Editor:
I was both captivated and impressed by the speakers during the recent Three Sisters Mountain Village hearings. Young and highly educated residents providing pragmatic and thoughtful presentations that concluded with overwhelming opposition to the development proposal.
As of equal significance was the venue format itself that gave all stakeholders the opportunity to voice opinions and or simply listen to submissions.
Issues ranging from TSMV, Vanmore, heliport noise and a substantial property tax hike – while Banff reduced theirs – often evoke healthy dialogue and promote the concept of a more "inclusive" town overall.
Any environment where the opinions and views of residents are not only projected, but also listened to by elected officials, is paramount in any democracy.
The dedicated members of council work hard and often without due gratitude. They now have the onerous task ahead of them respecting acquiescing – or not – to the residents adamantly opposed to TSMV.
Stephen Hawking succinctly said it best when he stated "Government works best under the glare of public scrutiny."
Rick Dionne,
Canmore
