MAKE SASKATOON SHINE BRIGHTER
As your representative on City Council, I promise to be a proactive and innovative voice to build a brighter future for Saskatoon.
|
|
My priorities:
- Build stronger neighbourhoods and foster a sense of community, increase safety and decrease crime in the city by supporting neighbourhood associations and grassroot social initiatives;
- Reduce wasteful spending through innovative solutions and thoughtful, proactive planning;
- Encourage economic development by cutting red tape, supporting small business and stimulating growth in up-and-coming industries;
- Invest in waste management infrastructure to turn a negative into a positive;
- Increased Transparency at city hall by having bylaws around clear reporting;
- Ensure elected officials are accountable to their constituents by linking their pay to results.
- Build stronger neighbourhoods and foster a sense of community, increase safety and decrease crime in the city by supporting neighbourhood associations and grassroot social initiatives;
- Reduce wasteful spending through innovative solutions and thoughtful, proactive planning;
- Encourage economic development by cutting red tape, supporting small business and stimulating growth in up-and-coming industries;
- Invest in waste management infrastructure to turn a negative into a positive;
- Increased Transparency at city hall by having bylaws around clear reporting;
- Ensure elected officials are accountable to their constituents by linking their pay to results.
What I Stand For
1) Make Stronger Neighbourhoods
Neighbours that look out for each other build prosperous neighbourhoods. Knowing and connecting with your neighbours is key to lowering crime rates and increasing social support. Strong neighbourhoods are less expensive to run due to decreased policing costs, increased property values and better quality of life.
Small, neighbourhood-focused events have a much bigger impact on residents' quality of life than large, centralized events and attractions. Let's revitalize neighbourhoods by strengthening community associations and neighbourhood-based initiatives. We can create a vibrant community cores by promoting useful amenities aimed at residents, such as community festivals, flea markets and small local businesses, rather than focusing on large projects meant for tourists. Supporting neighbourhood associations in their efforts will give people a purpose and foster a strong, safe and prosperous city from a grassroots level.
Grassroots social initiatives such as Core Neighbourhood Youth Co-op, Egadz, Prairie Harm Reduction, The Lighthouse and others are filling the gap left in the social services space. It has been calculated that for every dollar we invest in these organizations we save two dollars in policing alone. These organizations break the cycle of crime, addiction and poverty bring people back to productive, healthy lives. By supporting these organizations we free up police for policing and help integrate people back into society. Unfortunately many of these good programs are underfunded or hampered by restrictive bylaws. By making small changes to funding structures we can massively lower poverty, addiction and crime in our city.
2) Reduce Wasteful Spending Through Thought and Innovation
We can stop wasting money by putting more thought into where we spend it. Too many cheques are signed blindly because "this is what we've always done". There is a need for transparency and revaluation of where spending is allocated. For example, if we look to other Western Canadian cities that have stopped wasting money mowing ditches, we see an opportunity to save on costs related to flooding, control of weeds such as foxtails, and ancillary problems. By letting the local natural grasses prosper, we will reduce dust and erosion significantly, while providing a more eye-pleasing, Western Canadian landscape. Furthermore, we can use this money to fund other more productive initiatives such as improving access to parking and public transit (see below).
3) Encourage Economic Development of Local Industries
Ward 1 is home to so much brilliance and innovation. Innovation Place, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, and the University of Saskatchewan are only a few of the locations of brilliance in this Ward. We need to promote these spots of light to the city, the province, and the world. Let's stop the brain drain, encourage talent to stay in Saskatoon and work to create opportunities right here in our Ward.
We can strengthen our city by working with innovators, making Saskatoon more resilient to the fluctuations of world economies by promoting and supporting our tech and value added local industries. Often, the difference between a world changing business and a forgotten idea is a small amount of support. Interpreting and navigating through restrictive bureaucracy is a common stumbling block to economic improvement and should be reviewed. Farmer's markets and flea markets can give local innovators the chance to test products and refine them; rather than hamper and suppress these venues city council should help and encourage these economic incubators.
4) Invest in Waste Management to Turn a Negative Into a Positive
When it comes to waste management and recycling, we are paying more and more for less and less each year. Instead of blindly accepting our fate, let's promote innovation and explore innovative ways to upcycle our trash into biodiesel, natural gas and other valuable commodities. We will avoid literally dumping tens of millions of dollars into a hole in the ground. By turning more garbage into valuable materials we can generate income through processing of recyclables into sellable items such as building materials, textiles and energy. This would add to long term jobs, economic increase and a healthy environment in our city and throughout Saskatchewan and possibly the world.
We are the sunniest place in Canada - let's take advantage of this by promoting solar power and equipping city-owned buildings (such as libraries and community centers) with solar panels, which will reduce energy costs and show the world solar energy is a viable, profitable route.
5) Hold Elected Officials to a Higher Standard
Attendance at City Hall meetings should not be an afterthought. Too much time and tax payer money is wasted when Councillors skip meetings, decline to vote on certain issues due to personal choices, or change their minds and backtrack. When Councillors fail to show up, fail to research the issue on hand and fail to separate personal choices from the needs of their constituents, the city suffers. In no other job can you opt not to show up for work and still get paid.
I will push for a new type of remuneration for elected officials, in which their pay is tied to metrics related to affordability, quality of life and income in the city. No more council voting themselves pay raises at will; pay will be linked to actual results and performance, the same as everyone else.
I will also push for rule around reporting. Current reports from the city are often no better than sales brochures offering little to no useful information to the general public. I would push for more regular reporting with clear information outlining goals that were trying to be achieved, whether those goals were achieved and why those goals were missed. This would allow citizens to be informed, it would increase trust, stop wasteful spending and make our public sector accountable.
Darren Hill and Kevin Boychuck are also in Ward 1.
Neighbours that look out for each other build prosperous neighbourhoods. Knowing and connecting with your neighbours is key to lowering crime rates and increasing social support. Strong neighbourhoods are less expensive to run due to decreased policing costs, increased property values and better quality of life.
Small, neighbourhood-focused events have a much bigger impact on residents' quality of life than large, centralized events and attractions. Let's revitalize neighbourhoods by strengthening community associations and neighbourhood-based initiatives. We can create a vibrant community cores by promoting useful amenities aimed at residents, such as community festivals, flea markets and small local businesses, rather than focusing on large projects meant for tourists. Supporting neighbourhood associations in their efforts will give people a purpose and foster a strong, safe and prosperous city from a grassroots level.
Grassroots social initiatives such as Core Neighbourhood Youth Co-op, Egadz, Prairie Harm Reduction, The Lighthouse and others are filling the gap left in the social services space. It has been calculated that for every dollar we invest in these organizations we save two dollars in policing alone. These organizations break the cycle of crime, addiction and poverty bring people back to productive, healthy lives. By supporting these organizations we free up police for policing and help integrate people back into society. Unfortunately many of these good programs are underfunded or hampered by restrictive bylaws. By making small changes to funding structures we can massively lower poverty, addiction and crime in our city.
2) Reduce Wasteful Spending Through Thought and Innovation
We can stop wasting money by putting more thought into where we spend it. Too many cheques are signed blindly because "this is what we've always done". There is a need for transparency and revaluation of where spending is allocated. For example, if we look to other Western Canadian cities that have stopped wasting money mowing ditches, we see an opportunity to save on costs related to flooding, control of weeds such as foxtails, and ancillary problems. By letting the local natural grasses prosper, we will reduce dust and erosion significantly, while providing a more eye-pleasing, Western Canadian landscape. Furthermore, we can use this money to fund other more productive initiatives such as improving access to parking and public transit (see below).
3) Encourage Economic Development of Local Industries
Ward 1 is home to so much brilliance and innovation. Innovation Place, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, and the University of Saskatchewan are only a few of the locations of brilliance in this Ward. We need to promote these spots of light to the city, the province, and the world. Let's stop the brain drain, encourage talent to stay in Saskatoon and work to create opportunities right here in our Ward.
We can strengthen our city by working with innovators, making Saskatoon more resilient to the fluctuations of world economies by promoting and supporting our tech and value added local industries. Often, the difference between a world changing business and a forgotten idea is a small amount of support. Interpreting and navigating through restrictive bureaucracy is a common stumbling block to economic improvement and should be reviewed. Farmer's markets and flea markets can give local innovators the chance to test products and refine them; rather than hamper and suppress these venues city council should help and encourage these economic incubators.
4) Invest in Waste Management to Turn a Negative Into a Positive
When it comes to waste management and recycling, we are paying more and more for less and less each year. Instead of blindly accepting our fate, let's promote innovation and explore innovative ways to upcycle our trash into biodiesel, natural gas and other valuable commodities. We will avoid literally dumping tens of millions of dollars into a hole in the ground. By turning more garbage into valuable materials we can generate income through processing of recyclables into sellable items such as building materials, textiles and energy. This would add to long term jobs, economic increase and a healthy environment in our city and throughout Saskatchewan and possibly the world.
We are the sunniest place in Canada - let's take advantage of this by promoting solar power and equipping city-owned buildings (such as libraries and community centers) with solar panels, which will reduce energy costs and show the world solar energy is a viable, profitable route.
5) Hold Elected Officials to a Higher Standard
Attendance at City Hall meetings should not be an afterthought. Too much time and tax payer money is wasted when Councillors skip meetings, decline to vote on certain issues due to personal choices, or change their minds and backtrack. When Councillors fail to show up, fail to research the issue on hand and fail to separate personal choices from the needs of their constituents, the city suffers. In no other job can you opt not to show up for work and still get paid.
I will push for a new type of remuneration for elected officials, in which their pay is tied to metrics related to affordability, quality of life and income in the city. No more council voting themselves pay raises at will; pay will be linked to actual results and performance, the same as everyone else.
I will also push for rule around reporting. Current reports from the city are often no better than sales brochures offering little to no useful information to the general public. I would push for more regular reporting with clear information outlining goals that were trying to be achieved, whether those goals were achieved and why those goals were missed. This would allow citizens to be informed, it would increase trust, stop wasteful spending and make our public sector accountable.
Darren Hill and Kevin Boychuck are also in Ward 1.
|
Who I AmI am a husband, father of three, lifelong learner, local entrepreneur and business owner. I have been a resident of the Sutherland neighbourhood since 2010, and have previously lived in the City Park and Nutana neighbourhoods in Saskatoon. Born and raised on a cattle and grain farm in Cold Lake, Alberta, to parents originally from Saskatoon, I have a Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture from the University of Saskatchewan, a Masters' in Veterinary Sciences from the University of Montreal, and a PhD in Plant Sciences from the University of Saskatchewan. I enjoy connecting with people in my community and strive to create a better place for all. I have experience volunteering and leading various community projects, and take pride in a job well done. I believe elected officials should be dedicated to their constituents, and make it their priority to represent their interests at every occasion.
|
MAKE SASKATOON SHINE BRIGHTER
Can I count on your support? Help the campaign by volunteering, donating, or simply spreading the word to your friends and neighbours.
But more importantly, on November 9th, go out and VOTE to make our city shine brighter.
Contact me at arontcory@gmail.com or click the button below.
But more importantly, on November 9th, go out and VOTE to make our city shine brighter.
Contact me at arontcory@gmail.com or click the button below.
