Never doubt your ability to create the future of Squamish.
Next week, by voting, you will have the chance to choose the next group of leaders who will have a lasting impact on the community you know and love, your own community, your home.
Our advice: Beware of wafflers. When The Squamish Chief asked election candidates what they think of the proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant, some waffled, not clarifying their stance on an issue that is critical to the future of Squamish, regardless of whether one sits on the pro or con side.
When it’s this close to voting day, all mayoral and councillor candidates should have a clear answer on critical questions such as whether they support the proposed plant. And they should be not only willing, but fired up to fight for their beliefs. They should show conviction.
Some suggested their opinion didn’t matter anyway because the decision is out of their hands. Really? Comments like this indicate weak leadership. As American cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead wrote in 1958, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Never doubt that the power to have a lasting impact on Squamish is in your hands, whether you believe the LNG plant will bring long-term prosperity or environmental destruction. It’s discouraging that any candidate who deigns to lead our community would not take a stance on this issue. If they don’t care, if you don’t care, who will?
Voters, the power to create the future of Squamish is in your hands. Choose candidates with the courage to lead.
No matter how busy you might be over the next week, be sure to take some time to examine the beliefs of the various candidates and choose the ones whose thinking most closely resembles your own. If you don’t have hours to attend all-candidates meetings, you can certainly form solid opinions by quickly reading responses to The Squamish Chief’s candidate questions published over the past few weeks.
On Sept. 15, choose a council with the conviction to lead Squamish toward a bright future.
