Fiscal responsibility, medical staffing and getting new business was on the table as the Village of Boyle’s council candidates took questions from the community at the Boyle Community Centre Oct. 12.
Candidates Mike Antal, Sam Assaf, Colin Derko, Patrick Ferguson, Shelby Kiteley and Barbara Smith spoke to the room of 51 people, answering questions from voters and moderator Peter Golanski. The six candidates are vying for one of five seats. The event was hosted by Boyle & District Chamber of Commerce.
A member of the public asked about fiscal responsibility and spending within the village.
Ferguson said “we all have to work within a budget,” noting that he works budgets in his line of work.
“You’ve got to work within your means,” he said.
Antal said running the village is no different than running a business.
“One thing I haven’t seen is an unhealthy bank account that the village has had,” he said, noting that he thinks that spending might have actually been “a little snug.” He gave a nod to the village administration, as well.
Kiteley said she echoed what the two before her said, noting that it is very important that council speak to people in the community.
“So that we know that we are spending money responsibly, and in a way that’s going to accommodate all businesses and the residents in Boyle,” she said.
Derko said he sees the village as a business, and although people save for retirement, the village spends on children and grandchildren. He said he would be in favour of a ten-year spending plan with items like what year roads would be paved.
Assaf said he agreed with Derko.
“The most important things, we have to do, like roads,” he said.
Smith said she came from an accounting background and grew up very poor.
“I don’t really throw money away; I’m very frugal,” she said. “I want the best our money can get. I’ll be monitoring projects.”
Athabasca-Sturgeon-Redwater MLA Colin Piquette asked about the village’s relationship with Athabasca County.
Kiteley said the village and the county should work hand in hand, adding that many people living in the county use services in the village.
“As far as things go, like the splash park, I think that that could be a nice shared cost, because we’re all going to benefit from things like that,” she said.
Derko said this is one of the biggest things he wants to work on.
“There’s some very good people there, that just need some coaxing,” he said. “And I think it’s a give and take relationship.”
Assaf said there are many projects between the village and the county, and it has been a very good relationship.
Smith said the relationship should continue to be fostered so the county could see Boyle’s point of view “in a more diplomatic way.”
“I kind of feel like they don’t look at Boyle in a positive light, like we’re kind of second rate,” she said.
Ferguson said there were meetings between the county, the village and the Town of Athabasca at one point to advance the whole community, which should happen again.
Antal said it has probably been a few years since the last tri-council meeting.
“We do have a good relationship with the county,” he said. “When we meet for different sub-meetings, sometimes it’s hard.”
A member of the public asked a question about local doctor recruitment.
Smith said she did not know enough about what the village could do, noting that she knew it was a local concern.
Assaf said with the county, there is doctor recruitment. He said it is not council’s job, but they try to make it easier with an apartment that has a shared cost with the town and county.
Derko said he thought a hospital committee was desperately needed, and so one was formed.
“I’ve seen our hospital just getting used and not maintained,” he said.
Kiteley said she is not sure what the governing bodies are related to doctors, but she would push for upgrades and upkeep need to be done on existing facilities.
Antal said he has sat in on some of the hospital committee meetings. He said the renovations occurring are a positive step, and he believes there is a “great local program” for doctor recruitment.
Ferguson said he did not have the background to give a definite answer.
“I’ve never had a problem getting in to see the doctor,” he said.
A question was asked about how the candidates would attract business and investors to the community.
Derko said there is no one answer, but they need to get businesses to Boyle to talk.
“Businesses need to know the Village of Boyle is open for business,” he said, noting that they have to “pound the pavement.”
Kiteley said industries need to shift in the village, but theirs is no different than any other small town knocking on businesses’ door.
Antal said competition is not a bad thing, and it is a great community where he would like to see more business.
“It’s growing slowly,” he said. “Maybe some people’s expectations are a little bit high at times. But you go with what you have, and you just try to make it better.”
Ferguson said it’s not just about getting new businesses, but supporting the businesses that are in the village already.
“There’s a few things that I would like to see here,” he said, noting a new hotel.
Smith said people need to look at the economy and how people are losing jobs in industries.
“My focus would be more encouraging the entrepreneur,” she said. “We’ve got lots of great people here that have lots of good ideas.”
Assaf said people need to put money up and start businesses in the village, too.
One voter asked if each candidate could tell them the greatest thing that Boyle has to offer, in one sentence.
Ferguson said he thought the greatest thing in Boyle was the people.
“The community, the friendliness, the neighbours, you know,” he said. “I grew up outside of town, but was always part of the village.”
Smith said the village is welcoming and friendly.
“I moved here three years ago,” she said. “I’ve never felt that much welcome ... It’s awesome.”
Assaf said “the people.”
“I’ve been here 24 years,” he said. “This is the best people around.”
Derko said he had to reiterate what he was hearing.
“The first thing that came to mind is people,” he said. “Everywhere I go, I’m proud to talk about where I’m from because of everybody that’s here and everybody that’s in this community.”
Kiteley said, for fear of sounding like a broken record, the people.
“I’ve seen people give the shirts off their backs to people in need,” she said. “During the Fort McMurray fires, during everything. You’ve got all kinds of committees dedicated to just helping people.”
Antal said he has spoken to a lot of people with businesses in town, and it is a welcoming, warm town.
“For the businesses that we have here, we have great customer service,” he said. “They are so happy to leave the city because it’s such a nice place to come to.”
– With files from Dan Todd
