1) Why are you running?
This term, TSBP Council faced many challenges, including working very hard to keep the town’s residents safe during COVID.
In response, Council worked diligently with community partners as a team to meet these challenges and seek new opportunities to move our town forward in so many areas.
As a councillor, I am seeking re-election to build on these successes. As a community volunteer, I have first hand knowledge of what is important to you. My record of working both in the community, along with my 35 years of municipal experience, uniquely positions me to understand and partner with the community, in order to provide facilities, services and programs in a fiscally accountable way.
My priorities will be to build a healthy community through supporting and investing in partnerships particularly in the areas of affordable housing options, health care, business investment, and the provision of programs and facilities that support community well-being.
I have always believed that the Town of South Bruce Peninsula is a community with vast potential. And I am running for re-election to ensure that this potential is realized.
2) Are there any steps municipalities can take to ease the cost of living concerns?
The four areas where residents are most impacted by cost of living increases-housing, food , transportation and childcare . While municipalities have limited tools to deal with these issues TSBP has taken action.
With respect to housing, Council has already supported a variety of housing options through passing bylaws allowing for tiny homes and garden suites.
Council worked with the Community Living Association to assist them with development charges and building fees for their new build. Council also negotiated and is now coordinating the transition of the Propeller Club into affordable apartments.
Council has and will need to continue to support, where possible, those agencies and community service organizations working to reduce food insecurity.
Council has and will need to continue to support expansion of a public transportation system serving TSBP residents.
Through policy development , partnerships, and grants Council should ensure that municipal recreation ,culture and arts programs are accessible to all children.
All of the above will be supported by a sustainable financial plan that keeps property taxes as low as possible while providing services residents demand, keeps debt at tax supported levels, ensure user fees and taxes pay for the cost of the service, maintains and plans for future infrastructure.
3) What are your ideas for economic development in your municipality ?
To implement recommendations contained in recently approved Economic development Strategy and Action plan; Continue to work with developers to attract new residential development to the Town;
Support existing and bring new business development to the Town taking advantage of more granting opportunities, already in place, such as My Mainstreet, Digital Mainstreet, and the recently approved Investment Attraction Branding – “A Natural Business Environment;”
Continue to advocate for increased broadband and high speed internet;
Collaborate with local hospitality stakeholders to develop a plan to grow shoulder season tourism;
4) Do you think the Municipality has a role in the recruitment and retention of physicians and other healthcare workers?
One of the roles of Council is to make decisions bearing in mind the well being of the community. Council takes this role seriously. In 2018 Council approved a four year commitment to Grey Bruce Health Services of $25,000/year to a new youth mental health beds initiative.
To secure the future location of the Sauble Beach Family Health Team, Council purchased the Sauble Beach Medical Centre and is currently working with County EMS to build a station at this site.
In support of recruiting, to the Town, much needed family physicians Council approved $50,000 to support the activites of our current Physician Recruit Committee . One of these activities is the development of a website www.wiartonmdquest.com. Visiting this site will gives an overviewfthe competitiveness of physician recruitment and how much work is involved.
5) Do you Support the approval of a proposed land based Fish Farm in the Wiarton area?
My position on the proposed fish farm is this:
If on Council and the current proposal by Georgian Bay Salmon, as presented at the public meeting, came to me for a vote, I would vote to deny access to Town right of way for their infrastructure. This is the only tool we have as the fish farm is on property zoned and regulated by the Ministry of Agriculture.
At present, neither Council nor First Nations have received any communication, applications or completed studies to review. Council is very frustrated with Georgian Bay’s lack of communication.
My extensive municipal experience working with Council, developers and the community, on such projects leads me to believe that, for whatever reasons, they are still very early in the process. In that case, it may be a long awhile before this comes to Council.
However, if that should happen, here are some conditions required for my approval:
A sustainable fish farm that promises:
-zero effluent discharge and monitored by a third party,
-zero antibiotics and growth hormones
– zero chance of fish escape,
– humane harvest practices.
In other words, “Zero harm to Colpoy’s Bay”
6) What are your views on beach maintenance and parking in Sauble Beach?
At present , the Town is not able to actively maintain the Beach other than to keep clear
pedestrian and emergency access points and remove hazards and dangerous items from
the Beach. When this situation changes Council will continue to develop a long term
Sauble Beach Maintenance plan.
With respect to parking , except on long weekends, there is sufficient parking for residents
and tourists visiting the Beach. Council continues to monitor this for future parking plans.