“We’ve gone through so many dark roads in this world the last couple of years… and eroded, basically, societal norms, political norms, all of those things. It is time for all of us to take a stand and say, ‘This is the bar.’”

Like most locally elected officials across BC, Merlin Blackwell is the ears, eyes and voice of his community. As mayor of Clearwater, he grapples with many of the usual issues, along with a few of the thornier variety.

Several years ago, after too many emergency room closures, Blackwell brought provincial attention to Clearwater when he waged a public campaign to attract healthcare workers and make sure they would stay. Since the problems in the healthcare system will take years to resolve, his community recently signed on to an ER telehealth pilot project to reduce stress on doctors and maintain local access to care for residents.

Blackwell is also trying to fend off a $250,000 hit to Clearwater’s 2,400-population tax base thanks to a pending drop in the assessed value of pipelines. On the other hand, the mayor has the fortunate problem of needing to build 450 new homes to accommodate the expected workforce of a massive new mining project being co-developed with the region’s Simpcw First Nation. Now he just needs to find the funding to pay for the infrastructure to support all this new housing.

Law unto themselves

Thanks to the pandemic and other factors, Blackwell has gained some unwanted expertise dealing with people operating outside of the law. He says he sympathizes with those who are tired of rules, because he feels it too sometimes, but at some point, a line has to be drawn for larger society.

“It’s not just because they want to live differently. This is about putting health, safety, all sorts of things at risk, and not being fair to the citizens that live around them.”

Municipal governments are closest to the action and often the first line of defence against lawlessness, whether it be health and safety regulations, bylaws, street disorder, leniency in the justice system, or individuals opposed to rules of any kind. And it’s time for the province to step up, Blackwell says.

“We all look to the provincial government to start doing their part, doing the enforcement, fixing the laws.”

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One last thing…

Blackwell was at the legislature in Victoria last month, meeting with ministers. He stopped by the press gallery recording studio for a chat.

Have a listen and let us know what you think.

Fran

Podcast producer: Rob Shaw

Feedback: [email protected]

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