The October 23 edition of the Journal had an interesting article highlighting a local debate about potentially reducing the number of council seats in smaller municipalities from six to four. The article, “Small municipalities debate reducing council seats”, was interesting and gave me a very minor optimistic surge.
We obviously have too many councillors. Reducing the seats is a step in the right
direction, but one so small it bears almost no consequence.
The following two excerpts really illustrate there are some fresh minds in our local political circles. “Fort-Coulonge Mayor Christine Francoeur believes a smaller team will allow for more fluid conversations, decision making and action…there may be less opinions around the table, so we’ll be able to get the work done faster”. Mayor Lucie Rivet Paquette of Rapides-des-Joachims says it comes down to effective communication and people knowing what they’re doing.
The change is a move in the right direction, but it’s glacial paced. A significantly better move would be to drop from the 18 municipalities we currently have to 5. The benefits expressed by these mayors are magnified greatly by the grander reduction of municipalities.
The MRC Pontiac’s 18 municipalities elect six councillors and one mayor each. These 18 mayors represent their respective municipalities at our regional council in Campbell’s Bay, which essentially equals 126 elected officials and the warden at the MRC council table. Five municipalities would elect six councillors and five mayors, for a total of 35; an over 70% reduction. Using Mayor Francoeur’s thoughts, think about how much faster the work could be done!
Just think about it!
Tom M.,
CLARENDON
