Why are you running?
From the feedback I’ve received from neighbours and residents, there’s a duty for me to run in Hanover and my motto during the campaign is “working for you.” I am running because there’s a need for someone in council with my background in accounting and sensitivity to working with limited funds. Residents need to be reassured that funds are being used wisely. Additionally, my experience with living in Waterloo region gives me some insight on the ups and downs of growth so that we can prepare and plan accordingly.
Are there any steps municipalities can take to help ease cost of living concerns?
Yes. Although most cost-of-living problems arise from sources outside municipal control, municipalities still have a role. For example, we need to make sure we are staying a close-knit community in order to help each other. This means taking the steps to have a council that brings people together by genuinely listening and considering the needs of residents. We also should work with organizations such as charities and other levels of government to see where they can help.
What are your ideas for economic development in your municipality?
My first step would be to create a discussion with our existing businesses and promote them. We need to listen to their concerns & needs and how we can create or enhance a business-friendly environment. With all the issues that have happened over the past couple years, there are residual effects that businesses are feeling. This information and dialogue will also position us to attract new businesses to the town.
Another area is to enhance the relationships we have with other communities both near and further away. Collaborative efforts and joint projects should be able to position us with better land negotiating and attracting large employers or even satellite branches of post-secondary institutions.
Creating home-grown talent by investing in our youth is a big issue as well. If we tap into their potential and create loyalty in our youth, we can increase the chances that our future generations will want to be a part of the town to be innovators and creators. Our youth need to be provided with the environment and the tools for success.
Do you think the municipality has a role to play in the recruitment and retention of physicians and other healthcare workers?
Yes. Again, information gathering and discussions with our current physicians and healthcare workers is important. We need to find out what they want in a town and how we can work with them. The important part is to follow through with what we find out.
We also need to go beyond Hanover, research and create the dialogue with current students in the medical and health industry. See what they’d like to see in a town in order to keep them here.
Do you feel Hanover needs to acquire more land in order to grow?
Yes, but it has to be done responsibly, with careful thought to infrastructure, environmental impact, and fertile land protection. For example, we need to make sure our water systems are robust and scalable so that tragedies can be avoided. We also need to ensure the environmental impact is handled appropriately, and have good relationships with the agricultural community. I would also like to see measures in place to make good use of the land we currently have with skillful design.