1) Why are you running?
As a young professional in our community, I’m passionate about the future of Owen Sound and the opportunities that are before us.
In my personal life, I am a Wealth Advisor for a local Investment Firm, the President-Elect with Kiwanis Club of Owen Sound and one of the co-organizers of the Young Professionals Network hosted through Grey County.
I am running for re-election because I believe in this community. I believe in local businesses and the potential our City has.
I believe in sustainable growth and the retention of both our residents and businesses.
I believe in a safe, affordable, and inclusive community.
I believe in working in collaboration with the experts for Owen Sound to be at the table regarding homelessness and addictions strategies.
I believe in public engagement, and incorporating an engagement and communication strategy that includes increased public consultation.
I believe in an organics program to limit the amount of waste that goes to our landfills.
I believe in being efficient with the use of of your tax dollars. I believe I have the dedication, experience and leadership skills to continue moving the city forward.
2) Are there any steps municipalities can take to ease cost of living concerns? If so, what measures would you support?
There are some thoughtful steps we can take to ease affordability burdens, however it will take a strategic, innovative and collaborative approach.
First, the City and the County must continue to clearly identify areas for economic development in our region to provide more opportunities for our residents to increase their annual household income.
Secondly, I believe Owen Sound needs to look at their own policies on how they can make it easier for individuals to build new affordable units as well as renovating current dwellings into multi-residential units.
Thirdly, I believe Owen Sound needs to take a close look at why we do what we do and find a new, efficient way to deliver services to our residents to assist with our current tax burden. We must begin to look from a regional view, and look at all opportunities of working with our municipal neighbours and the County regarding service delivery to generate efficiencies and cost savings for our residents when they make sense.
3) What are your ideas for economic development in your municipality?
The City, in collaboration with the County must continue to clearly identify prosperous areas for future economic development growth within our region, that will provide opportunities for both the retention and attraction of residents and businesses.
Using the City’s recently approved investment, attraction and retention strategy it’s time to make decisions based on data. I would like to see a review of our local economy (jobs, workforce, emerging industries) to identify gaps and opportunities, and then get to work.
By identifying the prosperous sectors within our Investment Attraction Strategy, and including actionable items that can be measured and assessed, our staff will be able to track how we’re seeing assessment growth and job creation.
We are extremely fortunate to have Georgian College right here in Owen Sound, and we need to continue to work with them to deliver meaningful programming to Owen Sound residents, help attract new students as well as provide opportunities for our current youth to both educate and find employment here in our City.
4) Do you think the municipality has a role to play in the recruitment and retention of physicians and other healthcare workers?
Yes, the City along with the County need to advocate to the Provincial government to expand the current physician recruitment incentive grant program to allow for more regions to qualify for the funding. Currently the City does not meet the requirements set forth by the Provincial government and this needs to be a priority to the future council.
I would like to see action done at Grey County, similar to other areas that have recently provided $100,000-$150,000 over 5 years to medical graduates in exchange for a guaranteed set number of years those graduates will service our area.
Another important piece we need to consider is implementing a Community Ambassador program which can assist in locating accommodations, information regarding children’s schooling as well as look for employment opportunities for the recruited physician’s spouse. Moving comes with other challenges and we need to be prepared to assist with finding solutions so we can ensure an easy and hopefully long-lasting physician placement.
Medical care is extremely important, not only for ensuring the future health of our current residents, but a region that lacks physicians and other healthcare workers will hinder the efforts of economic development, expansion and retention for residents and businesses.
5) What steps could municipalities take to help get more housing built that you support?
The City must continue to build relationships and leverage funding programs for affordable housing, while taking a close look at our own policies to see how we can change. I’m committed to learning where we can lean process and cut red tape.
By having shovel ready ground or buildings ready for repurposing, declaring surplus pieces of land to be used for affordable developments, the city will be positioned to work with others and build the housing we all deserve.
The City should also look at what has been successful in other areas. For example, in the Town of Saugeen Shores, they have begun to require a certain percentage of new developments to include ARU’s (Additional Rental Unit) rough ins for new developments which would allow for future housing opportunities within the newly constructed dwelling.
I also believe the City must promote sustainable growth, which means being ready for what we can handle and for what we want. Building or repurposing residential and commercial buildings will increase our tax base, which means more money in the budget for things that matter to you, like the environment, parks and trails, roads and services like garbage pick-up.
6) Should the city do more to regulate short-term rentals, such as AirBNBs?
Yes, I believe there should be regulations regarding short-term rentals. There is a report coming to Council in February/March of 2023, that will entail different options for regulation, licensing and enforcement. I believe there needs to be a fulsome discussion on what makes sense for the City of Owen Sound, as well as how regulations / licensing would be implemented as well as enforced.