My responses to your questions.

Questions from the All Candidates Forum 2022

Candidates: Chris Abrams, Ken Friesen, Sheldon Friesen, Doug Frost, Garry Hiebert, Florian Lassnig, Gord Maddock, Nancy Penner, Sheldon Smith, Madison Wentz

Addressed to existing Council members: Doug Frost, Garry Hiebert, Gord Maddock, Nancy Penner

1. When faced with a decision and you have minimal knowledge how would you suggest Council educates itself prior to decision making? Any advice from the past?

2. What has been the biggest learning experience for you the last 4 years on Council?

Addressed to new Candidates: Sheldon Friesen, Florian Lassnig, Sheldon Smith, Madison Wentz, Chris Abrams, Ken Friesen

1. There are probably no issues today that have not been addressed in the past: swimming pool, lagoon, snow removal, dandelions, infrastructure (roads, sidewalks) and many more. What do you propose to move Morden forward on these issues?

I am a strong believer in performing a needs assessment on all matters. In doing this review it can help align priorities and weigh them against outcomes. The items of greatest need and cost should be prioritized relative to the available means. Each decision of course has to be weighed against social and environmental impact, and more importantly have the support of the majority of the residents of the City of Morden.

2. What involvement have you had in regard to municipal government? What was the most valuable lesson learned from your experience?

I would say the two experiences regarding municipal government that have provided perspective on how I might govern should I be elected would be when I appeared before Council in objection to a Variance Order that would impact myself and the community, and the other being sitting on the MCDC Retail Sub-Committee. In both instances I have been witness to how decisions that are not fully thought out can adversely affect the outcome and result in costly long term consequences. The political machine has been accused of moving slowly, so without slowing it down, I believe there are opportunities to insure we are using the time to our advantage to make sound decisions.

Addressed to all Candidates:

Diversity and inclusion

1. How do you show support to the 2SLGBTQIANB+ community? Now and in the future.

2. Do you support access to books that showcase diversity within your community?

3. Do you have a message for the 2SLGBTQIANB+ community?

I believe it is important to support and respect the 2SLGBTQIANB+ community, as well as all members of other minority groups. I subscribe to the principal of mutual love and respect, and that all people of society have equal rights. I promise not to judge but to respect all citizens of Morden.

4. With only 1 potential female to be elected, what will you do to ensure the female perspective/voice is being heard?

While it is disappointing that we only have one female candidate, I do believe it is possible to maintain a balance of all perspectives through respectfully listening to all voices, and carefully discerning the views and opinions expressed.

5. How do you feel the diversity of this panel reflects the diversity of our community?

If the panel referenced is the representation of the candidates running for council it is sadly underrepresented. That being said, this is no fault of the candidates, as we are all willingly coming forward with a desire to govern for all. It will be important for the elected representatives to be inclusive and welcoming to all citizens of Morden.

6. With so much growth in the City of Morden, and with all the great new development, how do you see Morden maintaining a unity between and across neighborhoods in order to prevent neighborhood disparity?

It is exciting and encouraging to see the growth we are experiencing as a community, and it will be up to the citizens of the community to insure we can maintain unity. This can be accomplished through a variety of existing community events and programs, whether it be recreational, arts and cultural, community service groups, or faith based programs. As a city it will be important moving forward that we carefully consider our development plan to be accepting to all.

7. Have you read the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions 94 calls to Action? If yes, how do you think Morden can work towards implementing these actions?

I have read the 94 Calls to Action, as well as portions of the report in review amongst our Church Adult Sunday School class. While predominantly focused on federally directed initiatives there are a number of Calls to Action that can be impacted through the direction of Council, including; adopting and implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Right of Indigenous People,

Affordable Housing

8. Immigration is necessary for the business community to keep up. There is an affordable housing shortage – what role can the city play in addressing this?

9. City of Morden & Councillors have talked about “affordable housing” for many many years. With lots of develops building what they wish. Can Council give direction to developers to have affordable housing really happen?

10. Is there plans for affordable senior housing? There is no ‘affordable’ housing for seniors or seniors with disabilities.

Affordable Housing appears to have become a political catch phrase that speaks to the acknowledgement that it has become increasingly difficult for a segment of our population (typically lower income) to access personal housing. There continues to be much talk federally and provincially about affordable housing, yet it is evident that the programs that exist, or have existed, have not met the demands for such housing.

Funding that is accessed generally goes to private sector developers to offset the building and operation of the housing with qualifying criteria. In my opinion the funding model has not provided sufficient initiatives to encourage more development from the private sector.

What can we do as a Council? It will be important to continue to be aware of the federal and provincial programs that are, and become available, and to insure that we have established relationships with local private sector developers to move quickly when funding becomes available. Additionally, it will be an important part of our responsibility to insure that both short and long term planning is in place that will provide the required space for all who would benefit from access to affordable housing.

There are other models that exist where the municipal governments have gained access and control to existing housing and use those homes as transitional homes to help those in need of a stable and affordable start. This is an area that I will endeavour to pursue should I be elected.

Business Community and Stephen Street

11. What challenges do you feel that small business owners face in Morden and how could our city help them?

Having previously been a small business owner in Morden, I recognize the challenges of finding good people to employ and in turn earning the support of the community as a whole (including the City) through being apart of the community.

If we do not support our local businesses (small and big) we will lose out on their support of the community through taxes, donations and support of local organizations and events, and their role in providing a complete community.

Businesses, as well as all residents, need to be confident that our City Council is always thinking of them first, developing initiatives to give this support, and offering prudent use of their tax dollars to deliver services.

12. What do/will you do to support local businesses?

I always have supported a “buy local first” philosophy that keeps as many of my dollars in the local community. I will continue to do so, and advocate for City of Morden, and for all citizens to do the same.

13. Where has our downtown beautification gone? Businesses are doing their best, but the city is lacking. What is happening with the tree wells, as trees die they are not being replaced.

Thank you for bringing forward a concern that needs to be asked of our city staff to ensure your tax dollars are being used effectively and promotes a appealing environment for all to enjoy.

14. Speed limits downtown. Stephen Street is a 50km zone, should it be 30k, or maybe pedestrians should have the right of way?

Safety of pedestrians in downtown Morden is of utmost importance, and this also can speak to the number of automobile accidents or near misses that occur daily. Currently as I understand the jurisdiction of Stephen Street it is the responsibility of the Province to maintain and control this street. Our role as Council should be to develop a plan in how we want to address this, share it with the community to insure we have buy-in, and then advocate for changes that are in the best interest of all.

Long term, I believe it can also include a plan as to how to manage or traffic flows and development of our downtown that could look to how we can better develop and utilize the areas south of Stephen on North Railway Streets. This would obviously include a strategy around the railway line.

15. What is happening with the lighting downtown? The new lights do not give off much light. It feels unsafe.

Please see my response to question 13.

Recreation

16. With the population between Morden – Winkler – Altona – Carman, what are your thoughts on having an indoor swimming pool, such an important thing for our residents’ health.

As I spoke at the All Candidates Forum, this is an appealing “want” that has been discussed dating back to the mid-seventies. I would be thrilled to be the host city for a facility of this nature…but not at the expensive of key “needs” we currently have before us. I will endeavor to ask the right questions to verify that should this opportunity exist that it is with a prudent view on how it may impact your tax bill and the City’s ability to carry out the priorities that exist.

17. The city purchased land for soccer fields years ago, is this still in the plans. Soccer in Morden continues to grow and we don’t have any decent soccer fields.

Recreational facilities are an investment in the community that do not contribute to a positive economic impact. They can form a part of what makes a community attractive for residents both new and old. That being said they are beneficial to segments of the population who use them, while impacting the entire tax base.

The development of the soccer pitches, swimming pools, or any other recreational facilities should be properly planned, accounted for, and communicated with the tax payers of Morden. My commitment is to ensure these steps are taken as we work towards making Morden a better place to live.

More to come...