LSARA HAS NO BOUNDARIES

Keep Me Journal - Editorial Point of View by Jill Dewdney 

Ordinarily, we don’t waste our precious time on needless, unnecessary media or opinions that serves no purpose other than to rile up the masses but this time we felt that we had to respond. 

Let us begin with the editorial from August 17^th 2018.   The first thing that you ALWAYS need to do is fact check before you publish.  If you want to be seen as credible, you need to fact check.  In the very first paragraph, you indicate that no one outside of Leah Wood campaigned in the area.  Fact is that Dale Johnson most certainly did campaign and make phone calls in the west end of the county.  He attended functions, called and spoke to people.  He also had part of his campaign team located in the west end of the County. 

The second paragraph would be where we find mistake number 2.  The rules of the party do state that you do not have to live in the riding.  In fact, there can be a certain percentage of members at large on the Board that do not have to live in the Constituency.  But the rules for where you live and the application process with your address are kind of a big deal.  Can you unequivocally state whether or not this box was purchased in the last two years when someone’s campaigning began?  No, we didn’t think so.  How is it that you know that “they do most of their business and day to day living within the riding.”  An opinion or a fact?  You see what you have missed entirely here is that many folks wanted people to represent them who live in the riding.  It’s a big deal when it comes to funding that comes from the Province as to where it gets spent and staying in tune with all areas of the Constituency.  It isn’t just about selling memberships to try to win a nomination. 

“Do you think they are honest” was that a statement or a question?  How do you know that the other candidates that you indicated were “out for blood” why do you think that is?  Do you think that they had concerns?  Interesting that only one is vilified and all the others “have trouble playing nice”.  Then you go on to say make your own choice.  That’s a really good idea, based on merit.  Then YOU go on to state that people should not be railroaded by the Ratepayers Association.  We are going to take a really big leap here and say that we think you mean LSARA.  The Ratepayers Association that has worked our tails off for the betterment of all the people in the County of Lac Ste Anne.  We will get back to that point. 

Fast forward to the next editorial of note, October 10^th, 2018.  You indicated in your Editorial from August that “you were taught to treat people the way I would expect to be treated.  With respect for starters.”  Then you make the statement in this editorial that Dale Johnson was disqualified for “sins of the past.”  You just vilified an individual that you know nothing of the FACTS surrounding the disqualification!  Have you spoken personally to Dale?  If you have not, then you have no RIGHT to publish that statement.  You talk about Fair, herein lies the definition, “  in accordance with the rules or standards; legitimate:  “The group has achieved fair and equal representation for all its members”  synonyms: just, equitable, fair-minded, open-minded, honest.  Adverb – without cheating or trying to achieve unjust advantage.  Is it FAIR that the candidates forms do not ask questions that require that all aspects of business are disclosed and then they disqualify?  Not for you or me to determine as we don’t KNOW what is all disclosed on the candidates forms.  So, we say to you, if you can’t say something nice, then maybe just shut up!

Now we get to the piece de resistance, the crowning jewel.  The editorial from December of 2018.  You not only implied that the Reeve was drinking when he wrote his PERSONAL post endorsing his PERSONAL choice of candidate, you had the gall to indicate that the people on the East end of the County are Chihuahua’s?  Then you go on to attack his Mother?  DO you KNOW MRS.BLAKEMAN?  Why would he owe anyone an apology?  Rude?  He named no one.  In fact, he didn’t even insinuate that the “other candidate” thought they were important.  For all any of us know, he could be refereeing to the Political climate and candidates in other constituencies.

Now let’s give you another couple of definitions.  The first one is defamation.  “The act of damaging the good reputation of someone, slander or libel.”  Number two, slander:  “The action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person’s reputation.”  The verb for slander, “make false and damaging statements about someone.”  Going to go out on a limb here and state that you are inferring that the “East End Chihuahas” and the LSARA Militia are one and the same.  Let’s provide an additional definition for you.  Militia :  “A military force that is raised from the civil population to supplement a regular army in an emergency.”  You bet LSARA can raise an army.  An army of like minded Ratepayers that are looking for the same things.  Transparency and accountability.  Our agenda has always been clear.  Google is a great tool, one that most editors are familiar with.  You may wish to try it. 

LSARA is a group of concerned citizens that are a volunteer body.  I would remind you, LSARA stands for Lac Ste Anne Ratepayers Association.  The perceived divide between the East and the West is borne of misguided, misinformed people.  We have supporters from all areas of the County and all Divisions.  We have board members from the West and from the East. One thing that we did NOT do, is seek to divide this county. Our meetings have been held in Sangudo, Darwell and Onoway.  Now with your editorials, you go out of your way to point out the East End and LSARA.  Your comments directed at our organization are at the very least offensive.  We have worked very hard to take away the stigma of East vs West and very hard for the Ratepayers of Lac Ste Anne County and surrounding areas including all the summer villages and towns that are in our area.

The election is now over and Shane Getson has been Nominated to represent the people of the Lac Ste Anne Parkland Constituency.  If you took the time to follow any of his posts, you will see that he is honest, intelligent, a family man, business minded and has a real willingness to bring Alberta back.  The people have spoken clearly for the second time who they wish their candidate to be that represents them. 

What Joe Blakeman puts forward as his personal choice has nothing to do with the County.  If that upset you , then you should have been upset with other pictures and “endorsements” that were on other pages.  They too were councillors and on facebook yet we note that you had no objection to them as they were for your obvious candidate of choice.  Were you vilified for your choice?

You insulted a great deal of hard working volunteers who call this County home and who care about what happens around us and to us.  If there is an apology owed it is not from Joe Blakeman, it is owed by you to a great many people from East to West.