With only two candidates on their ballots, Ward 4 residents had plenty of questions about crime, roads, municipal development plans, and regional government.
Candidates running for the vacant Ward 4 seat in the MD of Bonnyville council shared their views on some hot-button issues throughout the ward.
Edward Duchesne and Marcy MacEachern were on the hot seats during an open forum at Willow Prairie Hall in La Corey on Tuesday, Oct. 10.
Sitting alongside the candidates were Greg Sawchuk and Barry Kalinski, reeve candidates for the MD, giving their solutions to common concerns throughout the municipality.
To start things off, MacEachern and Duchesne provided opening statements.
MacEachern, who is a bus driver and farmer in the area, is “no stranger to getting my hands dirty.”
She has worked with MD council in the past on issues such as roads and common concerns her neighbours share. Her focus is on the road improvement system, and like many other candidates running for council, crime.
“We have to seriously focus on crime prevention to increase the safety of our residents and businesses,” she said.
MacEachern's solution is stepping up the rural crime watch program, using social media as a tool of informing residents, and allocating more funding to the RCMP, so they can hire more members.
Duchesne agreed that crime was a major concern in the MD. He also believes more can be done to combat the issue.
His recommendation, was working together with other municipalities and lobbying the government to do more.
“We need harsher penalties,” he said in relation to what he called a “catch and release” criminal justice system.
“The RCMP are understaffed, and our current MD public safety department is a little over staffed,” he added.
Should he be elected, Duchesne said he would give the job 110 per cent.
“I want to be your voice, and get things done.”
Iron River resident Gordon Graves opened the floor for questioning. His concern was RCMP staffing.
Both Sawchuk and Kalinski have taken the time to sit-down with local detachments to ask what they believe needs to be done; however both reeve candidates received different feedback.
In Cold Lake, S/Sgt. Jeremie Landry told Sawchuk that they need more boots on the ground.
Sawchuk suggested funding another member for the detachment, expressing how it would “easily be absorbed” in the MD budget.
“It's paid by the ratepayers, and all the MD would have to do is write a letter of request,” he explained.
Kalinski sat down with a different S/Sgt., who said if members could take on more over time, it would cover it for now.
But, he added, another officer would be helpful.
The cost of bringing another member on board is upwards of $150,000. A local business owner was concerned that the MD is spending over $1.5-million on their own peace officers, who issue tickets and enforce bylaws.
“I think by downsizing our own bylaw officers staff, we could take some of that money and put it towards RCMP,” Duchesne said.
MacEachern had another suggestion when it came to funding a new officer.
“I stand strong on the fact that we need leadership in our road building and paving. We have to ask ourselves, what's our goal here?” said MacEachern.
She believes that hiring a road and paving consultant for the MD will help save money long-term. These funds could be used to fund an additional member or other needs within the community.
When it came to cutting the $60-million road budget, Duchesne suggested comparing the MD's cost of doing business, to that of local contractors.
He said they could use the work, and would probably be able to do it affordably.
When it came down to regional government, each candidate expressed they aren't interested in it, but are all for regional cooperation.
In her closing remarks, MacEachern hinted to bringing back town hall meetings, while Duchesne promised to work hard for the municipality.
“I know it's going to take a lot of discussion and a lot of meetings, but we will get things done,” he said.
