Council candidates talk City at forum

During the Swift Current city council candidate forum Wednesday night, the biggest issues facing Swift Current were discussed.
 
Council hopefuls both new and potentially returning were given a chance to answer the questions being fielded for a minute each.
 
Forum host, Ryan Nagel of Kanuka Thuringer LLP, posed the question to everyone and held them to the time limit of one minute per answer. Sitting in for the forum were Tom Christiansen, Bruce Deg, Kurtis Kantrud, Maria Lewans, Ken Linsley, Kurtis Nicholson, Ryan Plewis, Courtney Stewart, Ryan Switzer, and Leanne Tuntland-Wiebe.

The first question Nagel offered was 'As a simple yes or no, are you in support of the City financing and building a new multipurpose recreational facility? And if yes, how do you plan to fund the City's contribution, as well as the future operating cost going forward?'.
 
Out of the ten candidates, nine were in support with only Maria Lewans being opposed to the prospective facility.

"I'm not in support of the facility," said Lewans. "I'm far more concerned about the state of our planet and the future. I think we have a huge mental health crisis in our city and I think we need to contemplate more on the meaning of life."
 
Other candidates all agreed on the need to be approved for grant funding. Many of them highlighted the Southwest Facility Foundation and the work they have done to raise money for the facility, which bolsters the grant application.  
 
The first person to mention a special levy in order to pay for the City's portion of the project, which would be in the range of $25 million was brought up by Deg.

"In the past, we've had levies that would be used for a specific project," highlighted Deg. "The Cypress Regional Health Hospital was one of those special projects.
 
"I think there's different ways to do it, but we have to be successful with the grant funding first."
 
Christiansen was also in favour of the levy, which he believes to be a reasonable option to pursue. He thinks that getting the surrounding area involved could help with the huge expense.

"With the cost of it, there is absolutely no doubt that we have to have grants involved in the process," said Christiansen. "Hopefully we can get some surrounding R.M. participation as well because the price tag is estimated to be $50 million total."
 
Other candidates agreed that a potential levy or tax could be necessary for the City to pay for the potential multi-purpose recreational facility once the grants are approved.
 
Another submitted question that Nagel offered was 'What plans would each candidate implement to bring in new growth to Swift Current in new business, residents, and industries'?
 
Kantrud opened up responses by saying that the new multi-purpose recreational facility would in part help with those issues.

"To have new families coming to town, they would need something they want to have, something that they can do," said Kantrud. "There's going to be people that are to be construction guys that are going to be working on this. They're going to have families, and they're going to want to move to town. They might say, Swift Current is a beautiful place, let's stay here."
 
Candidates were also asked about the recent growth of crime and homelessness in the City of Swift Current. The question was asked of what the candidates would do to address those issues.
 
Nicholson held an answer that was in line with what many of the others had to say, in that there is no easy answer.

"It definitely is an issue and something we have to recognize and become proactive on," said Nicholson. "The first step is recognizing that it is an issue. Moving forward, working to provide the mental services that people need."
 
The matter of homelessness was addressed again when it was brought up during the open question period. A member of the public asked council hopefuls to either state what they have done about homelessness having served previously, or what they would do to resolve the issue if elected to city council.
 
Linsley answered with a promise to tackle the matter with five commitments if elected.

"I have five things that I will commit to," said Linsley. "Recognize the issue, commit to bring it to the table, listen to the experts, sit on the committees, and advocate while I'm in government."
 
Another question fielded from the crowd was what is being done to protect children from drugs, and if the candidates knew if the RCMP were being involved in those efforts.
 
Switzer was able to highlight the efforts of Constable Tony Curti and the work he has done at the Swift Current Comprehensive High School.

"I work with him on the local Drug Action and Strategy Committee," noted Switzer. "He provides us with a great window into what's going on with the youth in our committee and some of the issues that they face."
 
Tuntland-Wiebe gave a shoutout to the good work done by The Center in Swift Current.

"With the councillors at The Center, I don't know where our city would be without them," said Tuntland-Wiebe. "The children have a place to go, they have a place to learn, they're cared for and they're safe down there."
 
When asked what the most critical issue facing the City of Swift Current is, each councillor candidate gave their own take.
 
Plewis highlighted how infrastructure is one of the most important because it's the first thing they hear about when it fails.

"It has to be. That's our number one job on council is looking after the things that you otherwise take for granted," said Plewis. "I guarantee you that the fastest phone call I got on council was from the person who stubbed their toe on their way to the bathroom when the light wouldn't come on or the toilet wouldn't flush."
 
Stewart, while not having served on the council to date, agreed that infrastructure was important, and that it would also be at the top of her list.

"I chose to run for council because I want to be actively involved in my community, and because I am a problem solver," said Stewart. "The other things I would be really focused on if elected would be securing an integrated facility, our existing community spaces, and finding a way to support all those things that make it great to live here, while still supporting families and low-income residents."
 
Election day is November 13, 2024. Voting information can be found on the City of Swift Current website.