Re-Offering for Council Seat October 15, 2016

Hi Everyone. Today I am sharing the news that my sleeves are rolled up and I am ready to represent you for another term as your councillor on Kings County Council.

I still hold a strong commitment to ensuring that the residents of the county get the excellent representation they deserve and I am looking forward with great anticipation to what the change from a Warden to Mayor can provide. I think this is a very positive change and I want to be part of the mandate given to the first ever Mayor of our County.

I believe the leadership of a Mayor elected by the people will create a truly new type of county council where the Mayor can challenge us all to work super hard to "do good by" everyone regardless of where in the nine new districts we live.

I have just published my election website. I am asking you to put your trust in me for another 4-years.

Please take a look and ask any questions you might have. It would be greatly appreciated if you would consider how you might help in the weeks ahead as the campaign rolls out.

Volunteers welcome and you can sign up on line at my website!

The New District/Boundary Changes

A boundary review has resulted in a new district for the 2016-2020 term of council The "New District 2" encompasses most of the communities I represented in the "Old District 3".

I am sad to say good-bye to Halls Harbour.

And, glad to say hello to a few new communities.

The area of North Kentville on the east side of Highway 341 is now part of the New District Two. That new area's border is Tiny Parrish Road, Church and Belcher. Also included is Foxhill Subdivision.

I am looking forward to meeting many more residents of the new area in the weeks immediately ahead.

Questions? Don't hesitate to give me a call. 902.670.2949.

Kings County Lowers Energy Target for Municipal Complex

The Kentville Advertiser reported Kings County council lowering its energy targets for its new municipal complex on August 4.

I voted against lowering energy efficiency targets. Here's why.

I believe it was fundamentally the wrong direction for municipal leaders to head towards not only because we were provided with so little information to base the decision on, but also because we were presented with only one option for reducing the already climbing cost to build a new municipal complex.

And no, the design below isn't what Kings County is being presented with... It's the Mosiac Centre, an energy efficient building completed to the "net zero" standard in Alberta last year. It presents an interesting contrast to what's going on in our neighbourhood.

This beautiful 30,000 square foot building was completed for the all inclusive original budget $10.5 million dollars. We are currently at $8 million for a 24,000 square foot building and an unambitious energy efficient target of 10-15% below 2011 National Building Code standard. We'd started at 40% under the Model National Energy Building Code. We haven't even seen a building design yet, but are being told it will take another $2 million to reach an energy efficient target of 25%.

You can read more about the Mosaic building in the Huffington Post.

It is my opinion that ALL municipal councils across Canada need to do their bit to address climate change. Raising not lowering energy efficiency targets is what 2016 decisions call for.

Canada's current goal of limiting increasing temperatures to a 1.5 C rise is ambitious given the lack of action over prior years by our nation. 

Without immediate and ongoing action from ALL Canadian leaders at ALL governement levels success is not possible. We will also need personal buy-in from citizens to make the big changes needed. Sadly, at this same council meeting, a motion to establish a Property Accessed Clean Energy program for the county's ratepayers was defeated in a 7 to 4 vote.

Kings County simply does not have sufficient council members that take climate change seriously. I hope that will be changed after the October 15 election. In addition to the need to address climate change there is great opportunity in developing a green energy economy right here in Kings County.

In the case of needing a new complex we do have options. The rush to build a new complex on expensive land in Coldbrook Village Park is inexplicable and has caused the majority of council to lose sight of all other options. Here are some of the things we didn't get to discuss:

1. Does the Province of NS really need the current building vacated on the original timeline? 
2. Do we absolutely need a building of this size? Many staff work "in the field". Desks are vacant at many points in the day. 
3. Why can't we go back to the public for recommendations on a broader set of questions and build a better more inclusive vision?
4. Otherwise, the public deserves to know what the rush is.

Come out on the night of August 10 and have your say. Maybe its not too late for the public to challenge these dastardly decisions! Stantec will be presenting its new energy reduced plans at 7PM at the current Municipal Complex, 87 Cornwallis Street, Kentville. You can learn more about council's work to date by clicking here.