Mayoral race speeds up with debate

Link had the most to gain and least to lose as a relatively unknown political entity and put forward a view for the city under his leadership that was at times pragmatic and ambitious.

He said the current administration was a failure at communication. He said the city under Scarrow was spendthrift, wasting money on what he called illogical projects, such as the $170,000 Second Avenue West fence replacement.

“I’m ashamed that City Hall would even entertain spending money on this project,” he said. “Please Mr. Mayor and Mr. Dionne. Tell the people on the east side of the city that they can’t have a much needed fire hall while you commit money to this project.”

Link also pointed out to a city project on Second Avenue and 28th Street West that was initially rejected for federal funding.

Scarrow responded that Link needed to brush up on his civic involvement and the political process.

He said that while the project had initially been denied funding, another source was found. Placing a report on his table, Scarrow told him to stop embarrassing himself.

“I’ll give you that copy so you can read it and you can figure out for yourself how you’ve mislead people on that issue over a number of months and frankly I’d be embarrassed if I were you,” he said. “

Meanwhile, Dionne and Scarrow virtually ignored each other and at times completely agreed with each other.

Several times, when Dionne followed Scarrow to answer a question, he’d admit Scarrow had already said what he planned to say before adding a few more lines of his own ideas.

Scarrow himself mostly used the happenings during his years in office as proof of his worth as candidate for mayor once again. When asked about how he would encourage development, he cited several positive events that occurred during his tenure, but did not provide new ideas how to improve the city’s situation.

While many issues were touched upon, few opinions from any candidates deviated from one another or the status quo. The topics touched upon and all agreed were needed were more affordable housing, a second bridge and more cooperation on council.

Among the more surprising yet realistic comments came from Dionne who said he would not support building a second hospital. Not because there was no need, but rather because it would simply cost the tax payers too much money.

“Do I oppose that? I do as a taxpayer,” he said. “But I have a plan. With the Parkland Health District, council, the community, the grand council, I’m going to go to Ottawa with this delegation and ask the federal government to fund the 25 per cent of people that take health care of hospital that come from north of the river.”

Link’s vision of the city focused on having commissioned sales people go out around the country and the world to sell the city as a place to set up business.

Dionne said he wanted to work with council and administration as a team to improve the city, all the while promoting the citizens to be ambassadors for the city to improve its issue.

Scarrow said he wanted the opportunity to continue his work to improve the city in the way it had been during his time in office. When he talked about the strength of the city’s volunteerism, it almost brought him to tears before making his final appeal to the audience.

All agreed that if they had $10 million to spare, they’d put most if not all to infrastructure, with Scarrow agreeing through song.

The candidates are so far scheduled for two more debates including one on 900 CKBI News beginning at 2 p.m.

adesouza@panow.com

On Twitter: @DrewdeSouza

by Andrew de Souza

Mayoral race speeds up with debate

What's Trending