1) Why are you running?
There are a number of reasons I am running to be re-elected to South Bruce Council.
I would like to offer support and input to ongoing infrastructure and community improvement projects and see them come to completion. This includes the Teeswater Medical Centre, the Mildmay Adam St. Bridge and the Falconer Bridge. These are important projects that need to come to completion as we look to the future.
I have enjoyed the challenge and learning curve of being on Council, and want to continue this service to my community. I also believe, like most people in South Bruce, that this is a critical election, and it is important to have experienced, and community-minded individuals around the table who are focused on looking at a broad range of issues in a thoughtful and open-minded way.
2) Are there any steps municipalities can take to ease cost of living concerns? If so, what measures would you support?
Many overall cost of living challenges are much greater in scope than decisions at the municipal level, but I believe that where possible we can and should support our community as we face the soaring cost of living challenges.
For example, if we can grow our tax base through economic development, we will have greater revenue as a municipality to support infrastructure, recreational and community programming and more, while also keeping municipal taxes at a responsible level. How we do this of course depends on our approach to economic development, which I’ll expand upon below.
At the end of the day, South Bruce can support cost of living concerns not only by keeping tax increases modest, but then in turn wisely spending those dollars so that there is the best return on investment for the whole community – such as access to affordable daycare, recreation activities for families, and other key services required on a day to day basis.
3) What are your ideas for economic development in your municipality?
South Bruce should champion economic development because it will ultimately help us grow our tax base, and deal with critical issues such as infrastructure updates.
I believe that the DGR is one major opportunity that we should continue to explore. However, the Council should also look at a number of opportunities and not this one exclusively. To do so, we need to be clear that we are open for business and want to work with those interested in setting up shop, or investing in South Bruce. I say this because unfortunately there have been efforts by some people to discourage new people and businesses, and there is visible division that exists in our community which impedes on some opportunities we could have otherwise had.
If reelected I will work hard to demonstrate that we are a progressive, positive and welcome place to do business and live, as I’ve done my whole life. These efforts, and this mentality will be necessary in order to open the door to economic development.
Finally, we should continue supporting our hard working staff across departments to work together in proposing and implementing solutions, such as those found in our recent Economic Development Update.
4) Do you think the municipality has a role to play in the recruitment and retention of physicians and other healthcare workers?
The Municipality of South Bruce already plays an active role in the recruitment and retention of healthcare workers to our community, as seen through our historical and current support of the community medical centres/clinics in Mildmay and Teeswater respectively.
Generally speaking, municipal leaders – Council, as well as active community members, can play an important role in promoting South Bruce as a great place to live and work, and that includes for doctors, nurses and their families. However, healthcare is a responsibility of upper tiers of government at the end of the day, so the ultimate efforts of recruiting healthcare workers and having reasonable access to them does come down to our provincial counterparts.
5) What is your view on South Bruce being a potential host municipality for a deep geologic repository to store spent nuclear fuel?
I am of the opinion that the DGR is an economic development opportunity, which is why we need to give it careful consideration and understand its impacts – positive or negative. Many of the community studies are certainly helping in that process.
I firmly believe and support that the ultimate decision of whether or not to host the project should be determined by way of a referendum in South Bruce, and I expressed this as a current member of Council.
Choosing to host the DGR or not is most likely one of the most important decisions to be made in our lifetime! I recommend that all residents of South Bruce participate in and take advantage of the many educational opportunities that are offered, and ask questions that are important to them so that they have all the information they need to decide.