Cumberland Candidate Stephen Blais is questioning why Councillor Jellett is playing politics with the Blackburn By-pass Extension. This announcement will undoubtedly become part of Rob Jellett's re-election brochure.

“I’m not surprised Councillor Jellett has announced a plan for the Blackburn Bypass days before he is rumoured to announce his re-election campaign,” says Blais. “Councillor Jellett is renowned for making campaign promises during election years only to flip-flop later.”

In 2003, Cumberland Councillor Rob Jellett was elected on a 0% tax increase promise only to break this promise during his first budget on council. Since Jellett’s election to city council, property taxes have increased by 24.57% while inflation has been 11.24%.

“There is a reason why nearly two-thirds of residents rated city council’s performance this term as poor, according to a poll released this week,” adds Blais. “East End residents deserve real leadership rather than old style political opportunism being practiced by Councillor Jellett.”

In August 2006 during an election year, Cumberland Councillor Jellett had a plan to make up for a long-standing imbalance in spending on east-side and west-side projects. At that time, of the approximately $500 million spent on east-side and west-side projects, about 20% went to initiatives located in the east while 80% went west. Under the proposal, if two projects competing for the same funding were given an equal priority rating by city staff, the project located in the east would have been given the go-ahead. Not surprisingly to East End residents, Councillor Jellett withdrew his motion after making an announcement and there has been no news four years later.