'Our Ottawa' releases their endoresments

I'm happy to have read that I am among the three candidates that 'Our Ottawa' is endorsing.

Read this Ottawa Citizen article (click) for more details.

Bruce

Debate Feedback Welcomed

This past Wednesday night I participated in my first (of many to come) live debates, and welcome your feedback on it, please post below in the comments section your thoughts.

Regards,

Bruce

Q&A With Ottawa Citizen

Recently a reporter named Kristy Nease from the Ottawa Citizen asked that I respond to a survey of questions. I did so, and would like to share my unedited responses with you here, as I think you could find them of value.

ISSUES PAST

Kristy Nease: How did you vote, or how would you have voted, on the Lansdowne Park redevelopment plan as it was finally presented at the beginning of the summer?

Bruce Webster: I would have voted against because of the improper process leading up to the approval. Sole source is not the best way to achieve the best outcome from a financail perspective

KN: How did you vote, or how would you have voted, on the 2008 Transportation Master Plan update that included a plan for light rail in a downtown tunnel?

BW: As I have not yet after many requests been able to obtain all the pertinent information on funding "without affecting the tax base" Ottawa Staff quote I would at the time have voted against until the requisite information was made available and then would have been voting with a clear understanding.

KN: What's been the greatest success of amalgamation?

BW: I see no great success

KN: What's been the greatest failure?

BW: The city is still fractured into Urban/Suburban and Rural parts There is still a discontent in all three parts because of the different life styles and needs

KN: What are the three most important issues in your ward?

BW: Roads..Recreation..Taxes

KN: What specific measure will be your top priority if you're elected?

BW: Financial stability while controlling expenses and tax increases

KN: If you aren't the incumbent, say something nice about the incumbent.

BW: Glenn has served the area well for over 35 years during his career as a politician and he should now retire as he promised his wife in 2006

KN: Now, what specifically would you aim to do better than he or she does?

BW: Listen to the voices of all the comunity not just the richest and most vocal

CITY SERVICES

KN: Taxes. On the whole, are they too high? Just about as high as they need to be? Not high enough for the city we wish we had?

BW: We can no longer tax to this limit and we need to control our expenditures to match our income. This is a definition of BUDGET

KN: Should OC Transpo be designated an essential service?

BW: PublicTransportation in the western world is essential

KN: The National Capital Commission has identified cycling as a priority in its work in the capital. Do you support this? What do you think Ottawa needs to do to make bicycle commuting more appealing?

BW: Better and safer cycling lanes particularly in the suburban/rural areas

KN: It's city policy to promote intensification downtown, but of course it's often difficult to get neighbourhood support for any particular project. Is downtown intensification the right path for the city? How should the city government smooth the way?

BW: The maximization of IN PLACE infrastructure is needed to slow down the expenditures associated with growth. 22% of the tax dollar now goes to growth related infrastructure supporting developer profit which results in urban sprawl and hence core decay. The city should encourage nodes of revitalization/intensification which reflects the area impacted

KN: Should the urban boundary be expanded significantly?

BW: The city staff have identified enough available land to sustain the city for the next 20 years WITHOUT urban boundary expansion This reflects on the need to maximize the present infrastructure and leapfrogging the urban boundary to build high density bedroom communities outside the present boundary is counterproductive to financial stability as the need for capital expense to service these village areas is greatly disproportional to revenues

KN: Please list some city services you consider "core" and any you consider "frills" that could be cut back.

BW: Core...Emergency services..Road maintenance...Waste collection. and treatment(s)...water electrical services...schools. social housing, Most others could be considered "frills" BUT the province does mandate many of which we have no choice

KN: Larry O'Brien has publicized a financial platform aimed at producing tax freezes and is asking council candidates to say whether they back it or not. What have you told him?

BW: As noted above I believe we can and MUST do better without adding to the present tax burden

GOVERNANCE

KN: Roughly how many city council meetings have you attended in the last year?

BW: 6 to 8 Plus as a member of a citizens committee reporting to ARAC I attend about another 10 to 12

KN: Should city councillors have term limits? If so, what should they be?

BW: Yes maximum of 2 terms but allowed to return after a one term absence. I remember when people actually "served" their communities for 3 to 6 years when they had achieved the ability to do so. There were NO PROFESSIONAL politicians who looked on it as a job. SERVE actually meant something.

KN: What would you like to change to make city council work more smoothly?

BW: The process where items and issues are staff driven rather than council driven and examined. Council needs to regain control

KN: Do you support a borough system, or something like it, for devolving local issues to more local control and keeping them off the city council agenda?

BW: Items which are already covered under the city bylaws should rarely be placed before council.Staff should be able to work with the ward rep to resolve many ward related issues and certain items ( stop signs/minor variances/speed bumps/tree cutting/cow signs should be resolved thoughtfully rather than by adherence to rules

KN: Do we have about the right number of councillors? Should there be significantly more or fewer?

BW: From the rural perspective we have already made it near impossible to serve the vast areas. Reducing any more will be a disenfranchisement as would any reduction in other areas because of numbers of residents. A consideration of a different electoral system...Alderman and council or a mixed at large/ward might be more efficient.

KN: Is your campaign accepting corporate and union donations?

BW: I have not yet done so

KN: Some people think they should be banned. What do you think?

BW: The definition of corporate is too vague Would this exclude the corner store? mac's Milk or the local grocery? Unions I believe should not contribute to municipal campaigns

ABOUT YOU

KN: What formal education, training or other credentials do you have?

BW: Education is some University non grad...E.O.I.T (precursor to Algonquin) 28 Years in communications industry..14 years working as a volunteer for the greater Ottawa area ..as volunteer for the Canadian Cancer Society, Heart and Stroke ..President of four different sports and community organizations...member of Rural Issues Advisory Committee, (a city support organization)

KN: If the election were held tomorrow, which mayoral candidate would get your vote?

BW: I can work well with either J. Watson or Larry O'Brien and have worked with Larry during his present term in office as well as with staff.

KN: Do you live in the ward you're seeking to represent? If not, what's your interest in the area?

BW: I have been a resident in the ward for 40 years

KN: Did you grow up in Ottawa? If not, what brought you here?

BW: I was born in Vancouver B.C. but have lived in Ottawa all my adult life

KN: When you were growing up, how did your parents or guardians support your family?

BW: My father was an employee of the Federal Government and my Mother was a registered Nurse working at the Cancer Wing of the Civic Hospital

KN: What's the most significant position of responsibility you've ever held, either in work life or as a volunteer?

BW: ...Although the significance may not be in stature I believe my most appreciated and therefore to me most impactive contribution is my driving as a volunteer for the Canadian Cancer Society...taking patients to their treatments and appointments

KN: Are you married or in a long-term partnership? Kids?

BW: ... I was married for almost 40 years until my wife passed away in July of this year. She strongly supported my campaign as my wife and also office manager. Our one child a son was married this Sept. 4th in Vancouver

KN: Who's been the best Ottawa municipal politician (including the pre-amalgamation municipalities) you know of? Why?

BW: I lived for some time in Nepean and have great respect for Aubrey Moodie, Ben Franklin and Andy Haydon Jim Durrell and Charlotte Whitten were visionaries as was a non politician, Doug Fullerton of the NCC They all worked to better and build what is now Ottawa

KN: When did you last take the bus to commute or run an errand?

BW: There is very limited bus service to the rural areas ( 3 commuter buses) so I am forced to use a car...but we do car pool to meetings and such

KN: When you did you last take a bike to commute or run an errand?

BW: I am able to walk to my coffee shop and grocery store as well as most other daily needs.

Why Vote for Bruce Webster?

Why Vote for BRUCE WEBSTER?

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While campaigning in Rideau/Goulbourn I have listened to many voters who have expressed their dissatisfaction with municipal government. They want better. So do I!

Here is where I stand on several of the issues I have heard:

Governance – City Hall is far too complicated, unresponsive and detached from the general public. We need new ideas and a fresh approach. I am not a professional politician however I am the only new candidate with the experience of community service in this campaign.

Financial – I am a fiscal conservative who believes City services are over-priced. Our administrative costs have more than doubled in ten years crippling the ability to fund basic requirements such as road maintenance and recreational infrastructure. Property taxes have increased by 14% in three years but services to our community have not kept pace. 22% of every tax dollar has subsidized growth related infrastructure while basic city services have declined. I want the opportunity to bring our City spending back to affordable levels, with improved appropriation applied. I agree with the OTAG position of “No new money.”

Transit - I support an enhanced transit system however I am not convinced that bus service should become secondary to light rail. There is too little evidence to support investing billions of dollars in rail. My priority will be to direct our investment to improvement in transit accessibility, comfort, convenience and affordability while reducing environmental impact.

Farm Practices – City Hall creates too much red tape for farmers and rural landowners. I believe in service rather than regulation. We need to solve problems not cause them.

Waste To Energy – I oppose reliance on landfill sites, after having visited other cities where proven technology allows municipal waste to become a fuel source for energy production. Modern cities need to apply modern waste management thinking.

Communities – Our planning approach to growth in Villages fails to respect our sense of community. Needless and rapid expansion requiring more than a hundred million dollars in piped service, for example, is not my priority. I prefer to enhance village sustainability.

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My Years of Experience will serve you well:

President – Rural Council of Ottawa-Carleton

2006 to 2010:

The Rural Council of Ottawa-Carleton is a coalition of rural citizens and organizations representing communities, property owners and small business, dedicated to the preservation and protection of rural rights, values, and freedom from unwarranted urban regulation, through education, advocacy and political leverage.

Member – Rural Issues Advisory Committee

2004 to 2010:

The Rural Issues Advisory Committee provides advice and recommendations to the Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee and City Council on issues affecting the rural and farming community of Ottawa. The Advisory Committee assists City Council in its efforts to protect and preserve the rural area; to promote healthy rural communities that contain living, working and recreational opportunities; and to respect the natural environment and resources of our rural areas.

President - Richmond Village Association

2003 to 2010:

The Richmond Village Association represents the interests of Richmond residents. It is proactive on issues concerning its residents, developing consensus and then presenting those viewpoints to the various levels of government.

On October 25^th - VOTE for

Experience, Knowledge, Leadership and Rural Values.

Make YOUR vote count:

Vote for Bruce WEBSTER

A Change for the Best