Accessible & Accountable

Being Accessible & Accountable Shouldn’t Stop After Election Day

Throughout this campaign, I’ve heard a clear message from residents: they want a City Councillor who listens, is accessible and keeps them informed.

I agree.

That’s one reason I’ve been knocking on as many doors as I can during this election. I want to hear directly from residents, in their own neighbourhoods, about what’s working, what isn’t, and what they want to see from their next councillor.

I’ve also held regular coffee chats where residents can speak with me directly and sent newsletters to share updates, ideas and what I’m hearing across Kitchissippi.

If I’m elected, that won’t stop.

I’ll continue holding coffee chats and sending regular newsletters so residents know what’s happening at City Hall, what I’m working on, and where I stand on the issues that matter to our community.

A direct line to your councillor

I’ll also create a Kitchissippi Presidents Council, bringing together community leaders, service organizations and community police officers to regularly discuss local issues and work on solutions before problems grow.

Kitchissippi is made up of distinct neighbourhoods with different needs. Bringing people from across the ward together will help identify emerging issues, share information and make sure concerns from across Kitchissippi are reaching the councillor’s office.

But being accessible and accountable is about more than meetings and newsletters. It means showing up, listening, keeping residents informed and being clear about the decisions I make.

Making consultation count

If we ask residents for their input, we should also be transparent about what happens with it.

For development applications that involve community consultation, I’ll publish how many residents were invited, how many participated, and what participating residents told us. Where residents are asked to indicate whether they support or oppose a proposal, I’ll publish those results too.

And when I’m called on to take a position, I’ll publish where I stood and why.

That way, residents can see what the community said, what their councillor did, and whether those two things aligned.

Consultation shouldn’t be a box we check. Residents should be able to see that their participation matters.

Transparency in how your tax dollars are spent

Accountability also means being open about how the City spends your money.

For major City projects and contracts worth more than $10 million, I’ll push for real-time public dashboards and open financial reporting so residents can see how their tax dollars are being spent.

These dashboards would allow residents to track project costs, spending and progress, including whether projects are staying on budget and where costs are increasing.

I’ll also advocate for City departments to regularly review and justify their spending rather than simply increasing budgets each year.

Before City Hall asks residents for more money, it should be able to show how every dollar is being spent.

Accountability starts during the campaign

I don’t think transparency and accessibility should begin only after someone is elected.

Throughout this campaign, I’ve made it a priority to knock on doors, hold coffee chats and share regular updates with residents. I believe the way you run a campaign should reflect how you intend to serve your community.

If elected, I’ll bring that same approach to City Hall. I’ll be open about the decisions I make, accountable for how your tax dollars are spent and accessible when residents have questions or concerns.

You shouldn’t have to wait until the next election to be heard, get an answer or know where your councillor stands.

Being accessible and accountable shouldn’t stop after Election Day.