New Mayor Says Status Quo Needs To Go

By Robert Thomas

“I have been a Moose Jaw booster all of my life and I am going to continue to try and boost this city in the role as mayor,” a newly sworn in Mayor Clive Tolley said in his first speech before Council.

Mayor Tolley who was elected last Wednesday, November 3rd, in a byelection to replace the vacated mayor’s chair gave the speech prior to getting down to business at a full Council meeting.

He said things need to change for Moose Jaw to reach its full potential.

“The status quo is not going to work for our community. We have been stuck in around the same population for 100 years and our costs keep going up every year and our income has to expand to address that need,” he said. “So we are going to have to grow our community. I am here to help with the councilors, City administration and the citizens of this city. To try and see if we can build this city.”

Mayor Tolley pointed out that the only route Moose Jaw can take is one based upon growth.

Mayor Clive Tolley addresses the media - photo credit City of Moose Jaw Facebook page

“We are having a tough time paying the bills. Currently we are in a great financial position because the investments that our financial director has been doing over the last few years. But we as a community need to grow.”

Mayor Tolley spoke about already visiting the SaskPower natural gas fired electrical generation plant presently under construction and what it will mean for Moose Jaw.

“There is great promise for further economic development in that (industrial) park and I will try to lead as our Administration and councillors try to bring more business to this community.”

He mentioned how there are about seven (7) million people who were born in Saskatchewan, received a good education in the province and then moved elsewhere in the country.

“We have got to keep more of those people here. In order to keep them here we must have jobs for them,” the new Mayor said.

The Mayor went on to address not only the importance of Remembrance Day but also the value veterans have for the community and their extreme sacrifices for the community.

POST COUNCIL MEDIA QUESTIONS

In his first post Council media scrum Mayor Tolmie was asked questions about his statements regarding changing the status quo and Moose Jaw growing population wise.

“We’ve got to create economic activity which creates jobs which brings people to our city or allows people to stay here and work. So many of us our children get an education and go to Calgary or Vancouver or elsewhere in the country or the world to work. To me the status quo has been that Moose Jaw’s population hasn’t changed for so long that I want to see increased commerce, industry, economic activity creating more jobs and bringing more jobs to the city.”

Asked by MJ Independent about the city’s changing demographic from when he was an alderman from 1988 - 1991 and how to attract immigrants to the community Mayor Tolley said the key factor was employment.

“I think jobs. They have to have jobs in order to make a living to buy a home, or rent a home, pay for their groceries or raise a family,” he said, adding “I think we have a better chance now in retaining new immigrants in our city. I am seeing examples they are buying homes here, buying businesses and to me that is a strong sign they intend to make Moose Jaw their home.”

The 2015 Census showed Moose Jaw had a population of 32,095 with 2,960 residents being born outside Canada. Second generation (the children of immigrants or one immigrant parent) residents numbered 4,295. The 2021 figures are yet to be released but the indicators are the numbers will be larger.

Asked by MJ Independent if he has reached out to New Canadian groups Mayor Tolley said he had.

“I have met with several New Canadians and people that are here on work permits and are not yet Canadians. I have met and spent quite some time with our new citizens and I plan to do a lot more of that in the coming months and years.”

Asked if the many immigrants and residents in Moose Jaw added a dynamic and vibrancy to Moose Jaw the Mayor said they did.

“Absolutely, I think a multicultural city is much more interesting and entertaining. They bring their food, their culture hopefully many of them will be part of Motif our annual celebration of multiculturalism down in Happy Valley (Park).”

Mayor Tolley spoke about stopping into a shop owned by an immigrant as a way to show support and bridge gaps.

“I stopped into a shop the other day and met a man who has just immigrated from Hong Kong. I made a small purchase just to try to encourage him and we had a great conversation. He was actually thrilled to be in Moose Jaw and not in Hong Kong. So that is a really good sign.”