Dear Editor,
We are very disappointed that the MD of Bonnyville Council would even consider a major change to LUB 14. This is not a clarification, as Reeve Ed Rondeau and CAO Ryan Poole are trying to lead ratepayers to believe in the media. It surely appears that the MD is saying it needs to pass this to be able to do repairs to a development which is already in place. The LUB already allows for repairs to public works. What this amendment really does is allow the MD to build or construct public works, which includes things like garbage dumps, wherever it wants without notifying anyone and without any public input or chance for appeal. In fact, with this amendment, it would not even be necessary for Council to be consulted, as administration would have the authority to approve these developments on its own. In CAO Poole's message he states that “major infrastructure” would have to go through the “public hearing process” for input from residents. We believe he is wrong. The amendment does not differentiate between major or minor infrastructure. In either case, with the amendment, infrastructure (including major infrastructure) could be built or constructed wherever administration wants without public consultation or input whatsoever.
With the amendment, the MD would be able to proceed with public works without a development permit on any site, which also means there is no opportunity for residents to appeal.
The MD says that it wants to speed up the development permit process by eliminating it, so they won't have to deal with public concerns. Rondeau and Poole both concede that it would save time, and this is why they want the change. Trading ratepayers' rights to speed things up by a couple of weeks! Real impressive public servants? It is obvious that the MD either does not understand the Municipal Government Act, which by law the MD is to abide by, or that it just chose to ignore it.
Mike and Aggi Wasylyk
MD of Bonnyville
