A week ago, both premiers, their respective caucuses and everything that comes with them came to Lloydminster.
Read more: Column: Profits before communities
It was a grandiose, “historical” event, taking place right under our noses at the Lloydminster Exhibition.
The cavalry of media that isn’t local was here in full force. That only happens for murders or something of this magnitude, so I’ve learned.
CBC, the company set to open a bureau here, had five employees in town for the event.
Global, CTV, all the big players, plus numerous national outlets by phone, were all in attendance.
So, what was the purpose of this event? Of them gathering in Lloydminster as a collective? Demanding co-operation from the federal government on federal issues.
Yes, politicians use communities as backdrops for things not related to the community. It happens all the time. But considering our community has been asking for something like this for years, why not at least hear from some of our local groups and give them time in front of everyone?
Not to mention the numerous issues unique to Lloydminster — health files not being shared, a need for a new hospital, and desperately needed infrastructure funding.
I was made aware they talked about bi-provincial trade, which, in speaking with municipal officials, is a major issue here. But not the nitty-gritty stuff our citizens have demanded for years from their governments.
All the movers and shakers from both provinces were here. Anyone who could make a decision. And yet, we were just a prop, a backdrop to show the rest of the country they were united.
Both premiers even went as far as being non-committal to anything related to the hospital project. Rush Lake? No new information. Every other question from all the big media had nothing to do with our community.
If one thing came out of this for Lloydminster, it’s this: when our location tag flashed on national networks, maybe a few people Googled us. Maybe they’ll visit the place where history was supposedly made.
Too bad the footnote to that historical visit is just the same old, same old. No Lloydminster issues were solved here that day.
Read more: Column: Losing our connection
