Failure to Communicate

When speaking with people about my intention to run, I hear many of the same concerns cropping up. One of the most common is that many people feel council operates behind closed doors. Though the meetings are generally open to the public, there are practical barriers that prevent many citizens from attending. As such, many people only hear of council decisions when it is too late to have any input.

I would work on creating a city council which is resposible for communicating its activities to the public - one engaged with the community, and actively maintaining open channels of communication. To this end, I will support the development of a position of a 'Staff Blogger'. This position would be held by someone with a journalism background, who is responsible for keeping a current record of what council is doing, and making it available to the public online and to the media.

City residents should never feel surprised by major projects, and they should never feel excluded from the decision-making process. It is the job of the councilors to make these decisions, but I believe it to be their responsibility to do so in a manner which is consistent with the will of their constituents. This means people must have the opportunity to remain informed, and contribute their input to the decisions that will affect them.

The Road Ahead

I understand the source of a lot of the nihilism among the youth of Thunder Bay. When I was unable to find the sort of work here that I needed to advance my career in Information Technology, I spent several years living in Winnipeg and then Toronto. It is frustrating to feel that you must leave your hometown in order to fulfill your career goals, and it is easy to become negative about the prospects available.

Living elsewhere has accentuated the aspects of Thunder Bay that I really love. Looking over Lake Superior from the top of Mount McKay, and seeing how this city blends into the most beautiful wilderness in the world is something that can be appreciated so much more after spending an extended time working in downtown Toronto. Walking down Bay St. and greeting friends and neighbours makes me feel like I am part of a community, rather than just a resident.

I hope to work with the next city council to bring our city towards a stable, healthy economy. I hope that the students who are entering high school and university this year will have a variety of options when they graduate. Providing opportunities for our youth is essential to build a sustainable community. I want to help shape a city with opportunities for myself and other young people who hope to establish a life in this wonderful place.