The Village of Canal Flats regular council meeting, held on September 12, was preceded by a visit from MP David Wilks, who was visiting municipalities to bring word of his work on Parliament Hill and if or how Valley and other communities in the area could be affected.
On a subject of particular concern for Canal Flats was long gun registry, which Wilks predicted would be dealt with by the end of October, when a new bill is in place.
“It’s a bit of a bind, because people want to hold onto it in Ontario and Quebec,” Wilks explained. “It’s not about abolishing Rule 68 though, it’s just removing long guns from it.”
Wilks went on to say that Prime Minister Stephen Harper believes there is indeed a need for safe storage of long guns as well, Wilks adding that the registration for one is also flawed.
“Some long guns are not made with serial numbers,” Wilks explained. “They will send you a serial number sticker to put on the gun and you are trusted to put it on, but in some cases they can accidentally send two stickers. It’s a flawed system.”
As for the close to 400 jobs around long run registry, Wilks is confident that those jobs will remain, but simply will not apply to long guns, but other firearm registry instead.
• Council also dealt with an act of vandalism by the gravel pit in town. A metal sign has been fastened to the pit’s chain by persons unknown. The sign strongly encourages people not to dump garbage in the area. The full text of the sign cannot be published, as it contains profanity.
Council will be removing the sign and reporting its presence to the RCMP.
• Council also reviewed new bylaws for reading regarding the Eagles Nest Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw, the Unsightly Premise Bylaw, the Noise Control Bylaw and the Municipal Ticketing Information Bylaw.
The Eagles Nest Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw concerned the new Eagle Nest Water System, which was approved for purchase, making Canal Flats the official owner of the system.
Arrangements for maintenance and the capital project can now begin, beginning with adopting the new bylaw that would deem it necessary for the village to regulate the rates, conditions and terms under or upon which water may be supplied and used.