Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Walter Anderson Answers Candidate Questions




1. What do you see as the one most pressing problem facing Nanaimo?

- Lack of economic opportunity

2. What do you see as the most promising opportunity facing Nanaimo?

- The potential to attract knowledge-based, creative, hi-tech and other green industry because of our easy access to the lower mainland and great quality of life

3. In your opinion is the Nanaimo median household income good, bad or of no consequence?

- Unacceptably poor, should be 20% higher

4. Do you feel the Nanaimo harbour should be leased to a private company?

- It would depend on the benefits to the community and terms assuring no loss of ownership or control. Community input essential to future plans for the harbor.

5. What is your opinion on the standard that the dam safety branch is applying to the Colliery Dams?

- Dam safety branch standards need serious reconsideration in this case. 1 in 10,000 years? Seriously? All proper caution must be exercised but the heritage and aesthetic value of this asset is far too precious to lose. Let’s work on solutions without confrontation.

6. Do you feel the province, municipalities, regional districts and private owners/operators can afford the costs to meet this standard?

- In my opinion, with the information at hand – certainly not.

7. Can the province provide any stimulus that could improve the employment opportunities for young people wishing to make Nanaimo their home?

- The province should help foster an economic environment that will help attract the kinds of businesses that employ a predominance of young workers coming here to develop new businesses and their careers.

8. Does the current basic housing allowance for those on social assistance provide adequate housing for those in need of this service in Nanaimo?

- No

9. Does the basic allowance to those on social assistance provide adequate resources to meet the necessities of life in Nanaimo?

- No. Unacceptable, as above.

10. Is there anything you can do to facilitate a more robust use of the Nanaimo cruise ship terminal?

- Help support the marketing plans of the Port Authority, Tourism Nanaimo and NEDC. Work with provincial tourism authorities. With Victoria attracting some 200 ships a year, there is clearly plenty of business out there. Nanaimo is a work in progress.

11. Is there anything you can do to facilitate the establishment of a downtown to downtown ferry service.

- I would focus on getting this service operating cost-effectively as a priority of my first term. It is necessary to help assure financial success for private operators to make it happen. The province must have several avenues where support could be found. A downtown-to-downtown ferry service is integral to Nanaimo’s economic and tourism success.

allvoices

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