Just days after offering to pay community leagues cash for signatures, Envision Edmonton is backpedaling on the plan.
The lobby group petitioning to force a plebiscite on the future of the City Centre Airport had offered to pay the grassroots community organizations 80 cents a signature.
Now Envision Edmonton has decided to retract the offer.
"We've decided that we're just going to retract that offer and get signatures the old-fashioned way with our volunteers out on the street," said Dean Braithwaite, a representative of Envision Edmonton.
The group ran into some turbulence with its new strategy after at least one city councillor complained it bordered on vote buying.
"Are they signing because they're trying to get money or are they signing because they really believe in the petition," said Coun. Ben Henderson, as he voiced concerns about the plan to pay community leagues for signatures.
Envision Edmonton claims it dropped the tactic because it was misunderstood in the media.
One councillor who voted in favour of keeping the airport open is blaming other civic officials for adding to the controversy.
"Stating it or putting it in context that people were buying votes – I think that's completely wrong," said Coun. Tony Caterina. "It's a tactic some are using to demonize the group."
Still, the organization representing community leagues is relieved the plan has been dropped.
"I don't think pay should have been associated with this, whatsoever, so I think it's best the whole idea's been dropped, "said Allan Bolstad, a spokesperson for the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues.
Envision Edmonton needs to collect another 10,000 names in just over a week in order to meet the necessary 78,000 signatures.
With files from CTV's Scott Roberts.
