Election 2020: District 11

District 11 encompasses the former town of New Waterford plus all or part of the communities of Lingan, Gardiner Mines, New Victoria, River Ryan, Scotchtown and Victoria Mines

It’s shaped kind of like a bloated Florida.

There is no incumbent is this race, not because the former councilor decided to pack it in after three decades in office but because the former councilor, Kendra Coombes, resigned after winning a seat in the provincial legislature during a March by-election. Coombes is now the NDP MLA for Cape Breton Centre.

In the 2016 elections, 3,814 of the district’s roughly 7,740 registered voters cast ballots and Coombes won with 2,106 votes, defeating her only opponent, incumbent councilor Lowell Cormier.

Vying to take her place on CBRM council this time are eight — count ’em — candidates, more than in any other district this fall.

 

Jeff McNeil

Why do you want to be a CBRM councilor?

That’s easy. For too long I have watched the CBRM Council neglect CBRM, not just my district but others. They seem to have their own agenda for CBRM and not that of the voters. I want to make the change, if I can’t make the change I will make waves that will force CBRM to be more transparent and accountable.

The other reason is my fight over a floodlight with CBRM. Something as simple as that, to provide safety for adults and kids who utilize a CBRM park for skating. I had my own lawyer help me on the issue and even he suggested the light was a political issue. This is the turning point for me as we as residents of CBRM try so hard to retain youth due to our out migration.

Then kids see that our government won’t do something as minor as a light for them to enjoy skating and physical actives.  I had children tell me why [would they] stay and support CBRM when they’re older when those old guys won’t support us kids.

It was difficult to watch and hear. So win or lose, I’ll make [it] my point to voice the concerns of everyone. Whether [or not] CBRM mayor and council like it.

What is one issue of concern to you and what is your plan to address it?

Equalization, how much supporting documentation does the CBRM need? We need a motion on the floor to seriously address the issue. Not make noise and forget about it. CBRM needs to learn to work side by side with the NSEF [Nova Scotians for Equalization Fairness] to get the province to work on fixing the broken issue that former Mayor [John] Morgan tried to address but at that time didn’t have the public support that is shown today.

Although it is now 25 years old, the CBRM doesn’t necessarily function as a single entity. Do you have any ideas for bringing our “community of communities” closer together?

I believe more engagement among councilors to work together and share projects. We need more of an alliance than trying to outdo each other and think one community is better than others. We need a collaborative approach to a better community as one.

What is one place in your district you always bring visitors?

That’s a toss-up question, and a very difficult one, as it depends on the age of the visitors — older visitors see the value in the Lighthouse and Fort Petrie, as well as seeing what’s left of our mining history.  The younger visitors want to see the skate park, playgrounds.

Very difficult to single out just one place in District 11.

What is one question you wish I’d asked you?

How do I feel about transparency and accountability within CBRM?

What transparency? It’s a task to get answers without the FOIPOP process. Even harder when you use the FOIPOP process. They use the MGA [Municipal Government Act] as an excuse, which drives people to take them to court most times. This, in turn, wastes taxpayers’ money.

As far as accountability, I don’t see much of that. But I do see lots of  “pass the buck until we’ve got the person looking to give up.”

 

Johnny Miles

Why do you want to be a CBRM councilor?

The reason I have decided to run for office is that I am tired of seeing District 11 go backwards since amalgamation. I believe the district needs someone who can organize and get people together focused on one agenda and that is making District 11 a better place to live, grow up, do business and retire.

What is one issue of concern to you and what is your plan to address it?

There are so many issues in District 11 that it is hard to pinpoint one. All must be worked on; but if I had to choose one, the business district needs massive improvement. To address this, we must work with all government levels for business startup financing and we must have incentives through the CBRM tax rates to generate the interest from private and corporate groups to look at our area.

Although it now 25 years old, the CBRM doesn’t necessarily function as a single entity. Do you have any ideas for bringing our community of communities together?

Since the inception of the CBRM, the outlying districts have always felt like they were put on the back burner. To alleviate this issue, there must be a Charter put in place that allows for equal capital spending for each district. The inclusion of all community events is a positive that must be included in the CBRM budget. Each community or district should get funding for their special events committees. This allows them to keep their heritage and feel like they belong to the CBRM.

Where is one place in your district you always bring visitors?

One place I have always been proud of in the area is the Colliery Lands Park. But it needs upgrades and improvements if it is going to be used for a tourism site. The other place I usually take people is the coastline walk from the Barrachois out towards the Low Point Lighthouse. What a great place for a boardwalk. Seems everybody else has one, why not District 11?

What is one question you wished I had asked you? 

What can be done for the youth in District 11?

Throughout my life, since the age of 16, I have been involved with the youth of the area. Through coaching and organizing it has been my pleasure to see many great young people grow in our town and now become an integral part of society. The area needs that focus again, it’s not about making champions, it’s about helping young people to grow in an atmosphere of friendship while learning that winning is not everything but rather just an experience in life. To make this endeavor more accessible, we need a Boys and Girls Club in the area with its own facility and staff.

To help our youth prosper, no matter what family dynamic they come from, this is a main goal of mine if I should be elected to council.

 

Arnie Nason

Why do you want to be a CBRM councilor?

I decided to run because I am hoping I can make a difference in my district and the CBRM.  I am running as a concerned citizen not as a politician.  I believe my decisions should be based on what’s best for District 11 and the CBRM, not somebody sitting in an office in Halifax.

What is one issue of concern to you and how do you plan to address it?

An issue I have is the fight for equalization. I believe the first thing the council should do is adopt a Charter for the municipality. To put in place a set of guidelines on how we operate and what we expect to receive.

Although it is now 25 years old, the CBRM doesn’t necessarily function as a single entity. Do you have any ideas for bringing our “community of communities” closer together?

I feel as a council we have to unite as one force and put aside any differences councilors may have. This council is going to have at least six new faces who really want to see change and not the same status quo we have been getting the last number of years.

Where is one place in your district you always bring visitors?

One of the treasures we have in our own district is the Low Point Lighthouse in New Victoria.  We should be promoting this as a tourist destination when the cruise ship passengers are in and we are not.  Speaking with the society for the lighthouse, they are being shut out from any funding to help with repairs.

What is one question you wish I’d asked you?

I am an open book you can ask me anything. I believe I have to be accessible to the people who elect me for the councilor position.

 

Still to come:

Dale Cadden

Jennifer Heffernan

Chuck Ogley

Darren O’Quinn

Laura Scheller Stanford

 

A note on this feature:

I decided to send candidates questions by email because, while speaking to each in person would be preferable, I knew I wouldn’t have time to conduct (and transcribe) 55 phone interviews.

 

And finally…

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