Editorial

Citizens, all

Some of the more regular ‘guests’ that frequent Slave Lake’s Citizen’s Park have become a hot topic at local meetings in recent weeks.
Last month the Chamber of Commerce members voted to send a letter to the Town suggesting more effort should be made to remove drinking and/or inebriated persons from the park.
Last week it was tongue-in-cheek Councillor Evelyn Norberg asked if more flowers could be planted at the park. – ostensibly in an effort to mask the park’s contents, we suppose.
But here’s the thing: As the name suggests, that tidy little Main Street park — built in memory of the late Councillor Dianne Garratt – is for citizens. And no one ever specified what size, shape or colour those ‘citizens’ must be to enjoy sitting in the park.
Sure, some of the occupants get a little over-friendly, if not downright aggressive at times. Sometimes they beg for cash, or cigarettes and make nuisances of themselves as they pass around their not-so-mysterious brown bags.
If that’s the case – if they’re a threat or a danger to others or themselves – someone should notify the local constabulary. But if they’re merely sitting in the park, enjoying the warm sun or one another’s company, what’s the big deal?
It was those citizens’ inclusion in the Communities in Bloom community luncheon that impressed contest judges one year. And if we were ready to use the residents as a ‘prop’ to show off our humanitarian leanings one day, why can’t we all be just a little more compassionate and even understanding the rest of the year?
Some suggest that their presence makes it impossible for other residents to enjoy the park. But anyone who tried to take their coffee break to the park would know those ‘citizens’ are only to ready to shove over on the bench or move along when company arrives.
After all, they’re citizens too, and as worthy as any to enjoy the park.

Transparent as mud

Several weeks ago, The Leader asked Aboriginal Affairs Minister Pearl Calahasen to ‘guestimate’ when the provincial ministers — who have been charged with helping find a solution to the dilemma over who has priority in Crown lands – would have suggestions. At the time, the Lesser Slave Lake MLA estimated the solution should appear by September – or thereabouts.
That was about two months ago. And September is just three months away. On the other hand, since early this year, Calahasen has been promising municipalities and other stakeholders in this dilemma that they’ll be kept informed as the process unfolds.
That’s why Slave Lake Town councillors appeared somewhat taken aback to learn this week that they’ve clearly been ‘out of the loop’ while some ‘stakeholders’ try to come up with a solution.
Specifically, Northern Oilfield Contractors Association spokesman Dave Redgate told them Aboriginal Affairs legal counsel, representatives for Loon River First Nation – and the contractors’ lawyer – have been meeting to talk about the possibilities.
No petroleum companies, no contractors, no municipalities were included. And only one of six departments supposedly searching for a solution was at the table where Calahasen promised stakeholders all would meet.
Time and again, the minister promised the process would be ‘transparent’. Something is terribly wrong with this picture. The process is as transparent as the silt that threatens to block the mouth of the Lesser Slave River.
Is it our imagination, or has the entire Lesser Slave Lake region been duped –- taken for fools — as a government proceeds on its merry way – behind closed doors?
And more importantly, how much does Premier Ralph Klein know about the secret meetings?