I am running for council on four main points. The first is clean water. There are many households in Ward 4 that have to haul their water to ensure that what they are feeding their families is safe. This is a costly hardship for many families and in a developed country it is ridiculous that this is the case.
I am also concerned that Internet and telecommunications in rural areas is limited and expensive. This is a disadvantage to students as much instruction is now delivered online. Internet access has almost become a necessity and we need to make sure that our infrastructure supports affordable telecommunications out in the rural areas.
Thirdly, as stated above, we need diverse and accessible recreation and arts offerings for the people of C-K.
Finally, there is a great need for more supports for adolescent mental health; both preventative measures and support for those who struggle.
Do you support increasing funding for infrastructure given the fact several culverts and bridges – including the Third Street Bridge – have had emergency issues and closures recently?
Yes. I have noticed many issues with infrastructure in CK. I understand that there is a very large county supported by not a large tax base. However, I think there are ways to find a funding formula for infrastructure.
Would you support a tax freeze or rollback if it meant reduced staff and/or services?
No. The services in CK are already at an austere level. I would like to see ways to cost share services with the private sector or to find funding in the existing budget.
Would you support shifting some services to the private sector if those services could be done more efficiently that way?
Yes. With the tight tax base we need to be creative in how we deliver services in CK. The priority should be quality services and if the private sector can do so, then great. However, services need to remain high quality and accessible to the people of CK.
Do you believe we need a municipal ombudsman or ethics commissioner?
Yes. I have seen the action (and in some cases inaction) of the municipality. An ethics commissioner (hired independently) will help with a government transparency at the municipal level.
Do you support investigating a reduction in the number of council members?
Maybe. I need to understand the issue better before responding.
Should the municipality try to land an Ontario Cannabis Store as soon as possible?
Not sure. I would have liked to have seen a referendum question on this on the October ballot. I have heard mixed reactions from constituents and wonder if an OCS store would further hurt the youth of CK.
Should council be more proactive in terms of working with landowners with contaminated wells?
Yes. I would like to see a proper Health Hazard Investigation done to understand what is contaminating the wells. I would like to a proper geological study of the aquifer in North Kent and Wallaceburg. If the results are what I think they will be I would like to see all invasive construction practices (pile driving, fracking and blasting) banned in areas where the aquifer is sensitive.
Some critics say the municipal building department is an impediment to development in C-K. Do you agree?
Not sure (again) as I have not really looked into the issue though I have heard concerns of some people to this effect.
Do you believe Chatham needs a new twin-pad arena?
No. I would like to see a multifunction facility instead as ice pads aren’t necessarily financially accessible to all. We need more diverse and affordable recreation options for the people of CK. There are lots of great examples of this in Ontario.
Should the municipality cut back on its expenditures for overseas economic development efforts?
Yes. if we are not seeing a return on investment. I would like to see a report on the international investments attracted by such trips.
Should municipal councillors ever be forced to go the Freedom of Information route when seeking municipal information?
No. Elected officials should have access to the information they need to make the decisions that have to be made.
Should members of the public have more access to municipal information without having to resort to an FOI?
Yes, in most cases. The FOI process is arduous and often delays the information until it is useless or stale.
