MOOSE JAW — Incumbent councillor Dawn Luhning has announced that she is running in the Nov. 13 municipal election. Presented below are Luhning’s answers to questions from the Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com. Some answers have been edited for length.
Why do you want to run again?
I enjoy being involved in our community and hope to always affect positive change for our residents and businesses. The city has so much further potential. I would like to focus on infrastructure and economic development to grow our tax base.
What did you think of your previous experience on council?
Some personalities clashed at times and that is difficult for finding common ground for solutions. Overall, the experience was good.
What do you think this council did well and what were some of its achievements?
Finding and hiring our new city manager is certainly a highlight for me. I think there is much change to come from her leadership. The handling of the Stadacona Apartments situation was also an accomplishment.
What areas do you think council should have done better or missed addressing?
I continue to believe that we struggle to communicate with residents in a timely manner about their concerns. I would like to improve this communication process and resolution process. We also do not have a way of consolidating these concerns as a council into one place, so we do not overlap with each other. With technology, we should be able to streamline this.
What do you hope to accomplish if elected?
Continue to improve our infrastructure (roads, water utilities), partner with the police service, provincial and federal government reps, and local organizations to help with solutions for unhoused etc. Continue to provide good value for the citizens’ and businesses’ tax dollars with smart spending and finding efficiencies in our processes and budgets.
What would be your top area(s) of focus?
Infrastructure, smart spending and value for tax dollars, safety of residents, communication for council and residents, bringing protocol, procedure and bringing respect back to council chambers.
What issues do you think need to be addressed in Moose Jaw?
Infrastructure, technology, communication with residents, partnering with other levels of government on issues like mental wellness or homelessness that affect the municipality but are not our responsibilities and eliminating red tape for businesses existing and new.
How would you make life more affordable for residents?
This is a hard question to answer. There are so many factors affecting people’s household budgets that are not just city issues. There are outside forces placing pressure on citizens’ budgets as well. Again, providing value for tax dollars and focusing on our priorities as a city and not stretching ourselves too far into areas that are not under the municipality’s jurisdiction.
How would you reign in excessive and/or unnecessary spending? Would you consider cutting taxes or reducing projects?
I always try and find ways to do tasks/projects more efficiently
Would you approve of using taxpayers’ money to support the Hilton Hotel project and/or a related parkade?
No, not without more information.
How would you address the issues facing the community’s impoverished and homeless residents?
Partner with the province and organizations that specialize in these types of supports to find solutions to various problems/concerns. Communication regularly with these groups and council is imperative.
How would you enhance security or safety in the community?
Partnering with the police service and organizations to come up with solutions. Communication is key.
What steps would you take to increase economic growth or encourage businesses to move here?
Moose Jaw needs to be open for business. We need to ensure we are eliminating any red tape that hinders businesses coming here.
How would you address the issues between SAMA and the business community? Would you push harder for that secondary audit?
These issues are isolated and not community-wide. Assessment is regulated by and through legislation. Assessment is a very skilled occupation and all assessors follow the same rule book. A secondary audit by SAMA is only undertaken where there is an indication of significant statutory non-compliance. This was not the case when this was requested and is not the case now.
Communication on these issues is key and conciliatory discussions are necessary, not combative discussions, which is how these discussions have taken place so far with council, with administration and with SAMA. Those types of discussions get us nowhere.
Would you halt spending money on the agri-food industrial park until an anchor tenant is found?
There is an anchor tenant – Sask Power.
What is your long-term vision for the community 10 to 20 years down the road? How would you bring that to fruition?
Innovative, welcoming and safe. A place where its leaders and its citizens are not at odds publicly all the time. We need to stop beating each other up, collaborate and understand each other’s roles.
City council is bound by The Cities Act. Understanding that is the first step in finding solutions. Changing policy to create those collaborative partnerships to affect positive change is also our role.
Why should people vote for you?
I will always ask hard questions, trying to get to both sides of the discussion. I have experience in governance and policy, which is required for the position of councillor. I am honest, I’m a business owner and I will bring integrity and respect for others into our discussions. All these characteristics need to be upheld within council chambers.
The municipal election is on Wednesday, Nov. 13.
