They may not have been chanting, but the message the residents of Lac Ste. Anne County were sending was loud and clear.
On Friday, Dec. 12 residents of Lac Ste. Anne County (LSAC) infiltrated the sidewalks outside the LSAC Office, carrying signs protesting the construction of a new office building without first consenting residents and ratepayers in the county.
“We are out here today, because the sheer act of democracy was lost,” Dale Johnson, Community Lead for the rally, said. “In August, five county councillors voted against letting the ratepayers have a choice, or have a say on a plebiscite dealing with the Lac Ste. Anne County Office.”
The County Councillors of Lac Ste. Anne have made it clear they are planning to build a new county office, possibly in a new location.
“They are moving it from Sangudo as far as I understand,” Johnson said, adding residents should be allowed to vote on where the new office will be located.
“It is very tight lipped on what and where exactly,” he added. “It’s hard to really know.”
Johnson said that the county should have first turned to the ratepayers to see where they stand on the topic.
“A very simple solution would be to let us ratepayers have a choice, and have a vote,” Johnson said.
Johnson said he also attended several meetings at the county office, in an effort to inform the councillors of the residents concerns.
Two petitions were given to the county of LSA, both covered with over 1,300 signatures.
“One was valid, which stopped them from borrowing $10 million,” Johnson said, adding that was the original budget estimated for the project.
The second petition given to LSAC was accepted as information, but wasn’t considered legal because some residents wrote the wrong address, nullifying their signatures.
“Those people still did sign that in good will, and they were in favour of not letting the county council do what they are doing,” Johnson said.
The residents asked the county for a plebiscite on the matter, so they too could have a say in the location and cost of the building.
“A big project should be a plebiscite for the people,” Johnson said, adding he believes the county is ignoring what the residents have to say.
“We are holding a rally because they are not listening,” Johnson said. “We are here showing them, hey we all care and we want a choice, we want a vote.”
The residents rallied outside of the county office to show the councillors how many people want a vote.
“To take time off from work, and to come and show the county councillors that, hey we are not happy, that is pretty significant,” Johnson said.
Johnson said the county’s decision to relocate the office is affecting everyone in the community.
“Overall it affects each, and everyone of us,” he said, adding it is the ratepayers who will see a change in their taxes that are mostly affected.
“Each and every taxpayer, because we are paying for it, out of our tax dollars that is how that building is built,” he said.
Johnson said he hopes the rally will help council reconsider their decision on allowing the residents to vote.
“I am hoping the message shows the county councillors that maybe we should reconsider what we have done, and let the people have a choice,” Johnson said.
The residents are more than just frustrated over the relocation of the county office, they are also worried.
“The people are worried that when the office leaves, Sangudo is going to disappear and die,” Johnson said, adding he doesn’t think that will be the case.
“This office has been here for 50 years, and Sangudo is, what Sangudo is,” he said.
According to Johnson, the residents have been in contact with Municipal Affairs on the issue and whhat other options residents can take from here.
“I believe if they are not going to take note of this, we are probably going to have to take those next steps,” Johnson said. “What that entails at this point, I can’t tell you.”
Johnson said that the residents of Sangudo are not afraid of losing the office to another town because there are issues between the east and west side of the county.
“It is more a fight for democracy,” Johnson said.
Members supporting the county in their decision were also present, holding signs that stated “we support our county councillors.”
