Addressing infrastructure issues in Moose Jaw would be one of Doug Blanc’s goals if he is elected onto city council, especially since he believes some projects are not moving fast enough.
Blanc pointed to the cast iron water main replacement program as one issue about which he is concerned. City administration has said the project should take 20 years to complete. However, Blanc — who worked on road construction while employed with the province — said the project would take much longer than two decades at the rate the municipality is replacing the pipes.
“At the same time, we have to look into the future,” he said. “There is going to be some issues for the City of Moose Jaw coming up in the next few years that have to be dealt with. The Phyllis Dewar pool is a good example. It’s 40 years old and its life expectancy is almost at the end.”
From what he’s heard and read, it’s not feasible to repair or rebuild the pool. This means the municipality needs to start planning for a new pool immediately, he remarked, and not waiting until the last minute to do something.
Blanc has attended city council meetings during the last few years. He has been disappointed in some things he’s heard, especially comments from some councillors that they hadn’t read the documents before they voted. Furthermore, the infighting among councillors also concerns him, as he believes certain personalities take over during meetings.
“I think that’s wrong. City council needs to deal with the issues and the problems that are facing the citizens of Moose Jaw and not personal bias,” he said.
Since Moose Jaw is similar to a business, council needs to treat residents as customers, Blanc continued. Council should attempt to provide the best service and commodities at a reasonable price. He also thought there needed to be better communication and planning of projects so residents and visitors could access the city more easily.
Blanc has lived in Moose Jaw most of his life. He worked for the provincial government for 28 years, working in the engineering department and then on roadways. Before retiring a few years ago, he was a supervisor of operations of a crew of seven and managed a $1.5-million budget.
From there, he transitioned to working with the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees’ Union (SGEU). He advocated for workers denied compensation, long-term disability or Canadian pension, before moving into a new role with negotiations.
Blanc believes that all of these experiences would make him a suitable candidate for council, especially since he has experience with negotiations, arbitrations and resolutions. He pointed out he can handle complex issues while leaving aside personal bias to find the best possible resolutions.
Blanc has been active in the community over the years. He was a trustee with the former Thunder Creek School Division, a volunteer with the John Howard Society provincial board, a member of the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour, and a member of the Melville and District Labour Council executive, including three years as chair. He has also been a part of SGEU, while he sits on the parks and recreation advisory committee.
Blanc says residents should vote for him because he can provide a common-sense approach to issues. He has experience with budgets and negotiations, while he will read the necessary reports and “can get the best bang for their buck.”
“There’s going to be many issues that come up, so whoever’s elected for council, if they’re new, they’re going to have a learning curve,” added Blanc. “But I think I can hit the ground running because I have been paying attention to what has been going on at city council for the last two or three years or longer.”
