1) Why are you running?
In 2018 I ran for Municipal Council here in West Grey because I wanted to give back to the community coming up 116 votes short, I have not let that deter me from giving back and improving myself and my resume for this upcoming election. After the election I was appointed as the citizens representative on the West Grey Police Services Board which has taught me a lot and forms one of the reasons I am running this time around. Another key reason why I am running is to do what I can to get spending back on track. This council have gone “off in the weeds” so to speak with projects and priorities, and not that they are bad issues just not issues that are meant to be funded via the property taxes paid by West Grey taxpayers.
2) Are there any steps municipalities can take to help ease cost of living concerns?
For one we need to attract more affordable housing which currently is a concern everywhere. Another thing that needs addressed is the current size restrictions placed on new builds, people want to build smaller or have tiny homes which in turn would use less heat and hydro not only being cheaper to maintain and upkeep they would be better for the overall environment. West Grey offers up community garden space which people can us to grow their own produce in the summer months.
3) What are your ideas for economic development in your municipality?
Each center, Durham, Ayton, Neustadt, and Elmwood need their own programs. We need to stop trying to use a one process fits all, amalgamation hasn’t worked! There should be committees formed from each of these centers and events created around each centre. We then need to market the area to attract new business to locate to one of the centres a way of hooking up landlords of vacant storefronts with people willing to start up shops. West Grey already offers a community improvement plan for building upgrades which is great, but we need to work with the BIA and Chamber to “promote West Grey” and give the weekend traffic passing through a reason to stop and shop!
4) Do you think a municipality has a role to play in the recruitment and retention of physicians and other healthcare workers?
I believe we do because losing our hospital is not an option and when you see all the hour reductions going on in Chesley can we be far behind. But overall employee shortages are becoming the norm in our world today and we need to keep putting increased pressure on the Provincial and Federal Governments to put plans in place to get people back to work and also “fast track” immigrants who are already here and qualified as Doctors and Nurses and get them in the field where they are needed. Plans, incentives, and training also need to be offered to get people into the lines of work that are hardest hit.
5) What is your vision for the future of police services in West Grey?
We need to keep and maintain our West Grey Police Force! The current police force is a vital part of West Grey not only keeping it safe and a great place to live. The officers donate hundreds of hours each year back to the community in the form of toy and food drives, their work with Special Olympics, bike rodeos at the fairs and on and on. They know the residents and through their work in the school’s form relationships with the youth in West Grey a key element in fighting off future issues before they have a chance to take hold. West Grey has a proactive community-based police service, and it would be a sad day to see it taken away. The dollars we would save in no way measures up to the service and protection we would lose!
6) What issue do you believe is a top priority for West Grey to tackle during the next term?
Policing is the biggest issue and based on who is elected to council this issue can be laid to bed one way or another. It is an issue that has divided the citizens of West Grey and the sooner it’s resolved then we can all move on. With that out of the way the biggest issue is spending West Grey doesn’t have a revenue problem it has a spending problem and residence need to understand what property tax dollars are to fund. There are a lot of great ideas and initiatives put forward to council but if they don’t come with revenue dollars coming from County, Provincial or Federal governments there is not a lot a local Municipal government can do.