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Normal;}{\*\cs10 \additive Default Paragraph Font;}}{\info{\title Election questionnaire for the Nanaimo News Bulletin}{\author Blake McGuffie}{\operator Blake McGuffie}{\creatim\yr2008\mo10\dy17\hr10\min38}{\revtim\yr2008\mo10\dy18\hr14\min41}
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\tx566\tx1133\tx1700\tx2267\tx2834\tx3401\tx3968\tx4535\tx5102\tx5669\tx6236\tx6803\adjustright \fs20\lang2057\cgrid {\f5\fs24\cgrid0 Election questionnaire for the Nanaimo News Bulletin.
\par 
\par For the Nov. 15 civic elections, we are giving all candidates the same opportunity to get their message to voters.
\par 
\par Please respond VIA E-MAIL ONLY no later than FRIDAY, OCT. 24. Hand-written or hard-copy responses WILL NOT be accepted.
\par 
\par Please keep your answers as brief as possible, under 150 words per answer. Responses will be edited for publication.
\par 
\par The News Bulletin thanks candidates for their co-operation.
\par 
\par Mitch Wright, managing editor
\par 
\par ***
\par 
\par Name:  Blake McGuffie
\par 
\par Age:  60
\par 
\par Occupation: Tax Consultant 
\par 
\par Political experience:  Two previous terms on Council and RDN\tab 
\par 
\par Why are you seeking election/re-election?  
\par 
\par My many years in business and in the community give me the experience to be of value as a Councillor.  I am involved in many local organizations including neighbourh
ood associations and not for profits and I think this has me in much closer touch with the people I wish to represent.  I understand the City finances and know that we have much higher reserves for future expenditures than are necessary.  I believe these 
funds should be used to keep property taxes as low as possible.  The past few years have seen us overtaxed and have built up significant \ldblquote savings accounts\rdblquote 
, despite large capital projects like the Conference Centre.  Times are difficult and Council should recognize this in setting their spending priorities with our money.
\par 
\par What is the No. 1 issue in this election?  
\par 
\par I believe property tax rates to be higher than necessary to 
maintain and develop the community.  I also think Community Planning needs some serious consideration.  I do not accept that it makes sense to allow large areas currently undeveloped to be opened up when we have the ability to absorb considerable growth w
ithin existing areas.  We need  to get on with Neighbourhood plans in order to know what the areas want prior to making decisions on their behalf.
  The City of Nanaimo needs to dedicate considerably more resources to policing in our community.  The RCMP detachment does not have the manpower to perform the policing standard that the community needs.
\par 
\par 
\par 
\par How do you see the balance between the need for infrastructure/service and the need to keep property taxes 
under control?  I believe the City of Nanaimo has much more than adequate funds set aside for infrastructure.  Priority should be given to lowering property taxes.  
\par 
\par 
\par Nanaimo has a significant housing/homelessness situation. What do you propose as a potential solution?  I think the current plan for \ldblquote housing first\rdblquote  has considerable merit.  It will be incredibly challenging to provide housing for 
\ldblquote hard to house\rdblquote  addicts, insofar as no one seems to want them in their neighbourhood.  I believe well managed hou
sing in small units spread through the community can work, provided the Federal and Provincial governments can be convinced to provide both the Capital cost and the operating funds necessary.  The solutions for the addicts cannot continue to create proble
ms for the rest of us.
\par 
\par 
\par 
\par Nanaimo is projected to grow significantly over the coming years. What measures would you propose to manage that growth sustainably and within existing city limits?  I do not agree with new areas of the community opened to developm
ent at this time.  I was an active part of Plan Nanaimo that was intended to promote infill in existing services areas as the most affordable way to accommodate the growth that will come.  The development and construction industries will be busy as demand
 for housing increases, regardless of where that growth occurs.  It is massively more economical to infill as opposed to open new areas for development.  It is also much more environmentally responsible to densify rather than sprawl.
\par 
\par 
\par The forestry crisis a
nd wider economic slowdown has hit this area particularly hard. What response would you propose?  Harmac has obviously had some closure and present downsizing, from which we hope to see recovery.  I would continue to pressure the senior governments for ec
onomic restructure funds, to assist the community with diversification.  I have concerns about Council\rquote 
s current plan to further reduce Industrial taxation.  This can only be done for all Industrial Properties, and I do not believe it has a material effect on the viability of industry.  The economic factors that affect mill operations are
 much more complex that just property taxes.  We already have one of the lowest industrial tax rates in the Province.  If Industry does not pay, someone else has to and this would further increase the residential property taxes.
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