City of Duncan Councillor Candidate

Website: www.staplesforcity.ca

Q1. Please tell us a bit about yourself and why you are running.

A: I have been extremely active on council and involved with a number of committee’s. It feels like we are only just beginning so in order to fully implement new beginnings and support changes in process, I have decided to seek a second term. I live in the Carnsmore Neighborhood Duncan. 

Some focus areas:

• Developing “Cut the Red-Tape” program for City Hall
• Process for citizens commission(s)
• Foster more effective partnerships and regional planning with other local governments, groups/organizations 
• Bylaws and legislation that will encourage and enable  innovation, offer economic sources of alternative energy, support neighborhood and business revitalization

Q2. The community survey results placed a high priority on sustainability, in particular on protecting our watersheds, water supply and water quality, as well as on creating a more sustainable local economy. If elected, please describe what your approach would be to those issues.

A: My approach would be to work at building the relationships and developing meaningful and equal connections between our First Nations Communities and local municipal governments to support the development of a regional approach to water management. In terms of a sustainable economy that will take more than 100 words but, we need to come together and plan our own resilience, we have the people here with the knowledge, skill and passion of creating a vision of a strong and sustainable economy, its now time for us to actually come together and create it. 

Q3. The survey results indicated citizens want to see more consultation and accountability between elected officials and their constituents. If elected, please describe what your approach would be to those issues.

A: My approach to consultation is to develop a citizens commission to develop a process for establishing when consultation is necessary, how it should take place and to what degree. The end result would be a citizen led policy for council to follow. The commission would develop accountability framework at the same time as it is not transparent for an elected body to develop its own accountability process independent of its citizens.  Ther would be both staff and council representation on the commission that would act as liaisons and offer information when required but neither would have voting privileges. 

Q4. What is your position on municipal tax rates and the corresponding level and allocation of services?

A: I believe that the City of Duncan has manageable homeowner tax rates and invests in the essential services that meet the needs and demands of the people, focus on preparation for the future needs of city infrastructure, offers a balance supporting essential, social services and the enhancement of green space within the City. I believe that the City can do better in the area of taxes versus services for our business community and that much work is required in this area to develop methods for increasing viability of businesses downtown as there should be no empty storefronts in our City. 

Q5. What is your vision for this area, and how would getting elected help achieve it?

A: We will be a place where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. Where our children stay in the Valley because we have all worked to create a vibrant economy. The will have access to healthy food, our outflow is not heading into any body of water, our watershed is given protection, we have building codes that allow us alternative water and sewer systems for new buildings and retrofits for older ones. I feel like my first term on council has given me the knowledge and understanding of the inner workings of local governance that  provide the foundation needed in a second term to effectively make the changes needed to take us into the future. 

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