By Mayor Wayne Price,

City of Cranbrook

Recognizing the increasing trend of false accusations and unwarranted criticism toward local government officials and staff, at the beginning of our term this City of Cranbrook council resolved that we would acknowledge mistakes or errors and make corrections accordingly. We also committed to defend the City Corporation, council and staff when faced with erroneous or false accusations.

After listening to Mr. David Denhoff’s comments made on a recent segment of CBC’s Daybreak South radio program on July 17, I feel compelled to address several comments that he made with respect to the City of Cranbrook.

Mr. Denhoff stated that the City of Cranbrook right now is not delivering when it comes to advocating for provincial funding that’s needed. When elected, top priority for this council was to rebuild damaged relationships with the provincial government that had been created by partisan local government politics.

Over the past term, we have been successful in establishing positive relationships that have resulted in funding, partnerships, and pilot programs, all of which will benefit our community. Our council is committed to working with all political parties, regardless of their affiliations, to ensure our citizens’ best interests. This includes a working relationship with both our opposition MLA and MP.

Mr. Denhoff publicly stated that there have been water issues in the City of Cranbrook for years now and all that the city’s been able to get out of the province is a commitment for a stopgap measure.

This council approved the installation of a UV Disinfection facility. The value of the project is $12.9M which was supported by $9.5M in provincial and federal government funding. This project meets all the regulatory standards for municipal water systems and has been approved by the province, so I question Mr. Denhoff’s “stopgap” opinion.

Mr. Denhoff’s solution would be a water filtration system, which would cost taxpayers well north of $100M, and said his candidates get those grants. Does he have proof of a conservative municipal candidate securing a $100M grant? I also question exactly how his party would lower taxes if they would be required to borrow $100M plus, with a municipal one per cent tax levy of approximately $385,000 for residents to pay that loan back through taxes.

Mr. Denhoff notes that this year the city is raising taxes by nearly five per cent, which is too much, and that his party supports more policing, fire, and infrastructure funding. He must not know that of the five per cent increase for Cranbrook this year, two per cent was an increase to the policing budget, one per cent to fire and one per cent was for roads.

Chris Walker reminded Mr. Denhoff that Cranbrook tax rates have been below the municipal averages in B.C., at which time Mr. Denhoff, speaking from Vancouver, changed his statement to say he is referring to tax rate increases in other provinces. Being in the Lower Mainland he may not be aware, but last time we checked, Cranbrook is in B.C.

Mr. Denhoff is associated with the Conservative Municipal Party, which is attempting to bring partisan politics to local governments in British Columbia. Cranbrook has been identified as a community in which they intend to have a candidate.

As an elected official, I accept that criticism goes with the role. But to criticize Cranbrook from a Vancouver office and merely throw out an unrealistic vision equivalent to a Vancouver salesperson offering Cranbrook residents a big new house, new car, more trips to Mexico all with lower monthly payments, by just signing here?

Cranbrook voters may want to read the fine print. Without offering a plan or realistic solutions, Mr. Denhoff, this is a weak platform.

e-KNOW file photo

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