It’s an open secret that many Creighton and Denare Beach residents have disengaged from civic politics.
In the last municipal elections in 2012, only about 22 per cent of eligible Creightonites cast ballots; in Denare Beach it was about 52 per cent.
Is this proof that people are lazy? Apathetic? Ungrateful for the freedom democracy affords? This is what some will argue.
Another explanation is that as far as the general public is concerned, things are basically running smoothly in those communities, at least insofar as what local governments can control.
What are the big issues in Creighton? The ongoing closure of the Prospector Inn motel and restaurant, once a significant employer in the community, comes to mind.
But just as Flin Flonners’ desire to see the former Flin Flon Hotel reopen is not an issue for the municipal government (or any level of government), neither is the unfortunate closure of the Prospector something Creighton town council can do anything about.
Some Creightonites stood opposed to town council’s new (and still-empty) Collins Crescent subdivision, worried the lots were too pricy for the local market, but that project has already been completed and is irreversible.
The one big galvanizing subject that Creighton had – the potential for radioactive-waste storage – went out the window in 2015 due to unsuitable geology.
In Denare Beach, voters tend to be talking about youth crime, hardly a new concern.
On that file, village council could wield its influence to lobby for a Denare Beach-based RCMP officer, tougher young-offender laws, improved social services coverage and the like. Council could also dedicate resources toward expanding the community’s neighbourhood watch program.
Other than that, crime does not really fall under the purview of the village. The type of solution most people seem to yearn for – harsher penalties for young offenders and their absentee parents – is something to take up with Justin Trudeau, not Mayor Carl Lentowicz or his challenger Paul Trottier.
Many residents fail to see much connection between their day-to-day lives and the particular group of people on their municipal councils at a given time. To paraphrase what one non-voter told me: “No matter who is on council, the roads still get plowed, water still comes out of your tap and your taxes still generally go up. Things still function, more or less the same as they always have.”
That’s not to say controversial subject matter goes ignored. It has been suggested, for instance, that the City of Flin Flon’s now-apparently-defunct talk of annexing cottage country tipped the scales in favour of Cal Huntley in that municipality’s most recent election.
Yet other contentious topics fail to spark much interest. Creighton’s investigation of nuclear-waste storage comes to mind. As divisive as that concept was, the town’s 2012 election campaign failed to produce the slew of “anti-nuclear” candidates some had expected (and nuclear-waste opponents had hoped for).
Here is a suggestion for voters who might otherwise sit out this election: Think about which municipal issues you care the most about and find out where each of the candidates stands on those issues. And if you favour some outside-the-box proposal that no one else is talking about, bring that idea forward.
That’s how you get past apathy – and it’s how you elect the most representative council possible. Election Day is Wednesday, Oct. 26.
Local Angle is published on Fridays.
