The branch library has become a very hot topic in St. Albert. Supporters and opponents have both been vocal about their opinions. Unfortunately, as the Gazette noted in its June 3 editorial (“Discourse divide”), the discourse has become ugly and personal.
For years, I’ve been writing about the problems this causes for democracy, both in St. Albert and across Canada as a whole. But I’ve also been writing about another insidious problem, namely the suggestions that people who are concerned about what taxpayer money is spent on somehow don’t care about the City of St. Albert.
More than five years ago, former Councillor Carol Watamaniuk scolded residents who disagreed with the City’s spending priorities, accusing them of wanting to “tear the community down”, and wanting to destroy the community’s spirit (“Small minority seek to destroy City’s spirit”, Your Views, Gazette March 21, 2012). More recently, Bryan Corbett accused opponents of the branch library of being penny-pinchers who want St. Albert to remain an insignificant bedroom community compared to Edmonton (“Great cities are not built by penny-pinchers”, May 31, 2017).
I’m baffled as how nearly 7,000 St. Albert residents could all somehow be penny-pinchers who hate St. Albert, want to tear it down and destroy its spirit so it never becomes great. It’s more likely that they are concerned about what our spending priorities should be, and want to make sure St. Albert remains affordable for as many people as possible.
Norm Harley agreed that libraries are essential to the community, but mentioned various City projects of dubious value, and how much many of them end up costing (“City taxpayers can’t afford to pay for every want”, May 27, 2017). What could we cut from a branch library to reduce the overall cost? Does it honestly need a cafĂ©, public art, or hosting book clubs that people could arrange on their own?
Unfortunately, we seem to be stuck in an “either/or” debate, where we either accept all the demands for spending projects, or we don’t support any of them. There’s potential for more common ground than people realize, though. Commentator Don Sinclair is a vocal critic of the City’s spending, but he told me he considers the money the City is spending on the heritage Michif House as “peanuts.” Meanwhile, page 22 of the Library’s own report discussing a branch library noted that focus groups were qualified in their support for borrowing to pay for the library, depending on how much it will cost.
Tax dollars and government programs can be very helpful for society. However, they have to be balanced with ensuring that taxes are affordable enough for as many people to live here as possible, what our spending priorities are, and what our limits are.
We can find the answers to all these questions, but not if we accuse anyone who dares to disagree with us of hating the community and wanting it to remain mediocre.
If there’s one thing that unites everyone in this community, it’s their love for St. Albert.
Jared Milne is a St. Albert resident with a passion for Canadian history and politics.
