Editor:
Given some of the recent activity surrounding essentially all levels of government in Canada, I am amazed the Town of Canmore has not done more in the Three Sisters Mountain Village situation.
The Alberta Court of Appeal ruled in favour of the Three Sisters Mountain Village group on all counts of their action, essentially binding the Town of Canmore into giving approvals to everything coming to council from the Three Sisters Mountain Village group.
In recent editions of the Outlook, Coun. Wade Graham is reported as stating he must vote in favour of the motion to avoid contravening the directions of the Court of Appeal. Mayor Krausert stated openly there would be no appeal of the decision. Now we have a rubberstamp council voting as they feel required to based on this decision. What happened to government for the people? This ruling takes away the right of every citizen to have a council represent them in this development process, which will have a major impact on the future of Canmore and the Bow Valley.
Not long after this, during the recent ruling at federal court over the single-use plastics ban, the judge made a statement that a higher level of government cannot eviscerate a lower level of government by removing their decision-making authority.
While the decision was made regarding the federal government imposing their will on the provinces, is it a large leap to apply this decision (precedent?) to the decision made by the Alberta Court of Appeal?
It seems to fit all of the circumstances when we have council members clearly admitting they are voting to comply with the courts rather than public direction.
Moving ahead, we have a court action filed by the Stoney Nakoda First Nation against the Town of Canmore and the Alberta government for not consulting them prior to approving development(s) on this land. While this is being applauded by many as a chance to stop Three Sisters Mountain Village group, there is a significant issue with this in that if the courts rule in favour of this action, does that mean all Town of Canmore land-use must be vetted by the Stoney Nakoda First Nation authorities?
Now, we are calling for yet another environmental impact assessment. How many do we need?
Please council, for everyone’s benefit, get in front of this situation. We need a government working in everyone’s best interests. Ed Russell,
Canmore
