching about announced changes to voter ID requirements that might “inadvertently fuel distrust in the election process”. Perhaps a dismal voter turnout of roughly 20% at our last municipal election of marginally vetted candidates could be a more telling sign of voter distrust or apathy.

  In their May 23 and May 30 issues, Airdrie City View gave council several pages of press to air their concerns. The City of Airdrie council’s collective concerns are frantic with how the municipal elections are to be conducted and whether Party Politics might be introduced. The people of Airdrie should bear in mind that City of Airdrie ‘elected’ councilors and appointed managers do not actually represent wards of constituents in our community. They are not even required to take a substantive or meaningful oath of office to hold them accountable for how they do business on our behalf.  Current and past Airdrie City Council collectives are on record citing the dangers of ‘Party Politics’ and the need for political and ideological neutrality but their collective record of entering into agreements and supporting initiatives and programs pushed by non-government agencies and agendas suggest otherwise. 

  The overlying and most serious concerns of Bill 20 that should be of great concern lie with the under investigated evidence and implications as well as the highly suspicious interventions of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and the ‘Honorable’ Ric McIvor into the Chestermere Affair. Any gains from truly identifying political and socio-ideological allegiances harbored by potential and existing councilors, mayors and managers could be lost if this matter is not thoroughly investigated and resolved. Any attempts to reform or scrutinize municipal government business practices could be hindered. The idea of Bill 20 is to re-establish trust in our government institutions and promote transparency and accountability through open and ethical government and public service. If our public servants are to be bound by Democratic principles, The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, The Alberta Bill of Rights or any new legislation or standard that can be enacted, only then, surely can we re-establish trust in these vital institutions.

Sincerely,

Al Neitsch,

Windsong, Airdrie