As I left the city's public Core Review session last Tuesday, I thought: there must be a better way to get input from the City's workers. ]

Of the 150 or so folks who showed up, I'm guesstimating that 75 to 80 per cent were city workers or their families.

We were told that city workers had been given two separate opportunities to meet with the consultants this week. Why did they feel it necessary to highjack the public meeting? Although as taxpayers in the city these workers have the right to attend, it became clear immediately that the union message was the most important input, not what the rest of the taxpayers had to say.

Those of us who do not work for the city were there to give our comments, suggestions and input, not be immediately bombarded by heart-rending stories from unionized workers, or to hear reasons why our suggestions couldn't be implemented. I didn't hear one suggestion from these workers on how to reduce costs and increase productivity.

We all heart PG, and want to make sure we can afford to continue living in this place we call home.

I have worked on jobs with some of these workers, and know they could become more efficient and cut costs, the same way those of us in private enterprise have to do every day.

Bob Little

Prince George