News profile1. What are your thoughts on city ownership of Saamis Solar, and what direction would you want to see council take with ownership of renewables?
I have to admit at first being a former oil and gas guy I was completely opposed to the idea and opposed to the city developing solar energy. The main reason and it’s also the reason I’m getting from many of the tax paying citizens I visit is the failed project near gas city campground. However, I ended up doing several hours of research on it and I reluctantly have to say it might be something we want to pursue in the future. There are a few examples of such projects already working in southern Alberta and they have proven to generate profits. An example is the Travers Solar Project, a 1.3-million-panel facility that powers 150,000 homes in Vulcan County providing significant annual tax revenue to Vulcan County. I also found that at present, new solar-powered energy generation is significantly more profitable than new natural gas-fired power plants due to lower levelized costs of energy. At present Solar energy is actually 16-40 percent cheaper to produce than natural gas.
Now investing 120 million dollars to construct this facility goes against my main campaign slogan of RMS, Repair, maintain and sustain.
If elected I do not want to completely shut the door on the idea. And there are several ways the project could be done. For example we could look to private industry to invest and develop the project. Before moving forward I feel the project needs large scale public input from the tax paying citizens of Medicine Hat.
2. What are your thoughts on the future of the energy division, specifically the concept of turning it into a municipally controlled corporation?
Most of the tax paying citizens of Medicine Hat who I have spoken with want to see the energy division kept in the hands of Medicine Hat. I’m opposed to the MCC idea. I do not see the reason to change one of the biggest advantages Medicine Hat still holds. With the production side of the gas division being almost completely shut down I would hope as a council together with the current managers we can still run the energy division together without spending a bunch of taxpayer money on a new board and or consultants. Once again it goes against my campaign promise of RMS. Repair, maintain, and sustain.
3. How would you look to balance taxation with the operation costs of running a city, as well as the services provided to residents?
Once again if elected I would like to see the new council or work with a council that would be committed to providing the same level of services the city is currently providing by implementing a policy similar to my RMS idea. We do not need to be spending money on projects like Division Avenue and we could probably cut back a bit on the expensive studies. When looking back at just the last year millions of dollars could have been saved by the current council. Let’s not forget the money wasted on legal fees as well.
4. How would you approach economic development and any need to incentivize business to come to Medicine Hat?
If elected one of the first priorities on my list is the formation and implementation of an economic development committee on council and run by council. Just about every city in this province has one and it seems to be working for them. Lethbridge, Grand Prairie, and Wetaskiwin are examples. I have heard the idea of having an individual at city hall who could walk future business through the municipal process of licensing, permits etc. to help get them started in Medicine Hat, kind of like a one-stop shop idea. As a council we need to work diligently together to try and promote this city from small business investment to medium and large. Medicine Hat does have a strategic advantage being on the intersections of Highway 1, 3 and let’s not forget Highway 41.
5. With the proposed north-side location for a permanent homeless shelter off the table following public concerns, what do you think are the essential priorities that a shelter location must provide?
Ideally a shelter location should provide access to more than just food and a warm place to stay. As a community we have witnessed how the catch and release program has not been working. I and many of the citizens I’ve spoken with on the campaign trail think better access to rehabilitation for addictions, mental health services and access to more permanent shelter would help solve some of the problem. Unfortunately there is still going to be a segment of this population resistant to additional help even if it’s offered. As a council candidate I’m completely open to any suggestions that could lead to a solution. No matter where the shelter is going to be located in the future we have to do a better job of protecting the surrounding neighbourhood and community along with those in need. 6. A lot of focus during this election campaign has been on property taxes in Medicine Hat, though a majority of residents do not own property. What can or should the city be doing to ease cost-of-living issues for those who do not own property, such as renters?
This is a tough question. Last week at the Zucchini Blossom meet and greet for candidates I asked a young couple this very question since the city council has very little control over who owns rental property and rent control. As a council we do have control over property tax increases through reduced spending and some control over utility prices. These two controls have a large impact on rent prices as well. As taxes and utilities increase, rents increase right along with them. Going back to the young couple’s response, they feel a newly elected city council should be doing more to lobby the provincial government to prevent monopoly corporations from owning all the rental property in Alberta cities. 7. What are your thoughts on proposed recreational facilities such as the Southside Outdoor Aquatics Centre and Brier Run Sports Field? How much focus would you want the city to put toward adding recreational facilities?
At current I can not support the construction of the Southside Aquatics Centre or any additional large scale recreational projects. I’m campaigning on a policy of fiscal responsibility and accountability. The City of Medicine Hat needs to grow and increase our tax base before we can justify large scale projects like these. The city of Medicine Hat runs on a budget of about 550 million dollars a year and most of the tax paying citizens along with renters I’ve spoken with on the campaign trail are fed up with the recent property tax increases and do not want to see more. That is why I would like to see the new council adopt a policy of repair, maintain, and sustain, what I often refer to as RMS, so we can at least try and keep the current standards that many “Hatters” enjoy without raising taxes more.
