Our View

Springbank residents looking to kick up their Christmas and community spirit are encouraged to string up their bright lights and give their neighbours a run for their money. Coun.

“tis the season for giving and that can mean different things to different people, but for many out there, it can represent a lot of pressure and stress – that might be especially true in Alberta as the economy continues its slow rebound.

Our previous municipal council left its successors in a bit of a mess and as a result our new councillors are starting their term with a pretty hefty tax increase.

People are balking at the latest increase to natural gas prices due to the Carbon Tax and while the jump to $1.50 per gigajoule is not a surprise, to see it in conjunction with the cost of natural gas is bound to ignite some anger.

Cochrane restaurants and bars are echoing criticisms made this week by Restaurant Canada as the organization dropped the province’s grade on business friendliness toward eateries and bars.

Next year will mark the 100-year anniversary of the end of the First World War.

As council prepares to deliberate over the upcoming $52.6 million budget it will be interesting to see how some members around the table choose to handle the proposed three per cent tax increase. Couns.

With the election over and the candidates sworn in, our new council is set to begin fulfilling its mandate set by the Cochrane electorate.

Cochrane voters won’t have to wait long to determine if they made the right choices when electing their new town council.

Municipal elections are notorious for voter apathy. In the last Cochrane municipal election a mere 33 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot. In the city, less than 30 per cent of voters went to the polls.