Chris Clegg
South Peace News

Despite claims it is open and transparent, High Prairie town council continues to ignore requests to release detailed expenses on what the SAGE Report cost town taxpayers.

The SAGE Report prompted High Prairie town council to suspend two councillors (Sacha Martens and Judy Stenhouse) for misconduct June 3. CAO Bill McKennan wrote in his report to council at its July 23 meeting the cost to taxpayers was $41,401.86.

However, questions are arising if the $41,401.86 is the actual cost. South Peace News emailed Mayor Brian Panasiuk and all council members July 19 asking if the number cited includes the mayor and council members’ fees for attending extra meetings and interviews conducted by SAGE, plus meals, etc.

Panasiuk responded July 26 and asked the request be sent to McKennan. Panasiuk was reminded; however, the request was directed to each member of council to see how open and transparent they are. Panasiuk did send the email to McKennan but provided no direction on whether to release the expenses.

South Peace News has since requested additional expenses including staff time and legal fees involved in the SAGE Report.

Another request for disclosure of expenses was emailed to all members of council July 30.

Council did not respond.

July 30, South Peace News asked the five members of council who voted to spend money on the SAGE Report (Panasiuk, and councillors Donna Deynaka, John Dunn, James Waikle and Therese Yacyshyn) if taxpayers received good value for their money, and to justify the expense.

Panasiuk and the councillors did not respond.

Council is on record claiming to be open and transparent.

“Council strives to maintain an open and transparent disclosure of information to our ratepayers.” – A Message from the Council of High Prairie, published Jan. 31, 2024, South Peace News.

South Peace News has since asked that all expense claims for each member of council from February 2024 to the present be released.

No claims were received by deadline.

Big Lakes County inserts each member of council’s expense sheets in the agenda package each month for the public to easily see. The Town of High Prairie does not do so but used to include them in agenda packages years ago, and at one time published expenses on its website. That does not occur today.

In the July 19 email, South Peace News also asked Panasiuk and each member of council if they felt the SAGE Report has made them better councillors in terms of governance. The five who voted to spend the money did not respond.

Stenhouse responded referring to money spent.

“This was a complete waste of taxpayer’s money, it was a setup right from the word go,” wrote Stenhouse in an email July 21.

“No RFD or cap on money to spend, it was all by design. It is a red herring, to what?” she asks.

Martens was also critical.

“Waste of money! Big time!” wrote Martens in a July 21 email.

“Council’s job is to be good stewards of public funds (tax dollars) that our citizens work hard for. Instead of putting the hard-earned taxpayers’ dollars to good, practical, and productive use, council have decided to waste tax dollars on a lawless, illegitimate, and reckless report,” she added.

Martens added taxpayers should hold the rest of council accountable.

“And owe an apology to the taxpayers of this town.”

The report has done nothing but divide council, one member says.

“This has driven a wedge between us as colleagues beyond repair,” said Stenhouse.

Duff Conacher, co- founder of Democracy Watch, agreed with Martens’ assertion the entire process was a kangaroo court.

“. . .politicians should never be allowed to judge the actions of other politicians as that is, by definition, a kangaroo court,” he wrote in an email July 17.

Democracy Watch is a Canadian national non-profit, non-partisan organization. It bills itself as Canada’s leading citizen group advocating democratic reform, government accountability and corporate respon- sibility.

Martens earlier suggested mediation as a way to work out its differences but Panasiuk, Deynaka, Dunn, Waikle and Yacyshyn refused and proceeded to spend money on the SAGE Report.

“Council was invited to reverse course, mend fences, talk it out openly, heal, and move forward in a good way,” wrote Martens.

“Every attempt to reconcile and remediate has been denied.”