2) Are there any steps municipalities can take to help ease cost of living concerns?
Affordable and attainable housing continues to be a need locally. There is a lack of supply and with a 1% vacancy rate in our Municipality, the creates additional challenges to house people who do not have the means to pay large rents or mortgages. There is a concern that many families are on the edge of perhaps sliding into becoming homeless as a result of the current economic conditions, The Municipality needs to continue to advocate to Bruce County to create the conditions for developers to build a wide variety of housing options that can be more attainable and affordable. This may be in the form of incentivizing projects and partnering with each level of government encouraging builders be an active part of the solution. In Coburg, the Municipal government, along with the provincial and federal governments, created a 40 unit mixed housing development. It demonstrated that this can be accomplished.
On another level, I feel that come the new year when we work through the budget process, we will need to be very sensitive to the fact that we have had a high level of inflation for over a year and currently on the cusp of a recession. This means that taxes need to be held in check to be able to assist our residents in keeping these costs lower when all other costs seem to be going up.
3) What are your ideas for economic development in your municipality?
I feel that Brockton has a strong plan for economic development especially in its commitment to the East Ridge Business Park. Over time, the Park has built the Walketon Clean Water Center, a Best Western Hotel and has a Soccer Complex- just to name a few key facilities. We now look to further develop an area with the Saugeen Hospice, and a mixed housing development and potentially a new Recreation centre with all of these providing direct benefits to residents.
We also have a need to connect stakeholders in the community under one group to better enhance the communication of in the Municipality. This group would include businesses, service groups and Arts and Culture supporters and youth to organize and plan events, activities and strategize the future. Collectively, this will strengthen and improve quality of life in Brockton. With the absence of a Business Improvement Area (BIA) or a Chamber of Commerce, it is essential that local business have a collective voice and input on how to enhance conditions in the Municipality.
4) Do you think the municipality has a role to play in the recruitment and retention of physicians and other healthcare workers?
Brockton has an active Physician Recruitment Committee to attract physicians and other health professionals to practice here. The Municipality provides financial support to assist the work of the committee along with other supports. It has been successful since its inception in 2005 So it is obvious that recruitment is part of the role of our local government. I also feel that the work of the committee may be broadened to consider the nursing shortage that is playing havoc with our hospitals emergency department’s ability to stay open consistently. Simply put, we need more nurses for the immediate and longer term, viability of health care in this community. There is an understanding that there is a shortage province-wide, but we need to be able to properly incentivize and promote our region that has an amazing quality of life- as I am sure neighbouring municipalities are also doing