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B OPINION MUTED RESPONSE TO ‘STRANGE DAYS’ AT COUNCILS MIKE FARWELL Column These have been strange days at council in both Kitchener and Cam- bridge, the kind of strange- ness that sometimes re- sults in a community up- oeAnd vet the response has bee! Perhaps. ew people care enough about their munic- ipal council to get worked those things by using this space in the next couple of weeks to give treatment to intriguing events at coun- cil in both Kitchener and meeting in Kitchener. Atits meeting on June5, Kitchener council consid- pI Park and Victoria streets. Given the direct impact on the neighbourhood where she lives, Ward 9 Coun. Debbie Chapman declared aconflict ofinterest and ex- us herself from the meeting. But upon her departure, Chapman's husband, Peter Eglin, appeared as a dele- gation | to council. 's appearance rais- es for some the question of whether a sponse should be permitted to delegate before council or if that, in itself, presents a conflict of interest. It's a worthwhile consideration given the likelihood that most 3 spous- es will feel similarly on po- litical issues. That likeli- = \ew Vile hood of agreement only in- greases on. issues impact- couple's neighbourhood. Still, it seems unfair to assume that the views of one spouse would automat- ically reflect the views of the other. Furthermore, it doesn't seem right to deny someone their voice before municipal council simply based on the person to whom they are married. As it turns out, the fact that his spouse is already elected to council is the least of what made Eglin's delegation interesting. He began to express his displeasure with the devel- opment proposal, in no un- certain terms, by declaring himself a "NIMBY." Later, though, he took direct aim themselves between of late, forced to consider imper- fect development propos- als knowing that rejecting the applications inevitably leads to expensive appeals at a provincial tribunal, where the developer al- most always wins. "City councillors re- ceive their mandate, via the province, from the citi- zens who elect them. They are,in addition, called to be responsive to the commu- nity members who express their views at neighbour- hood meet- ings, who submit written briefs, who appear before them at committees and council meetings," Eglin noted in his presentation. "What is that system of local democracy worth? If their aster at th illors and their jobs. frustration stems from the rock-and- hard-place municipal councillors often find PMTEY EL) (3 Nill O O@ @macrofoods effectively treats at as worthless, what is a repre- sentative of the people to do? The least councillors could do, who are not pre- pared toresist their subjec- tion, is resign.” Remember, though she excused herself for a con- flict of interest, Eglin's spouse is stilla member of meeting, i‘ Debbie Chee man resisting the prov- ince's subjection or is she, too — at her spouse's be- hest — supposed to resign? e could argue that the nomina- tion to run in the upcoming Metroland File photo As it turns out, the fact that his spouse is already on council is the least of what made Peter Eglin's delegation interesting, writes Mike Farwell. byelection in Kitchener- entre, Chapman has al- ready expressed her desire to resign from council. Perhaps this only serves to reinforce the notion that acouple's views are aligned after all. Columnist Mike Far- well is a broadcaster, MC and advocate. Follow him on Twitter at @far- well_WR, or connect with him via Mike.Far- well@rci.rogers.com. Use This Coupon To Receive ONE FREE MEAL! When You Purchase 5 Fresh Meals Not valid with any other discounts or coupons. In store only. Valid until June 30th, 2023. €z0z ‘6z eunr rome Ter ajaluosy Couey | 2. eo'9]9|UOIYDOOLLE}2M