Time will tell if recycling savings are worth the money

I wrote this to the City Councillors, on many topics, including recycling. We gather our recycling, sort it, take it to the recycling centres. We do our own composting, because of the costs of food. Which means our “garbage” is minimal. Anything we have beyond our regular garbage, we load it up and take it to the dump.

I have repeatedly asked the City, including Joel Sanchez, executive director, to explain, WHY EVERYONE has charges, moreover, IF the city actually has cameras on the trucks, they would KNOW we do not have excess trash. Nothing but gaslighting, or no responses. Now this…

I have contacted the city, inquiring about the $300M bridge. Which they claim 60% of voters gave them the mandate to spend $300M. Meanwhile, the bureaucrats decided to allow “Project Managers” who do not work for the city, to audit and keep track of expenditures on the costs of the Agrihub, which was supposed to be $70M but ended up $27M over budget. They should have had city auditors, within the government doing this work, but didn’t. Now they’ve apparently hired staff to do so. In my opinion too little to late. They could have paid the recycling costs out of the $27M, nevermind the other costs that Taxpayers are on the hook for.

Meanwhile, The city “claims” there were 106,550 as of the 2023 census. Which is different from their own PDF at the voting which was 109,624. Were these international students, non permanent residents or others supposedly eligible to vote, who did so, but left? Why were they allowed to impact our city as a whole if they were not staying?

As of the latest data from the “Federal Government”: https://www.elections.ca/scripts/vis/EDInfo?L=e&ED=48026&EV=99&EV_TYPE=6&QID=-1&PAGEID=21
Info on your electoral district:
Name: Lethbridge (Alberta)
Population: 123,847
Registered voters: 90,847
Number of polling divisions: 228

Meanwhile as per CTV & Lethbridge News Now population:
According to Statistics Canada:
As of January 16, 2025, the estimated population of Lethbridge, AB is 111,400. 
Here’s a more detailed breakdown: 
Estimated Population (July 1, 2024): 111,400
Increase from 2023: 4,445 or 4.16%
Lethbridge’s position: The fourth-largest city in Alberta.
https://lethbridgenewsnow.com/2025/01/16/lethbridge-population-estimated-at-111400/

So IF at the time there were 90,847 registered voters,

As per the City of Lethbridge PDF:
CITY OF LETHBRIDGE 2021 ELECTION
Total Eligible: 81,276
Turnout Overall 28,348
The city claims 34.88%

But the Federal Government says there should have been 90,846 and only 28,348 actual voters = 31%, where’d they go? Why the difference between reporting?
https://www.lethbridge.ca/media/gpqp3e04/2021-election-results.pdf

Moreover, Federal Government says there were 123,847 citizens in Lethbridge. Which is definitely short based on what the Federal Government claims, which is 123,847-106,550 = 17,300 missing.  
Where did those citizens, the purchasing, the taxes, the businesses go?

WHAT has the city council done to improve those numbers? They’ve asked for suggestions to increase businesses, etc. I suggested a Celebration of Cultures, akin to Folklorama in Winnipeg. They could run it every weekend from April to October, highlighting, Art, Food, Celebrations, Dances, etc.
We have numerous buildings, downtown and throughout the city that could be rented, leased or even purchased to have ongoing cultural enlightenment.

I also suggested trying to find an entrepreneur who specializes in recycling of Tires, new technology which exists, to make sound barriers, insulation etc. Akin to the Plastics recycling now done by the business that has taken over the old Cavendish plant.

The City Council, has gaslighted, not responded, and pretended they cared. Meanwhile many citizens who attempted to bring their concerns to City Council, Executive, are being blocked, told they are unreasonably persistent, so they refuse to be held accountable for the questions / concerns asked by actual taxpayers. To then play the victims, when they are held to account for their gaslighting.

I have attempted to champion my on concerns as well as those of MANY others, who have been bullied and ignored.

I too am now told that City Council and Bureaucrats will not respond, and that all my concerns will be dealt with through 311, or Jolene Watson. NOT those we have voted for, but the bureaucrats and staff we DIDN’T vote for.

We need REAL clarity, REAL transparency, REAL accountability, which is NOT what we’ve had for decades.

We need NEW blood, changes, in both council, bureaucracy, staff, executives, who they believe are above accountability, but are easily able to point fingers at everyone else but themselves.

With the Bank Of Canada stating they cannot Borrow or Loan any more money, and have strongly suggested a full out recession is coming. Along with the Parliamentary Budget Officer, openly stating that Canadians personal debt (mortgages, loans, credit cards, lines of credit) are about to be defaulted on, to the tune of $2.5Trillion and increasing. While city councillors claim: “That does not concern us.”
But offer us a pittance of a decrease in our daily bills to the tune of approx $7.00 per household, wherein many households have been composting, and doing their own recycling, seems like a real slap in the face. On top of ignoring and gaslighting the real concerns of the Citizens / Taxpayers of Lethbridge, while bloating their own bureaucracy which has proven ineffective, overpriced and lacking in many regards.