BIOGRAPHY
My early years were spent in the village of Mildmay. My father was a cabinet maker. After high school I served an apprenticeship for auto-body repair. My wife Marie and I purchased a farm in Culross Township, where for the last 40 years we have made our home and raised our children, Derrick, and Kiera. Along with conventional crops, we grew cucumbers under contract, ran a pick-your-own strawberry business and harvested dry hay for the equine market, of which I am still involved. Until recently, for a 20-year span, I was a school bus driver.
My past community involvements as a volunteer include, being a member of the South Bruce Tourism Committee, the Culross History Book Committee and Parish Council. For the broader community I have submitted a series of articles on lost skills and trades for the Bruce County Historical Society yearbooks. I currently sit on the Teeswater R.C. Cemetery Board.
ISSUES
There are many issues that are important in this election – retaining health services, infrastructure upgrades, taxes – but there is one item that beckons an immediate address; whether our municipality accepts or rejects the proposal to allow high-level radioactive waste to be disposed of within our borders.
In March of this year, 1,754 South Bruce residents petitioned council for a referendum on this issue, to be held at this municipal election. It was disregarded. Our current council’s perspective has me very concerned. I believe the most pressing issue in South Bruce is resolving the controversy and uncertainty that has polarized our community. We stand embittered on a divided path. Council needs to know which direction to follow. Prolonging this decision will only serve to exacerbate an already tense situation.
This unprecedented decision must be made by the people. A vote in favour, is a forever verdict. Future generations will hold us accountable. There is much to consider; societal impacts, economic diversity, health, and the environmental concerns of boring huge shafts through our extensive aquifer and burying beneath it, 70,000-plus tons of high-level radioactive waste. Should that aquifer ever befall the consequences of threat, either natural, accidental or by human means, it would be forever spoiled. There must be a better way of dealing with it.
If I am elected, I will put forth a motion to hold a referendum on this issue as soon as possible. Either way we need to settle the discord, heal, and move on.
Thank you for your consideration of my candidacy.
