2. What skills and experience do you offer that will make you a successful, city-builder and consensus builder?

I'll start with what some may think are smaller accomplishments but that demonstrate both who I am and my ability to build community. When we moved to Owen Sound, I was a stay-at-home mom with four children. I began working with the now-defunct Victoria Public School. I became a teacher's assistant for a number of years there, eventually working with children with autism.

At Victoria, I also started a free lunch program for students, soliciting food donations from local businesses and organizing parent volunteers. A few of my interest were in creating a peace park in front of Victoria and bringing a small piece of facade from Queen's Park to Owen Sound. I also reached out to the local Nawash Chief Ralph Akiwenzie and received permission for Victoria students to restore and paint the small picket fence guarding Naaneebweque's grave. Naaneebweque, fondly remembered as an Indian princess and important historical figure, was one of the first Indian land claim advocates.

As the former owner of a local, award-winning boutique, I am intimately aware of the struggles small business owners in the area face. Over the years, I worked closely with the Owen Sound DIA. I organized and held fundraisers for various local and international charities, the most significant being an initiative for Habitat for Humanity.

The money I raised helped local high school students participate in the organization's first international build by youth under 21, which saw the Wave of Hope team led by Diane Wood travel to Sri Lanka following the 2004 tsunami that devastated that nation. A fashion show held on the MS Chi-Cheemaun raised $8,000 to send students from West Hill Secondary School to Sri Lanka. This was made possible in part by the generous staff of the Chi-Cheemaun, and helped put Owen Sound on the map internationally.

Before I opened NancyLee in 2003, I held the position North American management consultant and director of operations (1999-2003) for Manhattan 101. I had to interpret relevant business legislation and by-laws, directly advising the president of the company. As director of operations, I often worked in America, giving me experience in international negotiations. All my traveling created a great appreciation for the uniqueness of Owen Sound and my country.

Currently, I own and operate Tazpilot Car. As the driver of a pilot escort vehicle, I am responsible for establishing safe routes for large deliveries carried by transport trucks — known as oversized loads — by clearing and stopping traffic and measuring the height of overpasses, hydro lines or bridges that could cross our path. I often working closely with the OPP and with local municipal police in different regions of Ontario and across Canada. My job is to keep the public, as well as the merchandise, safe.

3. Given that Owen Sound is known for high property taxes, how important is it to hold the line? Can we address social and health issues and other pressing problems despite the fiscal challenges?

I asked myself the question not long ago, "can I afford to live in Owen Sound?" It is very important to keep a tight grip on our taxes and our water bills, so a big yes to holding the line on taxes.

Given that, can we also afford to be compassionate? This is an interesting question, but the answer should always be 'yes'. We can be creative. While the responsibility for social services is mainly the County's and funding is a Provincial matter, we must recognize that the city has a duty to help those in need, like the homeless. Of course, money is always an issue but compassion doesn't need to cost anything. We can invite them in, point them to agencies that can help, collect the paperwork that would allow them to access programs and assist in filling it out.
We sould change our lot size requirements for home building thus allowing mini home builds. Home ownership addresses the homeless and metal health situation because there is great pride and a sense of love and caring fulfilled.

4. Our city's downtown retail district is in protracted decline with over 25 per cent empty storefronts along 2nd Ave. East. How can we revitalize our downtown — what process, what specific options and what sorts of investments?

The city has already put into motion the downtown beautification plan and the DIA also does a great job.

I would promote Owen Sound as the entrepreneurial capital of Ontario with lots of available storefronts in a city with a growing population. Leave the big city and come here. We should invest our time in trying to figure out what businesses would succeed here and promote those as opportunities on our web page. Let our residents tell us what kind of stores we need downtown after all they will be the clients. We can do this via an input page a reach out program a meet and greet at Tim Hortons etc. We could then take the top ten suggestions and post them on a businesses interest page inviting people to set up shop and invest in Owen Sound.

We need to actually care that downtown business make a profit. Otherwise we will have more empty storefronts as the financial crunch continues. We need to be creating and changing policies to have a positive impact on business and empower them to improve. Bottom line: We need to make sure our downtown business owners are successful, not struggling.

5. Owen Sound gives owners of retail/business properties a 30 per cent tax rebate for those portions of buildings that are unoccupied, which has been called an incentive to keep them empty. Will you vote to end this giveaway?

I would vote to end this. I have always been baffled by the city's response to empty buildings receiving a gift of sorts. Should it not be the other way around? If you keep your building empty, after so many months you should pay a penalty. I wonder how many buildings would quickly be rented out. To me it would make greater sense to give a tax break to owners who keep their building in beautiful repair and rented. There should be some kind of recognition for being a responsible property owner.

6. How do you propose to stimulate the local economy to attract new enterprises in order to generate decent-paying jobs that are urgently needed in Owen Sound?

I believe we need to review all of our development policies, zoning and bylaws. The city introduced the reduction of large industrial and commercial tax relief was implemented, which has helped attract new business and growth. MacLean Engineering, Belfor Property Restoration and Bellwyck Packaging Solutions are all expanding as noted in a Sun Times article dated July 26, 2018. On top of that, on August 16 it was reported that BWXT and Brotech Precision were coming. Calling it the "resurgence of manufacturing in Owen Sound," the head of Bruce Power announced the two companies would manufacture and assemble components for the nuclear generator's multi-billion dollar life extension program.

7. Because the Owen Sound waterfront has not been designated a federal Area of Concern it is not eligible for funding to clean up toxic pollution and prepare disused land for redevelopment. Will you work and vote to get this designation and seek other ways to clean up the vacant land on both sides of the bay?

Yes, I believe we should always be re-applying to be designated an Area of Concern. Federal policies often change and so do Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks guidelines. The Grey Bruce Health Unit was built on one these toxic properties. The old CPR station was on the list and now houses the Mudtown Station brewery and restaurant.

There are interesting studies that show the growing of mushrooms on toxic land is by far the most inexpensive way of ridding the soil of toxic waste. This is something the city should explore.

8. Owen Sound has eliminated development charges for larger housing and retail projects, money that is collected in other Ontario cities to cover the costs of road, water and sewage infrastructure. Is this a necessary development incentive, or should it be studied with a view to ending such a worthless giveaway?

I believe this should be studied and the pros and cons weighed. We want the flexibility of giving such a break to a future company choosing Owen Sound. If this was on the table, it could be an incentive, but the creation of jobs would have to go hand-in-hand. More work means more people looking to live in Owen Sound more taxes being paid.

9. Why are Collingwood, Thornbury and Tobermory active tourist destinations while Owen Sound, relatively speaking, is ignored? Are we adequately promoting our music and cultural events and hiking/snowshoeing/skiing opportunities? How can tourism be more effectively promoted?

Unfortunately we don't have the Blue Mountain resorts in our backyard, or the beaches that Sauble Beach does, but we are in the centre of the hub. There's Toronto to the southeast, Guelph and Kitchener to the south, London to our southwest, and Cyprus Lake, Tobermory, North Bay, Sudbury and Manitoulin Island to our north. We're in the middle. You can take amazing, activity-filled day trips and come back home to the peace of Owen Sound.

We could probably add a country music fest to our already-successful roster of events. Let's all brainstorm for a successful Owen Sound. Let's look at other smaller cities and how they are keeping their downtowns relevant. Let's use all available free resources and lets engage the residents of Owen Sound see what ideas they can all come up with. I am sure there is great ideas out there and we just have not asked the question,
If we want to attract families and individuals, it is time we grew up and became bicycle friendly. It's a rapidly growing sport, it's healthy physically and mentally and has a big extra bonus — it's great for our air quality.

10. Poverty is a stubborn reality for tens of thousands of our neighbours. According to Bruce Grey United Way in 2017, a single parent with two kids needs a full-time wage of $21.01 per hour, but this is a dream for thousands of workers. How do you propose to reduce poverty?

I think we need to work closely with Habitat for Humanity and form a partnership of some sort to promote home ownership in Owen Sound. It is very difficult to make employers pay a better wage, as we noticed with the strike at the Owen Sound Medical Centre, and there are employers who simply can't afford higher labor costs which could force them to close their doors.
I believe housing costs is a major player in whether a person can afford to live on whatever their salary is that is why I believe home built by Habitat for Humanity is a great solution.
A solution for low wages a solution for homelessness a solution for low income earners a solution for mental health.

11. Owen Sound's low-income renters are experiencing close to the lowest apartment vacancy rates in Ontario. What can be done to increase the housing supply, especially for younger and low-income people? (Housing issues, it should be noted, are primarily addressed at the county level, so how can a local councillor have an impact?)

I think we need to work closely with Habitat for Humanity and form a partnership of some sort. We need to help those eligible to become homeowners through Habitat for Humanity builds. Home ownership gives people pride. But one of the biggest stumbling blocks for low-income earners is an ability to get a mortgage. Maybe we change bylaws to allow smaller homes and lot sizes. The mini home has been such a success story in other regions cross North America. And as I said above I believe housing costs is a major player in whether a person can afford to live on whatever their salary is that is why I believe home builds by Habitat for Humanity is a great solution.
It's a solution for low wages a solution for homelessness a solution for low income earners a solution for mental health.

12. Many Ontario municipalities have studied their carbon footprint and created a plan to address climate change at the local level, but Owen Sound has lagged behind. What measures would you propose to reduce CO2 emissions and to adapt to climate change impacts? Would you vote for a study to identify practical options?

Yes I would, depending on the price of course. There are steps we could take without the cost of a study that comes up with recommendations that may never be implemented. First we should put into place mandatory CO2 emissions testing for vehicles. Cycling lanes could also help reduce our carbon footprint as well as benefit our local cycling shops. Cycling paths along our beautiful harbour could increase local tourism as well.

Owen Sound could incorporate Lucid energy into a water system.
http://lucidenergy.com/