Eastern Charlotte Mayoral Candidate: John D. Craig
1. What is your vision for the municipality over the next four years, and how will you measure success?
My priority remains the same and that is ensuring the water issue in Beaver Harbour and Blacks Harbour is finally resolved. We finally have a price tag for this solution and that is now being followed up by advocating both the Federal and Provincial governments for financial partnership. Success is when we have good clean water. As well I hope that a new Municipal Plan and zoning bylaw be done with full public participation so that bylaws are easy to understand and reflect everyone’s values. All planning decisions have to ensure all adjacent property owners are fully considered and respected. Farmland should be protected but growth and subdividing large land areas be permitted. We can have both as we see in Sussex just up the road. Success will be a plan that everyone in Eastern Charlotte agrees to so that we all can live in harmony.
2. How will you balance fiscal responsibility with maintaining and improving municipal services?
As a Community we have to grow in order to keep taxes low. Taxes are threatening our seniors to stay in their homes and young people trying to get a start in their lives. If assessments keep rising we have to live within our means and lower the tax rates. At the same time, we need growth—in housing and retail. In order to do that we need to extend the services out to exit 56.
This will open it up for major retail growth which in turn will create more employment opportunities and contribute to the tax base which helps keep taxes down. We also have to continue to offer incentives for housing units to be built in areas that have services(water and sewer) so that people have a place to live and at the same time increase the tax base.
3. What is your strategy for long-term infrastructure planning and funding?
We must always be proactive to our infrastructure planning, not reactionary. If we
are proactive in avoiding water and sewer disruptions, boil orders, road repairs, overtime to name a few. As In the case in Blacks Harbour and Beaver Harbour, infrastructure planning is paramount due to the age of the existing system that has gone too long without major upgrades from the source. From funding from a Provincial grant to have engineers ,Englobe, do a full study we now know what has to be done and a price tag has been attached to that. We now must lobby the province and federal government to assist with this to try to keep the rates down as much as possible. With ageing infrastructure and a new requirement in 2032 filtration being
mandatory, a close relationship with the province and feds and adjustments to rates will be priorities.
4. Many communities in the region are experiencing population changes, including aging populations, affordability issues, homelessness. How will your leadership address workforce retention and attract new residents?
Firstly, as a Council we have to work closely together with the Regional Economic and
Workforce Development of the Service Commission and use their resources which we are mandated to pay for. In order to attract individuals to our area, services and upgraded recreational facilities are a necessity. We must continue to keep our arena operational, maintain the quality of our ballfields, canal beach, Riverside Park, walking trails, community gardens,
pickleball area, to name a few. We must support the St.George curling club, ourlibrary, atv initiatives and snowmobile trails. Our Project Coordinator can continue to work with developers for continued housing and retail opportunities. As well, we must support the Community Living Center, Food Bank, and seniors groups because all ages are important in our Age Friendly Community. We must support initiatives in all parts of Eastern Charlotte from Back Bay to Second Falls and beyond.
5. Describe a difficult decision you’ve made in a leadership role. How will that experience inform your approach as mayor?
The most difficult decision I have had over my 16 years as mayor is when I had to break a tie with a Council vote. If a council is divided on a vote that equals to the community being divided. If the community is divided it is my hope that common ground can be found before it ever comes
to a vote. That requires more public consultations to unearth a solution that both sides can live with. My philosophy in all decisions is consult, consult, consult. Eight members of Council sometimes don’t have all the answers, but asking the people that will be affected by a decision is a priority. By consulting with the public on difficult issues, solutions and consensus can be found so that we all can live in harmony together and keep our municipality united.
6. Why should voters trust you to lead the municipality at this time?
The people of eastern Charlotte know me and know that I work hard everyday for them. I am
there for them and just a call away. During major storms and emergency situations I am there getting answers and passing along that information. I’m there making sure all departments have what they need by having daily meetings with our CAO, EMO and all emergency departments. Communication is crucial when there is no power or fire is raging in our woods. I have and will continue to lead everyday knowing everyone demands answers. Blacks Harbour and Beaver know that I live with the water situation as they all do. This has to remain Job No. #1 until it’s done. We will complete this as soon as possible because simply it has to be. I will be the voice to upper levels of government to ensure we get the financial support we need.
Each candidate was provided with the same six questions and equal limits on response length and time. Candidates who did not have publicly available contact information through Elections New Brunswick were required to contact The Courier in accordance with its Municipal Election Coverage Fairness Policy. Candidates who did not respond or declined to participate are noted. Failure to participate will not result in additional coverage elsewhere in the newspaper.
