Municipal priorities first

If one takes the time to look at local governance with a focus of local needs as defined by the electorate and the scarcity of resources, both human and financial the issue becomes one of priorities. Both human and financial resources at the local level are limited. Every year at budget time and particularly at election time community needs, preferences and expectations are presented by tax paying citizens to councilors and/or candidates.

The role of local governments is primarily to look after the health and well being of it's citizens and the local economy. The more human and financial resources that are assigned to fulfilling senior government's and international non elected non-government organizations (NGOs) needs reduces the amount of resources available for local needs and programs.

There are a number of local issues and needs that are not being adequately met due to local resource constraints. They range from housing for the needy and disenfranchised, food for families and those that cannot support themselves, hospitals that are underfunded and job creation just to name a few.

The bottom line is that informed people recognize that local governments focus needs to be strategically aligned with looking after our local citizens.

Senior levels of government have their mandates and taxation base to deploy them. Unfortunately, when we look at their deficits we see they have not been financially prudent but they certainly have been political. Our position in Waterloo Region needs to be local decision making for local results, not foreign interference decision making for political New World Order directives.