Enterprise hangs in limbo as it tries to heal on multiple fronts

Nearly a month ago, Enterprise announced a by-election to fill four empty council seats. There’s no news about when that will actually happen.

Enterprise’s recent election on February 13 concluded with an unprecedented situation: three residents elected to council refused to take their oath and one sitting councillor resigned, leaving three sitting members, one of whom is presently on leave.

On February 26, newly elected mayor Sandra McMaster announced a by-election to fill the empty seats. In the month since, there have been no updates about when that by-election will take place or what’s holding up the process.

Former mayor Mike St Amour says he wants answers as he considers whether to run for council himself. St Amour’s defeat by McMaster in the recent mayoral election brought about the current situation – those who resigned largely said, in effect, they had hoped to work with him, not her.

“Nothing’s happened for the past month and people are starting to get upset,” St Amour said.

“I’m pretty sure if the people want to stand behind me, I’ll run. There’s lots of unfinished business here.

“I’d work with the mayor and the other councillors, like I’ve worked with them before. I want to do what’s best for the community, not just the individual.”

Cabin Radio made multiple attempts to reach McMaster but was unable to do so before publication.

The hamlet’s senior administrative officer, Blair Porter, says the delays are due to the complexity of the situation. Every time an issue is solved, he said, two more come up.

“This is a unique situation that nobody has ever dealt with before,” Porter said. “We’re just taking the time to make sure that everything is done right the first time.”

A March 31 annual budget proposal deadline has been extended by the territory’s Department of Municipal and Community Affairs until April 30. In the meantime, the hamlet and Maca are deliberating on next steps and examining the legislation, according to Porter.

“The Hamlets Act mentions 45 days for the new council to have a meeting,” Porter said. “That’s being considered – whether we need to wait for that 45 days to be up before we call it.”

Under this interpretation, the three residents who refused to take their oath have until 45 days after the election, March 30, to change their minds. Two of them, Michael Zak Kimble and Charles Sutherland, told Cabin Radio they have no intention of doing so.

By Porter’s estimate, a new council could be selected by May.

“Maca is aware that the Hamlet of Enterprise is intending to conduct a by-election, which they have the authority to do,” read a statement from Jennifer Young, a spokesperson for the department. “Maca will continue to support the hamlet through this process in accordance with legislation.”

Meanwhile, Cliff Kimble – who, with 14 votes, was not elected to council – has wondered why unsuccessful candidates like him weren’t offered seats when others declined them.

Porter says legal advice given to the hamlet is that there “has to be a by-election held.” He says Kimble is welcome to run again when that happens.

Council to meet

A special council meeting called for Friday will be the first since the new council was elected.

Friday’s meeting will take care of basics like selecting signatories for bank accounts and appointing a deputy mayor. Larger topics, like the town’s recovery from last year’s wildfire, remain on hold, politically, while the by-election is figured out.

At an administrative level, Porter said, the hamlet is carrying on with projects. He has been working on a new evacuation plan, including mutual aid agreements with neighbouring communities and how tasks are delegated in the moment.

He’s also looking into firesmarting the community, fire breaks and tree selection as the hamlet rebuilds.

“Even when it comes to things like our vulnerable population – 60 percent of our population is senior, so that’s got to be considered too,” he said.

“We’re moving ahead as best we can, but it’s hard to move forward with business when you don’t have a full council to do that.

“It’s worrying to me, now.”

Unifying the community

After last year’s wildfires, some Enterprise residents say they have felt a divide grow within their community, exacerbating pre-existing disagreements.

“This community is very one-sided,” said Sutherland, one of the councillors-elect who did not take their oath. “That is where it still is headed, to this day.”

St Amour has previously asserted that the handling of disaster recovery further distressed and divided residents.

“There is the thought of trying to bring Enterprise together. That probably is going to take a little bit more time,” said Porter.

“There are some deep-seated divides, I’ll say, that have been brought to the floor with this tragedy, unfortunately, and those may take a little bit longer to heal.”

“We’ve got a lot of work to do and we need our community to work together,” new mayor McMaster told Cabin Radio in a February interview.

“I’m there for the community, and we’ll march forward and nothing’s going to stop us.

“We’re going to do what’s right for the people and for our community.”