Page 6 - June 1 2020
P. 6
T
he Weekly ANCHOR
Comment
THE WEEKLY ANCHOR
MONDAY NOVEMBER 18, 2019 PAGE 7
THE WEEKLY ANCHOR
THE WEEKLY ANCHOR
From the PAGE 14 MONDAY APRIL 13, 2020 MONDAY NOVEMBER 18, 2019 PAGE 7 West Yellowhead MLA
Publisher’s Desk Martin Long
Dana McArthur
Member Canadian Association of Journalists PAGE 6 MONDAY JUNE 1, 2020 THE WEEKLY ANCHOR
T he Weekly ANCHOR HELP SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM
Comment FACT-

ViewPoint CHECKING


GUEST EDITORIAL/COMMENT by Cassie Kushniruk Letter to the Editor
THE
Half the time Hinton Letter to the Editor Policy:

WORLD
Council Meetings are Private The Weekly Anchor welcomes Letters to the Editor

SINCE IT
Dear Editor: sensitive issues, bylaw amendments, All letters are published at the discretion of the editor-publisher
capital expenditures or general who reserves the right to edit for clarity, length and libel. All
WAS FLAT.
In free societies, people understand discussions regarding hiring staff and letters must bear the name of the writer —and must also include
that government must not tell citizens setting salaries. In other words the address and telephone number (which will not be published).
what they can say or write. Including protecting council's image or risking
journalists holding them to account potential embarrassment is not a The publisher will consider withholding the writer’s name from
using what's called freedom of the reason for a private meeting. print if there is a legitimate case for reprisals.
press. But freedom of the press means Council seems to feel otherwise. The Letters published do not necessarily reflect the policies or beliefs
little if elected officials can legally data that was just released was derived of this newspaper.
keep their actions and performance a from official minutes for 2020, shows
secret. 23 hours spent in private, 49% of
It's that concern that led to Freedom council's meeting time so far this year. Letter to the Editor Policy
of Information Laws. But given how Of 17 meetings, 14 had at least some
much data the state collects about private component. And this NEED
you, Freedom of Information laws percentage would be even worse if The Weekly Anchor welcomes Letters to the Editor
also need to protect privacy. Alberta's something called Administrative
legislation, officially called the Briefs were included. These are NEW
Freedom of Information and private meetings with council that All letters are published at the discretion of the
WEBDONUTS
Riding Update: Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP), aren't officially "meetings", and editor-publisher who reserves the right to edit for
guarantees that Albertans have access whose, very topics are unknown to the
to information about government public. clarity, length and libel. All letters must bear the
Open Letter: debates, decisions and actions; yet It's not as though council meetings name of the writer —and must also include the
ensures that some information is habitually involve the kinds of Liberal failures must be address and telephone number (which will not be
confidential. And rightly so, because information FOIP says must be kept
Letter to the Editor how well hospitals work is a public protected. Calgary Council made published). The publisher will consider withholding
issue while your personal health provincial news in 2017 by spending the writer’s name from print if there is a legitimate
records are nobody's business but about 24% of their time in private fixed before it's too late concern of reprisals.
yours and your doctors. between 2013 and 2017, which seems
So which category do meetings of unduly large but was only half of Provinces We cannot Letters published do not necessarily reflect the
government bodies fall into? You'd Hinton's 2020 figure. Hinton's own are slowly afford to have policies or beliefs of this newspaper.
think "public issue". Yet numbers previous Council spent just 19% of easing health Gerald Soroka Liberal failures
recently released by a member of their time in private during the first restrictions MP Yellowhead
Hinton Council show that council has four months of 2016. (And after being derail
provincial
considerably less time meeting at all;
spent about half of its time meeting
Jim Eglinski behind closed doors? Sure, if they just 30 hours versus 47 so far in shut down for our country back on track. But that
efforts to get
weeks. While we are not out of the
2020.)
were discussing the affairs of an
woods yet, there is reason for
So what are they debating privately?
MP Yellowhead Media Release: individual citizen, business or the Well, we don't know the details, cautious optimism here in is precisely what federal programs
are threatening to do.
CAO they'd go in camera (private).
Yellowhead and across the country.
For example, for those Canadians
Open Letter: But otherwise we, the Public, have a obviously. But some of the general However, the Trudeau who want to work but who lost Letter to the Editor Policy
right to know.
themes are: the Golf Course, Water
Alberta's Municipal Government Treatment, the Budget, Solid Waste, government has been slow to react their jobs due to the pandemic, the The Weekly Anchor welcomes Letters to the Editor
Act (MGA) specicially states that Seniors Housing, Personal and from the very beginning of this Canada Emergency Response All letters are published at the discretion of the editor-publisher who reserves the right
HELP SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM My councils and council committees must something vaguely described as crisis, and their failures have cost Benefit (CERB) and the Canada must also include the address and telephone number (which will not be published). The
West Yellowhead MLA
to edit for clarity, length and libel. All letters must bear the name of the writer —and
publisher will consider withholding the writer’s name from print if there is a legitimate 0 Audited
Canadians.
6,30
conduct meetings in public. The FOIP Governance (discussed at 6 meetings).
Emergency Student Benefit (CESB)
FACT- ViewPoint Act generally provides that It would be interesting to know why the good times and were both prevent you from earning The Weekly Anchor Canadian Publication Mail Number - 40014221
They spent the cupboards bare in
Your
case for reprisals.
information shouldn't be released if it: council appears to be violating the
Local Independent Newspaper
more than $1,000 per month. As
SERVING: TOWN OF EDSON & YELLOWHEAD COUNTY FOR 30 YEARS!
by Adrienne Tait
OFFICE HOURS: Mon - Thurs 9:00 am to 4:30 p.m.
CHECKING Gerald Soroka contains trade secrets or proprietary vital principal of transparency and unprepared when the pandemic hit. businesses open and have shifts to CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING DEADLINES: Tuesday, Noon PASSPORT PHOTOS & MORE
Fri.: 9:00 am to 3:00 p.m.
information; affects labour or
accountability that most current
Their failure to close our borders
DISPLAY ADVERTISING DEADLINES: Call
fill, their employees will be
THE MP Yellowhead business negotiations that could harm Hinton Town Councillors championed allowed the virus to spread. Their penalized for returning to work 5040 3rd Avenue, Edson, Alberta
during the last public forum. It would
a third party; contains personal
Published by: 422247 Alberta Ltd.
inability to maintain Canada's
under the Liberals' program. That's
employment or health data; or
be even more interesting to know
P.O. Box 6870, T7E 1V2
WORLD Gerald Soroka contains personal/commercial what Council is discussing behind national stockpile of personal wrong. Telephone: (780) 723-5787
protective equipment meant there
Conservatives are calling on the
Fax: (780) 723-5725
closed doors that should be open.
financial information (as always the
Email: anchorwk@telusplanet.net
SINCE IT MP Yellowhead FOIP Act should be consulted for Perhaps Alberta's Freedom of weren't enough medical supplies Trudeau government to make Website: www.weeklyanchor.com 5040 3rd Avenue, Edson
when our doctors and nurses
programs like the CERB more
5040 3rd Avenue, Edson
specifics). But the MGA directs
Information and Protection of Privacy
needed them most. Their failure to
WAS FLAT. HELP SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM councils to avoid doing business in Act would be an appropriate topic. get federal COVID aid programs generous and more flexible so that Member of the Edson & District Canadian Association
Alberta
Media Circulation
The Weekly Anchorhe Weekly Anchor
Weekly Newspapers
no one is worse off going back to
Chamber of Commerce
private on matters including
Audit
780-723-5787
discussion of "difficult" topics like Stuart Taylor, Hinton right the first time has allowed work or picking up a shift. 780-723-5787 T
budget deliberations, contentious or businesses and workers to fall Liberal failures must be fixed
through the cracks. before it's too late.
The Weekly Anchor Canadian Publication Mail Number - 40014221 5040 3rd Avenue, Edson, Alberta Canadian
Published by: 422247 Alberta Ltd.
Media Circulation
Your SERVING: TOWN OF EDSON & YELLOWHEAD COUNTY FOR 30 YEARS! P.O. Box 6870, T7E 1V2 Audit
OFFICE HOURS: Mon - Thurs 9:00 am to 4:30 p.m.
Local Independent Newspaper Fri.: 9:00 am to 3:00 p.m. Telephone: (780) 723-5787 Views & News
DISPLAY ADVERTISING DEADLINES: Call
Fax: (780) 723-5725
Alberta
From the CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING DEADLINES: Tuesday, Noon Email: anchorwk@telusplanet.net Association by Deanna Mitchener
Weekly Newspapers
Publisher’s Desk Website: www.weeklyanchor.com
Dana McArthur
Member Canadian Association of Journalists Member of the
Edson & District 6,300 Audited
Chamber of The Weekly Anchor
CORRECTION Sue Ann Cassie Brianne Benson Shaylyn The Weekly Anchor
Apologies on my behalf to the Edson Cycling Association for a Commerce Dana McArthur Common Kushniruk Writer Thornton Your Local Independent Newspaper
Publisher/Owner
Reporter
misqoute of projected full cost build of the new Bike Park that is Canadian Association Sales Representative Canadian Association Writer
going in out at Willmore. In the last issue my article incorrectly said of Journalists member of Journalists member Your Local Independent Newspaper
$350,000 when actually it is a $624,000 projected cost for the full
build. Please accept my apologies and I take full blame, not the
Weekly Anchor. Deanna Mitchener 6,300 Audited Circulation 6,300 Audited Circulation
Canadian Publication Mail Number - 40014221
Canadian Publication Mail Number - 40014221
6,300 Audited SERVING: TOWN OF EDSON &
YELLOWHEAD COUNTY FOR 27 YEARS! SERVING: TOWN OF EDSON & YELLOWHEAD COUNTY FOR 27 YEARS!
OFFICE HOURS: Mon - Thurs 9:00 am to 4:30 p.m. OFFICE HOURS: Mon - Thurs 9:00 am to 5:00 p.m.
Fri.: 9:00 am to 3:00 p.m.
Fri.: 9:00 am to 3:00 p.m.
DISPLAY ADVERTISING DEADLINES: Call DISPLAY ADVERTISING DEADLINES: Call
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING DEADLINES: Tuesday, Noon CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING DEADLINES: Tuesday, Noon
Published by: 422247 Alberta Ltd.
5040 3rd Avenue, Edson, Alberta Canadian Member of the Member of the Published by: 422247 Alberta Ltd. Canadian
Media Circulation
P.O. Box 6870, T7E 1V2 Audit Edson & District 5040 3rd Avenue, Edson, Alberta Media Circulation
Audit
Telephone: (780) 723-5787 Edson & District P.O. Box 6870, T7E 1V2
Alberta
Fax: (780) 723-5725 Weekly Newspapers Chamber of Telephone: (780) 723-5787
Email: anchorwk@telusplanet.net Association Chamber of Fax: (780) 723-5725 Weekly Newspapers
Alberta
Email: anchorwk@telusplanet.net
Website: www.weeklyanchor.com Commerce Commerce Website: www.weeklyanchor.com Association
Published by: 422247 Alberta Ltd.
The Weekly Anchor Canadian Publication Mail Number - 40014221 5040 3rd Avenue, Edson, Alberta Canadian Cassie Shaylyn
Media Circulation
Sue Ann
Your SERVING: TOWN OF EDSON & YELLOWHEAD COUNTY FOR 30 YEARS! P.O. Box 6870, T7E 1V2 Audit Dana McArthur Common Kushniruk Brianne Benson Thornton
Writer
OFFICE HOURS: Mon - Thurs 9:00 am to 4:30 p.m.
Publisher/Owner
Writer
Reporter
Cassie
Shaylyn
Local Independent Newspaper Fri.: 9:00 am to 3:00 p.m. Telephone: (780) 723-5787 Canadian Association Sales Representative Canadian Association Dana McArthur Sue Ann Kushniruk Brianne Benson Thornton
Common
Writer
of Journalists member
of Journalists member
DISPLAY ADVERTISING DEADLINES: Call Fax: (780) 723-5725 Alberta Publisher/Owner Sales Representative Reporter Writer
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING DEADLINES: Tuesday, Noon Email: anchorwk@telusplanet.net Weekly Newspapers Canadian Association Canadian Association
of Journalists member
of Journalists member
Website: www.weeklyanchor.com Association
Member of the
Edson & District
Chamber of
Cassie
Shaylyn
Sue Ann
Commerce Dana McArthur Common Kushniruk Brianne Benson Thornton
Writer
Publisher/Owner
Reporter
Canadian Association Sales Representative Canadian Association Writer
of Journalists member of Journalists member
   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11