Emcee Barry Lamb led the public and the candidates through the proceedings. The evening began with the candidates introducing themselves to the community. Incumbents David Stead, Lonnie Graham, Rhonda Coupland, Doug Robertson, Rob Adams and Eric Reichert were joined by newcomers Doug Troke, Amanda Racine, George Heide and Lloyd Leganchuk. Incumbent Elmer McCallum was the only hopeful missing due to a family funeral, but he did send in answers to early questions.
The first three questions presented were brought forward by the organizing committee and given to the candidates ahead of time. The rest came from the public at large. They ranged from taxation to shared expenditures, from EMS to Whitewater Lake. Although there was a fair bit of like-mindedness from participants on many basics, there were differences and different perspectives on many from the candidates.
Taxation is a hot topic in both the urban and rural parts of the municipality, and not because they are too low. Everyone had an opinion on this. Lloyd Leganchuk, the former CAO, promised he would pay attention to the budget to do the best he can to keep taxes down. Graham brought forward an idea popular with many incumbents, that being a base tax, saying having all taxes paid by higher assessed property was unfair and there should be a basic rate right up front. Racine felt there needed to be more information for the public on taxes – why are they assessed and how. Stead reminded people that the municipality had lost tax revenue from areas like the PFRA and oilrigs. Adams and Reichert brought up the assessment branch, questioning the way they figured out how much a house is worth, whether or not they really visited and suggested people complain directly to the assessment branch. Reichert added people have to look at the percentage school tax is on their bill. Troke, an accountant, felt after looking at the budget, there were places cuts could be made. Heide brought up school taxes on farmland and the fact taxes on rural property have gone up 73% since 2009, while some of the services have declined. Coupland said they have to deal with not only taxation, but provincial downloading and they need to lobby against it. McCallum agreed with the lobbying answer.
Should there be separate wards and should urban and rural share expenses equally?
Some such as Eric Reichert, Rob Adams felt the one ward system, which they have started this election is perfectly fine, and the direction the government demands they go. But George Heide and Lloyd Leganchuk felt returning to two wards would be a good idea if possible. Adams said there are two councillors, one urban one rural, in each of the four quadrants. Troke said it had to be clearly laid out to the public who was representing what part of the municipality.
Most did not feel expenses should be shared completely equally. The big bugbear for rural aspirants was the upcoming lagoon for Boissevain, with most opinions being that it should be a “town only” project. Adams added the two have shared many expenses in the past, and in the case of the landfill site, not always strictly equally. Coupland said the government is forcing one mill rate on urban and rural, but she plans to fight it at a higher level.
Everyone saw the loss of our EMS as an issue. Troke’s family had its own experience with a long ambulance wait, and said they could work with the relevant unions to help keep the service. In fact, several incumbents said they did not agree with the idea we would lose the service, saying the fight would continue. Graham referenced incoming Mayor Judy Swanson as a tough cookie on this file, one who will not let go. Racine saw it as a “massive issue” and we cannot lose the EMS in the community. Leganchuk thought Boissevain should get someone to sit on the RHA board, which was the “command centre” allowing us to have a say in the decisions. Heide, a proponent of a new assisted living centre felt keeping the ambulance in town was absolutely vital.
Other topics covered included the levels of Whitewater Lake, the question of rural money being used to pay down urban debt, dropping mill rates when assessments rise and building business in the community.
Hole said overall it was a good evening, with good questions from the public and plenty of information shared. Overall, he said there was a chance of this type of forum happening in the future.
“I’m not sure if we should get together as a community more often, but I don’t know how to go about that.”
Advance polls were set for October 18, with the regular vote to take place on October 24.
by PAUL RAYNER, Recorder staff