1) Why are you running?I am running because lately I have been very concerned by some huge community changing decisions made at the council table. These decisions affect our health, our heritage, our finances and our biosphere and these decisions appear to have been made with little or no community input nor consideration of consequences. Many closed meetings have raised serious flags about fiscal responsibility, transparency and accountability to taxpayers. My past experiences speak volumes to my willingness to stand up for the citizens, to represent them with their best interest in mind and to always keep them informed. I will once again be their common sense voice of reason at the table- something that seems to be missing lately.
2)Are there any steps a municipality can take to help ease cost of living concerns?
Lately, many Canadians have had to adjust their spending habits and lifestyles to cope with the recent drastic rise of inflation and soaring interest rates. I believe the municipality has a big role to play in helping its citizens through this crisis. First and foremost, the council must acknowledge the current struggle of many of our taxpayers. In doing so, council must also ensure that it is fiscally responsible with every part of our budget. Second, TSBP council must prioritize the current needs of its residents and work with other levels of government and local private social organizations to find ways in meeting these needs. Things as simple as maximizing our food bank and programs like the breakfast club and lunch programs for our students can make a big difference. Food scarcity is now a troubling reality. We cannot gloss over this need.
3)What are your ideas for economic development in your community?
Over 100 years ago, our forefathers made a conscious decision that tourism and agriculture would be our economic generators. To this day, many opportunities continue to exist in the tourism business which the town could expand on. Tourism comes in many shapes and forms- cultural, environmental and recreational tourism along with the fairly new eco-tourism are just a few forms of tourism initiatives which our community could capitalize on. We have such an unique biosphere and heritage to support this economic development. Let’s build a trail system that would join our little communities together with a structure that would be matched by no other in Ontario -walking trails, bicycle trails, ATV trails etc that every recreation enthusiast would want to explore. Let’s bring back the unique learning experiences that our forefathers offered years ago to come and explore our environment and learn about our past. Let’s once again provide our visitors with special opportunities to come and explore, learn, play and stay in our playground. And perhaps a partnership with an Outdoor Education Facility would create more family educational and fun experiences while teaching how to respect and protect our unique biosphere.
4)Do you think the municipality has a role to play in the recruitment and retention of physicians and other healthcare workers?
Absolutely. Under the Municipal Act, it is the role of council to represent the public and to consider the well-being and interests of the municipality. Many citizens currently are without a doctor and therefore it is in the best interest and well-being of the municipality to do what it can to assist the Doctor Recruitment Committee in providing our citizens with accessible healthcare. The assistance provided by the council to the Recruitment and Retention of physicians and healthcare workers may come in the form of providing funds to assist with lodging, purchasing equipment, providing education or contributing to other identified physician or healthcare workers’ needs. Also,representation on the Doctor Recruitment Committee by council would also ensure that council is always aware of the current situation.
5) Do you support the approval of a proposed land based fish farm in the Wiarton area?
If you’re talking about the experimental 500,000 sq ft industrialized fish farm the size of 5 football fields proposed for the Berford Lake agriculture zoned lands then my response is pretty simple-No!
I do NOT support the approval of a land based INDUSTRIALIZED experimental 500,000 sq foot fish farm on 200+ acres of agricultural zoned land with wetlands significance in the Berford Lake area that proposes to suck 1.8 MILLION litres of water daily out of Colpoys Bay and return 1.3 MILLION liters of “scrubbed” water daily at a slightly higher temperature back into Colpoys Bay where 4000 people currently source their drinking water from. Slight temperature changes to habitat can have disastrous effects both to habitat and climate change. The company says it will employ staff to monitor the operation of this proposed INDUSTRIALIZED experimental fish farm but that’s like putting the fox in charge of the hen house. We all know the results from Walkerton when a water source was compromised and errors in monitoring occurred. The risk is too great!! This idea is ludicrous and ridiculous and will do nothing but destroy our pristine water and biosphere that we have worked so hard to preserve.
6)What are your views on beach maintenance and parking at Sauble Beach?
It is essential to create a Beach Management Plan due to the high numbers of tourists who now visit our beaches yearly, particularly Sauble Beach. The plan would include the Blue Flag designation, the symbol of a safe and clean beach which we proudly flew at Sauble Beach from 2005-2015 but was lost after the bulldozing of the habitat of the Piping Plover, an endangered species. A Beach Management Plan would protect our beach and bring back order, organization and control to the beach when the influx of people occurs. The plan would ensure that adequate garbage containers and collection, parking, traffic flow and clean washroom facilities are available at all times. When paid parking was initially implemented, funds were to help with added beach maintenance costs incurred from additional beach visitors during the busy warm summer months and also to upgrade and build new beach facilities to accommodate the visitors. Lately, paid parking funds have assisted in paying additional expenses occurred from decisions to appeal several unsuccessful court decisions. Costly appeals must stop and common sense must prevail in the decision making process.