I will admit that I am a news and political junkie. The first thing I did on Tuesday morning was to turn to CBC on my nightstand radio to find out what had happened in Alberta overnight. I had to wait impatiently for the news to report that Albertans had overwhelmingly chosen to remain in Canada. I breathed easier after that, although I am still wondering what the results of the other nine referendum questions tell us.
I will be equally anxious next Monday evening as the results of the Fort Frances election are announced. It will be a quick decision since everything will be done online. The results will begin writing a new chapter in the history of Fort Frances. In many ways, this election is a turning of the page, attracting new, younger citizens into the race.
Watching the candidates and reading their literature, everyone has been quick to describe the issues in Fort Frances and across the district. Housing, more employment opportunities for our youth and more community attractions are just a few of the items. No candidate has clearly defined their vision of the future in Fort Frances.
Transparency is also a concern of community citizens.
The problem that candidates face is answering those questions with solutions. Take, for instance, the worry about transparency. Very few citizens ever attend a council meeting. The gallery is empty most nights. Maybe they are watching the proceedings on television, but the numbers do not support that idea.
Documents that council will review are also posted online so those attending can follow along and see what the debate is about. The newspaper continues to attend those meetings and write the stories that grow out of the decisions of council.
Unfortunately, fewer Fort Frances residents can find the time to read those stories and be informed. Fewer residents continue to read the newspaper or follow the newscasts on the radio. Council needs to find a way to engage the residents of the community. Citizens must be able to tell council what would make municipal governance more transparent.
Matt Elliott, a contributing columnist to the Toronto Star, wrote on Tuesday about the Toronto election: “Candidates used to offer bold visions” about the future of Toronto but complained that Mayor Oliva Chow has not offered any bold visions in this election. He could have been writing about Fort Frances, Emo, Rainy River or any community in the district.
