The right to be informed

Fishing for news on the Kamloops city hall website I came across a media release inviting members of the community to a public forum on Tuesday, Feb 8. The forum was "for the public to give input to this year's municipal budget and five-year financial plan," the release explained.

The only thing is, I didn't hear about this until two days later and had I not been look on the Internet for news such as this, I fear I would have never known. I'm not blaming anyone in particular, I just feel that this event should be more publicized. Maybe, it was, and I just happened to miss all of it, but then why is this information not being offered to the category I fit into?

It could have been advertised on campus, the radio, word-of-mouth even; talk up an event and it becomes common knowledge.

However, then comes the next problem our society face, would anyone really care?

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink. The community could be informed but it doesn't mean they are willing to actually go and ask their questions and hear what the city is planning on doing with their money.

For example, skimming the 2010 - 2014 financial plan, I read that the total revenue is almost $124,000 and yet the total expenditures are almost $115,000. I would have liked to know what is happening with that left over $9,000.

Furthermore, as much as it is the responsibility of city hall to inform the public, it is the public's responsibility to be informed.

This forum could have been the opportunity to get more from this city. Want more parks, just ask. More garbage cans around town? This was the community's chance to have the voice I hear so many complain we don't get.

It's not enough that 1,769 people are opposed to creosote rally on facebook because only a few hundred actually showed up.