These past four years have seen a lot of growth and change for our City. We’ve seen unprecedented investment in our City and we’ve started our journey as a tourism powerhouse. All this during a global pandemic. Imagine what we can do together once Covid-19 is behind us.
I’m proud of what our Council has accomplished…
We’ve worked to attract young people and families to our City
- We ended the regressive and unfair poll tax once and for all
- We added a wildly-successful splash pad to Bowater Park
- We secured funds for a new Aquatics Centre in partnership with MUN and our neighbours
- We got the long-overdue Jubilee Field Clubhouse done
- We started programs like Active Tots to give young parents and grandparents a place to bring their little treasures regardless of rain or snow
We’ve reinvigorated our tourism sector
- We started a strategic tourism plan with a regional focus
- We hired dedicated tourism staff to spearhead that initiative
- We established first of its kind ATV route and road access for residents
- We supported Sno-Riders on building ATV and snowmobile access to City
- We worked with volunteers to make Come Home Year a reality
- We showed the world we’re in the tourism game with initiatives like the Mill Whistler Train and Corner Brook sign
We’ve brought order and transparency to Council
- We started online broadcast of Council meetings
- We ended weekly closed-door “briefings” in favour of public meetings
- We established a Council Code of Conduct
- We passed a Remuneration Bylaw that does not allow Council to set its own pay
We’re changing the business story
- As part of the Corner Brook Port Corporation board, we established international container freight service
- We’ve seen unprecedented private sector investment in City because of new economic confidence in our region
- We completed land deals to see dozens of new, affordable homes build here in the next 2-3 years
- We launched online applications for building permits and procured new permit software to streamline the process
- We cut business taxes for tourism and hospitality businesses while making big box stores pay more
We managed the pandemic crisis
- We made tough fiscal decisions to cut $1.5M in spending during pandemic to avoid tax hikes
- We established tax credits and deferrals for small businesses hardest hit at the beginning of the pandemic
- We passed $1M-smaller budget for 2021 anticipating ongoing effects of pandemic on City revenues
- We provided calm, steady leadership and communication at a time when our community faced a great deal of anxiety
We’re building relationships within our community and with our neighbours
- We’re working with our Mill to investigate shared wastewater treatment
- We’re partnering with the Mill, Grenfell, CNA and our government partners to revitalize the mill admin building into a new Innovation Centre
- We’ve established community advisory committees on Accessibility, Youth and Social Services
- We’re building a new Regional Aquatics Centre with our municipal neighbours and Grenfell
- We’re building more community gardens with the Western Environment Centre
- We’re showing our commitment to Qalipu First Nation though permanent public symbols, public art and through our partnership on Participark