Last week’s criticism by MLA Gary Coons over the city’s lack of interest in a UBCM survey at the recent Penticton convention , has astonished the Mayor, who suggests that Mr. Coons needs to do more research on what the city is working on regarding the homeless file in the community.
With a provincial election campaign on the horizon next year, some suggest that the Coons declarations are simply the opening salvo in what may be a rather interesting electoral battle in the community.
As we have pointed out a number of times here on Podunk, Mayor Pond is contemplating a run for the Liberal nomination in the riding, a move all but confirmed by Frank Visentin in a recent Daily News Daily Discussion feature, where he advised he had signed the Mayor’s nomination papers. (Note to the Daily News, that Daily discussion article of October 20, might actually confirm the rumour you are speculating about in today’s paper)
With the temperature of the local political scene running a little hot these days, perhaps putting the potential Liberal candidate on the defensive might be seen as a warning shot that the campaign will be a long and rather vigorous one.
The only problem with the potential politicking in these early days (and perhaps a tad premature as well) is that the serious issue of homelessness in the community may get lost in all the salvos.
It’s a situation that would serve no one, politician, city resident or the growing numbers of the homeless in any capacity. Turning them into the rope of the tug of war between competing politicians certainly won’t enhance the image of either of them one would think.
Perhaps a little more progress and substantive developments on the issue and a lot less political rhetoric and self promotion from all sides might help improve things for those that are in the most need.
The Daily News featured the Mayor’s response to the Coons challenges in Monday’s paper.
City’s homelessness stance lauded
Mayor Herb Pond takes aim at MLA for his negative comments
By George T. Baker
The Daily News
Monday, October 27, 2008
With a provincial election campaign on the horizon next year, some suggest that the Coons declarations are simply the opening salvo in what may be a rather interesting electoral battle in the community.
As we have pointed out a number of times here on Podunk, Mayor Pond is contemplating a run for the Liberal nomination in the riding, a move all but confirmed by Frank Visentin in a recent Daily News Daily Discussion feature, where he advised he had signed the Mayor’s nomination papers. (Note to the Daily News, that Daily discussion article of October 20, might actually confirm the rumour you are speculating about in today’s paper)
With the temperature of the local political scene running a little hot these days, perhaps putting the potential Liberal candidate on the defensive might be seen as a warning shot that the campaign will be a long and rather vigorous one.
The only problem with the potential politicking in these early days (and perhaps a tad premature as well) is that the serious issue of homelessness in the community may get lost in all the salvos.
It’s a situation that would serve no one, politician, city resident or the growing numbers of the homeless in any capacity. Turning them into the rope of the tug of war between competing politicians certainly won’t enhance the image of either of them one would think.
Perhaps a little more progress and substantive developments on the issue and a lot less political rhetoric and self promotion from all sides might help improve things for those that are in the most need.
The Daily News featured the Mayor’s response to the Coons challenges in Monday’s paper.
City’s homelessness stance lauded
Mayor Herb Pond takes aim at MLA for his negative comments
By George T. Baker
The Daily News
Monday, October 27, 2008
Pages one and three
City of Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond responded Friday to criticism levied against city hall that the municipality did not take part in the Union of British Columbia Municipalities policy paper number two.
The policy paper number two was a call for more funding from both the federal and provincial governments to give a hand in helping municipalities deal with homelessness.
Pond said city council has worked hard on the issue and that the criticism from North Coast MLA Gary Coons was unfair.
“I’m astonished,” stated Pond.
“This policy paper was entirely a UBCM initiative, which Gary had nothing to do with. It was our organization at work – and the city has been involved from the beginning.”
Pond said there was a sub-committee working on the policy paper itself, which he was not involved with.
He said the city gets hundreds of similar survey requests and that it does not have time to participate in every single one.
“We have to be fairly strategic in where we place our time and energy. I was sitting at the table and so we weren’t responding on that particular survey,” said Pond.
Pond would not speculate about whether Coons’ comments were meant to be a first shot in a possible provincial election campaign that might pit Pond and Coons against one another.
Rumours are circulating that Pond will be named as the BC Liberal candidate for the upcoming provincial election but he would not confirm whether or not that is the case nor would he said whether he would consider this the first punch in the provincial election boxing match for the seat of the North Coast MLA.
He did say that work is getting done and that they did not sit idle at the UBCM as it relates to affordable housing and homelessness.
“Prince Rupert’s council booked a number of meetings and used one such opportunity to bring Prince Rupert concerns directly to Rich Coleman, minister of housing and social development.
“In addition to describing the challenges that still face Prince Rupert, councilors had the opportunity to outline the many positive initiatives that the community already supports – donating land for a new Transition House; donating land and waiving all development fees for the new Acropolis Manor so that seniors could access modern multi-level care; donating land and buildings to Kaien Island Daycare to help working families get on their feet; considering affordable housing as part of the new development proposals,: said Pond.
The mayor also noted that city staff have also invested significant time working with the homeless steering committee.
“I’ll repeat what I’ve said many times,” said Pond.
“The City of Prince Rupert is a paper thin organization, only recently hauled back from the edge of bankruptcy, yet we’re still seen as leaders in the province because we focus our resources very strategically.
“We simply can’t participate in everything, but on homelessness and affordable housing, we put our money where our mouth is.”
City of Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond responded Friday to criticism levied against city hall that the municipality did not take part in the Union of British Columbia Municipalities policy paper number two.
The policy paper number two was a call for more funding from both the federal and provincial governments to give a hand in helping municipalities deal with homelessness.
Pond said city council has worked hard on the issue and that the criticism from North Coast MLA Gary Coons was unfair.
“I’m astonished,” stated Pond.
“This policy paper was entirely a UBCM initiative, which Gary had nothing to do with. It was our organization at work – and the city has been involved from the beginning.”
Pond said there was a sub-committee working on the policy paper itself, which he was not involved with.
He said the city gets hundreds of similar survey requests and that it does not have time to participate in every single one.
“We have to be fairly strategic in where we place our time and energy. I was sitting at the table and so we weren’t responding on that particular survey,” said Pond.
Pond would not speculate about whether Coons’ comments were meant to be a first shot in a possible provincial election campaign that might pit Pond and Coons against one another.
Rumours are circulating that Pond will be named as the BC Liberal candidate for the upcoming provincial election but he would not confirm whether or not that is the case nor would he said whether he would consider this the first punch in the provincial election boxing match for the seat of the North Coast MLA.
He did say that work is getting done and that they did not sit idle at the UBCM as it relates to affordable housing and homelessness.
“Prince Rupert’s council booked a number of meetings and used one such opportunity to bring Prince Rupert concerns directly to Rich Coleman, minister of housing and social development.
“In addition to describing the challenges that still face Prince Rupert, councilors had the opportunity to outline the many positive initiatives that the community already supports – donating land for a new Transition House; donating land and waiving all development fees for the new Acropolis Manor so that seniors could access modern multi-level care; donating land and buildings to Kaien Island Daycare to help working families get on their feet; considering affordable housing as part of the new development proposals,: said Pond.
The mayor also noted that city staff have also invested significant time working with the homeless steering committee.
“I’ll repeat what I’ve said many times,” said Pond.
“The City of Prince Rupert is a paper thin organization, only recently hauled back from the edge of bankruptcy, yet we’re still seen as leaders in the province because we focus our resources very strategically.
“We simply can’t participate in everything, but on homelessness and affordable housing, we put our money where our mouth is.”
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