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And now — or at least, after May 26, when they take office — it is time for the new councils to get down to work.

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In Campbellton, the new council is faced with the perennial problem of funding the Campbellton Regional Memorial Civic Centre. The population of the area is shrinking, and as the building ages it needs maintenance. Right now, it is one of the main reasons why the city's tax rate is one of the highest in the province. The city still must find money to pave streets and maintain all other services. Other than the contributions from Atholville and Tide Head, the city pays for this facility by itself, even though it is used by persons who live in outlying LSDs and in Quebec. Current management and the past council did indeed work hard to find a solution to this challenge, a challenge that potentially presents as many opportunities for the area as it does problems. It has proven again and again that when needed, it can be a magnificent building in which to host an event. If it is rather large, then that in itself opens up opportunities not open to smaller buildings. Nonetheless, it remains the single biggest issue for the new council to bring under control, because so many other issues must remain unresolved until the funding of this building is resolved.

In Dalhousie, every week seems to bring some fresh bad news to a town whose economy was once one of the most robust in the Maritimes. The paper mill has closed for good. Olin will close in June. The DFO office is still scheduled to leave town. Smaller businesses have closed and William Street is full of vacant storefronts. Many houses are up for sale. Now, it even looks like the spur line may face abandonment for lack of business. The town faces a serious budget challenge in the coming years due to a precipitous loss of tax revenue.

It is not all doom and gloom, and it is not being irrationally optimistic to believe that there are many good things happening right now. Belledune and Charlo are forging ahead with plans for vacation and retirement villages, with related improvement in infrastructure. While there are accusations that ACOA is backing away from projects in this area, there have been other financial commitments by the provincial and federal governments. Amongst other things, there is a $12 million fund for the Dalhousie area, if there are those with projects willing to come forward to make use of it.

Cooperation is the key for the whole region. There must be a proactive approach to getting things done. That is something which the new councils must work hard to achieve, and help local businesses and community groups to achieve. It must be done on a regional basis. For too long, each municipality and LSD in our area has effectively "paddled its own canoe", without enough thought to the big picture of the region. Sure, there was plenty of talk about regional cooperation, but when it came down to actual deeds, each community may as well have erected castle walls and poured boiling oil on its neighbours.

This selfish approach has gone on for decades, and it must stop. Everybody must give something in order to gain in the long run, or each community will decline separately rather than grow together. Our new councils must put aside the old-time backyard politics and show politics of vision. If they do, our region can achieve a great new future. But if it is going to be business as usual, parents may as well buy their kids tickets to Alberta right now.