So Bill-20 Is A Good Thing? Explain.

Dear Premier Smith,

  I am expressing my interest in the tabled Bill 20 and how it might help in ensuring that our municipal governments conduct themselves on our behalf in a transparent and accountable manner. The Airdrie City View newspaper is certainly on top of the recent Provincial Government’s tabling of Bill 20. This weeks issue features an article titled ‘Mayor Peter Brown Cautious About Bill 20’ and also published an opinion on the matter titled ‘Is Bill 20 A Power Grab?’ They could have just combined both articles into a critique titled ‘Airdrie Mayor Peter Brown Cautious About Bill 20 Power Grab!’

This possible comprehensive article of investigative journalism could delve into how the proposed bill might help voters vet and scrutinize future and sitting candidates for public service to determine where their core values lie, by way of political or ideological affiliation, and what influences and incentives from outside, non-government agencies they might be susceptible to. This article could detail how Bill 20 could facilitate the transparency and accountability needed to ensure that municipal governments, including their un-elected administrative offices, maintain a certain level of trust with voters, constituents and most importantly, property taxpayers. It could also help develop a platform for citizens to better engage with their elected and un-elected public officials who at times seem to operate ‘in camera’, so to speak. 

  If municipalities are to operate as politically and ideologically neutral incorporated entities, their actions and motions should focus solely on infrastructure management, fair and standard business practices, transparent accounting as well as providing population appropriate access to emergency services. All of any corporation’s actions and motions should be subject to independent audit on demand.

  To push forward the current Minister of Municipal Affairs to announce and lead the contents of the bill before ‘The Chestermere Matter’, and others, have been fully, fairly and independently investigated presents the only relative need for caution with the bill. If by using Bill 20, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs can seemingly and arbitrarily remove members of municipal councils without transparent due process, there might very well be grounds for being cautious that the bill might be used as a ‘power grab’.

  I look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,

Al Neitsch

Windsong, Airdrie