AAP Lawsuit Update-Kathrine Blair

I’ve received the City of Kamloops’ response to the AAP lawsuit, and it’s quite a lengthy document. This classic manoeuvre has buried our lawyer in paperwork, and seems designed to make me-the petitioner-incur as much expense as possible.

While this move was not unexpected; it is disheartening that the administration would go to such lengths to deny justice to the average citizen who simply wanted the Kamloops City Council and administration to do the right thing.

The one document the City didn’t submit in their defence was a mailer to every household explaining the two projects, and how they used the AAP instead of a referendum. Why, you ask? Because they weren’t compelled to. City Council and administration deliberately chose not to use the best and most direct method to get information to the people. This small step would have informed the entire community-and we wouldn’t be where we are today.

Why would they not want all the public to know of the AAP and the $275 million loan they were going to take out against the city? Could it be they didn’t want you to know?

This lawsuit, the money spent-and that will be spent-would have been avoided had they just mailed out a simple one page letter.

I’ve received support from those who understand that what city hall has done erodes our right as citizens to regulate significant expenditures that could exponentially increase taxes and impact our well-being.

However, I’ve also encountered dissenting opinions; with some stating that my efforts are a waste of time and money.

I assure you that is not the case. We elect city council members to serve the community’s best interests, and to ensure everyone’s voice is included in the decision-making process. Over the past year, it is clear that this particular council and administration have not acted in the public’s best interests. If they had, we wouldn’t be engaged in a lawsuit.

To those who oppose my efforts, I urge you to consider this: if we fail to halt the city from employing the alternative approval process (AAP) for these types of major projects right now; this council-and future councils-will never ask the taxpayers permission to spend obscene amounts of our money again-they will just do it. Why? Because we told them they didn’t have to.

Opposing this AAP is about opposing the ability for an administration to keep citizens in the dark, and uninformed.

Taxpayers have few rights to compel governments to act in our best interests, so please-let’s not throw one away. I am fighting for our future rights and hope you will join and support me in preserving that right.

-Kathy

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