Federal Election: Canada's Crumbling Infrastructure

This was the first of my "real issues" facing candidates and voters during this marathon federal election campaign of 2015.  Canada is quite literally falling apart!  Everything from public buildings to highways to the lighthouse at Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia is crumbling before our eyes!

The last couple of federal governments have promised to fix the problems, but that's all we get are promises.

It's hard to drive on a promise!  Bridges in Eastern Canada are falling down.  It's hard to cross a river on a promise! It's hard to hold court or do government business in a promise!  And let's not forget Canada's most famous lighthouse at Peggy's Cove.  At one point recently, it was in serious danger of partially collapsing!  It's hard to photograph a promise.

I would like to know which federal parties and candidates are willing to support a coalition of Federal, Provincial, and local governments to help put Canada back together.  This has to happen with a long range committed plan so that projects aren't scrapped when a new government is elected.

Keeping Beiseker Open for Business

It is important that a community keep its businesses and industries vibrant and growing. 

Municipal government has a role in supporting projects which make local businesses attractive to residents and visitors.  And each of the recent promotional projects done in Beiseker over the past few years - like the Main Street beautification program, the new business signs, and the highway signs - have been supported by Village Council.

A strong commercial Main Street is one of the keys to success for smaller communities like Beiseker. The large box stores, just a few kilometers to the west of our village, are a strong pull for consumers.  All of us on Village Council have worked towards the promotion of our Main Street as a shopping destination, too. 

I will continue to support projects which keep Beiseker's commercial and industrial community strong and growing, and encourage residents to shop locally.  I will do this;

• by doing what I can to make building in Beiseker attractive.
• by informing others through the trade and commercial media what industries and commercial entities are needed here.
• by keeping commercial taxes as low as possible while ensuring that all services will not be compromised.
• by staying appraised of all developments in both existing and future industrial and commercial prospects.
• by working together with the commercial community (such as the Chamber of Commerce) to promote Beiseker.

Together, we can make Beiseker a shopping destination.

Beiseker's Election!

It's not official yet, but it looks like Beiseker will be having a municipal election this fall!

Today was Nomination Day and by my count more than five candidates submitted their nomination papers.  The list will not be official for twenty four hours.  During that time any candidate may remove his or her nomination.  I submitted my papers, which means I am one of the candidates for this election!

Sadly missing from the roster is Fred Walters, who decided some time ago not to seek re-election.  Fred's work on village council, especially in regards to recycling, the railway museum, and solid waste management was greatly appreciated.  Fred's boots will be hard to fill when the new council has its reorganizational meeting, at the end of October!

The election issues have yet to be disclosed by all the candidates, but mine are quite straight forward;

1. Keeping Beiseker's industries and businesses vibrant and growing.
2. The water problems;  getting storm water out of town and clean drinking water into town, both as economically and efficiently as possible.
3. Keeping Beiseker's health, education, safety and social services attractive, effective -- and growing.
4. Street and sidewalk upgrading: need I say more?
5. Encouraging Beiseker's population to continue a slow but steady and well managed growth.

There are my FIVE.  I'll address each one on my blog in days to come.  I'm sure that some of my fellow candidates will have others, and I eagerly await their presentations.