For Some Mackenzie Was A Great Opportunity To Promote Themselves

By Ben Meisner

When you are able to get 800 people out of a population of around 5,000 to come out on a cold windy day to stand for a couple of hours , you have to take note.

That was the upshot of what took place in Mackenzie on Friday, and those in power or those who aspire to be there, should take note.

The gathering reminded me of the now famous Health Care Rally which took place in PG attracting 7,000 people. I would say that Mackenzie had a larger per capita turn out.

I had a chance to speak to the gathering and I want to reiterate what I said then and say now. Make sure you people in Mackenzie stay united. That includes the politics of the day, because if you allow the politicians to set the agenda, it will soon become no more than an anti government rant and little if anything will get done.

Bob Simpson phoned when it was over to say there is a difference between partisan politics and party politics and he was right, although it is important for the communities of Ft St James and Mackenzie to not get caught up in the game.

I was thoroughly disappointed in a couple of the speakers. Betty Bekkering for one, who took the opportunity while on the stand to pump her political hopes before the crowd. Saying that the "NDP Federal Caucus sends its greetings", just didn’t cut it. If they felt so strongly about the problems facing Mackenzie, they should have been there and they weren’t. If Betty Bekkering felt so strongly about the job losses in Mackenzie she wouldn’t have been pumping her own brand of Politics.

 Then there was the chap from Ontario who seized the opportunity to blast the government, showing a complete lack of what really is going on in the woods industry.

To their credit on the other hand were the United Steel Workers, who have a seat on the Forestry Round Table for a reason. They have been, over the past several months, trying to find solutions to get money and work for those in their flock that are laid off or who face further hardship. They have shown a lot of leadership on the issue and both the NDP who they traditionally support and the reigning Liberals should take note.

For those who want to make the podium their anchor for the next election, at the very least show us what you would do, I for one grow tired of listening to empty speeches that hold little constructive resolve.

I’m Meisner and that’s one man’s opinion.

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