Inaccurate accusations

Dear editor:
As an advocate of open government, I am getting a little tired of all the accusations concerning secrecy and the cone of silence that apparently has descended over the Fort Frances Council Chambers.
It is being played out as an intent to keep the public in the dark, opening the information door only once in a while to throw some manure on the resident mushrooms.
I can assure all taxpayers that nothing could be further from the truth.
Every executive meeting (Planning and Development, Operations and Facilities, Community Services, and Administration and Finance) is open to the public. The times and locations are well advertised.
All four meet every other week from council meetings. Very rarely, if ever, do we go in-camera at these meetings. The minutes are available, and the public recommendations from these open meetings go to the consent agenda of council.
During the committee of the whole meetings, which precede every council meeting, we go in-camera again, but only when guided to do so by the Municipal Act.
Information that is shared in these “closed” sessions must be kept confidential. If material was released from these “in-camera” meetings, citizens’ reputations could be irreparably tarnished, individuals or the town could be damaged financially, residents sued, or even the town facing litigation.
Mayor and council do not use the Municipal Act as a shield to hide behind and keep proceedings from the citizens of Fort Frances. This is not only inaccurate and impossible, but an irresponsible diatribe on the part of certain individuals that suggest this.
Everything that we do or discuss, we strive to keep in the public domain. Special public meetings are held, as needed, to acquire taxpayer input.
But the good people of Fort Frances did not elect us to come knocking on their door every week with another survey, a plebiscite, or another public meeting so we, as council, can turtle, delay, and blame our inaction on mixed reviews.
They elected us because they entrusted us with the power to act and make those tough decisions based on all the facts and information, including taxpayer input, at our disposal.
We, as a council, and I, as an individual, will continue to act in the best interest of the residents and for a prosperous future in “our” community.
Rick Wiedenhoeft,
Councillor (for now)
P.S. Just a couple of examples of fear-mongering and mis-information: In 1983 (23 years ago), the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the 1905 power agreement is guaranteed in perpetuity, and private health care will not be a part of the not-for-profit Fort Frances Community Clinic.