Residents want evaluation

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GROUARD - Members of the Grouard Community Council Society believe they have good reason, when saying the Presidents Advisory Committee on Centre Affairs (PACCA) does not truly represent the needs of the populace it serves and appears by and large to be a token body.

"The AVC mandate is specifically to serve the interest of local and surrounding disadvantaged individuals. No appropriate consultation has taken place with the service clientele," they stated in an information bulletin.

The residents of Grouard have asked Larry Shaben, MLA for Lesser Slave Lake, to do a complete evaluation of the local AVC and PACCA.

The residents have been up in arms since they learned (by reading articles in newspapers), that the $5 million housing project for the AVC Grouard, approved in June 86, had been put on hold, to give consideration to moving the project to High Prairie.

The proposed change was introduced without the knowledge of the community, residents say. Two days prior to the publication of the story detailing the proposed change, there was a community meeting here to discuss problems and look at solutions, and this subject was not included because they were unaware of such an action.

The residents feel such a move would definitely adversely affect economic prospects for the citizens of Grourard as well as those of outlying reserves and settlements.

AVC is the community's economic base and it is feared the community's aspirations for other developments such as retail outlets, a high school, medical facilities, larger and new facilities for daycare, and all the jobs that go with it will be threatened.

If the proposal changes get official confirmation from Minister of Advanced Education, Dick Johnston, the residents say it would result in greater dependency on government subsidies and greatly reduce the quality of their lives and future generations to come.

Residents realize that education, skill development and training is essential in order for them to attain their common goal of self government, and feel they are still underprivileged in comparison with the rest of society.

If the programs they require a are moved from their home turf, they say the primary role of AVC has not been fulfilled and will be further from reach.