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I fear that the "robocall" scandal rocking Ottawa will simply cause more voters to walk away from the political system in disgust.

The majority of eligible voters have already walked away from the ballot box and young people, for the most part, have not bought into this essential component of our representative democracy.

But, if the shenanigans surrounding the last federal election chase even more voters away, then we'll simply enable even more radical erosions of our democratic systems.

Budget 2012 discussion continues 

Quesnel City Council met for the third time on the budget to: conduct the formal public input session, review the Legislative, Community Support, and Fees for Service portions of the budget. As of last night's meeting, a tax increase of 4.34% is being considered. Council will deal with a number of other budget items in March and April that may affect that increase, including: setting tax rates for the various classes, determining tax shifting between classes, determining appropriate reserve allocations. Dollar figures or percentages referred to in Budget 2012 news are subject to change and should not be considered final until the budget process is complete.

Budget 2012 discussion continues 

Quesnel City Council met for the second time on the 2012 budget to receive an operating budget update, review the supplemental (new spending) project list, and review the 2012 capital project lists in detail. Dollar figures or percentages referred to in Budget 2012 news are subject to change and should not be considered final until the budget process is complete.

Operating budget update

Council received an update regarding the 2012 operating budget. During the last budget meeting, Council resolved to use new construction in the major industry class to reduce taxation to the major industry class only, in keeping with a policy  adopted by Council as part of last year's Five Year Financial Plan Bylaw. A recent correction to the January roll received from the BC Assessment Authority, however, reduced the amount of new construction in the class to less than $500,000 (estimate) versus the $2.3 million on the January roll. As a result, the tax benefit of the new construction to the major industry class has been reduced to less than $12,000 (as opposed to $70,000).

Infrastructure update provided

Council received a report summarizing the results of the 2011 Quesnel Works: Capital Reinvestment Program paving work, as well as an update regarding the City's water and sewer utilities.  Council approved a list of five projects with project estimates of $350,000 in April 2011, with funds to come from the Quesnel Works reserve. The actual funds spent in 2011 totalled $337,128, or 96.32% of the budget. Included in the spending was one extra project, the widening of Juniper Road by two metres for a bicycle path. Regarding the utilities update, there were four sewer breaks in 2010, and six in 2011. In 2010 there were five water main breaks, with five more in 2011.

RCMP cameras to be upgraded

Council gave early approval for funding from the 2012 capital budget to pay for security camera upgrades at the RCMP detachment to reduce the risk of potential liability. An RCMP mandate requires that detachment cells be retrofitted to reduce the risk of detainee injury and suicide, limit the ability of detainees to create or conceal weapons, and to optimize detainee viewing. In addition, the Province of BC requires closed-circuit video equipment where detainees interact with police personnel.The tender was awarded to StandGuard Enterprises Inc. for $102,447 plus HST.  The company has prior experience working in other BC police detachments and is familiar with the technical requirements. The project will be funded with $50,000 coming from the 2011 budget and the remainder from the 2012 budget.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at home and the ability to get around the riding over the last month. We live in an amazing part of the province and, as much as I like Victoria, it’ll be hard to head back down there for the spring session, which starts on February 14th and runs through to the end of May.

Despite starting on Valentine’s Day, I don’t expect this session to be a love-in. The Liberal Party’s attack ads, the teacher’s dispute, log exports, the state of our justice system, child poverty and the provincial budget will provide a lot of fodder for partisan debate. Much of the rhetoric in the Legislature will likely be oriented toward the two upcoming by-elections.