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Interesting things happened in the late Eighties here in the Crowsnest Pass, resulting in one-man rule over our community of communities.
Starting off with the creation of the CROWSNEST PASS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION - see Articles of Incorporation in 1988, by a small group of individuals (led by our esteemed Mayor) which seized control of our community's economic engine, and has maintained control of it ever since. In 2006, this entity under went a name change and today it is now better known as COMMUNITY FUTURES CROWSNEST PASS - see Alberta Corporation Non-Profit CFCNP), but still having the same people (22 years later) as 'shareholders' and directors in what is suppose to be a non-profit corporation??? Is Western Economic Diversification (WED) who are the federal government's overseer of Community Futures aware of this i.e. private corporation wrapped up into a non-profit corporation? I'm still waiting for an answer to that question, and for supporting documents I requested from WED (my experience so far in dealing with these people is that they are ever-so-slow in responding, and seem to prefer to circle the wagons rather than dealing openly and honestly with those they are suppose to be serving). I'll keep you posted on this and more, once I get some answers and paperwork that I have been promised, and tie up some loose ends.
From looking over the above two documents one can easily see who has been at the helm and controlling much of the decision making with respect to our local economy for the past 22 years (hint: it is NOT the Board), in more ways than one, which explains volumes as to our sorry and sad state of affairs.
Around the same time, the Crowsnest Learning Centre (CLC) was set up as their private little club (Society) with taxpayers picking up the bills, while having little to no say.
Add to the above, Dr. John Irwin being our local hospital's doctor and only surgeon, along with his position as Mayor over our local governance, and we see one-man rule has been the end result for our community. Taken separately, one can argue it doesn't necessarily add up to much, but when added together collectively, the picture of authoritarian and despotic rule is very clear, and explains much in my opinion with respect to our ongoing economic and societal slide into stagnation, decline and despair.
Some will argue we have not had true democracy here in the Pass for some time, but instead, dictatorial rule with a small elite group of people exerting their will for the greater good of the few, at the expense of the many. For those who cannot see this then keep voting him or his underlings in and you will get more of the same... good government. For those who do see this and desire real change, then it is time to depose the King and let freedom reign. By ensuring an 'honest' election and by supporting those who are willing, able and ready to step forward to lead this community into the 21st century, and away from the dark ages. It is time to let go of the past and get on with the future.
The re-organizational structure of Community Futures Crowsnest Pass, along with open and free elections at the membership level for a new Board of Directors, and a change of local government this coming fall, must be our community's top priority. Only then, can the people regain control and become all that we can be!
Nothing is as powerful as an idea whose time has come.
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Tuesday, February 16, 2010
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7 comments:
Wasn't the good doctor paid for years by the municipality to sit on Economic Development/Community Futures as their self-appointed council representative? While at the same time, according to the above documents, he was sitting as both a director and shareholder? Isn't this a conflict of interest and illegal?? If so, why has nobody, especially council, done something about it by bringing this to the attention of Municipal Affairs and the RCMP?
This is all very confusing to me. If I am reading this right 6 people bought 1 share @ $100,000. What was this money used for? What will they get (or what are they getting) out of this? Can anyone help me to understand this?
It's not healthy having all the same people making decisions all the time.
Anon @3:54
When I was on council he appointed himself year after year as council representative to Economic Development and received payment for each meeting attended on behalf of the municipality. I believe that was the case in subsequent years, or at least until last year (or the year before?). I agree, council should have municipal affairs look into this matter.
Anon @3:09
Again, council should get a legal opinion on this whole business and not allow any of this to be swept under the rug, if they want to be looked at as an open and honest council. Legal opinions don't cost much, and besides, the municipality has a legal firm on retainer, if I'm not mistaken, and considering the vast amounts of money that has already been spent and wasted on the CLC alone (due in large part, in my opinion, to the minority on council and the CLC Board). There is no excuse for not having this matter looked into by a professional.
Anon @1:01
You are right. Community Futures has not been successful in creating sustainable jobs in this community. They need a house cleaning and complete overhaul. By now it should be obvious to everyone that since 1988, they have failed miserably in not being able to meet the objectives stated in their Memorandum of Association (see above). Which is not surprising, considering, as you put it, "It's not healthy having all the same people making decisions all the time." I firmly believe that is the crux of the problem, in respect to our community's present and on-going societal and economic ills.
How can you have a Board sitting as a Shareholder when only individuals or businesses can do this? Who sits on this CROWSNEST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD is another question?... considering this Board was disbanded after Cliff Reiling left, and John Salus was refused a seat because of that fact? These questions beg answers? Which are slowly coming, but coming never the less, despite the total 'lack of cooperation' and assistance from our local CF CNP and their masters at W.E.D..
No worry, we will soon have answers that I'm guessing will 'blow the top off the kettle', so to speak.
These Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC) created by Western Economic Diversification (WED) there is 90 of them across the 4 western provinces and they were all created with the same purpose to create jobs and diversify the economy, and it's a good program as long as you follow the criteria they were created for. But some people are to smart to follow the rules they know better than the one who created the program and tried to change to name to fool the tax payers and use the money to their own advantage.
I don't care if you put lipstick and a fur coat on a pig one day it will squeal and everyone will know you still have a pig. These Community Futures were suppose to be controlled the same way as the Chamber of Commerce.
The two fundamental things here you have to have a membership list which is the voter list to elect a new board every year and no one owns shares in a society that operates only with public money very, very simple. An election at an annual general meeting (AGM) that way no one believes they own the place and no politicians involved unless their asked for a letter of recommendation.
About the share my belief is they never bought those shares they just put their name beside it and give then a value of $100,000 if this is not the truth let them explain themselves
In response to 1:01
Who's fault is it? There's to many people like you who are ready to complain but not willing to yell at those politicians who make the wrong decisions.
-Joe Blow
you are a first class crackpot John Prince
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