1) Why are you running?
I am retired from the municipal sector with 35 years’ experience in senior local government administration. I also have a range of governance, volunteer and community leadership roles in the electrical sector, health care and other areas that will greatly assist me if I am elected. Although Councilors are elected at large to be a voice for the broader community, someone should be at the council table to bring the perspective of the lakeshore residents to the important decisions that will be on Council’s plate this term. If elected I would have the benefit of providing that point of view combined with the background of having worked in high growth urban and rural/urban municipalities for decades.
2) Are there any steps municipalities can take to help ease cost of living concerns?
Municipalities are just as affected by the rapidly increasing prices in utilities and commodities as the households and businesses they serve are. It is important keep the impact of those cost increases in mind as future tax rates are set. Programs and other capital initiatives may have to be scaled back to keep the impacts minimized to the extent possible.
3) What are your ideas for economic development in your municipality?
I believe we should enhance recent efforts to diversify the tax base through removing obstacles to small, home-based businesses where they do not impact their neighbours. We should also seek opportunities to leverage the benefits from Bruce Power’s massive investment in the region. It is critical that Council and staff work with all the stakeholders and NWMO to mitigate the risks and get our fair share of the economic rewards if the Deep Geological Repository is to be located in the community adjoining our boundary.
4) Do you think the municipality has a role to play in the recruitment and retention of physicians and other healthcare workers?
Like education, health care is a vital service to sustain and grow a community. Ready access to both physicians and emergency care is critical to ensuring we remain a great place to live and raise our families. Delivery of the service is provincially regulated through the local hospital boards. Municipalities should support their efforts, the work of the Hospital Foundations to provide for capital needs and indirectly assist in recruitment of the staff that deliver the services. Helping to set our community apart from the many others competing for scarce health care staff resources is an important task that will assist the work of those tasked with recruiting and retaining those providing this vital service here in our area.