"...the petitioner only needed 5-percent of the voting public to sign, but the process now requires 10-percent support."

Are there some federal or provincial regulations that specify how high the required hurdle may be set?

High hurdles (like in the recall legislation) may discourage citizens from participating in the democratic process - why vote if there isn't much of a prospect that the required limit may be reached?

...ain't it the truth!

Forget high hurdles - people should put more emphasis on voting in November 2008, rather than checking off a list of names they recognize.

Maybe finally with blogs and YouTube etc. we can get away from a campaign of name recognition to a campaign of ideas.

I suspect Opinion250 will play a much bigger role in the next municipal election than ever.

It's about time, isn't it?

The Alternate Approval Process requires 10% of the eligible voters in order to be successful. The City estimates that their are approx 55000 eligible voters, over the age of 18, and therefore you would need 5,500 votes to be successful. In 2004 the required percentage was 5% or Approx 2,750. Either way there was insufficient signatures to stop the borrowing.

As a matter of interest if the same Approval Process was held in Mcbride BC with a population of 800 people you would pass it by getting 80 signatures, and therein lies the problem. Easy to pass in smaller communities and almost impossible to pass in larger communities.

I agree that the only way to stop the out of control spending at City Hall is to get a change in representation. This hopefully will be done in the next election.

In the meantime the City still needs to get $ 1 Million from the Feds, and $ 1 Million from the Province before it has enough money to build a new bridge. If it doesnt get this money then I suspect that they have some other devious way of getting it. We will have to wait and see.

There is still the remote possibility that the Mayor and Council will come to their senses and see that repairing this bridge now, and getting it back in service, reducing the traffic on 5th and the Bypass, and reducing the possibility of a serious accident, plus save taxpayers some $8 Million dollars, is a viable option.

Highly unlikely scenario. Perhaps beyond the capability of our present Council, as it would require a reassessment of the situation, leadership, common sense, and a desire to preserve some of the Citys history. These attributes seem to be lacking at City Hall.

nice thoughts bohemian, but wishful thinking in my estimation .... one cannot change centuries of complacency on the part of voters that quickly.

Then again, we did have a moment of sanity when the promoters of the Cadillac Fairview project were voted out of office. I really do not know how that happened.

I do know one thing. Everyone is avoiding bringing potential political football projects forward too close to election time. Kind of hypocritical, isn't it?

Candidates say they got in on their platform, but then they also advise anyone wanting to get into the game that name recognition is more important. Then they try to keep contentious issues (you know, the ones where voters really ought to have a say) away from the election period because they might be on the wrong side of the issue.

"The City estimates that their are approx 55000 eligible voters, over the age of 18"

How many eligible voters are there that are 18 or younger?

;-)

"If it doesn't get this money then I suspect that they have some other devious way of getting it."

See the story on the expected additional $ 1 million extra revenue sharing from the expanded slots at the casino!

Voila, problem already solved!

:)-

Palopu I have to admire your respect for money. I am in the same boat as you with regard to this topic.

Unfortunately I do not think you should get your hopes up too high with regards to the next civic election.

From what I can see, I think the majority of the citizens of Prince George are just as irresponsible when it comes to a respect for money, as our Mayor and City Council.

Just look at the way people are piling on debt. I think there are far too many people in this city with a "chicken today, feathers tomorrow" attitude.

I think the lack of respect for money in our society is out of control. Clearly it is time for a major recession. When this happens, there is no doubt in my mind that you and me , along with the others who have made posts on this site along these lines in the past will do just fine.

I don't disagree with replacing the Cameron St. bridge as it currently is, whatever the cheapest option is. Let's blow the dough when it is really going to make a difference to the city. All we need at the Cameron St. crossing is a simple single lane alternating traffic bridge. We do not need any more convenience than that.
Separate bike and pedestrian paths would also be an acceptable addition.