Rebuilding a community does not start with one person; it begins with the people and groups who are actively trying to make a difference.  Those who volunteer, advocate and most important they act.  If you are seeking Inspiration, look to the people, those who are out there in your community, the real ambassadors for the CBRM.  They are not wealthy, they struggle just like you, yet they continue to funnel their passion for this community into efforts that address the problems.

I passionately believe that we must unite, change our collective mindset into one of positivity. We must start at the grassroots; bring together those who are already active within our community and share their experience with those who have desire yet want a better life for the people of the CBRM. This engagement and open dialogue will inspire action creating a take control movement, a truly Get Er Done attitude focused on our community; focused on what we want it to be.  We do not only for us all but for those who visit.  Most importantly, build the momentum, keep it up and see it through.  The privilege to lead should be earned by example and setting a new standard.

Before we begin, it is worthy to point out these three items pertaining to the question “What do Councillors do?” taken directly from the NS Municipal Affairs Guidebook.

• Respond to community and citizen concerns
  
• Are aware of important issues in the community and bring them forward to meetings
  
• Keep citizens informed about important issues and seek their feedback

It this your experience?

We must bring our “community of communities” closer together and authentic, two-way communication is the first step to do so. We must all be engaged and informed, involved in the decision and planning process that affects our communities and lives. We, the citizens are the shareholders, and our municipal leadership (Mayor & Council) is the board who serves and delivers the wishes of those shareholders, or at least that is how it should be considered. This is essential in identifying every community's needs and development.

Communication is a key component in leadership. We generally hear significant decisions via the media when it is far too late to inform or seek input from the public. We have had far too many controversial issues happen which have caused outrage and distrust, the Highland Arts Theatre, and the Fire Station as a recent example, and we know there are more. Recognizing the process would be extra work, but would it not be valuable? In knowing what WE, the citizens feel, want, and need on an issue or agenda item? Granted, there are notices in newspapers, and public meetings, etc.

The notices are small and overlooked, the public meeting is attended mainly by people with a specific agenda or stake in the topic. This is not very engaging. Of course, it is helpful that we have council and special meetings live streamed and uploaded for later viewing and reference, but they are long winded and honestly not very engaging. Having a system in place to inform and receive feedback well before the item is on the agenda would be an effective tool to work directly with our citizens. Would this be hard work? Yes, it would, would it bridge and strengthen the partnership between citizens and their elected officials? Yes, it would. Let us do the work then, shall we?

What do I mean by advocacy?  In my opinion, is that it addresses all the concerns and shortcomings that our communities and people endure. That being, Taxes, Poverty, Housing, specifically the over all shortage and the unreachable rental rates surround the housing issue. Also tackling the barriers of a basic quality of life for so many citizens, those are jobs and food security. It also includes mental & physical health, addictions, and the basic rights of all peoples. The pursuit, understanding and conversation of Equalization needs to be focused on and addressed has it has a direct impact on all the above-mentioned issues.

Yes, these significant issues fall under the jurisdiction of the Federal and Provincial Governments, however that is absolutely NO reason to not act. We must advocate for our communities at every opportunity and insist strong collaboration, partnerships and cooperation be conducted to achieve real and authentic solutions. Please continue reading as I will elaborate more specifically on each area of concern.

Taxes are an obvious issue and such an easy cliché topic for every “platform” during election campaigning and should not be used without a plan. It is a very real issue specifically to the CBRM. We must eliminate the risk in fixing the tax cap is the issue. We need to dive into this area and find the best solution to move forward without causing further hardships. It is highly likely that a completely NEW system needs to be created to provide the most progressive, effective, and fair system that our economic climate demands. Our current homeowners, prospective home builders and commercial enterprises require it if we wish to develop our economic stability.

We must also exhaust every possibility to increase our tax base. That being with immigration and migration. We need to retain and lure new comers both foreign and domestic to our community of communities. This not only increases out tax base but increases a positive economic impact to our community. This is a significant factor of our tax issues.

I am beyond frustrated and embarrassed by our poverty situation more so by always hearing the 35% being mention and no active effort or plans to honestly address it.

Poverty hurts us all by having a long-term impact on our education, healthcare, and legal systems.  Children living in poverty are the sons and daughters of parents living in poverty, it is as simple as that. With poverty comes a complex set of issues; issues that destroy the Health & Happiness within our community. 

We as a community cannot dismiss them; pretend they do not exist, or worse - place blame on the poor for their circumstance.  We must rise to a higher moral standard. If no one advocates, then it will not get political attention. This is a community problem, and it will be a community solution by aggressively addressing the real cause and not just the symptoms. The increase to the child benefits is obviously a positive one, but no way truly helps or addresses the problem in an effective impact that is required.

We must parallel the efforts of both the steady application of governmental advocacy and focusing on our existing social enterprise efforts by enhancing our currant organization that work on this mission, and rally coordinated volunteer efforts. With this two-pronged assault, we can close the gap between both areas and have a positive impact on our communities.

We need to tackle the rent issues head on. The ridiculous rate hikes, the lack of actual homes/apartments and the postings we see on line stating "No families or children" and the fact messages are not returned once the inquiring tenant (often a single parent) has been researched on social media. We need to take control of this and take real and creative actions to change the unsatisfactory current situation.

Vacant residential properties, both held by the CBRM and Community Housing are a part of our housing issues. These are left unoccupied due to budgetary restraints. That needs to be looked at and creative actions implemented to address this. Social enterprise projects and volunteer task forces need to be created. A productive collaboration and partnership with all the stakeholders is the call to action to move forward and address these barriers. Habitat for humanity, as an example does it every day, we need to adopt this mindset and take actions. We cannot rely on the typical methods of solution, as we all know, it is not to likely to be forthcoming anytime soon.

Housing first, leads to a healthier community by effecting other social issues being reduced. A full audit of the housing issue needs to be conducted, and not just crisis numbers, but vacant properties (both CBRM and Community Housing) rents, intolerant landlords (huge rent, no families or children, etc.) and then implement actual strategies with real action on those strategies. No more excuses. We want healthy and vibrant communities, then we need to make then just that. And our people having a basic quality of life should be a minimum starting focus for a full, vibrant, thriving healthy community.

Over the last few years, I have investigated the possibility of creating a social enterprise specifically for our housing crisis. During the meetings and discussions, I have learnt that many developers do not want to get involved in "affordable housing" projects due to potential tenant issues, which is sadly a social profiling issue. This should not be the proverbial “one bad apple” opinion. This sadly leaves the door open to “slumlord” like activities. We must recognize those concerns as valid, but they cannot be the reason to ignore the standing issues we have today. Of course, a return on investment is important for investors and developing new apartments and condos for families and seniors is particularly important. But the fact remains that it does not address the massive percentage of our citizens that are victims of our housing crisis. A social return on investment is equally important for a community, should it not be? I think it is especially important. We must nurture a balance between the new developments with the much-needed housing developments.

We must move forward with open eyes and minds and creatively proceed while being aware of the imbalance of gentrification throughout the management of the entire process. Our municipal leadership must be actively involved in ensuring everyone has adequate housing. We need to audit the real situation, create a detailed strategy, and action plan. I do not like to look at it specifically as "affordable housing" but as simply “Housing for all” regardless of one’s financial situation. That should not be too much to ask, should it?

Addictions are a major issue throughout our community of communities. Sadly, it is our most vulnerable that end up in this situation. The above-mentioned issues are a significant reason for many of these issues. All are related to the other and directly adds to the suffering of depression, anxiety, and substance use.

Constant advocacy, collaboration and partnerships with our Federal and Provincial partners must continue. The new developments and infrastructure to our healthcare system; that being the hospital expansion and community clinics are certainly a positive addition. However, much more needs to be implemented and achieved to ensure a real and practical impact on our needs.

We have an unproportionate ratio between the addiction recovery facilities and beds. Throughout our communities, there is a shortfall of cooperation and processes in how many issues and concerns are addressed and handled surrounding these areas of concern. There needs to be crisis management teams working directly with our overburdened police force, and then an increase to the locations in which this help can be offered.

In closing…

Of course, we all recognize the needs and know all to well all of these areas of concern are a complex and challenging situation; regardless, we must put in the hard work, and take the necessary steps to meet the challenges head on. I apologize if all this is looked at as a negative view towards our communities, it is not intended as such. It is simply recognizing the real issues we need to address. In doing so, it becomes a positive action, actions that compliment our current developments and successes that our community is experiencing. But as I said before, there must be a balance between both these areas of community development.

Our people are the foundation of our community, without that healthy foundation, how can we truly be the vibrant prosperous community we wish to become. With full inclusion of all our concerns and social needs, our citizens will feel the belonging and respect that all should experience. Additionally, and of economic importance, our visitors will note this progressive and inclusive approach to community, and admiration ensues, the desires to become a part of, or at least return to visit will be the by-product. And isn’t that something to be positive and immensely proud of? You tell me.

Thank you for your interest and valuable time. Now please log on or call and VOTE!

Internet voting link:  cbrm.isi.vote.com

Telephone voting number: 1-877-495-0236

NOTE:  If your voting session is interrupted, you can re-access the system by telephone or the internet and complete your voting.

Nigel Kearns, your candidate for District 5