It has now been six months since the town's ongoing controversy on its leadership first exploded.
And today, despite a few months of apparent calm, the war between town council and a significant and important voice for the community -- the Citizens for Innisfail (CFI) group -- is as messy as ever.
CFI, officially comprised of 10 local residents, is not merely a small bunch of rabble-rousers as some councillors, including the mayor, may believe. They are passionate and committed good citizens who care deeply about their community, and while their membership is "officially" small, there are many, many and many more in town who are fully supportive of their goals -- and that is to make Innisfail a vibrant community being led by responsible elected leaders fully prepared to engage, and more importantly listen to the people who put them in office.
Last week, town council slammed the door shut on the CFI to make a presentation on an issue that is of vital concern to many local citizens.
Since last fall, council, notably Mayor Brian Spiller, has repeatedly told the community through CFI members at council that privacy laws, as advised to them by the town's lawyers, prevent them from commenting on staff issues. Fair enough.
But now council has had enough of doing even that small gesture. Spiller said council is upset at the latest allegations. That too is fair. But name one politician in this country who does not become a bit twisted up when faced with tough questions about alleged impropriety within their ranks. Like it or not, to be confronted vigorously by citizens is the job every elected official has signed on to when they made the decision to run for office.
Shutting the door on CFI is not the correct way to handle public discontent. In past public presentations when faced with a tough issue, like the dump controversy three years ago, council opted to listen and not comment. That too is fair.
But denying CFI the right to speak does no one a favour, least of all for those who hold sacred the democratic right to confront their elected officials at a fully public forum about matters of paramount civic concern. On March 27 council could have once again let the fur fly, thank the delegation, and simply said goodnight. They made a decision last week to turn their backs, and despite Spiller's claim this was not setting a course for future delegation requests to speak, it has set a troubling precedent.
Mayor Spiller is a good man. However, as the leader of this community he has a duty to seek healing, to be an exemplary example that elected officials will under any circumstance yield to reconciliation. With an election just over six months away, it's still not too late. Time will tell.
Johnnie Bachusky is the editor of the Innisfail Province.
