Rhino’s Ramblings - The Civic Election

By Robert Thomas Opinion\Commentary

As most people know MJ Independent is or should I say rather was set to shut down within the next couple of weeks.

The doors were being closed forever following six long years of what seemed as an uphill climb up the Matterhorn which we were never ever going to summit.

But with all best laid plans of mice and men things just never seem to come about as we hope they will.

After six long years of fighting the raging river we are going to go for one last swim as we ask our questions - we hope matter, make a difference - or our municipal candidates.

To do such we have asked people in the community about the issues and what is important to them. The actual people voting and whose lives are majorly impacted by the seven members of the next city council.

We hope to run two or three batches of questions for all candidates that get them and you the reader thinking.

Not every issue nor questions need center around what’s been in the news, hot topics of special interest groups or something Administration wants out there.

The fuzzy and warm stuff we will leave for the other guys to ask.

Here are the first four questions we will be asking on behalf of our readers:

QUESTIONS:

1.  In 2023, for several reasons, a secondary audit was requested of SAMA.  SAMA declined this request.  Currently the City and council have chosen  to do nothing in regards to this issue. 

What are you prepared to do? 

2. Saskatoon has a Governance Committee which oversees their property tax/assessment department, and theirs far exceeds ours.  Are you prepared to implement the changes needed in order to mirror/reflect theirs? Or something better? 

3. a). In your words, What does a Moose Jaw Citizen say when they are asked “What do you think of Moose Jaw?”

    b). If you are elected, What will the Citizens be saying in 4 years? 

4. Right now there is a lot of talk about a proposed hotel on the zero block of River Street West. Rumours which include the potential building of a parkade by the City in the area.

The question is as an elected official how much City money - if any - are you prepared to spend either directly or indirectly in an effort to see the proposed hotel development get off the ground?

We will send the questions out today to the candidates and see what we get back in a week’s time.

If you would like us to ask a question please drop us a line at moosejawnews@gmail.com and we will see what we can do for you.