The MD of Bonnyville council was wise to adopt a policy at its last meeting on how to handle requests for funding from local sports teams and community groups.
The policy was established to avoid groups constantly approaching council as it allows administration to give them funds directly.
Sports teams that have qualified to advance to a provincial, national or international level and are required to travel can receive up to $250, while a person participating in an individual sport can receive $100 under the same guidelines. Sports team hosting such an event within MD boundaries can receive up to $500.
The MD might want to consider taking this idea further and implementing a broader policy to cover requests from other groups, such as local seniors clubs.
The MD is in hot water after refusing to fund the proposed bus for the Bonnyville Seniors' Society, as the Town of Bonnyville has agreed to chip in $15,000, contingent on the MD changing its mind.
But Reeve Ed Rondeau was right in suggesting the Town looked “like the good guy and we look like the bad guy.”
Councillors were not impressed with how the Town placed a stipulation on the MD. Coun Don Sinclair did not appreciate how the Town was “telling us how to vote,” and suggested they move to the MD and run for a spot on the MD council.
It is difficult to imagine Town councillors meant any harm and were merely interested in supporting the seniors' cause.
But for the future, we'd have to agree with Rondeau that the Town should support projects solo, and avoid duel requests if possible.
In all fairness to the MD, councillors raised a good point about how they turned down a request from the Glendon seniors and could not in good conscience turn around and support the Bonnyville Seniors' Society. The MD faces a unique challenge as it covers a vast area with multiple groups of the same kind. If the MD were to fund a group from Bonnyville, it would then be obliged to fund similar groups from Ardmore, Fort Kent, Glendon, Iron River and LaCorey. The Town of Bonnyville does not face this dilemma.
Of course there will always be unique circumstances and times when requests can't be categorized by a policy. But it would benefit MD council to outline a clear policy on which types of projects to fund so all clubs under its wing are treated fairly.
