Bylaws enforced reluctantly
I enjoyed Kevin Mills’ promotional piece on bylaw enforcement. Interesting stats from Gord Ferguson, nice profile of Jessica Harknett, but I honestly don’t believe this article reflects reality or the typical experience that an Abbotsford taxpayer has with this city’s bylaw enforcement department.
I’ve lived in Abbotsford for nine years and can confidently say that the City of Abbotsford’s bylaw enforcement department, as directed by mayor and council, has a long history of reluctance for enforcing current bylaws or creating more progressive bylaws that address the needs of a modern municipality. (Want to see archaic? Check out Abbotsford’s animal control bylaw and have a good laugh. It assumes we all still live on farms and pretends cats don’t exist.)
Abbotsford’s mayor and council has long expected and would prefer that neighbours simply “work things out on their own.” You know, love, peace, tolerate and endure! Can our mayor and council really be that naive?
We pay a lot of taxes here in Abbotsford and have the right to expect progressive bylaws combined with effective educational campaigns on responsible home, property and pet ownership.
We also have the right to expect hassle-free bylaw enforcement when some residents need more encouragement to comply with good neighbour practices.
Bylaw enforcement officer Jessica Harknett stated, “Neighbours don’t talk to each other anymore,” and I believe I know why.
Sherril Guthrie
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