Mayoral race heats up at debate

While they both agree the town needs to get its financial house in order, it’s clear after Monday night’s debate that mayoral hopefuls Dan Onichuk and Coun. Sharon Tibbs have different platforms—whether it’s the drive for “positive, fundamental change” espoused by Onichuk or the “enthusiasm and experience” of Tibbs.
“This election is about change because I, like many others, believe the status quo is not acceptable,” Onichuk said when summing up his reason for running for mayor.
He noted the town right now can’t afford to be looking five-10 years into the future, but instead must immediately address the issue of economic diversification and youth out-migration.
“The goal of council must be to move forward aggressively, as if the mill were to close tomorrow,” Onichuk remarked.
“Our foundation is our youth. They have already voted, and they have voted with their feet,” he added, referring to the problem of the declining number of young people in the region.
Meanwhile, Coun. Tibbs—a 12-year veteran on council—said she intends to address the town’s current deficit concerns, and ensure history doesn’t repeat itself in that regard.
All the while striving to maintain all the community services residents currently enjoy.
“I ask you to vote for enthusiasm and experience. I ask you to vote for Tibbs,” she said to the nearly full house on hand at the Civic Centre.
While certainly not the only issue discussed during their debate, the town’s deficit in 2002—and the projected financial problems for this year—is proving to be the bone of contention between Onichuk and Coun. Tibbs.
Onichuk charged Coun. Tibbs was not living up to her responsibilities as per the Municipal Act, which he noted indicates the job of a councillor is to “represent the public and their best interests.”
“And the key thing is to maintain the financial integrity of the community,” he said, adding he can’t believe Coun. Tibbs could be on council and various committees and not be aware of the financial mismanagement.
“I don’t buy it, and I don’t think the community buys it,” he remarked.
“Dan would like you to believe I am solely responsible for the current financial situation,” countered Coun. Tibbs, adding not only is it simply not true, but that it should be clarified the town’s budget woes are a matter of overestimated revenues, and erroneous bookkeeping, which while unfortunate can’t be considered “missing funds.”
“The money was not in the right place. It’s there, but it’s not in the right place,” she stressed, adding the $1.8-million deficit in the 2002 budget already has been dealt with—with the money pulled from reserves.
And the 2003 deficit, most recently reported as sitting around $800,000, is merely a projected amount at his point.
Coun. Tibbs noted an auditor’s report and letter of management expected to come before council Oct. 14 will define exactly what happened—and what must be done to set things right.
She said a significant part of her campaign platform is her commitment to the “complete re-establishment of the integrity of the treasury,” and that mayor and council assuredly will be aware at all times of the 2004 and future budgets so they never get out of hand again.
Both candidates were asked what their leadership style would be, how they would get feedback from the public, and what, if any, new means of communication would be introduced between the municipal government and citizens of Fort Frances.
Coun. Tibbs said she’s preparing an orientation session for new councillors which she will impart once she’s elected. She added she’s often taking a leadership role because “when you do something you care about, [taking a leadership role] is natural.”
“Can I lead and be accountable as mayor? Yes,” she added.
Onichuk said in the first four-six weeks on the job, he’ll demand technical briefings from all municipal departments, and continue with that trend of constant communication between council and management.
He said he’d like to see town hall meetings to let the public voice their opinions, have open-line talk-back radio shows, and even a Web site with a bulletin board system (BBS) to let citizen post their concerns via the Internet.
“We cannot continue the closed-door meetings,” Onichuk argued. “We need an open-door policy where people can question mayor and council.”
Coun. Tibbs rebutted that the “in-camera issue” is not an issue at all as it is up to the clerk, and not council, when they go in-camera, and that the clerk is simply following the guidelines set by the Municipal Act.
The candidates also were asked what they would do about road repairs in town, given the number of streets currently in rough shape. Onichuk said he couldn’t say given the town’s current financial shortfall.
Coun. Tibbs agreed, noting the means to pay for such projects were not apparent at this juncture, but that they have been—and will remain—on the table as projects council will look to address.
When asked how council plans to replenish its reserves, Coun. Tibbs noted she wants to keep any tax hikes in line while increasing the tax base by encouraging more business start-ups and commercial partnerships, such as the Northwest Mobility cell phone venture, which is paying for itself far quicker than the town expected.
Onichuk countered that council has no business being involved in private enterprise, citing the RiverWalk condominium deal as a grievous error that’s
now left the town “holding the bag on unsold units” and costing taxpayers $16,000 a month.
He asked Coun. Tibbs why, if private developers weren’t confident enough in the market to be willing to invest in the condominiums here, did councillors decide to get involved.
“If they couldn’t do it, we shouldn’t do it,” he charged.
As far as the reserves go, he added he’s “not prepared to raise taxes unless there’s no other options. And not without input from the public.”
Finally, the candidates were asked about community services, and specifically, if they would financially support a safe home for women of Fort Frances and if they would pay to install a sprinkler system in the ’52 Canadians Arena so it can be used for events not involving the ice surface.
“We need to get it [the sprinkler system situation] corrected for the business community,” said Onichuk. “Proper financial policy would have seen this done. It should have been done already, the money was there. But we dropped the ball.
“As for the women’s shelter, I think it’s a necessary thing for our community and residents of outlying communities,” he added.
Coun. Tibbs said the sprinkler system is an item council is well-aware of, and has earmarked for funding once the corresponding government grant is available.
She added the need for a women’s shelter also is being addressed with a new crisis response service in the district—a joint project co-ordinated by the local United Native Friendship Centre, OPP, Family and Children Services, and Ministry of the Crown Attorney.
For those who missed it, Channel 10 (Shaw) will be airing the debate several times over the coming weeks.
Election day is Nov. 10. Canada Post is expected to send out the mail-in ballots to town residents starting Oct. 20.
Everyone should have their packages by Oct. 26.