Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Protestors oppose LIP funding model outside city hall

At a demonstration prior to the April 25, 2016 special
council meeting, several people stand with signs outside
city hall to show their opposition to the local
improvement program (LIP) funding model.
Lisa Goudy/Times-Herald

By Lisa Goudy

A large group of residents gathered in front of city hall prior to Monday’s council meeting in opposition to the local improvement program (LIP).

Organized by the group Citizens Advocating for Sensible Taxation (CAST), the protest was spurred by the calling of a special council meeting Monday night prior to the regularly scheduled executive committee meeting that moved up the third and final reading of the LIP cast iron water main construction bylaw for the first phase of the program. Normally if the first and second reading of a bylaw isn’t approved unanimously, the bylaw returns for final at the next regular council meeting.

“I understand special meetings exist, but I believe they would be primarily used if there was an emergency situation where they needed to get a bylaw passed so that something could get done,” said CAST spokesperson Terry Gabel. “This isn’t to get something done in the next week.”

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