A dreadful lack of leadership

January 27, 2010
 
On Tuesday night a five year investment in moving toward a modernized tax structure for the municipality was thrown away by our elected municipal leaders.

A couple of facts about the debate and outcome:

•    40% of the recorded comments by councilors on the matter were factually wrong
•    This exchange of misinformation halted the process completely.  The vote was specifically to approve the continuance of the tax reform process. It was not a vote on the actual solution.

This means that our elected leaders do not even understand the issue, and grandstanded their ignorance to the point where the citizens of our municipality will not see this issue resolved before the next election.

Why are the elected leaders of our municipality unable to demonstrate serious leadership qualities at exactly the time when we need it?  Voting down the tax reform process is a clear demonstration of our mayor and council’s inability to lead this city into the future.

There is no doubt that the issue of tax reform is complex. It is an issue that is hard to explain, hard to evaluate and will have impact on every resident of the HRM.

When we have these controversial issues we need strong leadership. We as citizens need our leaders to provide a unanimous, clear vision and direction. Status quo management of our municipality’s financial future is just punching the time clock, and a disservice to every current and future resident of the HRM.

It is clear from the discussion at council on Tuesday night that our elected leaders are doomed to bicker their way through difficult issues like this and are incapable of leading our city into this century, let alone the next.

Our leaders should have constructively moved to continue creating a tax reform proposal so we can ensure the financial security of our municipality, and retire the antiquated system that is currently in place.


Malcolm Fraser
Chair
Citizens for Halifax