Municipal elections are several frosty fall nights away so it seems like there is no need to think about it during warm and sultry summer days.
But the Aug. 19 deadline to file nomination papers comes at a time most people are not paying attention. In fact, most campaigns won’t start in earnest until after the Labour Day weekend. Debates in September might kick things off, although expect the main ones to be in early October.
By that time, most of the platforms are already nailed down and if the strategists did their job, only a few wedge issues will separate the contenders from the also-rans.
All this means the time is now (and maybe even a bit late) for you and your associates to work on candidates and get them to commit to solutions to the challenges or hurdles you see.
For example, I’ve always thought bus transit fees should be as low as possible or non-existent to encourage regular ridership. I’m fairly sure after some ‘napkin math’ that the social benefits far outweigh the loss of revenue in the long term.
Too much socialism to stomach and you’re concerned that taxi operators and other passenger services will lose business?
Maybe start with youth under 18 years old? As it stands, only children up to five years old can ride for free with a paying adult.
Having a generation growing up on the bus will pay dividends down the road while reducing traffic issues, emissions and pavement erosion. Property taxpayers and provincial grants cover the basic infrastructure needed for a transit system already, just a little more motivation might fill the seats.
Would parents stop running their kids around town as much if the bus was a free option? The current fare starts at $3 one way (get one free ride if you buy 10 at a time). The monthly passes top out at $86 for adults, $71 for full-time students and $61 if you can prove worthy of the “reduced” fare due to disability, senior age, etc.
Perhaps some people on council or running for mayor are looking at the inflated price of fuel as both a negative pressure on costs and a positive motivator on ridership. And they are not wrong, increasing costs of living will force more members of the community onto the buses. North Bay should see higher ridership and revenues next year if things keep heading south.
But does that help those who need it most?
North Bay council and staff appear determined to build a community centre on the fringe of the city in the change room-less Steve Omischl Sports Fields Complex. They are currently adding hundreds of thousands of dollars to the design cost so it qualifies for a major federal grant aimed at infrastructure efficiencies to negate carbon footprints. The overall twin-pad project is projected to be near the $50-million mark when interest was included with design and construction costs. The federal grant is about half of that, substantially reducing both the city’s share and the financing hit.
The next council will have to approve the tender, so the final decision is not expected until December or January. Those who support the project and location are going to say it serves more than just hockey players. It will have change rooms for football and other field sports, as well as other community centre attributes.
Fair enough. They say Double Stinks and West Ferris are aging out and the opportunity to expand Memorial Gardens or see the private sector serve the ice sheet market has all but evaporated.
In my opinion, if they’re going to spread out the location of such important infrastructure, the public transit to get there should be more accessible.
And if a candidate wants your support, and you’re not a fan of public money going to an arena, demand something as a “trade-off” for compensation.
How about free bus rides for youth up to 18 years old and seniors to help make household budgets easier to balance?
Of course, you might have your own ideas that would give your community a long-term improvement. Now is the time to identify the need and corner a candidate on their position.
Don’t wait for them to have their platforms already in place.
Dave Dale is a veteran journalist and columnist who has covered the North Bay area for more than 30 years. Reader responses meant as Letters to the Editor can be sent to [email protected]. To contact the writer directly, email: [email protected] or check out his website www.smalltowntimes.ca
