Dear editor,
I recently read The Eagle's story about council's decision to defer possible lease support for an Indigenous Centre in Cochrane. I am reluctant to speak about such an emotionally charged issue but feel I have no choice, given Coun. Reed’s doubling down on reactions to his comments.
Mr. Reed was quoted as stating the reasons for his motion to table the item was a lack of information, adding it was his duty as an elected official not to make a rash and/or fiscally improper decision. He was also among others who seemed to be concerned about the ‘fairness’ to other groups who have made similar requests.
First of all, imagine living with decades of unfulfilled promises and outright lies or atrocity cover ups, would you not feel strongly about another delay?!
Secondly, by trying to be fair to all, this council risks being fair to none.
I fully support his comment that town council must be prudent with taxpayer funds, but it seems hypocritical when they are about to waste millions in the future; I’m talking about the possible $1.7 million for public art.
In the actual council meeting, Mr. Reed made clear that his intentions were meant to be respectful when it comes to delaying a decision on this project. Fair enough. But when he reacted to criticism of his comments with accusatory statements of his own, he essentially negated all his previous comments when he made.
I’m not saying Mr. Reed or the other councillors were wrong in delaying a decision on this project, but I have to take exception to his later comments. If members of the public are ‘ignorant’ of the process, then it is your responsibility to explain it to them but there is never an excuse to belittle these people and/or try to make yourself look like the victim here.
Dan Cunin
GlenEagles
