The mayoral and city council candidates were asked to reply to four questions that we hope will give voters a better idea on where they stand on some of the most challenging issues of the day.
1. The current city council voted 5-4 to keep Pine Valley. If this matter were to come before council again, how would you vote and why?
1. I would have voted to keep Pine Valley because of the wide range of health and wellness benefits it offers to the whole community. It is the only par-3 golf course in the City that caters to a wide variety of users, from Junior golfers to Seniors, individuals with limited mobility and tourists. Pine Valley sits on 40 acres of land that is currently zoned as parkland. I value outdoor recreational opportunities throughout the city and in close proximity to neighborhoods. I agree with friends of Pine Valley, 'let's not pave paradise to put up another parking lot'.
2. City council voted 8-1 in favour of the Northern Recovery Centre for Women in the former Haldi Road elementary school. How would you have voted and why? (Incumbents: how did you vote and why?)
2. I recognize the need for a Recovery Centre for women in Northern BC, however I disagree with the way the Haldi Road issue was handled. At the onset this project did not align with the City's Official Community Plan for land use within a rural area. There were many issues and concerns regarding insufficient water supply and lagoon size to sustain the 24/7 operations required for the new facility. I would have recommended exploring other more suitable locations.
3. The current city council gave its bargaining committee a target of a net-zero increase to negotiate a new collective agreement with city workers, leading to the first-ever labour disruption by municipal staff. What will be your recommendation when the current collective agreements for city workers expire in 2016 and why?
3.I support a positive and strong public sector where Union and Management work respectfully in a culture of cooperation and collaboration. I was disappointed by the disrespectful blame that was directed at City workers during the last round of negotiations, especially during the snow clearing season. These are the same City workers who through their skills, dedication and commitment have reached National Gold Level Standards for Excellence in service delivery. My recommendation would have been to negotiate in good faith, stay at the table and refrain from using public surveys and social media as testing grounds during bargaining.
4. Why should residents vote in the Nov. 15 municipal election?
4. Nov. 15th you will decide who you want to have in charge of spending your tax dollars, setting the tax levy, making budget decisions and shaping the future of PG over the next four years. Prince George residents deserve to have effective leadership, someone who offers the best skill set and ability to continually improve the quality of life for you and your family, someone who is determined to create the climate for a healthy community, employment opportunities, smarter growth and development and attract new residents and investments to Prince George. For leadership you can depend on vote Debora Munoz.
