Council is currently discussing a medical model Supportive Housing Project. This project would put people dealing with cognitive disabilities and mental health challenges into a residential building with on-site medical care and social workers.

Council received a recommendation to locate this project on 105 Ave in South Avondale. I’m supportive of the concept of Supportive Housing, but am very far from convinced that this is the correct location.

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I hope that you will write your MLA and tell them you care about local democracy. Because today the Minister of Municipal Affairs tabled Bill that will allow for more money and more secretive money to be part of our local elections.

Today, Bill 29 was introduced. It sets out to make changes to the Local Authorities Election Act. You can read the government news release here. The release promises to “level the playing field” for local elections. But, in reality, Bill 29 will disadvantage candidates who refuse to take large, secretive donations. It will give candidates without personal wealth a HUGE disadvantage. And if I run again, it will give me an even larger incumbent advantage than I already have. This is all very bad news for local democracy.

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I’m angry. And I’m worried.

Because I think that local government has a HUGE role to play in people’s quality of life. I think that local democracy is vital to making sure it delivers on improving the life of residents. And (as seen by voter turnout), participation in local democracy is often weak.

For the sake of our residents and communities: local democracy needs to be strengthened.

So I’m angry and worried by actions that the provincial government is taking. Because these actions are designed to undermine local democracy.

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