Experience counts; Perry Trusty running for city council

Our role as citizens is to continue to report to the police when we see unlawful activity. Our Chief of Prince Albert Police Service is encouraging us to utilize home security measures and to get to know our neighbours.

Homelessness & Treatment Centre: Our city needs a Treatment Centre. A treatment centre was identified by Dr. Chad Nilson in his research on Homelessness for the city.

A treatment centre gives our health providers and justice officials another support tool.

Most folks can’t afford $50,000 a month for private treatment. We need this facility to help families deal with addictions and help our community deal with current social issues.

Incentives: Why be penalized for investing in your property? My economic development experience will help as our community grows with the hospital expansion and OSB Plant.

This growth can be leveraged by creating residential and business incentives for investment in renovations, additions and new builds. I have experience in creating these incentives and witnessed it help homeowners and businesses.

The incentives are part of proper community business planning. Properties pay taxes. Expanded properties help leverage community investments like the Event Centre, hospital expansion and OSB plant.

Forestry Expansion: Council needs to continue asking when the OSB plant will start. Council also needs to know if there are other forestry value-added opportunities.

An integrated forestry expansion could include sawmills with the allocated but underutilized forest management agreements (FMA) in our region.

Fiscal responsibility is a key part of a City Councillor’s role. I have experience as a business owner and an economic development administrator making difficult and transparent decisions.

We have seniors on fixed incomes and low income families. Decisions need to be made with these taxpayers in mind.

Calls to Action: I will continue to support the good work of previous Council towards Truth and Reconciliation. The addition of First Nations and Metis voices on Boards and Committees is important. The development of partnerships with First Nation and Metis is an integral act towards inclusion and diversity. As a man of Metis ancestry, this is personally important to me.

Ward Concerns: I will advocate for the paving program in Ward 4. We have streets and avenues that need upgrades. I will work with our city administration to check the paving quality index and advocate for Ward 4 streets.

I will work with city administration to advocate for grass cutting maintenance behind the Good Shepherd Villas and Bud Pocha facility. This area has waist high grass and is a fire hazard.

I will support upgrades for the Miller Park Playground. Some of the playground equipment needs replacement along with additional garbage bins and seating options.

I will promote the Official Community Plan and our Community Services Master Plan. I will continue to vote in favour of program grant funding to ensure that our community club facilities like the East End Rink have the ability to provide programming.

I support the Lake Country Co-op Leisure Centre as a signature destination that will add quality to our city. I will continue to champion our sports, art, culture and recreation programs.

There is only one tax payer – and that is YOU. We need experienced people making decisions at City Council chambers. We need to make proper, long term plans focused on service delivery and growth.

Role and Responsibility of a City Councillor: According to the Cities Act, Council establishes policies about what essential core services to provide, how those services will be delivered, and at what levels, such as: roads and transportation, water treatment and sewer facilities, snow and garbage removal, recreation facilities and programs, land use planning and economic development, building code regulations, crime prevention, fire prevention, animal control and emergency planning. I am experienced at policy writing and implementation.

Here is more information on my background and experience.

Background and Education: Prince Albert is my home. I moved to PA in 1975 and went to PACI and Carlton High School. I received my degree in Public Administration from the University of Saskatchewan and moved back to PA in 1988. I earned the national Economic Development designation from courses at the University of Waterloo, Ontario.

I bought my first home and became a taxpayer in the East Flat in 1991. I supported local businesses like Hunt’s IGA and my children went to Little Ducklings Daycare on 6^th Street East and the city playground program at the East End Rink.

My wife and I are a blended family with 7 children and we moved into a bigger home in Crescent Heights.

Experience: Some of my work experience in Economic Development has led to major commercial and residential developments through cities and towns such as here in Prince Albert, Tisdale and Melfort. I was hired as the Economic Development Coordinator with the City of Prince Albert and conducted market research to show that Cornerstone Shopping District was a viable plan for the developer.

I created residential incentives in Melfort to help make housing more affordable. I negotiated a new residential area in Melfort called Creekside Estates. I attracted the developer, negotiated terms, led land assembly, estimated engineering costs and created a business plan payback based on a market rate of return. This development is called Stonegate Shopping Centre in Melfort. This was done transparently through City Council so the public could see progression of the various phases of development. For this successful investment attraction, I was awarded Saskatchewan Economic Developer of the Year.

Business Owner: My wife and I owned and operated a mental health home for 15 years. I have a lived experience in working with people who struggle with mental illness. I have knowledge of the MHSA (Mental Health Services Act). I feel, at the provincial level, we need to advocate for legislative changes and coordinate language between Health, Mental Health & Addictions and Justice Ministries. Capacity is a huge issue that needs to be addressed at a senior level of government. These changes can help our social issues in Prince Albert.

My wife and I own and operate Capstone Community Marketing. We currently have a contract with the Prince Albert Downtown Business Improvement District and I also work as a transit operator for First Student Inc.

Social and Volunteer Experience: I love sports. I represented Prince Albert in Men’s Fastball and we made it to Western Canadian Finals three times. I have volunteered as a coach for my children’s sports activities as well as a volunteer for the Prince Albert Legion and community events.

Residency: Under the Saskatchewan Elections Act it is not a requirement to live in the Ward that a person is running in. You don’t even have to live in the community to vote in a civic election as long as you own property in that municipality. The East Flat was the location of my first home and where I started raising my family. I have many family and friends in Ward 4. Many of the candidates who have submitted their name in the municipal election do not live in the ward they are running in. My opponent has only lived in Ward 4 for 2 years.

We all have opinions – but that is not the same as having education, knowledge and experience. Prince Albert has been my home for over 40 years. I care deeply about the city and our people.

I would be honoured to use my education, knowledge and experience to bring forward policies that can positively shape our city and be your ward representative. I ask for your support on November 13^th. Voting will take place at the East End Rink.

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Experience counts; Perry Trusty running for city council

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