Much of the discussion Monday night by Fort Frances town council around the proposal to rename Colonization Road focused not on the need to change the name but on the process taken to come to a recommendation.
Councillor Doug Judson remains critical of the direction and the length of time taken to come to a decision.
“Instead of creating a working circle on colonization like they did in Dryden or simply committing outright to remove a hurtful name like they did an emo, we’ve invited this debate about whether colonization was harmful,” says Judson.
Mayor June Caul feels that had the issue been presented in a proper way, council could have dealt with it in a more timely fashion.
“If this subject been introduced to council in the proper way, we could have dealt with it professionally and procedurally without all the extra rhetoric. I believe the proper decision would have been made in a much more productive And timely fashion,” says Caul.
Caul also not apologizing for the time taken.
“I will not apologize for the time taken to make sure everyone has been given a voice. That is what council must always do,” says Caul.
Caul did offer apologies to those impacted by the street’s name and to those effective by its eventual change.
She also apologized to members of council for the public attacks against them on social media.
The public will get their say at a meeting yet to be determined. The town will also accept written submissions until then.
