Your time is here. Your chance to take back the power of your Cities! How? EASY!
Please read the following, and then sign the petition.
We have
all been witness to an abomination to democracy worldwide, and while
there are amazing global campaigns happening to raise awareness, there lacks
meaningful action by taxpayers locally regarding municipal affairs. The focus
by elected officials has been on Corporations and Corporate Dollars - they seem
to lose sight of those that they are elected to represent, the individual
taxpayer. This is one such opportunity where you, the individual
taxpayer, will get a chance to hold your municipally elected (and
non-elected) officials accountable for how they choose to spend your tax
dollars.
In recent
years, in Moose Jaw, there was a blatant disregard for the public good, when it
was decided to locate the new Multiplex in a downtown flood plain with a severe
lack of parking for attendees.
Today, in
Regina, the current and former City Council have shown an utter disdain for
taxpayers on a number of occasions, choosing to spend our hard earned tax
dollars on pet projects that they seem to think is what "the silent
majority" want. When, in reality, they have been acting only in the best
interests of themselves, their lobby groups and employment sectors. Namely Real
Estate Development and Construction. While ignoring significant social factors like
that of truly affordable housing, homelessness, core infrastructure and
responsible use of tax dollars. We have seen the deliberate abuse of tax
dollars for their own personal gains, and an attack on democracy by loosely
interpreting legislation to suit their own needs.
It has
been clearly demonstrated that our current elected officials will only act with
enough public pressure. While former petition drives have worked
within existing Provincial Legislation, they are both outdated and extremely
difficult to gain in momentum and power, given the narrow vision of existing
legislation. Let alone the fact that the ultimate authority is provided to the
Municipality - and we've all seen how that can be abused. Submissions have been
made to the Provincial Government to make changes to Legislation, but in the
meanwhile, our municipal government officials are continuing to treat our hard
earned tax dollars like their own personal bank account. THIS HAS TO STOP,
and the only way to do it is by forcing a Public Inquiry, Audit and/or
inspection of the books and records of Major Cities throughout Saskatchewan.
Thankfully, there is existing Provincial Legislation that allows for just that,
in Sections 352 to 354 of the Cities Act.
While the
initial motivation behind this petition was focused solely on the City of
Regina, it should be noted that this does affect ALL SASKATCHEWAN TAXPAYERS
as there is currently a major capital project, called the Regina
Revitalization Initiative (RRI), which is tapping into Provincial
Tax Dollars, along with Municipal Tax Dollars of the City of Regina residents. The
RRI's main initial focus is that of building a virtually identical Stadium for
the Saskatchewan Roughriders. While City Council may argue this is
"for the community", "it's more than just an identical
stadium", and "it's about more than JUST the stadium" - do not
buy these excuses. The reality is the current $100 MILLION debt they are
issuing is 100% directly affecting the Stadium project. The City
of Regina is expected to jump it's municipal debt level from approximately $80M
in 2012 to $450M by 2017, essentially maxing out the credit card. This is of
utmost concern because it does little, if anything, to actually address any
of the issues identified during the Municipal Election of 2012.
NOTICE TO
CITY OF REGINA EMPLOYEES:
The Saskatchewan Taxpayers
Advocacy Group is here to help you, the individual taxpayer – regardless of
where you are employed, your financial status or demographic. As such, we have
access to some of the highest qualified legal experts and labour lobby groups
that will enable you to be protected by legal recourse in the event your
employer chooses to discipline you for signing this petition. We understand
that many City of Regina employees have been threatened with discipline in the
past, all the way up to termination of employment, for partaking in any
democratic action that is contrary to the wishes of Senior Management at the
City of Regina. This is completely unacceptable, and contrary to whistleblower
legislation enacted in many other parts of the globe. We will work to represent
your Charter human rights to freedom of expression. Please, do not let the fear
of recourse influence your decision on whether or not to support this petition.
THIS PETITION IS PROUDLY PRESENTED TO YOU BY THE SASKATCHEWAN
TAXPAYERS ADVOCACY GROUP
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