Quote:
Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame
If you're in Municipal politics, what is your opinion on the UCP downloading costs to municipalities in the last four years, particularly on smaller towns and communities that can't afford the extra burden? For example the ongoing ambulance availability crisis? What is it about their governing style that gives you hope?
And I'm curious why you think Rebecca Schulz has been great?
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Finally I can gather my thoughts after a long weekend of hockey!
My opinion on the downloading is:
Its ####ing annoying. And it will only continue in the future as they continue to cut grant funding but increase downloading. But I don't foresee that changing with the NDP. It's a trend among all provincial parties to to continue to download responsibility.
This Provincial Police Force will be the next broken "we won't download this onto municipalities" broken promise from the current regime. It is one reason I hope the NDP get a majority this spring as I believe that the plan will be scrapped and no more time or money wasted on such a stupid idea that no one rurally supports (We voted overwhelmingly at the RMA for a motion in support of the RCMP).
Schulz has done a great job of communicating with our municipality specifically on the challenges with the current ICF legislation and open to discussions with the RMA and rural municipalities on creating a dialogue with stakeholders on changing the legislation to create more harmonious negotiations between urban and rural muncipalities. This is something the previous two ministers were not willing to touch with a 15 foot pole. Their response was "you just figure it out, the legislation is what it is". Which has led to multiple long drawn out law suits and judicial reviews province wide on ICFs.
Is she perfect? No. No one is. But I see positives in her current interactions with us.
I want to reiterate again, I am NOT a UCP supporter, my posts aren't done to try to convince you or anyone that the UCP are a good party or even the ones who I am hoping are in the majority after this election. I support the MLA of my area and don't think a new NDP MLA would bring much more to our region. But if they wanted to discuss what they could bring to earn my vote, I am all ears.
I suspect an NDP majority this spring might solve a few issues coming down the line for the province, but I also will just roll with the punches if they don't!