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MERRITT HERALD FREE
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014 • MERRITT NEWSPAPERS
Policing, health care lead topics at forum By Michael Potestio THE HERALD
reporter@merrittherald.com
Police services, the Merritt hospital and jobs were the hot topics at Wednesday evening’s forum for the eight candidates vying for a seat on city council. Candidates Dave Baker, Linda Brown, Kurt Christopherson, Mike Goetz, Harry Kroeker, Bruce McMurchy, Diana Norgaard and Ginny Prowal were asked three questions at the forum, which drew about 140 people to the Civic Centre. When asked what service gap in Merritt needs the most attention, the top two answers were health care and policing. Norgaard, Baker, Kroeker, Christopherson, Prowal and Goetz answered local health care needs that attention. McMurchy pointed to policing services in his answer to this community’s biggest service gap. He said the city needs to look at a different model of police services. “If it has to have a hired service of some sort or city policemen, so be it,” McMurchy said. Brown also said something needs to be done in terms of policing, specifically in regards to Merritt’s drug and alcohol issues. She said with that comes the issue of affordable housing. Goetz said the other service gap is the level of recidivism in people who the RCMP deal with, which needs to come to an end. “We have to have some sort of availability for people to change their lives and get better and become productive citizens,” Goetz said. Prowal also said youth sports need improvement. “If we can keep our young people busy, then hopefully we can keep them out of trouble,” she said. The candidates were also asked
(From left) Mike Goetz, Ginny Prowal, Kurt Christopherson, Harry Kroeker, Linda Brown, Bruce McMurchy, Dave Baker and Diana Norgaard are each vying a seat on Merritt’s city council. Six of the candidates will be elected after the general voting on Nov. 15. Michael Potestio/Herald
what they would prioritize for Merritt’s infrastructure. Prowal said she’d like to see a drought plan and more roadwork as infrastructure priorities. Goetz said he’d like to see more work done on Merritt’s hospital, noting at the last Union of B.C. Municipalities meeting, Health Minister Terry Lake agreed to visit the hospital. Norgaard also said hospital services are important, along with wheelchair accessibility and water resources. Christopherson said the city needs to find ways to bring people back to Merritt’s downtown on a regular basis. Baker said infrastructure is a Canada-wide problem, and that to move infrastructure forward, the issue is obtaining funding. He said bringing in businesses and jobs to Merritt is the key to improving infrastructure. McMurchy said the top concern he’s heard from people over the last few weeks has been regarding jobs. He said without jobs, infra-
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structure projects cannot get done. Kroeker echoed the fact that infrastructure projects require funding and said council needs the public’s support and encouragement when it decides to spend money to fix infrastructure rather than being told taxes are being spent the wrong way. Brown indicated hospital services as an infrastructure priority, recalling her time as a hospital administrator in Smithers when she worked to help keep that facility open as an active hospital. The candidates were also asked why they feel Merrittonians should trust them to make decisions on their behalf the next four years. Kroeker said he believes he’s proven himself over the past few years, and he takes the position seriously. “I’m not afraid to speak out,” he said, adding he’s not afraid to ask questions. Brown said she can address difficult situations, and used an example from a previous job she worked overseas in which she found
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accounting errors and divulged them even though she said it put her life in danger. Christopherson said he’s running for re-election because he doesn’t stop before something is finished. “I think that council is in the midst of some very important decisions, some projects that we have begun and I have no intention of quitting halfway through and not fulfilling what I promised to do,” he said. Prowal said she can be entrusted to make decisions on behalf of Merritt because she lives in this community. “I really don’t want to do anything that could hurt myself or my friends or this whole community,” Prowal said, adding that she would study everything and consider the ramifications when making council decisions. Norgaard said she is true to her word. “Those of you who know me know that integrity is very much a part of who I am, and for those of
you who don’t know me, you may have to see in the next four years whether I can do that,” she said. Baker said he brings dedication, consideration of all Merrittonians and respectful behaviour to council. “For those reasons, I think you can entrust me to continue to do the job that I have,” Baker said, promising to serve the full fouryear term and not cause a byelection. McMurchy said he’s worked for people such as former politician Stockwell Day and thus Merrittonians can trust him too. Goetz said Merrittonians have entrusted him to make decisions on their behalf for the past six years — some that have gone well and others that haven’t. “Understand one thing: when you entrust me with something, I will take it and I will work with it and I will get back to you — I always have,” Goetz said. “The main job of a councillor is to work for the people. You’re basically a tool. I’m a tool, so use me.”
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