Screen grab. (Facebook/Prince Albert and District Chamber of Commerce)

By Alison Sandstrom

Civic election

Mayoral candidates talk economy, crime, poverty

Oct 28, 2020 | 8:35 AM

Prince Albert’s mayoral contenders laid out their vision for the city and responded to questions submitted by residents during a mayoral forum for the 2020 civic election on Tuesday night.

The economy was an area of key focus during the evening hosted by the Prince Albert Chamber of Commerce, but crime and poverty were among other important topics touched over the course of the two-hour virtual session. It was moderated by senior reporter for paNOW and CKBI radio news, Nigel Maxwell.

Business and COVID-19 recovery

Mayor Greg Dionne highlighted his record on economic development throughout the forum.

“Out of all 16 cities [in Saskatchewan] I believe Prince Albert is in the best position to recover from COVID-19, strictly because of all the construction and new jobs we will soon have.” he said, citing upcoming projects including the new aquatic and arena recreation centre, the Victoria Hospital expansion, and a planned forestry manufacturing plant.

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Meanwhile, two of his challengers, Josh Morrow and Darryl Hickie, said they believed the city should do more to help businesses struggling during the pandemic.

Hickie also suggested the city isn’t doing enough to assist entrepreneurs set up shop in Prince Albert, repeating promises for a revamped economic development office if elected.

Morrow said city council, which he called “dysfunctional” and “completely contaminated” was the major deterrent to economic development.

“That is the one thing that we absolutely must fix,” he said. “That has to be run properly, run correctly.”

Crime

Responding to residents concerns about crime, Hickie said he was in favour of hiring a small number of officers for a dedicated gangs and guns unit.

“Had that happened years ago like I had asked for when I was president of the Police Association, I think we’d be ahead of the curve now,” he said.

Dionne agreed more officers would be beneficial, but said they should be paid for by the province, citing that 30 per cent of the people arrested in Prince Albert are not residents of the city.

Dennis Nowoselsky, on the other hand, questioned the number of police officers currently on Prince Albert’s payroll.

“Right now if you use our present number of members – 95 to 100 – it works out to around 12 officers per ward, that’s probably one of the highest ratios in Canada,” he said. “And that’s why our servicing costs are so high, we’ve got to get that down so we have money for infrastructure repair, and money to keep business and property taxes down.”

Morrow called for the deployment of drones as a cost-effective and efficient way to fight crime and highlighted his plans for youth.

Alley curfew bylaw

Candidates were also questioned about Prince Albert’s back alley bylaw, a controversial measure brought in by council aimed at addressing property crime.

Hickie repeated concerns he’d raised previously, arguing the bylaw is ineffective and opens officers up to accusations of carding and racism.

“You’ll find that no other city in Canada does this and that’s for a reason,” Hickie said.

Meanwhile the online forum’s other three participants spoke in strong support of the bylaw.

“The carding issue is nothing but smoke and mirrors,” said Dionne. “If the police want to card you, they’re going to do it before you get to the back alley. We don’t have those kinds of police officers.”

Poverty

Candidates were also asked about homelessness, and if the responsibility to address the issue lay with the province or the city.

Hickie said he believed by working and consulting with local organizations, the city could come up with a “made in P.A.” solution to problems like homelessness and poverty.

“I am not always going to be demanding money from the premier, I have already been there done that, worked in that world,” he said, referencing his time in provincial government and taking a dig at Dionne. “Tiring to say the least when that happens time and time again. Show initiative, show your own solutions.”

Meanwhile Dionne highlighted the recently expanded cold weather shelter as an example of a successful partnership between the city, community groups and government.

“We have to lean to the government. You keep saying we cry,” Dionne said. “Well we’re going to keep crying, strictly because COVID has really brought the homeless issue to Saskatoon, North Battleford and Prince Albert,” adding the three communities were working together to find solutions to house people.

The forum can be watched in full on the Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page.

The second in a series of four such forums goes tonight when the ward council candidates will take to the virtual stage.

Advance voting begins Wednesday Oct. 28. The civic election is Nov. 9.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom