COMMUNICATING WITH the public is the most important aspect of being a regional district director according to one candidate.
Doug McLeod, who’s running in Area C – the area outside the city excluding Thornhill – says public input is crucial to decision making, especially on big decisions, and the public should be invited to participate in planning and review of issues that affect them.
“The board is in the position where it should, and has to, learn what the public has to say before it makes a commitment,” he said.
For example, he says residents haven’t been asked their opinion on the Forceman Ridge landfill since 2002.
Forceman Ridge costs have increased, and taxes are rising dramatically, he said.
“A lot of business is going to happen in the area and there needs to be a positive base [of communication] before we do anything,” he said.
In one instance, on a tax issue, 30 people sent letters to the regional district and not one received a response, even to acknowledge that the letter was received, he said.
“They should at minimum acknowledge [receiving] a letter,” said McLeod.
Information could get to the public from the board by being available on the regional district website, or maybe by public meetings in the area to be affected by a decision and the number of the board’s in camera sessions should be decreased, he said.
McLeod, who is now retired and lives at Lakelse Lake, has a work career that includes being a member of the RCMP and 30 years in the insurance business with Wightman and Smith.
He has also served as a justice of the peace.