1) Why are you running?
I am passionate about Owen Sound, and believe we have a bright future. I am running for Mayor so that I can continue to contribute to the long-term success of our community.
2) Are there any steps municipalities can take to ease cost of living concerns? If so, what measures would you support?
The only real control that council has over the cost of living is through our budget process. In the past few years, we have seen moderate growth, which has helped to offset budgetary increases. Moving forward, council will have to work closely with staff to minimize increases without compromising service levels.
3) What are your ideas for economic development in your municipality?
Owen Sound has an excellent partnership with Grey County, and recently council adopted the Grey County Investment Strategy, which provides a blueprint for future economic development. Owen Sound has also seen some new industries, largely due to the rebuild beginning at Bruce Power. I believe the job of the Mayor is to focus on the retention of local businesses and meet with investors who are interested in coming to our community.
4) Do you think the municipality has a role to play in the recruitment and retention of physicians and other healthcare workers?
The City of Owen Sound had a doctor recruitment committee for ten years, and it was disbanded in 2015 because the role of doctor recruitment had largely been taken over by the Family Health Team (FHT). Recently, the FHT has come back to the city asking for assistance. While I’m not opposed to that, I think it’ll be important to contact Grey Bruce Health Services and other organisations involved in doctor recruitment to ensure we aren’t duplicating efforts. I also believe that any effort must be made on a regional basis-presently Owen Sound does not qualify for doctor recruitment funding from the province, but our neighbours in Georgian Bluffs, Chatsworth and Meaford may, so it will be important to involve them.
5) What steps could municipalities take to help get more housing built that you support?
There are presently more than one thousand new housing units in various stages of development and more than one thousand five hundred rental units. That said, the issue of affordability is an important one, and I think there are things we can do to affect that. I am proposing a development charge holiday on purpose built affordable rental units, using the CMHC guideline to affordability. In addition, I’d like to add a significant amount of money to our Community Improvement Plan (CIP) to reward developers who build affordable units. I’d like to see our zooming by-law changed, to encourage developers to rough in additional rental units (ARU’s) in a percentage of new builds. Under our new zoning bylaw, up to 3 units are permitted on an owner-occupied property. This could have a significant impact on affordability. I’d also like to explore the idea of waiving all city fees for groups such as the Owen Sound Housing Company and Habitat for Humanity which build affordable housing. The city could also adopt a housing first model for surplus municipal lands, making them available at low cost to developers who are committed to building affordable housing.
6) Should the city do more to regulate short-term rentals, such as AirBNBs?
City staff are working on a study of the proposed Municipal Accommodation Tax for short term rentals. That report will look at the issue of regulating short-term rentals. I am not opposed to regulating STR’s, but think it’s important to have all of the information available before making a decision.