Zerospeak

Worse than doublespeak.

"This is a community issue...those decisions need to come from the bottom up," replied British Columbia Premier Christy Clark when asked by the media whether government--in light of the citizen petition to amalgamate local areas--will force amalgamation of Vernon, Coldstream and Areas B and C.

Bottom up?

Local MLA Eric Foster recently told me "the people have to convince their Mayors/Councils that their citizens want to amalgamate, and the Mayors/Councils, and area reps then approach me.  That's the process."

Thinking of the bottom up comment, I asked him "what if our Mayors/Councils won't do that?"  Eric replied:  "Then you can express your dissatisfaction in November 2014" (during the election).

So it remains pecking order, no matter how displeased the bottom-up people are.
And local governments can then stymie the wishes of residents...at least put it off for a year.
Mayors Sawatzky and Garlick--and areas B and C directors, led by RDNO Chairman Nicol--obviously know that, and have absolutely Zero to say when asked about amalgamation.

Zero.

"The absolute silence from local municipal politicians is interesting..." offers a Letter to the Editor from Michael Tindall, adding "Are citizens to assume they would rather continue wasting taxpayers' money than ask a simple question about future governance?"

Eric added, as reported in the Morning Star, "If there is a large groundswell of support for this, it will be important for local government to take it seriously."

Large groundswell.

Redundant.

Today's the day the petition timeline ends.
"If any one area has less than 10 per cent signatures, the petition fails," Coldstream Mayor Garlick was quoted as saying some time ago.  "Not so," affirms a canvasser for the Society.

Michael's letter closes with "You were all elected to govern; staying silent is not an acceptable option."

Another citizen wrote "...I do know that I don't want to see my taxes go up because the City of Vernon cannot rein in its spending habits."

Fear...something the Society for Future Governance of Vernon hasn't been able to assuage to date.
Yet I trust the Society.

But I fear something too.

That governments--all of them--are ignoring an entire segment called Citizens.
Citizens--and not mayors and councils--are what "bottom up" means.

"The zero-speaking mayors will receive a reminder," affirms Kia.

Amalgamation isn't going to go away by ignoring it.