Government has to be Pro Active

The recent example of the Eco-fee is a good example of lack of leadership and the inability of an agency to be proactive. If it were not for the media uproar and the stand that Canadian Tire took, no changes would have been initiated by the Provincial Government. I think governments at all levels should be proactive about issues and not just reactive. They knew the system was a mess and they knew the public was in an uproar, but no one took ownership of the problem to correct a poorly thought out and executed plan. No one, that is, until Canadian Tire took a stand!

Term Limits

I think that 20 plus years of doing the job of City Councillor is far, far too long. The problem as I see it is that any individual becomes too vested in the job. Fresh thinking and a fresh approach are always important. As an individual I feel it is important to seek new challenges and strive to be the best well balanced person you can be. Councillors with big ego’s who feel they own the job and they are the only one who can do the job are sadly mistaken. In fact I wonder what else some of these career Councillor’s would do if they were not re-elected? I believe that there should be a limit to 2 terms on council. I will do my best in my 2 terms to serve the residents of Ward 9. Then I will take the next step in my political career.

"I don't recall", is not good enough.

The Manager of my son’s GTHL Minor Hockey Team explained to the parents that meetings must be held to keep parents informed and minutes must be submitted to the GTHL. Minor hockey, folks! Minor hockey requires that minutes be taken and yet the 6th largest city in Canada has not been taking minutes in their In-Camera-Sessions. How can this be? Understandably these discussions are not for public consumption but how in the world can you not have a record of the discussions? This is clearly unacceptable and leads us to I do not recall or I am not certain, or I think?!!! How can a Council operate in this manner? The answer simply is that they are so comfortable they think they do not have to answer to you the Resident, who are we to question them? Councillor’s need to remember who they work for, and I assure you I will.

I love helping a good cause!

Independence

I have enjoyed many conversations with residents regarding my decision to run for Councillor. Invariably in the conversation the question is asked, “ what camp are you in?” “ Are you a Hazel or Carolyn supporter? The answer is neither, and there in lies one of the major problems and reasons that I am running for office. The division on council and the baggage that current councilors carry is a huge problem. I do not want to make decisions or have my thought process clouded by the personal degradation that has so many of our Councillors thinking about themselves first. This is not about them and it will not be about me. This is about representing the residents in Ward 9 on an issue-by-issue basis in an independent manner giving the voice and every consideration to the best interest of Ward 9 residents. Being elected is about you and representing you as an Independent Voice!