Q&A's get to know Peter. Ask your own!

These are some questions that all candidates have been asked, by different organizations, please feel free to ask your own questions, and I will do my best to be diligent in answering them.

1.       What role do you see for local government in providing business the opportunity to create jobs?

The key thing that will spur job creation in our community is attracting younger families.  All departments within the city play a key role in accomplishing this goal. 

Our Parks and Recreation department ensures that our public spaces are well maintained, safe and beautiful.  This is the key to ensuring that Parksville is viewed as the paradise we all know it is. 

Our Engineering Department ensures that we have the infrastructure that we need to enjoy our quality of life, and assist the private sector in ensuring that development works in concert with the overall city structure.  This ensures that investment in our community is handled professionally, and represents opportunity for the investment community.

Our Planning Department handles all of the land-use issues, and ensures that change in our community is in concert with the will of our citizens.  A smooth and predictable bureaucratic process is critical in attracting new growth and new investment in our community.

Each of these groups must work together to the betterment of our business community, and of Parksville as a whole.

2.       What is one thing would you do to stimulate job growth in Parksville?

Economic development is imperative to job growth. We need to put in place a plan to make Parksville attractive to new business, in collaboration with our regional partners.

3.       What do you see as the community’s most pressing business concern? How would you work on this as a city council member?

I think the aging workforce is a growing concern, with our current demographic trend, it’s becoming imperative that we draw young families to the area to offset this imbalance. Working towards a post-secondary education facility that will keep our high school grads in the area, combined with a downtown revitalization initiative that will create a downtown core that is attractive, vibrant and fosters economic growth.

4.       What do you think is the most important issue facing the city in the next two years?

I feel completing the OCP is vital, so we have a vision in place, to move forward. We need to ensure we have the infrastructure in place to support projected growth, and create a policy environment that is attractive to the business and investment community.

5.       If elected, what would be your primary goal for the next year?

I believe we need to focus on expanding the city’s economic development partnership, there have been some recent in-roads that are a great start, and we need to build on that foundation to spur economic growth in the city.