With three candidates running for reeve in the RM of Piney, there are varying opinions on how the municipality should be operated.
A primary concern for candidate Claude Dubois is the community's steady decrease in population, a phenomenon that he says has been occurring since 1950. “We are losing, population, businesses, banks, restaurants: We’re struggling as a municipality,” exclaims Dubois, “ So I want to develop some kind of strategic plan to take us from a continued decline and to maybe eventually growing again.”
Like Dubois, Derek Barrow feels his municipality is dwindling. “Businesses must be actively encouraged to develop here. If there are only a few jobs available, our younger people will move away.” Barrow states that if population expansion is to be seen, the area needs to have enough attractive amenities to retain those who move to the RM.
Meanwhile, the Incumbent Reeve Wayne Anderson offers his opinion on the municipality's decline: “I disagree with this: it’s not true at all. We’ve kept the same mill-rate and our assessment base is growing.” Anderson notes that the RM’s total building permits were up to 43 last year as opposed to only 5, a handful of years ago. While he concedes a few small businesses have recently left the town, he wants to concentrate on the 67 businesses within Piney that he feels can thrive. Anderson too wants to stimulate growth in the RM and is optimistic of its future.
While Barrow and Dubois agree that low taxes are a priority, they believe rate payer’s money should be spent on things that will expand the community. “Obviously what we are going to need to do is make the municipality a great place to live,” says Dubois.
If Barrow is elected, he says his goal is to eliminate wasteful spending on issues that have not proven to benefit the RM. He also indicates that he would look into swapping the RM’s idea for a solid waste disposal system with a large scale, no emissions, incinerator instead.
In terms of unifying council, Dubois acknowledge that it could be difficult to shift the focus of a group that remains largely acclaimed from last term. “They are accustomed to a certain way of doing things, so right off the bat I am rocking the boat a little bit by bringing my ideas to the table,” he suggests. Still, Dubois feels he can convince those in denial that the RM is, in fact, in decline and get them working together towards a remedy.
Though Barrow agrees that unifying council could prove difficult, he believes his community-mindedness and desire to improve life in the RM is something all of council can get behind.
Contrarily, Anderson feels his council is already united and he would only expect that trend to continue if he was re-elected. “We were all a brand new council in 2014, and it has worked well,” Anderson maintains,“ and as a leader, it’s my job to steer council in the right direction,” which he notes he would continue to do.
Despite their different stances, all three candidates promise to make a strong push for growth, maintain low taxes, and unify council in a way that generally improves the municipality.
Wed, Apr 17, 4:00 PM
Labour, Skilled Trades, Entry-Level, Permanent, Seasonal
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