Call it the year of elections.
This year, territorial voters have cast ballots in a federal election, and territorial and municipal are upcoming.
Add to that a fourth, Dawson’s pseudo election.
A group of citizens are holding a mock vote on April 20th to send a message to the territory that they have been deprived of representation too long.
They are right.
The Yukon government suspended the Dawson council following a damning investigation into the town’s finances and lapses in governance.
But the senior government is not without taint itself.
It had a role in doling out the money to the municipality, and failed to ensure proper oversight of the municipality’s ambitious capital plans.
Once things started to spiral out of control, the senior government failed to reign things in.
But all that is in the past.
It has now reconstructed the books as best it can, though a full accounting may never materialize.
The Association of Yukon Communities and even government-appointed managers have suggested it is far past time that Dawson receive its financial bailout and resume governing itself.
Municipal government is often overlooked in favour of its flashy cousins at the territorial and federal levels.
But no other government has as much impact on people’s lives as a municipal mayor and council.
It’s long past time that Dawson citizens take control over their own affairs.
This mock election will give prospective candidates a chance to build a profile and work the kinks out their campaigns in advance of this fall’s official election.
We wish them all well. (RM)