regional director

This is a difficult issue, and I think it's important to have it out in the open, and to be respectful. Not everyone will agree with my analysis and suggestion, and that is perfectly fine. I'd like to know whether a significant proportion of the community thinks this is the right track, or the wrong one.

There is no way to recall a locally elected official. Recall exists only for members of the BC legislative assembly. The only way to have any sort of re-election or by-election for local or regional governments is if the official resigns from their position.

Every elected official has a responsibility to the board or other official group they are a member of, and they also have a responsibility to their community that elected them - or let them be elected by acclamation. This divided responsibility can at times be difficult, but it is my strong belief that our representatives have a far greater responsibility to their community than to their board.

Over the last year or more, it has become increasingly clear to me, and to others, that our regional director, Merrick, either does not understand the community's concerns and wishes, or he doesn't care.

Merrick continues to make decisions for us without informing us, despite clear and repeated calls from community members for him to let us know what's going on in Powell River, . Even when we uncover issues and let him know what we want, he has continued on his own agenda, with minimal communication, and done what he thinks is best for us, despite clear and repeated indications from community members that we don't want to governed or taxed  without our involvement and consent.

(I need to say that the Regional District, the board and some of the senior staff, have also carried on in this same way.)

I have talked with Merrick, and sent him a copy of this email. I've told him that I would like him to resign as Lasqueti regional director, so that a by-election can be held, and the voters can decide who they would like to represent them for the remainder of this term at the end of 2018.

I encourage everyone who feels that this is the best way forward to also talk to Merrick, or send him a letter or email, and ask him to submit his resignation.  I also encourage everyone to let me know they have done this. A simple way would be to send me a copy of your email (or letter) to Merrick, or just send me an email letting me know what you've done.

To be fair, everyone who thinks Merrick is doing a good job, or for any other reason doesn't want him to resign, should let him (and me) know this.

If you find it too difficult to communicate directly with Merrick, please let me know what you'd like him to do - resign or carry on. I'll keep track of these responses, too, and will report to the community.

Please remember that Merrick is a long-time community member who has contributed, and continues to contribute to the community in many ways. It is only his service as our representative to Powell River in recent times that I find unacceptable.

contact info:

Merrick   250-333-8773 merrickanderson9 [at] gmail [dot] com

Peter        250-333-8785 pjohnston [at] lasqueti [dot] ca