WindyJMusic.com
  • Blog
  • Biography
    • Online Curriculum Vitae
  • Bookings
  • Contact
  • Research

What's A Voter in High River To Do?

10/16/2016

0 Comments

 
This is the final installment in my High River Byelection Blog Series.  Read the first installment "Stirring the Pot in High River" where you can get contact information about the candidates.  You can also read the other installments including "The 365-Day Councillor", "Dance a Little Sidestep", "Post-Forum Mashup: Keeping It Classy", and "Bonus Round: Taking Your Questions" to read about their positions on various issues.
​Today we bid farewell and good luck to Peter Loran as he moves on to new exciting ventures and his successor is selected.

If you are like me, you may not have been particularly close with Mr. Loran, but want to show appreciation for his service to the community.  If you already knew him, then you know how hard he worked.  If High River wants to show appreciation for Mr. Loran’s hard work, there is one true way you can show it, whether you knew him or not.

Vote.
​
Come out in droves.  Show that Loran, his successor, and all of Council matters, whether you agree with their direction or not.
Picture
Former High River Councillor Peter Loran
Even better if you can be informed about it.  I’m glad I’ve had the chance to help some people do that.

Over the past few weeks we’ve been introduced (or for many, reintroduced) to our four candidates.  We’ve learned that each one is passionate, hard-working, and focused on helping our community move forward.

If you want someone who is experienced and has the expertise to help Council get to the next election, maybe even beyond, there is a candidate for that.  Vote.

If you want someone looking at the economic problems with a proven track record of economic success, as a way of making the town a place young families can live and grow in, there is a candidate for that.  Vote.

If you want a voice that speaks more about Land-Use and safety as opposed to being solely on Downtown or a southwest berm, there is a candidate for that.  Vote.

If you want someone who wants to make communication a priority and market High River to the world, there is a candidate for that.  Vote.

So you have to decide what criteria you care about most for your 365-day Councillor.  One thing is for certain, each candidate is ready to give their all.

So what is a voter in High River to do?
​
Vote.

Voting Details

The municipal by-election will be held on October 17, 2016 and voting will take place from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM at the Highwood Memorial Centre located at 128 - 5 Avenue S.W. There will be a polling station for patients at the High River General Hospital located at 560 9 Avenue S.W. from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM and a polling station for residents of Sunrise Village located at 660 7 Street N.W. from 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM.

Proof of identity and current residence is now required to be able to vote in municipal elections.  A list of Voter ID requirements can be viewed here.
See all the installments of the Byelection series by WindyJMusic:

Stirring the Pot in High River
The 365-Day Councillor
Dance a Little Sidestep
Post-Forum Mashup: Keeping It Classy
Bonus Round: Taking Your Questions
What's a Voter in High River to do?
0 Comments

Bonus Round: Taking Your Questions

10/13/2016

0 Comments

 
This is the fifth installment in my High River Byelection Blog Series.  Read the first installment "Stirring the Pot in High River", the second installment "The 365-Day Councillor", the third installment "Dance a Little Sidestep", and the fourth installment "Post-Forum Mashup: Keeping It Classy".  You can also skip ahead to "What's a Voter in High River to Do?", the final entry in the series.
When I started this blog series, I was trying my hardest to make the questions open-ended to let the candidates take it where they wanted, making their platforms apparent.  Yet in doing so, some of my readers felt as though some topics were missed.

Knowing me, it's no surprise those topics I heard were the Arts and Youth.  After all, I surround myself with Artists and Youth.
Nonetheless, candidates did not necessarily feel as though they had the opportunity to answer these very good questions.  So I sent them an updated questionnaire asking them to take the opportunity to answer them.  And to each candidate's credit, they answered them completely.

​If I haven't mentioned how thankful I am that each candidate took time out for little ol' me, consider this that thank you.
Picture
The Arts seems to have wide support amongst the candidates, but the different approaches are what sets them apart.  Terry Coleman would like to remove barriers for Arts Initiatives as a way of working with the Arts community.  Jamie Kinghorn touts his direct involvement, and recognizes that in terms of "Culture", we have a significant immigrant population that should be included in our concept of community.  Sandra Wiebe points out that Arts are not just an aesthetic, but also an industry and an approach to the look and feel of community.  Michael Nychyk discusses a potential financial solution led by Council to support the Arts in the form of a development levy that can be directed to Arts programming or capital projects.  From the perspective of an Arts Advocate myself, each of these approaches are necessary for Arts to thrive; the question ends up being "which approach is more accessible for a 365-day Councillor?"

With regards to youth, there were a few similarities once again, but each had their own perspective as to the manner in which youth should be supported.  First, it should be clear that each candidate seemed to agree that the term "youth" refers to people under the age of 30, and most discussed this category as young families.  Both Coleman and Kinghorn referred to a Youth Committee and consulting them for ideas forward.  Wiebe focused on the public spaces and safety for youth in those spaces.  Nychyk referred largely to the need for economic development to encourage a youth population, pointing out that High River's youth population remains much smaller compared to other locations.  However, both Kinghorn and Wiebe also pointed out that there is a plethora of activities available for youth.

Finally, I gave the candidates an opportunity to sell themselves to the voter one last time.  In their final bid for your votes, candidates once again showed their knowledge, experience and aptitude for the role.  The differences between them in their final statements were more about nuance than about glaring differentiation.  Coleman's experience outside of High River can be coupled with his experience inside High River.  Kinghorn has a clear understanding of what the role entails, having done it before and having stayed immersed in it.  Wiebe touts her communication skills, and the fact that she is "a citizen just like you".  Nychyk has also remained immersed in the goings-on of Town, and claims to be a good fit with Council.  With as many credentials, approaches and similarities as there are, it really leaves a voter wondering what it is they should do.

​But that is for a different blog.

​Candidates Responses Part 3

The Town of High River has a vibrant Arts community. What initiatives would you pursue as elected Councillor to support and grow the Arts in High River?
Terry Coleman - 
​
Work with that community. Identify from them how Council can help. Again make sure Council does not create barriers.
Jamie Kinghorn - We do have a strong Arts community here as a result of the hard work by our local artisans. I supported and continue to support initiatives such as murals, outdoor piano, the artisan market and chair the Museum of the Highwood board. In 2015 Arts and Culture days timing fell in line with the Balloon event and we hosted a large number of artisans in the field house. I would like to see that type of event every year but again the artisan know best and need to have regular discussions and ensure our economic development plans support the arts. A group not always thought about is our immigrant population, almost 10% born outside of Canada. We need to work with those groups to assist them to showcase their cultures in our community. Activities like food fairs, dance demonstrations need to be explored. The Arts and Culture board should play a significant role in the plans going forward and must be involved in the process to enhance our arts and culture.
Sandra Wiebe - Buying art, attending events and helping to promote our art community is a role every citizen can take part in. Artists are business owners and have to work their craft in that manner. But art is more than just the individual, it's how we streetscape, what our parks look like, it's trees, it's murals, it's beautiful spaces and how we use those spaces. Events and beautiful spaces will attract more visitors. The sale of art relies on a lot of traffic. Helping the art community goes hand in hand with business growth and encouraging more business to come to High River. My role on council will be to continue in the process of getting the construction finished and supporting the marketing campaigns which are just coming into play now. We are on our way there will be a tipping point but it requires patience, time and dedication to a plan that has a long term vision. ​
​​Michael Nychyk -
​​I would like to see a development levy in place to create a sustainable fund for the promotion of arts. I believe the city of Calgary has a 1% levy on new developments that funds public art. I think this is a positive funding model and could be implemented for public art or any other community directed arts initiative, ie. new arts centre, youth programing, etc..

Our High River's Vital Signs report shows High River has a sizeable youth population. Yet youth find few activities and entertainment available to them with the exception of organized sport. What solutions would you promote for youth in High River?
Terry Coleman -
​Continue the Work of the Youth Collective (of which I have been part of for several years). This is a vibrant group. From time to time financial assistance might be required from Council.
Jamie Kinghorn - Although I do not disagree, the vital signs stats were based on the 2011 census taken by the federal government, 17% of the population is 15-29 years of age. That is a really broad range and the needs of those ages differ greatly. I am aware there are many opportunities for youth to get involved in the community and facilities like the field house allow for unorganized sport. We have the boys and girls club house over on 12th as a meeting place for youth and the skate park. There are numerous other organized groups like air cadets, scouts, and other youth groups. High River can do better. I would like to hear more from the Mayors youth advisory committee and other youth groups that are willing to offer suggestions for improvement. Economic development depends on having a vibrate youth population and we must invest in the youth however ensuring it is from the youth what the needs are, not what we think they need.
Sandra Wiebe -
​There are many options and facilities for children of all ages in town. There is no lack of ways to keep youth entertained. It is the role of council to provide good policy decision making so therefore, our job is to provide a clean, safe community for youth of all ages. If your children are unsafe at the park, then let's look at policing issues or more street lighting, or programs such as Block Parents or Citizen on Parol. We can improve natural areas and parks and keep them clean and safe. ​
Michael Nychyk - ​The Vital signs report does show that there is a larger youth population than most perceive. However, an economic base analysis completed by MDB and presented to council indicates the young family demographic is smaller by ratio than other Alberta communities and the overall provincial average.
That being understood it is vitally important (as part of the solution) young people are engaged to share their wants and needs and also to encourage them to be involved as part of the solution to filling those voids.

As a councillor I think it must be a priority to ensure there are good employment opportunities and affordable housing to allow young individuals and young families an opportunity to establish themselves and remain in High River. The newly established Economic Development Department of the town is fully vested in creating this environment. As chair of the Mayors Task Force we put these initiatives into a strategy and planning guideline for the new department. I am very please to say the hiring of Jodi Dawson, as our Ec Dev Manager, is providing the community with a passionate and results driven department that is now implementing the initial phases of such strategies.

Do you have anything to add that you think will make the difference in convincing voters to cast their ballot for you? This is your opportunity to market yourself.
Terry Coleman -
​I moved to High River in 1977. I have seen many changes ... some good and some not so good. I have learned from what I have witnessed.
My extensive relevant experience in the public service both as a public servant and as a previously elected City Councillor, unfortunately, is too long to list here. It is well covered in my brochures and via LinkedIn.
My experiences have well prepared me to "hit the ground running" when I am elected.
I look forward to your support. Please email me or phone me for further information. I will drop off brochures and yard signs if you wish.
All the best, Terry
Jamie Kinghorn - High River has been my home for more than 20 years now. My record speaks for itself in that I have constantly been a significant promoter of the town even so far as flying the High River flag at all events I attend. I have experience on council and I listen! I am not afraid to speak out for the residents. Having served as council member for 3 years I know how local government works, the rules that are applied to it by the provincial legislation and the policy's in place. Additionally I have attended all but 5 of the last 132 council meetings listening to the debates and decision, when appropriate I have stood and addressed council on decisions I felt the council needed to hear and would be on record. I am up for the challenge and ready to go now. I ask for you vote on October 17th.
Updated Post - This election is for a very short term! We need an effective council member ready to work on the 18th. The individual elected must have experience, demonstrated leadership and have the needs of the community at heart. Being a council member is not about something to do, it is not about prestige and certainly not about financial reward. It is about hard work, it is about listening and heeding the words of the residents, it is about helping High River become a better place to live. Promises are being made about what they will do however I ask you to first look at what they have done. Have they sat in council meetings, have they attended the opening houses, have they listened to the community members, do they sit on numerous boards, what are their roles on those boards. How much do they volunteer in the community? Past behavior is a true indicator in in future performance and if the individual has done all of those things you can be confident they will continue to do so in the future! I ask you to Vote KINGHORN in this by-election.
Sandra Wiebe -
​I am a communicator. I believe that is the key to a council gaining the support of the citizens it serves.
I love this community and want to see more citizens engaged with the decision making process of the future of their community - this happens through communication, engaging in conversation, truly listening.
I have skills and experience that will be valuable in this role. But more importantly, I am a citizen like you. I want to work with existing council members to make the best decisions for this community for the long term benefit of the community.
Michael Nychyk - ​I am ready to serve High River NOW!
I am thoroughly immersed in High River as a parent, a volunteer, and in my role as General Manager of Highwood Distillers. My family and I are here to stay, and I care about this town.
Updated Post - Since running in the last election I have served, and continue to serve, countless hours on two vital committees for the Town of High River and your community. These are the Planning and Renewal Advisory Committee and the Mayor's Task Force on Economic Development, which I chair. These committees have been key resources leading to innovative and significant council-approved changes in our town.

This is real and current experience that counts. I understand exactly what the town has been moving forward with. I worked very closely with Peter Loran as our Council representative for both these committees. Because of this experience, my passion to represent you the residents, and coming from the perspective of a young High River family and local business person I am confident you can trust in my representation. This is a short 1 year term and clearly I am a cohesive fit to current council in continuing their mandate. The unity of our council and their dedication shows what can be accomplished in moving our community forward.
We are a people first community - a vision the Planning and Renewal Committee brought forward to council. The mission statement is, "doing it better, being innovative and daring to be different." I respect past political experience but until the election of the current council I saw very little in terms of progress in the twelve years I had lived here. I look forward to bringing a continued fresh perspective, my perspective, as your next High River Councillor.
See all the installments of the Byelection series by WindyJMusic:

Stirring the Pot in High River
The 365-Day Councillor
Dance a Little Sidestep
Post-Forum Mashup: Keeping It Classy
Bonus Round: Taking Your Questions
What's a Voter in High River to do?
0 Comments

Post-Forum Mashup: Keeping It Classy

10/12/2016

0 Comments

 
This is the fourth installment in my High River Byelection Blog Series.  Read the first installment "Stirring the Pot in High River", the second installment "The 365-Day Councillor", and the third installment "Dance a Little Sidestep".  You can also skip ahead to "Bonus Round: Taking Your Questions" and "What's a Voter in High River to Do?", the final entry in the series.
As far as byelection forums go, that one turned out very, very well.  It had laughter, it had a few well-placed zingers, and it had tears.  By any measure, this would be good for a regular election forum, so it was an especially successful evening.
​
Last night I attended a Candidates Forum at the Highwood Memorial Centre.  The room was absolutely filled, perhaps even risking maximum capacity.  For my part as a resident, I wish to offer thanks to the High River and District Chamber of Commerce for hosting a spectacularly well-attended evening.
Picture
The High River and District Chamber of Commerce hosted the Candidates Forum, attended by well over 100 people Tuesday night.  At the front are the candidates being introduced by Chamber President Steven Muth.
It was likely an informative evening for the current Councillors who were in attendance as well.  As I mentioned to one Councillor, it must be gratifying to hear how many things the residents support the current Council in doing, even if they didn’t realize Council was working on them.

For example, some residents didn’t know Council had already approved the removal of the 12th Avenue sandbags.  Some residents didn’t know how taxes were calculated.  Some residents didn’t know that user fees for the recreation centre are established by a committee of residents.  Candidates were able to not only inform residents about how these things happen, but the questions showed that they approve of the current Council’s direction, even if they didn’t know they approved of it.

So how did the candidates perform?  The good news is that they all performed very genuinely.  Not a single individual at that head table came across as canned, plastic or curated.  Voters can count on the “what you see is what you get” feel of their choice.  Each of them are also very well-qualified in their own way.

I am excited to say that I could easily see any one of them in that vacant seat on Council, and feel confident with their work.  But alas, only one gets to win, so …
The evening started off with Sandra Wiebe, and so will this blog.  Wiebe is the least experienced when it comes to putting her name forward for political office, so it came as no surprise that she started off appearing nervous.  She started off by explaining that she “is not a politician”, and it showed.  However, that nervousness disappeared very quickly after her opening statement.  Wiebe is a “people first” candidate, with each of her responses considering the human implications before anything else.  How to communicate; be out with the people and connect in person and in Social Media.  How to deal with Downtown business vacancy; help people realize how great the Downtown is going to be, and help owners connect to the resources they need to move forward.  The role she will have on Council; communicate, volunteer and improve volunteerism, and connect with residents.
​
Wiebe’s most significant challenge was when she found herself having nothing to add following the very-detailed responses by other candidates.  On plenty of occasions she was caught confirming other candidates’ statements, even saying once “Michael stole my line”.  She balanced that by not only saying she puts people first, but by also standing up for an audience member when she was embarrassed by being put on the spot by another participant (who was obviously an already-decided voter).
The next to the microphone was Terry Coleman.  Coleman had already had an impressive resume listed off by the moderator.  He spoke confidently reading from a prepared opening statement, but he would only do that for that and the closing statement he had prepared.  The remainder of the evening he spoke without cue cards, and showed his understanding of the Municipal Government Act and many of the issues at hand.  Coleman is a “to-the-point” candidate, saying only a few things, but only because they are the things worth saying.  It is obvious he is also the safety candidate, focusing on a revised flood-zone map, a revised Land-Use Bylaw, visibility of a police force, and of course the flood mitigation.  He is also the “coffee shop candidate”, saying on multiple occasions that his best consulting is done in one of the coffee shops in town.  “You can hang around a coffee shop and I’ll show up sooner or later.”

Coleman unfortunately comes across as the driest among the candidates.  When asked about what the role of the Councillor is, he simply quoted from the Municipal Government Act.  When it comes to building vacancies or recreation user fees, he'd follow due process by listening to Town Staff or appointed committees.  In his dryness, he is also absolutely right, and minces no extra words to be right.  His biggest foible was with a question about what will be done with the sandbags on 12th Avenue, and not being aware Town Council had already addressed that issue.  He may have balanced that with a clear understanding of the police force, and therefore the ability to provide a detailed response to concerns about criminal activity.  He also closed the evening with a very strong statement of differentiation; “I know nothing about making whiskey, nor flying hot air balloons … and very little about publishing … but I do have the relevant experience and record to work on Council.”

Michael Nychyk set himself apart immediately at the opening statement by never once looking down at a script.  He purposefully made eye contact with as many people in the room as he could (which was a tall order considering the attendance).  His opening statement wasn’t much of one, instead opting to give more time for the forum so that he could “listen to the residents”.  Nychyk is selling himself as the next-generation candidate, focusing on the issues that pertain to those under the age of 29.  He focuses on economic recovery, development and diversification so as to encourage young families to set up shop and stay.  Nychyk also advertised himself well as the numbers guy, aware of the income and expenses and the necessity to balance both.  When discussing user fees for recreation, he rightly points out that there is a cost, and that user fees are set to help mitigate that cost.  He shows a genuine interest in connecting with the community to get feedback on how to get there.

Nychyk edged somewhat close to the trap many politicians fall into – the “I have no platform, I’m just here to listen to you” trap.  Truly a Councillor will need to be all ears to be a great representative, however a platform from which to start is also necessary.  Nychyk has a platform, and it is a clearly-articulated balance-the-budget think-to-the-future youth-first platform, but he tries especially hard to ensure that it is balanced with the desire to elevate the importance of consultation with the public, and that is a hard balance to achieve during election season.  Nychyk did, however, have the first zinger of the evening, explaining that while Jamie Kinghorn may have only missed 5 Council meetings since 2010, he was actually required to be there for 3 years of those meetings as it was his job.
The final candidate, Jamie Kinghorn, sought to endear himself to the audience as quickly as possible.  He was not shy about his defeat in his run for Mayor in 2013, but was also not shy about his passion for the community.  He spoke to the first challenge being the budget that will be debated immediately after the byelection is over, and used that to springboard into points about balancing taxation, economic recovery, connecting North High River to the Downtown, and championing new facilities for Arts and Recreation.  Kinghorn touts the fact that he has been a regular attendee to Council meetings, and it paid off for him in spades during the forum where he could be relied on to correct misunderstandings and even educate the audience on the operations of the community.  He corrected such misunderstandings on 12th Avenue, finances for policing and recreation work, and how taxation works (even going so far as to say a question on taxation was “not a good question” as he embarked on correcting the misunderstanding).
​
Kinghorn’s biggest attribute may also become his biggest liability, if he’s not careful.  The statement “I think it’s really important to be at Council meetings, whether you are a Councillor or not” runs the risk of grating on the nerves of some who believe there is more to the job than showing up to meetings.  That being said, his understanding of specifics, including the Municipal Government Act, studies on policing that have disappeared, “Means Tests” to help impoverished families enjoy recreation facilities, or funding that was expected for Centre Street Bridge that fell through is an understanding of the position that cannot be ignored.  It made his zinger of charging that none of the other candidates were at yesterday’s Council meeting despite being in a byelection for the job have just enough bite to maybe make a difference, but he needs to be careful not to push that too far.
One place where every candidate shone was on the highest contentious issue of secondary suites.  A number of audience members spoke to the issue, and were joined by choruses of agreement from those who came to listen.  Each candidate stated something unique about the issue, which shouldn’t be surprising considering its complexity, but in doing so each showed they had done some research into the topic.  Wiebe first mentioned the Town Plan which seeks to increase density, but argued that secondary suites was not the way to do it.  Coleman rightly pointed out that the “policing” of illegal secondary suites seemed to be largely inadequate.  Kinghorn offered that it is a province- and country-wide problem that requires collaborative effort with other municipalities, and even suggested that a secondary suite should be classified as such if someone other than the family is living in a unit.  Nychyk pointed out that it cannot be as simple as that, especially with a large immigrant population whose norm it is to have multigenerational family units in the same dwelling.  The unfortunate news for voters is that there are no simple answers, and no single candidate will provide the silver thread that ties everything together into a nice tidy package.  The great news is that they can be guaranteed that no matter who gets in, they’ve all considered it, and are ready to dive into those discussions head-first.

There were a variety of questions that ended up having similar answers throughout the night.  How do you encourage businesses back in, boarded up houses to recover, young families to move in, additional facilities for Seniors, and the Arts?  In each of these questions the answer was common; support the Economic Development department because through economic development all of these other issues will be addressed.  That also means that each candidate is acutely aware of the necessary support Economic Development requires, and are ready to give that support.

In byelections, the best strategy for a candidate is to set yourself up as the one every other candidate is trying to beat, and forums help to solidify that stance.  No candidate did that yet with a significant amount of certainty.  If there was a candidate or two who had the opportunity to do that last night, they did not capitalize, and instead the other candidates closed the gap.  This election is still anyone’s game, and anything can happen in the last week. 
See all the installments of the Byelection series by WindyJMusic:

Stirring the Pot in High River
The 365-Day Councillor
Dance a Little Sidestep
Post-Forum Mashup: Keeping It Classy
Bonus Round: Taking Your Questions
What's a Voter in High River to do?

As a post-script, the byelection night was not without shenanigans.  An audience member chose to grandstand in support of a candidate with obvious intent to shame the other candidates, and in doing embarrassed another audience member, devalued every community-minded citizen’s contribution to High River, and stunned the candidate’s panel and moderator.  I’m not even sure the candidate receiving the support was even aware of what was going on because it was so out-of-place.  Grandstands like that have no place in Canada.
​
I’m sure the vast majority of High Riverites do not need the reminder to stay classy.  The respect each candidate showed one another was incredible and illuminated High River’s true nature.  With leaders like these on our Council, we will have no problems remaining High River Strong.  Let’s make sure we follow their lead.
0 Comments

Dance a Little Sidestep

10/9/2016

0 Comments

 
This is the third installment in my High River Byelection Blog Series.  Read the first installment "Stirring the Pot in High River", and the second installment "The 365-Day Councillor". You can also skip ahead to "Post Forum Mashup: Keeping It Classy", "Bonus Round: Taking Your Questions", and "What's a Voter in High River to Do?", the final entry in the series.
When a politician doesn't know the answer, what do they do?  They dance a little sidestep.  I am of course not immune to it, as an aspiring politician myself.  It's how fancy their footwork is that helps you determine what type of representative they will be.  Do they take a stand, show their values, or provide a strategy in their responses?  Do they sweep around the wide step, cut a little swathe and lead the people on?  In this set of responses, each candidate finds themselves dancing a little sidestep, and the results are telling.
As one would expect, the completion of the southwest berm is a priority for each candidate, with only Jamie Kinghorn suggesting the delay may mean a different plan may be necessary.  But some similar themes emerged elsewhere in these responses, including accessibility for everyone including those with mobility issues must be maintained, and patience with the construction.  However what we find in these questions about flood recovery, Downtown, secondary suites and community-led initiatives is that there are now far more differences between the candidates.

"Walkable" High River is a large target for the current Council, and each candidate supports it.  Michael Nychyk rightly points out that the construction Downtown is not because we wanted to make town more "walkable", but rather that infrastructure required repairs following the flood; upgrading the look and feel of Downtown is simply taking advantage of the timing of the rebuild to reimagine a vibrant Downtown.  Jamie Kinghorn, Sandra Wiebe and Terry Coleman focused on the economic impacts of the Downtown design, with Coleman being specific about not wanting the Downtown to be "a medical center".  Wiebe and Nychyk also discussed the healthy-living and community components of a "walkable" High River.

The issue of parking shows the most significant contrasts between candidates so far.  Kinghorn suggests that the vast majority of residents are disappointed with parking and is worried about problems amplifying with the completion of the provincial building.  Wiebe and Nychyk, on the other hand, indicated they felt the issue of parking has been exaggerated, and encourage the physical activity of walking.  Both Coleman and Nychyk indicated that communities are dynamic, and review would be necessary, with Coleman being quite specific about how that might look.  Kinghorn, Nychyk and Coleman offered some ideas for solutions, but each referred to consultation to get to the best solution.

Where the issue of secondary suites is concerned, once again there is a clear difference amongst candidates.  Kinghorn demonstrated a strong understanding of many of the various sides of the issue, and suggests that the solution can't be found in High River alone, but must be done in collaboration with other communities.  Wiebe was interested in supporting the existence of secondary suites to deal with affordable housing issues.

Each candidate points out that economic recovery for the community should encourage the rebuild of empty houses in "swiss cheese" communities, but the assessments of "the real problem" are what sets candidates apart.  Kinghorn states a solution must be found because empty non-taxpaying houses impact everyone else's taxes, but solutions must be approached on an individual basis.  Nychyk offers that the best solution is to keep the public areas around these properties in good repair, and that attractiveness will help.  Each candidate suggests incentives are required.

Improved marketing and communications are the orders of the day according to Kinghorn and Wiebe when it comes to community-led activities.  Coleman instead wants to get rid of reducing red tape and barriers to success, while also helping people to be stronger community supporters.

Many of my readers (and my students) have asked questions that did not get covered by candidates' responses in my original questions.  As a result, I sent out another request for responses to candidates over the Thanksgiving weekend (and told them not to answer until they had turkey).  So you will see a "Bonus Round" blog later this week to cover the questions you have raised.

In the meantime, on Tuesday night (October 11) from 7:00 to 9:00 PM you will find me at the Highwood Memorial Centre for the All Candidates Forum hosted by the High River and District Chamber of Commerce.  It leads into my next blog in this series, the "Post-Forum Mashup".

Candidate Responses Part 2

The southwest berm has not yet been completed, and other flood mitigation projects are underway. Which of these projects do you deem most important, and how do you intend to approach these projects if elected?
Jamie Kinghorn - ​This term Is for only one year however a stronger push for the completion of the SW berm or a change in the plan may be appropriate, I would like to investigate the raising of 12th ave and revisit the diversion objections to investigate if there is still a solution there.
Sandra Wiebe - ​The southwest berm needs completion first in order to open up that roadway for better community access.
My approach is to be supportive of the processes already in place and to determine where to best use my skill set.
Michael Nychyk - ​I would approach these projects with urgency and stay the course to completion. I cannot speak to the details of what has transpired so far but I can say they are very important to complete. Current Council sees them as critically important as well and I believe my attributes and experience lends very well to seeing these projects to completion.
Terry Coleman - Continue to work with the necessary levels of government and land owners where necessary.
Mostly, working with the provincial government

Downtown is constantly under construction moving towards a vision of a "walkable High River". What, in your opinion, is the value of a "walkable High River"? If you support it, how exactly will you do so. If you do not support it, how will you see that issue addressed?
Jamie Kinghorn - Downtown road construction will be completed this year. I think we should give it a chance however if business do not move in we have to take some action and come up with a strategy to encourage business to come back. The operation cost associated with the area need to be reviewed to determine best solutions to cover those costs. I would like to meet with all business owners in the downtown core and get a real consensus on how to help them make the core successful.
Sandra Wiebe - I most definitely support this vision. Walkable means you see more, you engage more, this means as citizens we will care more about each other. It will then affect our decisions, and opinions will be made with others in mind and not just "what's right for me" or "right for me right now".
There is more to be accessible to downtown that just those who own vehicles. Many of our citizens do not drive but use other modes (walk, cycle, wheelchair, etc) of transportation. It needs to work for everyone. It needs to feel safe for everyone
Michael Nychyk - Lets clarify this a bit. Downtown is getting a remodel and following a vision of people first or a "walkable High River". But the construction was not initiated by the vision. The construction was unquestionably required because the infrastructure (ie. water, sewer,etc) had collapsed. In concert with the infrastructure repairs Council took the opportunity to renew the downtown core streetscape.
I do support the the vision as I am a member of the Planning and Renewal Advisory Committee that provided Council with information, opinion and direction while working with the Urban Planning firm contracted to complete the design.
The value of a walkable High River is already apparent in our communities love of our outdoor environment. We are citizens who love to walk along the river, ride bikes through our neighborhoods or watch our kids play in the green spaces or have fun at the skate park.
Happy Trails are the arteries running out from the heart of our community - the downtown. This is how I envision our downtown, the heart, the place where we gather and come together as a community. Whether it's for a large event like the car show, the gathering of a community service group in the Memorial Center, playing ball at George Lane or just enjoying a coffee with a friend on one of the many benches. Happy Trails gets us there by foot, bike, skate board, or whatever your into. It also gets us to our friends and neighbors in other parts of town. Physical activity has incredible value from a health and wellness perspective and walkability gets us out and interacting with each other which also has nothing but value for our community.
Terry Coleman -
​I support it but we all have to look at how we can attract viable retail business to the down town area. It has to be more than a medical center.
This will require some innovative thinking and implementation.

Another issue in the Downtown region is parking, or a perceived lack thereof. If you see it as a significant issue, do you intend during your term to address this issue? If you do not believe it to be an issue, how do you intend to address the fact that many have such concerns?
Jamie Kinghorn - It is an issue according to the vast majority of residents and I suspect will only get worse as the new office building is completed. We must come up with a solution for the business to stay in the downtown. Once construction is completed it will be better, but one thought I have is to exploring golf carts and more scooters into the core and of course more areas to park, shorter parking times may also help as well but again I need input from the business down there, they know the area best.
Sandra Wiebe - This ties in with a walkable community. People are currently pushed out of their comfort zone to have to walk a little further, but I encourage each person to consider how far that really is. Walking is good for us, it provides us opportunity to slow down, and to connect with others who make this small town awesome. Maybe by walking a little you'll also take time for a shop you've been meaning to visit or notice a business that you may not have noticed before.
Michael Nychyk - Personally I have not had an issue parking downtown. Sometime I have to walk a bit to get to my destination but I have never left downtown because I couldn't find a single parking space. However, I can appreciate the frustration of some residents as there has been so much construction completed the last few years.
People with mobility issues must find it very difficult but the finish line is so near. I appreciate the frustrations but I would ask that people give the downtown a chance once the work has cleared out. And those that are frustrated also need to know there are ongoing discussions and plans regarding parking. A community is organic and ever changing so issues like this are never stagnant and always need review and attention. But solutions can always be found if the challenges are communicated. As a Councillor I would always be open to listening to the concerns of a resident regarding parking or any other issue.
Terry Coleman - We need to closely monitor parking. This is not unusual in any urban setting.
After two years in operation, a comprehensive evaluation will be required of the finished product to see what should be adjusted. Much parking can and should be accommodated on the old railway tracks. However, this must all so be landscaped and access made so that Center street belongs in the downtown area.


The Land-Use Bylaw, particularly with attention to secondary suites, seems to be an ongoing issue. What solutions are you hoping to achieve with respect to secondary suites, and how will you work toward those solutions?
Jamie Kinghorn - The secondary suite issue is a huge issue for all communities in the province. I am not sure there is a solution that can be resolved by one municipality on its own. I would like to see this issue taken to AUMA and share ideas to see if a broader solution could be developed. We do need to define exactly what a secondary suite is. If my son lives in the basement or if my aging parents come to stay with me is that a secondary suite? One change is I would like to see it mandatory that any secondary suite approval has the condition the home owner must live in the residence was well. ​
Sandra Wiebe - Secondary suites provide an excellent solution to affordable housing - both for renter and landlord. The solution is in working with the development office to set standards to ensure suites are safe and for council to develop an efficient process for approving suites.
Michael Nychyk -
​Secondary suites exist both legally and illegally in our community. My work on this issue would simply be to ensure peoples safety by having legal suites that meet code requirements.
Terry Coleman - I don't have off the cuff solutions. I have some ideas but they need full discussion at Council. It is difficult to address secondary suites in isolation of addressing the Bylaw in total.
We operate in a systems world

Following the flood, there remains "swiss cheese" communities and business areas, where vacancies exist. What role will you take as Councillor in addressing these vacancies to help rebuild these communities?
Jamie Kinghorn - The core question is why are people not rebuilding their homes. Once we have those answers we try and assist by dealing with the major issues. It may be providing incentives through the tax system and working with banks or other groups to help the owners. These "vacant" properties are part of the higher taxes we are all paying. We must come up with a plan to encourage redevelopment of the properties, One method may be a tax deferral system where the owner could defer taxes or if necessary we could investigate a vacant properties or serviced properties addition tax.
Sandra Wiebe - There continues to be people moving to High River. These community vacancies will fill in time. With more population will come more business owners.
Once we get past the construction and flood mitigation we can again start to promote our community as a great place to live and work. New marketing plans are already in the works and it is my intention to work with them to promote this community as a great place to live and work.
My role will be to support our Economic and Tourism departments in their campaigns, help raise awareness and listen to the needs of our business owners.
Michael Nychyk - The question is somewhat misleading in that Council cannot rebuild privately held properties. What Council can do is ensure these areas are maintained to an acceptable level. It is unlikely someone looking to build a home in a certain area would do so in a poorly maintain or dilapidated neighborhood. There are bylaws already that deal with property maintenance but perhaps these need to be revisited for the flood effected cases.
Looking from an innovative perspective, maybe the property owners (who may not want to rebuild) would agree to having their lot used as an urban garden? We saw great success this year with the two community gardens in town. This would alleviate the maintenance issue for the property owner, beautify the neighborhood and provide a sustainable food source for those who wish to participate in community gardens.
Terry Coleman - Ideally we can consider this when determining land use bylaw.
Continuing with strong economic development initiatives including appropriate incentives are critical


Community-minded people build a sense of community. How will you, as Councillor, encourage the continued development of community through citizen-led initiatives? Are there any initiatives you envision that must instead be Town-led to achieve prosperity?
Jamie Kinghorn - I am very support of community-led projects and am involved in a number of them currently. Council needs to support such activities. I would like to see another community garden as well as more events. One area the town can lead in would be the marketing and promotion of the town which of course includes the events. An example of that is at the Home and garden show I saw a number of towns with booths showing off their community benefits.
Sandra Wiebe - Participating in citizen-led initiatives and giving them opportunity to share with others is a great way to show support. I know from offering personal citizen-led initiatives, I was heard but not followed up with. With communications as my background I feel it's extremely important to follow up with citizens who wish to take on projects or have ideas that can better the community. It will be my job to help them find funding and support for these initiatives.
Michael Nychyk - Engaging and supporting citizen led initiatives empowers them to continue their work or bring forth new ideas. We have great momentum in our community and we are also great through action. Long standing events like our parades, or rodeos and new initiatives like the farmers market on 4th, or the Long Table dinner show the vibrancy of what we can accomplish. Council supports these existing events and encourages people to bring new ones forward. The Community Vitality Fund just introduced by the Economic Development Department is a solid example of Councils support. This fund was created to foster new initiatives by providing seed money to get them off the ground. As a Councillor I would always be looking at such opportunities to support and encourage event growth.
Terry Coleman - Council should help by not creating barriers and/or ensuring unnecessary barriers are removed. The community building session held for three days last winter was well planned and successful. I participated. We could do that every two years with a different facilitator
See all the installments of the Byelection series by WindyJMusic:

Stirring the Pot in High River
The 365-Day Councillor
Dance a Little Sidestep
Post-Forum Mashup: Keeping It Classy
Bonus Round: Taking Your Questions
What's a Voter in High River to do?
0 Comments

The 365-Day Councillor

10/6/2016

1 Comment

 
This is the second installment in my High River Byelection Blog Series.  Read the first installment "Stirring the Pot in High River" here.  You can also skip ahead to "Dance a Little Sidestep", "Post-Forum Mashup: Keeping It Classy", "Bonus Round: Taking Your Questions", and the final entry "What's a Voter in High River to Do?"
Perhaps I'm a little mean to the candidates.

I asked big questions.  They required big answers.  So to flush this out a little better, I've split their responses into 3 posts, this being the first.

To their credit, 3 of 4 candidates answered them as quickly and as completely as they could.  I'm still waiting to hear back from the fourth.  I also offer the candidates a chance to change their responses at any time, but once their first response is posted I will be clear about the changes they send me.

These first questions didn't do much to show the differences between the candidates positions, but their approaches are quite different.  I provide a synopsis (so that if you are only reading this while on the toilet, you won't have to read too much), but if you want to get into the meat of their responses, they are further down this blog.

In the interests of full disclosure, I've also shared many of these things with my students, who provided me with their own reactions.  Some of those reactions are reflected in this blog.
Read the first installment of the High River Byelection Blog Series, "Stirring the Pot in High River", for Candidate Contact Information and more.
The first thing to note is that each of the candidates are strong proponents of community, and have volunteered in a wide variety of different ways.  They are also apparent fans of the current Council's general direction.  But that's where the similarities stop.

At this point, Jamie Kinghorn, Michael Nychyk and Terry Coleman are the candidates with a clearly defined vision for their 365-day term.  As methods of providing incentive for economic recovery, Kinghorn focuses on the budget while Nychyk focuses on completion of outstanding projects.  The budget gets debated right away at the end of October, so the new Councillor will be able to make their biggest stamp there.  There are a great many started and unfinished projects though, and completing these will make the Town far more business-ready.  Sandra Wiebe offers that she will simply learn where she is needed most, and go there.  Coleman in contrast is focused on the Land-Use Bylaw, as with his 365 days he feels that is where he can be most impactful.

Kinghorn and Nychyk also look outside the Town to our neighbours, with Kinghorn focusing on intermunicipal committees, the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA) and the Province of Alberta, while Nychyk eyes the Calgary Regional Partnership and all levels of government to help with infrastructure.  As the AUMA had a large gathering this week, that seems appropriately timed, and the AUMA has been very supportive of the Disaster Recovery Program Advisory Committee's work.  Consideration of the Province with regards to the impending changes to the Municipal Government Act is also apropos.  High River recently rejoined the Calgary Regional Partnership, and the most recent visible result is the town's participation in the On-It Regional Transit routes.

Neither Nychyk nor Wiebe have constructive criticisms to offer Council, but Kinghorn has a few words focusing on the construction of a major recreation complex, and on Council's willingness to listen to concerns about downtown parking.  Kinghorn's views may be caused by a lack of movement on the Master Recreation Plan proposal presented earlier this year, and the fact that Council tends not to bend to the will of some naysayers.  Meanwhile, Coleman is focused on safety with regards to hazardous materials transportation, traffic flow and Land-Use.  This may be of significant importance, especially with all the construction going on, and the emergency bottleneck that is the Centre Street Bridge.

The differences in this first section seem small, until you ask about how they will work with non-government groups.  Here, a chasm begins to open.  Kinghorn points to his extensive volunteer resumé adding that he can be a voice for those groups to Council.  Nychyk points out the fact that High River has as many community leaders as it does is in part due to supportive programming to help get them there.  Wiebe suggests she would join or meet with groups when needs arise, and Coleman is concise in his desire to have face-to-face interactions.

This is just the first group of questions.  The next group of questions are more issue-specific, including flood mitigation, walkability vs. parking, and secondary suites.

Watch for the next blog, where I try my best to at least feign impartiality.

Candidate Responses Part 1

Recently the High River Times published a biography on you. Is there anything you wish to add that the newspaper did not include that will help voters learn about what experience and expertise you will bring to the role of Councillor?
Jamie Kinghorn - No response to this question.  See the High River Times bio here.​
Sandra Wiebe - I am a big supporter of the arts and culture in High River. I'd like to see High River as an arts-based destination town.
I am also involved with the Little Britches and Santa Claus Parades as well as the High River Tennis Club.
I have a Bachelor Degree in Communications from Mount Royal University (2007).
Through my local business serving on the executive, including President, of the Diamond Valley Chamber of Commerce (2011-2014), I feel I have strong leadership and management skills.
​See the High River Times bio here.
Michael Nychyk - I am thankful for the bio the Times printed. It communicated my dedication to the community since the last election through my appointment and involvement in two important committees which helped council make informed and innovative decisions for High River. As a long standing business person (in our town) I was able to provide perspective from a corporate point of reference. A perspective of analysis and fiscal responsibility. But the business acumen I have is also balanced by the importance of family in my life. I see High River as an amazing place for young families and there must be focus and long term planning on ensuring we grow and provide the needs to that demographic. To make this happen we need a vibrant economic sector or two (our natural strengths are agriculture and health care) where young professional can earn a good living wage. I have worked closely with Jodi Dawson, the towns Economic Development Manager, and I'm please to say she is implementing, developing and planning fantastic initiatives to achieve this.
See High River Times bio here, and coverage by Sun Country 99.7 FM here.

Terry Coleman - The High River Times item was good but due to space does not include all my relevant experience. My brochures outline my extensive experience including as a Deputy Minister of Municipal Affairs and a City Councillor.
My LinkedIn link is a good source to get more information about me.
See the High River Times bio here, and coverage by Sun Country 99.7 FM here.
You only have one year in this term. What is your first and most significant priority during this term?
Jamie Kinghorn - The operational budget for 2017 is to be debated late October and early November. This budget will determine the tax rate for 2017. I will argue for for cost reductions and tax incentives to encourage new business and residents to locate in High River which will broaden our tax base and help reduce tax for our existing rate payers.
Sandra Wiebe - My priority is to learn - learn where I can fit in to the local council projects, missions and committees. I want to know where I can help complete existing projects and programs.
I want to learn what I can that I can translate to the voters. I want us all to be as informed on the information and processes as possible.
Michael Nychyk - My first priority is to push for current project completions. I believe in the direction Council has gone, i appreciate the fact they have a strategic plan in place and I fully understand the vision. I don't believe this is the time for individual agendas or pet projects. Council has worked hard, along with town administration and employees, to rebuild our community to something better than it was.
There are many items still on the plate of Council that have been under discussion for some time and those cannot be left behind. For example, fiber connectivity is critical to future economic development in High River and there is no set Council direction yet. They have been working diligently to determine a plan but it's not complete yet. I have been involved in these discussions and with this experience can carry on that work from a municipal and regional partnership perspective.
Terry Coleman - I have several important issues but the most pressing for us all is the proposed Land Use Bylaw amendments. It is fine to tune them up periodically but it is critical to get them correct. I am concerned about some issues that I have heard.
What are some of the directions the current Council is taking that you are most pleased with?
Jamie Kinghorn - ​I am generally pleased with the over all direction of council. They have done a great job on flood mitigation, enlisting provincial support and changing the image of a flood community. The replacement of underground infrastructure has been painful but had to be done and is coming to an end.
Sandra Wiebe - I am pleased with the direction of a mixed land use bylaw, the walkable downtown and the planned design of our downtown.
I am pleased with the commitment to flood mitigation and the determination it is taking to complete these projects.
Michael Nychyk - It starts with our town mission statement, "Doing it better, being innovative, and daring to be different", and the vision of a "people first" community. Change is inevitable so it must be embraced and I believe Council is fully vested in the mission statement and vision by working towards a vibrant and sustainable High River.
Putting the bricks and mortar changes aside I like the fact our community is engage and looking towards the future. It has brought our residents closer together than ever before and we see this in the participation numbers in all the events throughout town.
I also like the position on financial strength, providing value for service today and monetary reserves for the future. This respects the residents of today but also plans for the residents of the future so that items like infrastructure and community centers (the field-house) can be maintained, expanded or replaced.
Terry Coleman -
​
Overall, flood recovery.
We still have a long way to go though.
What are some of the directions the current Council is taking that you think require addressing?
Jamie Kinghorn - The town has recently made changes to the economic development department which should be positive however I think more involvement of the department with the different community groups and promotion of activities is very important. We are falling far behind other communities with respect to recreation, we need to plan for a major recreation complex. This council does not appear to engage residents enough and "listen" to concerns over parking and the downtown core
Sandra Wiebe - Not aware of any at this time.
Michael Nychyk - I have no critical opposition to any direction the current Council is taking. However, if elected, I would represent the citizens of this community and will respectfully listen and take counsel on their thoughts and ideas.
Terry Coleman -
​
Land Use Bylaw; Traffic Flow, Hazardous Materials Routes.
What ways do you see yourself working with other government organizations (neighbouring municipalities, provincial, federal) during this term if elected?
Jamie Kinghorn - I will ask to be appointed to the Inter-municipal committee that is made up of surrounding communities including the M.D. I think attendance and participation at the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association is critical to share and learn about what other municipality are doing is extremely important. Right now the Cities amendment to the Municipal Government Act has some very relevant changes that could apply to small communities as well.
Sandra Wiebe - No response provided to this question.
Michael Nychyk - Different plans will require certain levels of engagement with one, some, all or none. It is all dependent on what result is to be achieved. Lets go back to the fiber connection topic I mentioned earlier. In my opinion this will take a partnership or collaboration with our municipal neighbors and probably with the CRP (Calgary Regional Partnership). Extending beyond the CRP I feel there should be provincial and federal involvement in this infrastructure initiatives as well. It is a critical economic issue if left unresolved will leave communities like ours and ultimately the country in an noncompetitive position globally. ​
Terry Coleman -
​
Establishing good working relationships on a face to face basis
How do you see yourself collaborating with non-governmental organizations in your role as Councillor if elected?
Jamie Kinghorn - I am involved in a number of local organizations now, Chair of the Museum of the Highwood, Direction on FCSS, Vice President of the High River Regional Airport, Chair person of the High River Balloon Events Committee. Historically I sat on the Recreation board, High River Lacrosse, The Chamber of Commerce and numerous other not-for-profits. It is important that these and other local organizations all are heard at the council table as well as councils plans and ideas are shared for input by the volunteers. ​
Sandra Wiebe - By joining a board and meeting with these organizations as needed. Possibly researching to help them find places where the Town can support them.
Michael Nychyk - This is a good question, especially in High River where we have such great involvement from our residents. I recall back in early 2014 the Becoming a Community Builder program was introduced in High River. A 15 week course (in which I participated) in core competencies designed to develop community leaders. This program inspired many of our residents to get involved in the betterment of our town. From that and other avenues we have incredible, non-government, local organizations that should be worked with to move us forward. Beyond our town limits there are also regional, provincial and federal organizations that can be collaborated with to achieve great things. ​
Terry Coleman -
​
Establishing good working relationships on a face to face basis
See all the installments of the Byelection series by WindyJMusic:

Stirring the Pot in High River
The 365-Day Councillor
Dance a Little Sidestep
Post-Forum Mashup: Keeping It Classy
Bonus Round: Taking Your Questions
What's a Voter in High River to do?
1 Comment

No small issue for small biz in small towns.

10/4/2016

1 Comment

 
Minimum wage recently took another jump.  Some are bleating that this will kill our economy.  Others are bleating that if we don’t increase minimum wage, current minimum wage earners will make less than the cost of impoverished living.

Way to go, divisive politics, you’ve done away with common sense once again.

Minimum wage does not have to jump up 50% in 3 years.  However it isn’t unreasonable to want employers to pay a reasonable amount so that their employees can enjoy a basic standard of living.  But that isn’t a minimum wage you are arguing for, that’s a living wage.

The key difference is that a minimum wage is a mandated amount for all workers in a jurisdiction.  A living wage will differ from one region to another.  As an example, Calgary’s living wage is $18.15/hour, Medicine Hat’s living wage is $13.00/hour.  So a minimum wage of $15.00/hour (which is Alberta's target in October 2018) is far more than a living wage in the deep south of Alberta, but not high enough to be a living wage in our big cities.

Minimum wage is a blunt instrument used for the wrong purpose.  It can’t be treated as the only means to achieve a living wage.  Instead, as has been done successfully in B.C. and Ontario, we must work to make living wage be a decision made by employers, responsive to the local cost of living, interested in creating peace of mind for their employees, and therefore having far more productive employees.  Minimum wage is not that tool, but it can help start that conversation.

But in Alberta, the NDP has chosen this blunt instrument to get to the living wage, and the very real risk is a loss of jobs.  Rachel Notley is even aware of this, with easy access to a 2010 study in Québec about what the minimum wage increase will mean for jobs.  That study recommends a minimum wage that is 42% of the average wage will cause the best reduction in income inequality while causing the least impact on the jobs market.  Even so, Notley says she doesn’t expect any jobs to be lost due to minimum wage.

She is relying on a turn of phrase, and an uninformed voter to be able to make that statement with confidence.

What Notley means to say is that we should not expect any jobs to be lost due to the minimum wage alone.  Add in the carbon tax, beer tax, and a dismal showing of support for our economy, and absolutely jobs will be lost.

She’s also relying on the fact that 42% of the average wage in Alberta ($29.54/hour - incidentally I started writing this blog a week ago, when the average wage was over a quarter lower at $29.21) is a a couple of dimes more than the newly-raised minimum wage.  According to that Quebec study, that means job losses shouldn’t be noticeable.  Notley knows this, and so has had a free pass to blame job losses on other factors, like the economy or the federal Liberals who don’t approve pipelines quickly enough.

However, when that increase comes again next year, it will increase the ratio to 45% of the average wage, and in 2018 it increases again up to 50%.  If the Quebec study is any predictor, that will translate to a loss of approximately 24,000 jobs in 2017, and a further 40,000 jobs after that.

And those are just the jobs that actually get reported.
​
What about the jobs that just simply disappear?  Mom and Pop shops can see these wage increases coming, and when someone vacates a job for any reason, they are likely to seriously consider whether or not they want to fill that empty position.  A position that goes empty and just never gets filled is not a laid-off position, but make no mistake, it is most certainly a job lost.

These kinds of job losses are already happening.  One business in High River I am aware of has simply chosen not to fill 50 hours/week left open by vacating staff members.  But because nobody reports these as positions that are cut, Notley’s NDP will never notice them.

And darn those evil Mom and Pop shops for not being willing to pay their employees a living wage!  Those people have no care and consideration!

Please, please, please, please, please don’t forget that Mom and Pop are Albertans too.

Consider small town Alberta, where many small business owners exist.  These small business owners don’t have a large operation that have more latitude to absorb this increase in the cost of labour.  They likely also don’t have a large clientele that they can distribute this extra cost across.  No indeed, they will be forced to either raise their prices quite noticeably, or simply get rid of those jobs/let those jobs disappear.  If they don’t, how can these small business owners make their own living wage?

Raising prices puts them at a real risk of losing their clientele to Amazon or to the big cities.  And having worked with many of these small businesses, not a single one of them wants to lose an employee, much less take on the extra workload without that employee.  But they will make that decision, and as they don’t have a demographic of 1,000,000 people to serve, they lose their viability.  It’s not a poor business model, it’s the reality of the labour of love that is running a small business in small towns.

This is no small issue for small business in small towns.  And when a small town’s economy takes a hit like this, the whole town does.

What’s the solution?  Change course.  According to the study suggesting what the perfect balance is, we’re already there.  Continue with that study’s recommendation to index the minimum wage to the average wage.  If every year we index the minimum wage to 42% of the average wage, we can always expect a properly proportional increase that manages income inequality while not cause a major expense in the jobs market.

If you really want, make like a Canadian and round it to the nearest nickel.

But the current course is on a sure path to attack our economy.  Our small towns can’t take any more.
1 Comment

Stirring the Pot in High River

10/3/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
From Left to Right: Dr. Terry Coleman, Jamie Kinghorn, Michael Nychyk, Sandra Wiebe
It's byelection season in High River.  Byelections are notorious for being underwhelming and underengaging.  But with one year left in the current term, and as much work as needs to be done, we can't let this one get that way.

So I have every intention of stirring the pot a little bit.  Perhaps through my hyper-engagement, voters in High River can find themselves additionally engaged.

I have sent a series of questions pertaining to the position of Councillor to each of the candidates.  In this next series of blogs, I will be posting their responses, links to their online presences, and of course my own little synopses.  After all, what would a blog be without commentary?

Our current candidates for the seat vacated by Councillor Peter Loran are Dr. Terry Coleman, Jamie Kinghorn, Michael Nychyk and Sandra Wiebe.  The great news is that each of these individuals already give of themselves to be involved in the community of High River, and there is no lack of engagement between them.  So what really sets them apart?

That's the question of byelections.  Their results in provincial or federal ridings tend to be viewed either as an indictment of or in support of the current government.  In municipal politics, there are no overt partisan scenarios, so the results of a byelection tend to be viewed either as an indictment of the current direction of Council, or in support of that direction.

That is why it is important for everyone to get out and vote.  If you're pleased with Council's direction, what happens if someone who is not supportive of that direction gets elected?  Will that stymie progress?  Will the Council be stunted by this new individual?  You'd better get out and vote for that candidate that supports the current Council, if you're worried about that.

Alternatively, what if you're displeased with Council's direction?  Perhaps this is your opportunity to elect a person who can at least slow it all down, before more damage occurs.  You'd better get out and vote for that candidate that is most likely to do so.

This is where the candidates will be differentiated.  Are they supportive?  Do they have their own agenda to push?  At this point, I provide no judgement.  But as this blog series progresses, you may find some distinct differences, and I hope you do.

​More in this Series

  • The 365-Day Councillor
  • Dance a Little Sidestep
  • Post-Forum Mashup:
    Keeping it Classy
  • Bonus Round: Taking Your Questions
  • What is a Voter in High River to do?

About the Election

The municipal by-election will be held on October 17, 2016 and voting will take place from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM at the Highwood Memorial Centre located at 128 - 5 Avenue S.W. There will be a polling station for patients at the High River General Hospital located at 560 9 Avenue S.W. from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM and a polling station for residents of Sunrise Village located at 660 7 Street N.W. from 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM.

Proof of identity and current residence is now required to be able to vote in municipal elections.  A list of Voter ID requirements can be viewed here.

The High River and District Chamber of Commerce is hosting an All Candidates Forum on October 11, 2016 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the
Highwood Memorial Centre, located at 128 - 5 Avenue S.W.

Online Presences for Each Candidate

Michael Nychyk
​Facebook
LinkedIn
Email
Phone: (403) 603-8239
Sandra Wiebe
Facebook
LinkedIn
Email
Website
Phone: (403) 880-4784
Jamie Kinghorn
Facebook
LinkedIn
Email
Cell Phone: (403) 880-4842
Address: 907 7th St. S.W., High River, AB
​     (permission to share granted by the candidate)

Dr. Terry Coleman
LinkedIn
Email
Phone: (403) 498-4516

Your First Glimpse Courtesy the High River Times.

On September 29, 2016, the High River Times published an introduction to each of the candidates.  View each candidate's profile by the High River Times as below.
Dr. Terry Coleman
Jamie Kinghorn
Michael Nychyk
Sandra Wiebe
See all the installments of the Byelection series by WindyJMusic:

Stirring the Pot in High River
The 365-Day Councillor
Dance a Little Sidestep
Post-Forum Mashup: Keeping It Classy
Bonus Round: Taking Your Questions
What's a Voter in High River to do?
0 Comments

I'll be stronger than ever.

9/24/2016

0 Comments

 
An update appears mid-post in Italics.

It has been a very interesting week.

At the end of the work day on Friday, Alberta Party President Pat Cochrane sent out a message to people who subscribe to emails from the party (although the subject line indicates it was intended for members).
Picture
To all the members who received this message yesterday and were unaware of my departure, this message is exactly what needed to be said.  They would feel reassured that their party stands for something, and abhors sex crimes committed on youth.  They would even feel the party wants to stand up for victims of such crimes.  This is a very good thing, and is exactly what those members should feel.

​However, to all those who were aware of my post yesterday, this message rings a little hollow.  They would be aware of the fact that I departed from the party because the party did not take a stand as their first reaction.  They would be aware of many of the messages of support I received on social media.  They might not be aware of the nearly dozen phone calls and dozen more private messages I received yesterday providing support for my departure and even considering it themselves, but they might suspect I would have had those conversations yesterday.  And unless they live in Highwood, they would likely not be aware that the radio picked up the story yesterday, too.

​They would see this new email as exactly the right message, issued far too late, to the wrong people.  It should have been the first response, to stand up for victims, to take a stand as a party, and to reassure members and Albertans that the Alberta Party is a truly principled party who fights for those who need a hand.  It should have been sent to the media, so that they could have helped spread the word that the Alberta Party is strong.  By being one more voice to stand up for victims, perhaps the 
silent victims would feel a bit more confident in reporting crimes perpetrated on them, as it seems such crimes are one area of weakness for our justice system.

But it wasn't.

It was a response sent almost 45 hours after the original response which was, despite my recommendations and advisement, woefully inadequate.  It was a response sent 20 hours after the phone call conversation I had with the same Pat Cochrane who wrote the response; a conversation in which I was told to "trust the people in the party making the decision, because they know more than you do" (obviously oblivious to the implications it had on me and other members professionally).  It was a response sent 8 hours after my public departure, with a litany of people expressing their support and concern over the party's actions.  It was reactive once more.
UPDATE:
​
On Wednesday, October 12, the Okotoks Western Wheel printed an article on my departure (pictured here), as did the High River Times on Friday, October 14.  It shows that the email above was in fact not sent to media, meaning it wasn't a public stand they were putting forward.  Instead, both the Wheel and Times received a quote from the Alberta Party saying they stand by their original public statement, their first reaction.

Standing by their first statement would have been more effective had they not sent out an updated email.  Instead, they doubled down on their first statement, hoping nobody saw their updated email.  It seems as though even when they try to take a stand, they still can't do it.

Picture
There are many people who have seen this whole exchange, and it has shaken their faith in the party.  I know, because I've had conversations with many of them in the past 24 hours.  I'm sorry your faith is shaken, but I understand.  There may still be hope for the party, but many of you are absolutely right, they must get back to their grassroots in order for that hope to be realized.  I encourage you to keep on fighting for prosperity, fiscal and social responsibility, sustainability, democracy and quality of life, and if you think the Alberta Party can make that happen, stick with it.

What I've seen this week has shown me the party hasn't the capacity in its current form to do it.  But I'll still be fighting for those principles.  So for those who live in Highwood, I have a message for you.

I'm not going anywhere.  I'm here for you.  And I'll be stronger than ever.
0 Comments

Politically Homeless Once More

9/21/2016

1 Comment

 
The Alberta Party is no longer my political home.  This is a very disappointing revelation for me, however it's not a decision I made.

The Alberta Party did.

​It did when it stopped taking a stand as a party.  It did when it's prominent members stopped walking the walk and talking the talk.  But most disappointingly, it did when it minimized sex crimes committed on youth.

Two former members and candidates have now been charged recently with crimes of a sexual predatory nature with youth.  With Troy Millington, the Alberta Party and Leader immediately distanced themselves from him, condemned such crimes (properly, without prematurely passing judgement on Troy), and put their faith in the rule of law.  With Terrence Lo, there was no distancing, no condemnation, and they barely made a statement in support of the law.

How can a party with multiple such allegations not immediately and dramatically distance themselves from it and condemn the bejeezus out of it?  When it becomes a party that is not willing to stand up for itself, how can it possibly be counted on to stand up for Albertans?

EDIT: When I made my courtesy phone call to inform the party of my departure, I was told that I should trust the media managers with the party who are privy to additional sensitive information.  Under no circumstances should sensitive information ever be so sensitive as to trump the condemnation of sex crimes committed on youth.

If I were the father of a child that was victimized, reading that release would have left me bewildered.  Does the Alberta Party not care?  Do they even believe my child was victimized?  How can two people in their midst get charged, and they be so deliberately indifferent?  Heck, why would they even bother sending a release if they weren't going to say anything at all?

DIG (Do It Green) sent out a release distancing themselves from him, condemning sexual crimes, and even offering support to victims.  That's how you do a release following this type of heinous crime.

Now I know perfectly well that the Alberta Party could never have predicted that Troy nor Terry could have been inclined to such alleged activities.  I have worked with them both, and it's not like they wore a tattoo on their foreheads indicating such proclivities; they were friendly amicable fellows like the vast majority of people I work with.  I also know that the Alberta Party can't presume they're guilty, because that would not be respecting the rule of law.  But their response amounts to what some of my students would say: "meh, whatever".

For me it was the last straw.  I've become the squeaky wheel within the Alberta Party of late.  I've sent a couple of strongly worded messages indicating how I dislike how the party has become a "party of one", how prominent members in the party have left their collaborative mindset and started using "gotcha" moments that are the main tool in the Wildrose toolbox, and how poorly organized and potentially undemocratic some of their activities behind the scenes have been.  After meeting with some Board members, I had high hopes that the new Board would get their poop in a group, and I would finally start seeing some messaging coming from the party itself.  I had high hopes that I would hear about a plan for presenting and adopting the proposed policies many people including myself worked on that have been collecting dust for 9 months.  I had high hopes that the party would return to it's roots of "doing politics differently".  I was wrong.

For the guy who has been driving across Alberta with the Alberta Party magnets on his car for the past couple of years, this is a pretty big blow.  In my last blog I told you that "The Alberta Party is different.  Let me prove it to you."  I'm sorry I let you down.

​But I can assure you I didn't waste my time.

I helped write the amendments to Bill 5 last year that protected the privacy of those who work in education and in municipal governments.  I helped write countless policies that balanced fiscal with social responsibility.  I blogged and wrote reams of press releases that tried to bring civility back to political discourse.  I got people in Highwood thinking that perhaps there really was a better way, that balance could actually be achieved, and that common sense could make its way into the legislature.  And in many cases, it worked.

But as a teacher who works with youth on a daily basis, being indifferent to sex crimes regarding youth is the last straw.  I'm done.  I'm politically homeless once more.

How deeply, deeply disappointing.
1 Comment

New Government, same as the Old Government

3/21/2016

0 Comments

 
When the PC party of Alberta was ousted from the seats of power in Alberta, I rejoiced.  One of the demonstrations of entitlement that party showed while in 44 years of running our province was self-serving advertisements, like this one.


Every opposition party called the PC party out on this disrespect of the taxpayer’s dollar, including this party.
Picture
Picture
Hang on, isn’t that the party in power now?

Not even a year after crushing into the legislature, the Alberta NDP Government is presenting itself as the new government.

But it isn’t.  They are just as pleased with the idea of pork-barrelling as the PC party was.  They are just as pleased with using the government purse to advance their own self-interest as the PC party was.

It would be a different story, I’m sure, had that advertisement for the NDP Caucus been placed in a publication that distributes to one of their ridings.
But it wasn’t.  It was printed in High River’s publication.  Wayne Anderson, a Wildrose MLA, is our representative here.

This isn’t the first pork-barrelling experience we’ve enjoyed with this new government.  It started on day 1.  Premier Notley’s swearing-in was coupled with invitations to the non-partisan government-funded event asking for donations to the very partisan NDP.  Later in November of 2015, access to Notley was once again sold at a Calgary fundraiser, and again a similar attempt at the Alberta Art Gallery in Edmonton in February of 2016.  The NDP were cleared of wrong-doing with regards to a $10,000/ticket Ontario event featuring the Alberta Premier, although they dismissed Ethics Commissioner Marguerite Trussler’s assertion of a “perception that only a chosen few are being invited”.

Sounds awfully close to an “aura of power” assertion that happened a mere 18 months ago.

We haven’t even discussed the partisan appointments the NDP have given their friends.  An NDP Government should be expected to hire NDP party faithful to help them implement their policy and ideals.  This has happened on numerous occasions, with Brian Topp, Anne McGrath and John Heaney as examples.  However, Albertans are right to wonder if these really are the best people for the job, especially when these individuals would top a sunshine list with significant 6-figure salaries and potential severances when they are done.  The NDP should not be surprised when the eyebrows of many Albertans rise with the hiring of a Kevin Davediuk, a top union official, to negotiate with the union he is leaving.  A pro-union political party making pro-union hiring choices?  We should not be shocked.

Except that the NDP said they wouldn’t do that.

The NDP have also had far too much leeway with not understanding parliamentary rules.  One such rule is that Caucus funds are government funds from the taxpayer.  They are not to be used for partisan purposes.  And yet here we see a purely partisan NDP Caucus advertisement in a non-NDP riding.

See the similarity?  Advertisements for partisan purposes should rightly annoy Albertans, we just voted the PCs out for the exact same thing.  What’s worse, no more are the NDP “fighting for mortgage-paying jobs” than the PCs were building schools as their signs suggested.  Over 100,000 jobs are gone, and the only news that Economic Diversification Minister Deron Bilous has produced on the economic file is a bill that, as Alberta Party Leader Greg Clark suggests, does little more than “create committees”.

As a member of the Alberta Party, this pisses me off.  Albertans were right to be upset at the PCs. But now a new breed of politician in the NDP is doing the exact same thing.  Albertans should not be faulted for thinking “fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me”.

What that means, though, is that no politician is trustworthy.  And no matter how hard I try to say the Alberta Party is different, because we are, I cannot prove it to you unless you give us a chance.

If Mr. Anderson were to place such an ad, I would not be opposed to it as his form of connecting with his constituents.  Although, I would never support Mr. Anderson making such a blanket claim as “fighting for mortgage-paying jobs”.  His party’s jobs-creation recommendations were either borrowed from the Alberta Party, or has nebulous goals that can never be reached.

As an example, Wildrose Recommendation 2 is to reduce red tape by 20%.  By what metric does one measure red tape?  Inches?

If the Wildrose is going to do nothing but parrot the Alberta Party’s plans, they should at least be honest about it and just put up a link to the Alberta Party website.

A jobs plan encourages businesses to create jobs.  An Investor Tax Credit will do much more than a jobs-creation tax credit.  A small business tax decrease will do much the same, as will investment in post-secondary education and research and development, or as the Wildrose calls it, “Knowledge Infrastructure”.  This is how the Alberta Party has been fighting constructively for mortgage-paying jobs.

The false advertisements come at a price.  The price is Albertans’ trust in politicians.

Check out the Alberta Party’s events for a chance to meet Alberta Party people near you.  In Highwood, the next event is March 21 at 7:30 PM at the 1906 Restaurant in High River.

​The Alberta Party is different.  Let me prove it to you.
0 Comments
<<Previous
Forward>>
    Tweet
    Picture

    Archives

    October 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    April 2019
    March 2019
    October 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    October 2011
    September 2011

    Categories

    All
    2013 Flood
    Abuse
    Accountable
    Advocate
    AEMA
    Agriculture
    AHRA
    Airplanes
    Aisi
    Alberta
    Alberta Human Rights
    Alberta Initiative For School Improvement
    Alberta NDP
    Alberta Party
    Alberta School Boards Association
    Alberta Teachers Association
    Alison Redford
    Art
    Arts
    Arts Education
    Asba
    Ata
    ATASC
    AUMA
    Band
    Barack Obama
    Bargaining
    Berm
    Big Listen
    Black Diamond
    Bragg Creek
    Bridge
    Bruce Masterman
    Bruce Mcallister
    Budget
    Bully
    Byelection
    Calgary
    Calgary Centre
    Calgary-Elbow
    Calgary Foothills
    Calgary Sun
    Canada
    Canadian
    Cathy Couey
    Choir
    Christian
    Chuck Shifflett
    Class Of 2014
    Community
    Competency
    Composition
    Concert Bands
    Conduct
    Conservative
    Corporate
    Corporations
    Council
    Councillor
    Craig Snodgrass
    Culture
    Curriculum
    Danielle Larivee
    Danielle Smith
    David Eggen
    David Staples
    Deron Bilous
    Diana Mcqueen
    Didsbury
    Dike
    Dirty Thirties
    Discipline
    Diversification
    Donations
    Don Moore
    Doug Griffiths
    Doug Horner
    Downtown
    Dragan Brankovich
    Drama
    Drp
    DRP Advocacy Committee
    Education
    Elbow
    Election
    Electoral Reform
    Emile Blokland
    Energy
    Environment
    Esrd
    Evan Berger
    Exshaw
    Federal
    Festival
    Fine Arts
    Flood
    Floodplain
    Floodway
    Foothills
    Forced Entry
    Fort Macleod
    Fort Mcmurray
    Fred Horne
    Gay-Straight Alliance
    Golf Course
    Gordon Dirks
    Government
    Grads
    Graduation
    Grassroots
    Green
    Greg Clark
    Greg Weadick
    GSA
    Guitar
    Gun
    Guns
    Hamptons
    High River
    Highway 63
    Highwood
    Homeless
    Honourable
    Hope
    Hotels
    Ian Donovan
    Jamie Kinghorn
    Jazz
    Jeff Johnson
    Jennifer Burgess
    Jim Morgan
    Jim Prentice
    Joe Ceci
    Joel Windsor
    John Barlow
    Justin Trudeau
    Kathy Macdonald
    Ken Hughes
    Kent Hehr
    Kerry Towle
    Keystone XL
    Lake
    Laurie Blakeman
    Legislature
    Liberal
    Liberalberta
    Liberals
    Lions
    Local
    London
    Macleod
    Mayor
    Medicine Hat
    Melissa Mathieson
    Mentally Ill
    Michelle Glavin
    Mitigation
    Mla
    Modulars
    Mount Royal
    Mru
    Municipal
    Municipalities
    Music
    Musical Theatre
    Ndp
    New Year
    NFA
    No Zero
    Nra
    OECD
    Oil
    Okotoks
    Olympics
    Parents
    Parking
    Pc
    Peter Loran
    Philosophy
    Phil Rowland
    Piano
    Pipeline
    PISA
    Police
    Political
    Politics
    Polly Knowlton Cockett
    Portables
    Practice Review
    Premier
    Privacy
    Professional
    Progressive Conservative
    Protest
    Provincial
    Question Period
    Rachel Notley
    Raj Sherman
    Rally
    Rcmp
    Reality Check
    Richard Murray
    Rick Fraser
    Ric McIver
    Rob Anderson
    Robert Prcic
    Sandy Hook
    School
    School Boards
    Scott Wagner
    Self Regulation
    Self-regulation
    Service
    Shane Schreiber
    Siksika
    Socialist
    Speaker
    Stephen Mandel
    Stompin' Tom Connors
    Strings
    Students
    Sustainable Resource Development
    Teach
    Teacher
    Theatre
    Thomas Lukaszuk
    Todd Van Vliet
    Tran-Davies
    TransCanada
    Tripartite
    Trustee
    Twin
    United States
    Urban
    Vocal
    Water
    Water For Life
    Wayne Anderson
    Wedderburn
    Western Wheel
    Wildrose
    William Munsey
    WREM

    View my profile on LinkedIn

    RSS Feed

In my world, we don't accept "I can't." When you enter my world, you enter the realm of "I can't yet." It acknowledges a challenge, opens doors, and calls for action. Then, in my world, we act, and we always find success.

Social Media

Photo used under Creative Commons from Sam Howzit
  • Blog
  • Biography
    • Online Curriculum Vitae
  • Bookings
  • Contact
  • Research