With municipal elections only a couple of months away, people who know the issues the best are asking for one important one to be left by the side of the tracks.
The Eastern Ontario Warden’s Caucus, which includes Hastings County and Prince Edward County representatives, is continuing the call for meaningful consultation surrounding the ALTO high-speed rail project.
The EOWC is calling on ALTO and the Government of Canada to ensure that discussions affecting municipalities are not conducted during the municipal election period and that after they are over that the people elected have a chance for meaningful input.
Candidates need to form and discuss opinions on everything from infrastructure renewal and expansion, tax and staffing levels, proper land-use planning, support for emergency responders, economic development, continuing challenges surrounding the homelessness crisis, and countless other issues that affect us everyday.
I ran for election (unsuccessfully) eight years ago myself, and local councils deal with far more than you may think.
People need a chance to discuss and consider issues other than ALTO, and considering the scope and potential side-tracks involved, maybe we can wait to discuss it again during the election in 2030.
I’m Paul Martin and that’s what I see looking Beyond the Headlines.
