11. Lethbridge votes 2021

Q: What is your assessment of the cities crime statistics and what strategies do you have to make Lethbridge a safer community?
I think our crime statistics are extremely concerning and if left unchecked have the potential to brand Lethbridge as an “undesirable community” to live, work, play and invest. My response would be to increase the police budget by $3 million over 3 years and use the funds to hire more officers and equip them more suitably to pursue suspects on foot and bicycles. Also, they Police needs to be given a VERY clear mandate that dealing with property crime IS in their job description including shutting down chop shops, fencing goods and stolen property sales.

Note: There’s also some issues of concern with the Crown Prosecutors and their seeming inability to handle their case load so lobbying the Province to provide more resources may also be an opportunity.

Q: Are you in favour of an independent police accountability board?
I’ll be honest and admit I don’t know enough about the issue. I know there have been concerns expressed about the behaviour of some officers and some reservations about the way those concerns have been handled. If it turns out there is a pervasive problem with police conduct, rather than random behavior of a few bad apples, then engaging another police force to investigate these issues may be a further option. Basically, I need to learn more about the issue but I have an open mind and not afraid of making tough decisions.

 

Q: We live in a high crime city, do you specify public safety as a priority?

Yes, public safety is one the prime mandates under the Municipal Government Act. Furthermore, having a high crime reputation is damaging to our objectives of attracting visitors, businesses and investors.

Q: Do you advocates tax increases or the creation of new revenue streams to balance future budgets?

I do not advocate tax increase. Rather, we should focus spending more closely on necessities and leave non-essential activities for later. Besides policing, the only other spending increase I would advocate is for economic development in order to grow the tax base and in that way create new revenue streams. Otherwise, history has shown that governments are not terribly good at running businesses.

Q: What policies should we pursue in order to make sure our school grounds, sports fields and public green spaces are safe for the children of Lethbridge?
That’s a very good question that I could probably write a book on but I’ll try to be brief:
1). We need to deal with our social issues and that means acknowledging the problem with addictions. Lethbridge doesn’t have sufficient resources so we need to heavily lobby the Provincial and Federal Governments for more resources.
2). In addition to increased policing, I think we need more video monitoring in public areas to identify problematic individuals.
3). Lobby the Justice Department to urge Judges to apply more community service sentencing and put offenders to work cleaning up parks areas.

4) Moving some children and youth sports activities indoors. We have over half a dozen huge empty buildings that could be upgrade to indoor sports facilities for far less than building new structures.

Q: Many seniors have residence in the downtown area. Is it a concern of yours to insure seniors can go about their business and enjoy the park and getting around the downtown area without worry?

 

This is a huge concern for me. We need a much stronger police presence in the park area while we go about obtaining facilities for homeless individuals and discourage use of public parks for disruptive and unlawful activities. (Note: May not be in my lifetime but I envision a facility similar to Edmonton’s Muttart Conservatory in Galt Gardens where people can enjoy a pleasant, safe, ambiance all year round).

Q: Do you think our downtown is healthy and thriving? If not, why do you think it’s not. How would you improve the downtown area?

No, it is definitely not heathy and thriving for a number of reasons including crime, public nuisances and shifting consumer preferences. One of the problems we have are building owners who have no concern for the community and unwilling to sell to developers who would create live/shop/work structures in their place. The other BIG problem is the City of Lethbridge with all the red tape and costs whenever a building owner does try to make improvements. We have a serious issue with the corporate culture in City Hall and if I’m fortunate to be elected by the residents of Lethbridge, there’s going to be some ‘splainin’ to do.

Q: Are you in favour of allowing another safe consumption site or any Harm Reduction as opposed to treatment in the city?

That’s not a bad question but a bit narrow in scope so I’ll answer it thusly: Currently, Lethbridge is one huge un-Supervised Consumption Site with activity taking places in houses and parks in all areas. It’s sad and its disappointing but it’s the reality we have to deal with. We never want to see another SCS like we had as it was just a safe-harbour for organized crime. We must recognize that many of the people who are affected by addictions are First Nations. I have been building relations with that community for quite a while and they are just as concerned about the situation as we are. The problem is they have even fewer tools at there disposal. We do need a comprehensive system of dealing with the issues on all levels from substance use all the way through counselling, treatment and rehabilitation under the care of qualified medical professionals at all times. Again, in talking with the Indigenous folks, the opportunity to partner with them in the establishment of a treatment village just West of Coalhurst on the Blood Reserve so that persons at risk can be afforded every possible option for recovery should be pursued. A number of these issues – addictions, crime, homelessness and poverty are related but separate. Not all homeless people are addicts nor indigenous, and not all addicts are indigenous nor homeless. I would like to meet with your group and go into more detail but to sum it all up, we need and evidence-based solution of Community Harm Reduction that includes not only treatment but also greatly increased Law Enforcement and Preventative Education.

Q: What could be done to secure the safety of residents in high crime neighbourhoods of Lethbridge.
More policing, more surveillance, more private security, better communications between residents and the authorities.
 
Q: How do you plan to involve Lethbridge residents in decision making?

My favorite question: Frequent and extensive surveys and polling through the internet using computers, mobile devices and kiosks in public areas. Also, there need to be more transparency with the decision-making process and better reporting back to the residents about these issues.

Q: How would you improve public transportation in Lethbridge?

Immediate restoration of services closer to the levels they were prior to the most recent changes while a functional plan can be developed and implemented. Most likely we would need to see more frequent services using smaller and more efficient vehicles. Over the longer term of 4 to 5 years we will likely see autonomous vehicles filing the gaps with services more customized to the individual. What we do not need are $80 million in electric busses and infrastructure when there are other more economical and sustainable options such and BioFuel Hybrid vehicles.

Q: Do you think setting up tents in city parks giving unsanctioned medical advice and equipment to the homeless and drug addicts is a positive for thing for Lethbridge and it’s residents?
Thanks for that softball question! This is the worst idea imaginable and I, for the life of me, cannot begin to fathom how this is a solution for anything. Addiction is real and these people are only going to consume addictive drugs until they die. We can do them and our city a great service by relocating them to a location that is out of the public eye and where we can hopefully get them the services they need. One thing is clear, the status quo isn’t an option but setting up tents to prolong their addiction is the worst possible response.

Q: Are you in favour of Mandatory Vaccinations or health passes?
Mandatory Vaccination is not going to be achievable for a number of reasons. For example, there is simply no feasible way of implementing it, even if the Supreme Court permitted it (which is where this would surely end up). I am in favor of health passes though because we have a crisis and an exceptional response is called for.

Q: Do you support The Canadian Bill of Rights?
Yes… I just wish they would add Property Rights and the option for Private Health Care for those who are willing to pay extra. By allowing individuals to acquire private insurance, more money would flow into the heath care system, making more resources available for the 80 – 90% who remain covered by the public system. This would put us on par with most other developed countries.

Q: What is your vision of Lethbridge in 5 years?
My vision is a City that has it’s spending habits under control and our crime and public safety issues contained. Also, the foundation for a thriving Southern Alberta economy based an agri-foods, energy, technology and tourism with Lethbridge as the regional hub will be established. Finally we will have the air services we need with daily direct flights to Vancouver and less frequent flights to Toronto, the USA and other holiday destinations.
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