To the Editor,
This week’s question Re: Mayor Douglas’ “laissez-faire” attitude towards Catalyst declaring bankruptcy brings a response to mind.
The former mayor (Ken McRae) claimed he had influence where he did not, as a result giving many of us false expectations on how much power a mayor does or does not have over corporate affairs.
The corporation (Catalyst Paper) has filed for bankruptcy protection. What can any mayor do about that?
That is a business outcome that has been coming for some time and no one should be surprised or dismayed by it. It is the reason we have needed to diversify our economy.
With the former mayor’s false hopes out of the way and the reality upon us, maybe we can get on with the task of diversifying our economy and let industry go where it was destined to go.
Let the downsizing of Port Alberni’s municipal government begin.
We have to get back to reasonable expectations and end the culture of entitlement that the former mayor and council cultivated. Council must practice the accepted protocols like “last in, first out” and let the people have what they want—just less of it.
Jen Fisher-Bradley,
Port Alberni