Karen Hamling, Mayoral Candidate
Significant issues facing Nakusp are: downturn in the forestry industry; loss of jobs and young families; transportation; lack of physicians; businesses are having a hard time surviving and residents are concerned about the future of Nakusp.
How can we make a living and stay in this beautiful community?
Physician recruitment is a project that I am working on with Dr. Lea and hopefully we will see something positive within the next while. We do have a physician recruitment team in place to provide support and the community, as a whole, needs to support recruitment.
I have heard loud and clear that providing jobs is an important issue for our community and now that we are putting the foundation in place (the much needed infrastructure), we can work hard towards this goal.
Please understand that until the water and sewer were upgraded, we could not manage future growth and development.
We need to be innovative and work towards the most successful approach. We then need to put our ideas into action. I believe that there is huge potential in this area and am prepared to work, with council, to make this a priority.
Improving the transportation system is a huge issue and it will require the support and the political will of the provincial government. I would ask council to keep pushing this issue and making it a priority.
As your Mayor, I will continue to work hard for this community to ensure success in these areas and moving Nakusp forward.
Hans Suhr, Mayoral Candidate
It’s fairly evident that the biggest challenges facing Nakusp are stimulating our business economy and securing local jobs.
We are facing these challenges to create jobs along with many communities across Canada and in a global economy that is still mired in recession.
It is incumbent upon the council of Nakusp to lead the way to seek out and encourage new business development in our Village.
We also need to support our local companies and stores by shopping local whenever possible. I would like to see local companies given preference for work required in or by the Village.
Too much work is leaving our Village despite the many qualified and competent services offered locally.
Closely linked to recruiting new business is addressing the transportation challenges. We desperately need a fixed-link crossing north of Nakusp. The cost challenges associated with transportation as things currently sit are too heavy a burden for many businesses to face. Further, a fixed-link crossing will alleviate the tedious long waits at the ferry during holiday weekends and summers travels and simultaneously increase tourism traffic for Nakusp.
We have undertaken many meetings and many committees, all with very good ideas and recommendations coming forward. Now is the time to move on these recommendations and move ahead with a collective effort to achieve a sustainable future for our community.
Tom Zeleznik, Councillor Candidate
The lack of jobs is a significant issue facing Nakusp. Create an Industrial park area where businesses can come to set up with existing infrastructure. Work with local Businesses, Chamber of Commerce, and the Development Board to help optimize the resources, marketing, and help support their ideas that create more employment.
The BC Government has said that the Shelter Bay ferry is slated to be replaced by a new, bigger ferry by 2014. Maybe the community could approach the MOT to have the ship built here. The village, along with local businesses could work with the provincial government and colleges to set up apprentice programs, for young local workers along with the hiring of local labour while building of this ferry.
The cost of transportation came up during the forestry, tourism, and land development meetings. Quote: The bottleneck of the ferry at the north end of the valley is considered a serious detriment to all forms of economic opportunity. It is important that the community supports BACA and others to keep the process of securing a fixed-point crossing at Galena Bay alive. In the mean time the village and businesses must work with MOT for alternatives to move industrial transportation back and forth to lessen costs of goods.
The community of Nakusp continues to suffer from a lack of enough doctors in this area. The Village needs to continue to work with the local doctors, as well as with federal and provincial health departments to encourage physicians to come here.
Joseph Hughes, Councillor Candidate
The most significant issue facing Nakusp can be seen on a Sunday drive. Store fronts are empty and for sale signs litter the side roads. Times have been tight over the last few years and the effects are still being felt.
Every job is another family that could make it here. We have enjoyed some impressive infrastructure investments over the last term of council and now it is time to direct serious attention to helping local business remain sustainable and making our community available to new business development.
The first step was improving services so that expansions would be possible. That has been taken care of and has consumed a great deal of Village time.
As these projects reach completion we must become a destination for rising industries. As BC looks to greener lifestyles and technologies there is a growing desire for solutions close to home. Nakusp needs to be the location for these technologies. Though it is difficult to market a community to industry as a destination, that is what I would see happen if voted on for another term.
Council has the day-to-day opportunity to support local business but there is a short fall in supporting new coming business. We will investigate what new industry needs are and how we can be the best answer for them.
There are only four seats on council. Nakusp needs people who have input and are involved.
I have been a strong voice for local business on council, looking for solutions not restrictions and this will continue if re-elected.
D. Robert Parkinson, Councillor Candidate
Nakusp Hockeyville: a vision born from passion for our community.
A collaborative effort of all villagers both young and elderly and lots of folks in between, grandpas and grandmas, aunts and uncles, business owners and employees and, yes, even politicians. We also asked for help and support from our neighbours in other communities. We as a community came together with one vision, we put our differences and self-interest aside, we dealt with the speed bumps and barriers in the process, we relied on each other for positive support and found that support. We are truly winners.
Now that we have experience from the success of that collaborative spirit, we as a community need to once again step forward together.
Our road to recovery in bringing Nakusp back to a vibrant and self-sustaining community has many barriers and speed bumps, and we have documented numerous of these over the last six years. Now we must commence construction. We know we have to grow and support our local economy and we do that by focusing on stimulating and enhancing what we have. We as a village cannot afford to be putting up barriers. Our village gates must always be open and welcoming.
At council I would draw on my years of team leadership to encourage new and more open, informative and frequent communication between council and you the village.
I will also ensure that all meetings are easily accessible with adequate room for all.
Thanks for your support.
Guy Duchaine, Councillor Candidate
I have been managing large business for the last 20 years and have learned a lot about what makes successful project or venture happen. I have also dealt with provincial and federal government in the past 40 years with good resolve. The time I spent working in Nakusp helped me understand what we need to do to ensure good living and good working environment for the next generation. Coming with an open mind and driven by the need to succeed will make me a good team member and help the council achieve the natural growth of the village.
I see the need to bring back a large venture in Nakusp to help provide good paying jobs for the young workers and keep them in our village. This is possible since we have so much to offer in resources and opportunity. With a good five year plan, I am convinced that we can achieve this goal. Also, we need to expand the hot springs site and bring more people into town to help all the small businesses grow to their potential. It is good to envision their success since it will also make the village lively and vibrant.
It is important to manage our costs to ensure that the taxpayers receive good service while minimizing expanses. It is important for the council to join the team of good workers which make up the staff and crew of the village. If all are on board and understand what is at stake, the result will be demonstrated in saving to the public. There is a lot of work that has been done already toward this and we need to continue looking at all aspect of spending to insure we are efficient in all we do. The plan and mission is clear and should be followed it to ensure continuity from the last council.
Ulli Mueller, Councillor Candidate
Just one year ago I attended a series of public meetings in Nakusp discussing Community economic development. These meetings focused on the different sectors of the local economy, their challenges and opportunities. It was a great learning opportunity and pointed to several factors impacting our community economy:
An overriding problem identified by nearly all sectors was the stranglehold the ferries impose on transportation in and out of the valley.
GOAL - improve transportation: Council has, and will continue to lobby in Victoria for improved access to the valley with better ferry service in the short term, and plan for a fixed link in the long term.
Tourism was another focus of these meetings. It was discussed that we have a lot of product already and can build on it to increase tourism.
GOAL - support tourism: Council has worked towards keeping the Hot Springs open and viable. Future plans include the intention of developing the Hot Springs, potentially as a 3P project. Council is working towards better signage throughout town as well as supporting the newly formed, very active Trails society.
Lack of industrial land was identified as a factor slowing us down.
GOAL – make industrial land available: Council is working with a local group of businessmen as well as the Ministry towards development of a new industrial area. Review current zoning.
Improved Infrastructure is the first step towards planned sustainable growth.
GOAL – improve infrastructure: Council is working towards improved water and sewer capacity to allow for development.