Q&As

Morning Jim, do you think the municipal budget is reasonable for the population and services we have?

That's a great question. And the short answer is I don't know. There's a lot of factors that go into determining if a budget is reasonable. One of the biggest things I would think to look at would be budgets of comparable towns like GFW or even others outside NL. Then you would have to look at priorities for the individual towns. Gander might spend more in some areas than other towns. Fiscal responsibility and sustainability are very important considerations for me. Gander's Strategic Plan for 2021-2025 and the 2025 budget refer to those as top priorities for the town. I see a lot of steps have been taken towards this. Overall expenditures are down slightly while the costs of general government is up. (That raises a question for me). As a councilor I will always question spending and ask for, or personally look into, comparables to try to gauge the reasonability. After all the money being spent is yours and mine. Most of it coming out of residents pockets.

Curious as to your thoughts on the safety and security of the residents in Gander...

that question would probably be answered differently depending on where you live in Gander. For me personally, I feel safe. However, it is concerning when you repeatedly hear of vehicles being broken into, strange people scoping out properties, theft from stores, etc. I've always been curious as to the level of policing provided by town police vs. RCMP. Are there nighttime patrols? How much? Is there a need to look at using constabulary here like in Cornerbrook. Right now, I don't really have answers, but I think I have some good questions to ask if I get elected!

This Year we’ve seen a rise in wildfires. How do you ensure the Atlantic Wildfire Center of Excellence gets built and delivers the benefits promised?

It was October 7, 2024 that the Govt of NL represented by The Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture, and Yvonne Jones, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Northern Affairs and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources Canada, were in Gander to provide details on the Atlantic Wildfire Centre and related infrastructure investments.

I’ve emailed Liberal candidate for our district, Bettina Ford, to ask for an update on the Request for Proposals for the design concept for the Atlantic Wildlife Centre campus and related infrastructure at Gander International Airport that was announced 1 year ago. Now is the time to make this an issue with the Provincial election underway!

Sept. 20th UPDATE… Bettina’s answer to my email…

Hi Jim. Great to see you at the council meeting this week.

The last update was a media release in May. $32 Million investment. It can be challenging to get an update during election periods with government in caretaker mode.

I've had meaningful conversations with Premier John Hogan about the importance of the Atlantic Wildfire Centre being established in Gander and opportunities to build upon the existing announcement and commitment.

Here is the link to latest release.

https://www.gov.nl.ca/releases/2025/ffa/0515n01/

What specific actions will you take at the municipal level to help restore air routes to Gander? Should municipal taxpayer money be used to subsidize new routes and regional connectivity from Gander?

Council has, in the past, and should again meet with stakeholders including airlines, provincial and federal transportation ministers, working in conjunction with GIAA to keep pressure on and keep it front of mind for the people making these decisions.

Using taxpayer money to subsidize routes is not an option. Investment could be made in feasibility studies and public campaigns to convince the airlines they need to reinstate these routes to Gander.

What is your vision for recreational spaces in Gander? Many existing play spaces and parks in various neighborhoods have seen very little upkeep, including the Little Cobb’s Pond boardwalk. How could you improve on these areas and keep them attractive for residents?

I think recreational spaces are vital to Gander’s image as a vibrant town and a desirable place to live. So many questions at this forum , and previous ones, revolve around how do we make Gander a place to attract health care workers, businesses, and people in general. Recreational spaces, active living, and generally having something available for people to do is a key part of a vibrant community. We need to make upkeep of Cobb’s pond and neighborhood parks and playgrounds a priority. We also need to think bigger picture when it comes to area’s like Little Hr. on Gander Lake and Thomas Howe Demonstration forest. These could be major area attractions! And this doesn’t need to be done exclusively with money from the taxpayers of Gander. Government grants and business sponsorships could play a big role.

Hi Jim, I really think that we need to start promoting Gander Lake and find ways to attract people to this area. So much under-utilized land which can be a major boost for our town. What are your thoughts on this?

I've always thought Gander Lake could be a major attraction for Gander. Starting with Little Hr. Developing that area so it is a substantive park for picnicking, swimming, hiking, etc. and development of the boat launch and dock area. I came to Gander 30 years ago and every visit to Little Hr. from then until now has left me thinking this could be so much more. I know that there are considerations for Gander Lake being a water supply but the lake is large enough to handle some development without impacting that.