If you find yourself confused, frustrated and even a little bit angry with all levels of government these days, you are not alone. On an almost daily basis, we are faced with announcements that many of us simply do not understand and seem to be an impulse inspired by political leaders’ own ideological fantasies.
In Calgary, we see hundreds of people lined up to speak at a public hearing on changing the zoning laws of our city. Was this discussed in the last election? Was this even an issue when we were all going to the polls to vote?
Here we are faced with a major decision about the future of our city and the opportunity for a plebiscite was rejected. Some would say that is why we are having a public hearing but, for many of us, the feeling is that this hearing is a sham and that the majority of council has already made up their minds. Does this cause confusion and frustration?
The province announced this week that it would no longer support the lower-cost bus fares for our economically challenged citizens before backtracking after hearing from the mayors of Calgary and Edmonton. Was there logic behind that initial decision, are there reasons for it?
In conversations, people say, “Why did the province do that? Surely not to save a few million dollars?” We all learned in school that municipal governments are simply wards of the provinces and perhaps we have seen municipal leaders in Alberta getting over their skis when it comes to their roles of leadership, but this provincial decision just leads to confusion and uncertainty for people who need extra help.
It is good to see the province announcing the creation of a master plan for rail development in Alberta. This is the way the public should be informed about new initiatives.
On the first day of this civic administration, the mayor announced that the city would focus on the “climate crisis” as a priority, and most of us thought, “Where did that come from?”
In the meantime, our roads are filled with potholes and a family that recently moved here from Winnipeg said, “We cannot believe how poorly Calgary deals with snow removal on city streets.”
Those are the jobs of councillors, not championing a changing climate or disrupting long-established communities. There seems to be a number of existing vacant sites, owned by the city, that are perfect for redevelopment. More confusion for a frustrated citizenry.
Speaking of confusion, when did it become the role of a city council member to suggest that non-citizens of Canada should be able to vote in local elections? This may be a fair and reasonable idea, but surely this cannot be dropped onto the public without a degree of preamble and preparation. This is a major change in our cultural profile and needs to be proposed, discussed and investigated with serious public input, not brought forward as a motion to be debated by a group of elected individuals.
Finally, the government in Ottawa. While the United States is booming ahead with an economy that is so hot they might have to raise interest rates to slow it down, here in Canada — with all of the resources and talents of any nation — we find ourselves in a productivity slump. Political policies are discouraging investment and now we learn that the latest budget could actually be driving doctors into retirement or to other jurisdictions.
When the prime minister said we could not provide natural gas to Germany, Greece, France or Japan because there was “not a business case for doing so,” but then turned around and invested $30 billion in battery plants without so much as a supporting policy statement, it leaves many of us confused, frustrated and angry.
Leadership is not easy, we all accept that; but leadership that is spontaneous, erratic and without adequate public support is not the way we will grow and progress in this country.
It might be a good start if all levels of government would put aside personal feelings and try to make decisions based on the best interests of the entire country, province or city.
George H. Brookman is the chair and company ambassador of West Canadian Digital.
Brookman: Confused and frustrated by politics at all levels
20
0
03.05.2024
If you find yourself confused, frustrated and even a little bit angry with all levels of government these days, you are not alone. On an almost daily basis, we are faced with announcements that many of us simply do not understand and seem to be an impulse inspired by political leaders’ own ideological fantasies.
In Calgary, we see hundreds of people lined up to speak at a public hearing on changing the zoning laws of our city. Was this discussed in the last election? Was this even an issue when we were all going to the polls to vote?
Here we are faced with a major decision about the future of our city and the opportunity for a plebiscite was rejected. Some would say that is why we are having a public hearing but, for many of us, the feeling is that this hearing is a sham and that the majority of council has already made up their minds. Does this cause confusion and frustration?
The province announced this week that it would no longer support the lower-cost bus fares for our economically challenged citizens before........
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