EDITOR’S NOTE:
With election day on Monday, Oct. 16 MyMcMurray.com has asked each of the mayoral candidates to describe, themselves, their platform, and why voters should support them.
They are published in the order received using the VOTE FOR ME byline.
Below is Anthony Needham’s response.
Anthony Needham – Mayoral Candidate
Hi, my name is Anthony Needham, you can call me Tony.
I moved to Fort McMurray over a decade ago and working as a pipe fitter I financed my dreams of becoming a Helicopter Pilot, Homeowner, and travelling.
Standing up to the hard working people of the region is a passion of mine and I eventually became the Vice President of a trades union (CMAW) to help more people.
As your Mayor I can help even more people and ensure the promise of opportunity and prosperity continues in our region.
Affordable quality childcare is our huge focus. Before the end of the year, working with the YMCA and day homes we will create a plan to open up 100 new childcare spaces as well as implement a procedure for the municipality to ensure that residents applying for a day home permit have some (ECE) training. Connecting with the Alberta Child Care and gain more subsidy in our region with less restriction on household income, and greater help for single parents.
Seniors are our next highest concern. Working with Alberta seniors to design an aging in place facility at Willow Square to be built alongside our Continuing care facility. Look for more opportunity to attract private investment on our owned lands for another aging in place facility to ensure there is enough room in our region for us to stay right here in town as a senior and watch our children and grandchildren.
Thirdly would be ensuring families and youth groups have access more affordably to our recreational facilities. Allowing families free access at least once a month, and allowing youth groups to hire the courts and facilities free of charge.
Transportation including the infrastructure for new roads like extending the Taiga Nova service roads to rid us of the lights, and work with the government to get going on the HWY 686 development from Parsons Creek to Peace River. HWY 686 will offer us the ability to be in Peace River in two hours, be connected to yet another region and have another way out of town!
Ensuring we have protocols in place when the legalization of Marijuana becomes a reality to ensure our youth are protected. Collaborate with industry to allow the swab test for D&A to ensure our hard working peoples freedoms and rights are upheld.
Wiring Wood Buffalo for Wireless! Provide the infrastructure to allow free internet in our parks, trails and downtown core. Both for safety, and to encourage use of our parks and trails and downtown. Free Wifi on the Snye!
Revitalization of downtown will include firstly getting our expropriated lands ready for offering an RFP (Request for Proposal) to developers all over the world to offer their suggestions and implement the use of our expropriated lands. Work with planning to offer more parking downtown, possible a multistory complex.
We live in the greatest region in Canada and are the economic engine for much of Canada, yet we must take care of our children, seniors and ourselves first!
