Recently, I watched a report on the great dictators of this world and remembered how lucky we are to live where democracy and freedom of expression guide our governments—at least some.
Recently, I watched a report on the great dictators of this world and remembered how lucky we are to live where democracy and freedom of expression guide our governments—at least some. Several situations in the last year confirm to me that maintaining division seems to be a theme with some elected officials, and leads me to seriously doubt we will soon experience prosperity in the Pontiac.
Let us start with the resolution tabled in November 2020 to end the service
agreement with a consultant at the head of a major economic development project that would make Pontiac a world leader in the biomass industry. This resolution was tabled by one of the 18 mayors on the pretext that the warden cannot table a resolution; the fact remains that she openly contravened ethics since the original resolution came from her. To top it off, a resolution was adopted at the last regular sitting to proceed with the hiring of…a consultant!
There were divided votes, on at least three occasions, which were the result of an attempt to change this decision by a handful of courageous elected officials who have at heart the future of the MRC Pontiac. How can we explain that the Warden can use, or not, her right of veto at will for the sole purpose of maintaining division on this fundamental issue? What about the addition of a subject to the agenda: how can you explain, Mme. Warden, that when one of the mayors wanted to have a subject added to the agenda, you strongly opposed it, when you yourself did the exact same thing at the last sitting to hire the consultant?
The icing on the cake was when you persisted in maintaining that some public
e-questions were submitted by a municipal councillor, whereas it came from a private citizen, who yes, devotes himself as a municipal councillor; it ascribed false
intentions to a person and that’s far from ethical, even reprehensible.
These are just a few glaring examples of an attack on democracy and freedom of speech which increasingly convinces me our warden isn’t preaching by example at
all, despite all the fine words leading us to believe otherwise. What hypocrisy!
Jean-Pierre Landry
CAMPBELL’S BAY
