Dear people of Kitimat,
I need your help and advice. As you may know there is a group trying to buy and run Shames Mountain.
They they have requested a very large sum from all the municipalities in the region to help buy the mountain.
Prince Rupert and Terrace have both opted out, citing a lack of money etc. This would indicate to me that any backers would have to increase the requested contribution to take up the shortfall created by the communities that cannot afford to be involved.
The My Mountain info clearly shows a small number of people living in Kitimat actually uses the mountain and that the mountain has lost money consistently through the years.
Even if Kitimat could afford to invest our tax dollars, I am not convinced that giving the money to a group so far from and as little used by Kitimatians is the proper use of our tax dollars.
I feel this kind of tax spending needs to be approved by the people as I see it outside the normal purview of council.
It is clear that this group has powerful backers, but should Kitimat be investing in an operation that has never ever seen a profit and also admits that it will require a subsidy from investors for years to come and possibly forever?
Even if the other communities reverse their decisions and invest, any subsidy would be a substantial burden on our taxes going forward.
Any and all comments are welcome.
Councillor Randy Halyk.