Commentary by Jeff Burgar

This year is just about over. Yes. Over. Done. Kaput.

I’m not talking about Christmas presents.

Not about New Year’s Eve plans. Getting the sled out of storage. Winter tires.

Even raking up leaves. None of that.

Because of course, right now it almost seems like we aren’t even out of winter.

True, crops and gardens should all be in. Grass is green and leaves are all out. If you have a bird nest or two around, it’s probably full of eggs. Squirrels have been frisking.

Fishing is on. Nobody is talking about holidays in the Caribbean.

Most of us are already warmed up for everything summer. As it should be.

So what’s this talk about the year being over?

Well, in another couple of weeks, school will be out. And right after that, it’s summer holidays, for those of us who take those days in July and August. Which, in all honesty, is emphatically not everybody.

But it sure is used as an excuse to do as little as possible in some quarters.

Ah yes. Politicians! Where, in so many quarters, it seems like politicians are already on summer holidays.

To be fair, there as just as many really, really sharp and hard working politicians who know summer is closing in. So they push to get as much done as possible before those dreaded “summer doldrums” close in. They are still fighting an often losing battle against those, also in public office, with no interest at all in really doing much of anything.

Crime in the streets? Criminals take holidays all summer don’t they?

Roads falling apart? Well, nobody is really driving anywhere except to get out of town or the region, right?

Let’s have some meetings to talk about improving the community?

Why bother? Nobody is going to come, right?

Ah yes, those meetings to talk about community problems. Sure.

We will get right on that. Right after the election, right? Because you know, its really is one of our top priorities.

Yes indeed!

“What?” you say, as the wheels screech to a stop! Did you say there’s an election coming?

Well yes of course there is dear readers. Alberta towns, cities, municipal districts, counties and Metis settlements are all having elections.

In October.

Which means, by the time all of us get interested in our communities again, we will have about three weeks of looking at election signs.

Reading about who is running. Who has real plans for our homes and regions.

Certainly we aren’t hearing much from anybody right now. And through June, July and August there won’t be anything. In fact, many municipal councils entertain thoughts of having fewer meetings. Because, “you know, there just isn’t anything happening.” Heck, didn’t we just say that?

And September, well, we are so exhausted from doing nothing all summer, and getting ready for school, and settling down from school starting, there won’t be much political happening.

Is it all over already except for counting the ballots? If that’s the case, ouch!