I've been thinking a lot about the experts we look to when making community decisions. When I served on Council, I would read a consultant's report or a staff report and often wonder about the particular point of view of the person who wrote the report.
In my experience, there are always different points of views. Sometimes, in big decisions, reports would include second opinions but my recollection is that they would almost always confirm the first opinion.
This summer, when experts were brought out to support various proposals, people opposing those proposals brought out other experts who gave some scientific legitimacy to the opposition. Look at the creosote gasification project with Dr Paul Connett. I also understand the people out in Westwold who opposed the slaughterhouse waste compost facility also engaged the services of an engineer.
It does serve the public well when we can hear different experts who have differing opinions. It's then up to us to the hard work of really examining those opinions respectfully, and formulate our own thoughts.
Comments