Support for Attawapiskat First Nation in efforts to get their new school provided by Timmins
Support for school testy topic
Keith Lacey
Should city councillors in Timmins be voicing their opinion about how senior levels of government conduct their business in remote communities hundreds of miles away?
That question came up for debate Monday night when councillors Pat Bamford and Gary Scripnick argued over whether city council should be voicing its opinion on the federal government's recent decision to back out of a promise to provide funding to build a new elementary school in Attawapiskat.
The elementary school in the First Nation community was closed in 2002 after discovering the ground was contaminated with diesel fuel. Since then, hundreds of students have attended classes in numerous portables attached to the high school.
Bamford was of the opinion city council should not be getting involved in this issue since it's so far out of council's jurisdiction. He also said there are more than enough problems to deal with locally.
Bamford added that even though he's a strong and vocal supporter of First Nation issues, he doesn't believe it is council's place to try and influence provincial and federal funding initiatives on matters so far away geographically.
"In my opinion, we represent the people and taxpayers of Timmins and are responsible for the issues affecting this community," he said. "I don't think the people who elected me want me speaking about issues affecting people in Attawapiskat."
Having city council support a resolution asking senior government officials to build a new elementary school in Attawapiskat could negatively influence this council's working relationship with influential ministers at the provincial and federal level, Bamford said.
Scripnick strongly disagreed with Bamford's view.
Timmins is the economic, medical and educational hub of all of Northeastern Ontario and decisions made here often affect people across the entire region, even as far as the James Bay Coast, Scripnick said.
"We are paid to make decisions and voice opinions," he said.
When the paper mill in Smooth Rock Falls closed down 18 months ago, all members of Timmins council voiced their concern knowing millions of dollars spent by the 250 employees who lost their jobs would negatively impact Timmins' economy, Scripnick said.
The same passion should be shown to the residents and school children of Attawapiskat, he said.
"We are all in this together here in Northeastern Ontario," Scripnick told council.
The federal government has reneged on providing funding for a new elementary school in Attawapiskat on several occasions now and there's nothing wrong with having members of city council support a motion voicing their displeasure, Scripnick said.
At the end of the debate, city council voted to support a resolution asking the federal government to come through with funding for a new school in Attawapiskat.