1) Why are you running?
I am currently transitioning to retirement, I have been working for and helping municipalities for over 40 years and it really is what I enjoy doing, helping people and communities and I have been very successful with that.
My original thought was to run for council in the Town of South Bruce Peninsula, however once I shared with friends and family I was encouraged to run for Mayor; based on my experience of attending and chairing many
meetings with Province and Municipalities. There are a lot of people that have been reaching out to me discussing their displeasure with the current council making important decisions without community involvement. For my
entire career I have attended public meetings and always listened, been helpful and successful with finding solutions that work for everyone. Compromise has always been the key and taxpayers need their voice heard
at all Council Meetings.
So to answer your question, why did I decided to run for Mayor? Because a lot of people have asked me for help and that’s what intend to do, help the local business’, residents of the community and all visitors to our beautiful
area.
2) Are there any steps municipalities can take to help ease cost of living concerns?
Municipalities control property taxes and would have the ability to lower these taxes if new developments were to be welcomed to town, thus increasing town revenues. Another avenue that could be explored would be for the Town to finance a geared income and social housing program.
3) What are your ideas for economic development in your municipality?
The Town of South Bruce Peninsula has so much potential for economic growth and in order to properly understand all of these growth opportunities.
I would create a Master Growth Plan that would consist of studies completed within the Town that would collect data that can be used to attract developers and investors to our town. There is no reason why South Bruce
Peninsula residents need to be driving to other Towns and Cities to be spending money, we should be spending money in our own town and supporting all of our local business’ and at the same time creating
opportunities for economic growth. Let’s not forget Tourism that is our greatest revenue, and job creation.
This would be done by creating an open-door policy with a fair approach to financing in constructing of new homes, business’ and tourism to allow the town to grow.
4) Do you think the municipality has a role to play in the recruitment
and retention of physicians and other healthcare workers? I believe that recruitment of physicians and healthcare workers is a responsibility of the entire community including the municipality. The municipality can play a major leadership role by providing medical clinic facilities that include apartments for locums and giving physicians a true
turnkey operation that will allow them to do their jobs as doctors. These medical clinics can be developed at no cost to the tax payers as municipalities should not be responsible for Ontario healthcare costs.
5) Do you support the approval of a proposed land-based Fish Farm in the Wiarton area?
I have been involved for over thirty years in the planning and development processes at the municipal level. It would be my goal to make sure that all required environmental studies and land use planning concerns have been
completed and presented in an open and transparent manner to the public.
I have reviewed any and all information that has been made available to me for this fish farm. And if a decision had to be made at this time I could not support the fish farm based on the information that is available.
It is important to remember that the decision will not be made by one person, and Council will need to make a decision that is in the best interest of all residents.
6) What are your views on beach maintenance and parking in Sauble Beach?
This a significant health and safety matter that would be a high priority for me as Mayor to implement improvements. With tourism increasing and more visitors to the beach each year there is a definite need for improved traffic flow, sidewalks, parking, washroom facilities and beach maintenance which are all well below public expectations. Sauble Beach is the second largest freshwater beach in the world, and it should be treated with the respect it deserves. In order to finance these goals, I would reach out to the Provincial Government to provide funding to protect and preserve this beach as a provincial and significant interest.