Today, the Cariboo Regional District issued a press release regarding the meeting dates for the community and stakeholders' meetings to develop a Service Delivery Plan for the newly established Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Function.
However, there are some statements that have to be challenged:
For example,
One statement reads:
"Arts and culture is very important to the central Cariboo" - while the people of Area 'F' stated their desire for a partnership between the Regional District and the Community Arts Council, people in Areas 'D' and 'E' did not express a desire to be taxed to support Arts and Culture in the Central Cariboo, neither did the people of Williams Lake. If that was truly a priority for people, then they would say so. What I heard in the last 2 Joint Town Hall Meetings in Williams Lake in 2007/2008 was a priority to deal with Recycling and Water and Sewer on Dog Creek. And where was Duncan Barnett promoting this idea around a support tax for Arts and Culture?? I'm not sure, but I can tell you that he has not been at the Joint Town Hall Meeting in Williams Lake in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
Another statement reads:
this new service will help provide similar opportunities for residents in arts and culture. - Again, where was Duncan Barnett explaining to the people of Areas D, E and the City of Williams Lake on the necessaity for a support service for the local Arts and Culture?? I can tell you that he was not at the Area D and E Town Hall Meetings' in 2008 and 2009 and also the Joint Town Hall Meeting for Williams Lake during 2008 and 2009
Bottom Line - a little bit of hypocrisy going on here. Director Barnett loves to express concerns about downloading from the Province to local governments, but is prepared to take on a role that is clearly provincial/federal in nature.
Please remember to get to your local community meetings' on the Service Delivery Plan for the Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Function, if you are as concerned about this process as I am.
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