International Falls city council is out to promote better co-operation with Fort Frances, forming a “Border Sister Cities Task Force” at its meeting Monday night.
While that’s a welcomed gesture, and something Fort Frances should join in on, one hopes this effort actually produces concrete results rather than just talk and goodwill.
After almost a century as cross-border neighbours, Fort Frances and International Falls formally signed a “twinning” agreement in September, 2002, complete with gushing accolades, optimism, and vows to work together on our common goals and obstacles.
Unfortunately, not a whole lot of action followed that initial enthusiasm. Sure, the two councils continued to challenge each other in smoosh races and slo-pitch games, but frankly, that does little to solve job losses in the paper industry, stem the out-migration of our youth, and attract new businesses.
Even Mayor Dan Onichuk admitted today that the follow-up did not occur after 2002, but vowed things would be different this time around. “This is a step, a giant step, towards ensuring that follow-up occurs,” he said.
Let’s hope so.
Mayor Onichuk said council will make a reciprocal gesture at its meeting this coming Monday night, with Falls city administrator Rod Otterness planning to address council at its June 27 meeting. Meanwhile, International Falls Mayor Shawn Mason is drawing up a formal invitation to council to join the new task force.
Working together, Fort Frances and International Falls are a much more formidable force when taking on issues with a higher level of government, such as the proposed passport requirement to enter the U.S. as of Jan. 1, 2008.
It’s great to see such a willingness to improve co-operation between our two communities, especially given relations were so sour after the so-called border fish wars of the early 1990s. But while talking is better than not talking, talking for the sake of talking doesn’t accomplish much, either, without the results to show for it.
