Ten Questions With Kim Robinson

To help people decipher the Mayor’s race MJ Independent has plans to feature any of the nine candidates at least once in our publication.

Today we feature Kim Robinson.

1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself personally? 

I am Moose Jaw born as the last of the 50’s models (if I were a Cadillac I would have big fins).

I am married and I have four daughters, my wife Tina and I live in the NW area of our city and still have the youngest two daughters at home and attending Central Collegiate, go Cyclones!!!

We are a mostly active family, participating in and following many sports, softball, pickleball, football, baseball, volleyball and cheerleading to mention a few.

I am active and participate in several local NPO’s. Moose Jaw Wildlife, MJ Trap and Skeet and one I am most passionate about, Heartland Hospice of Moose Jaw. Shout out to my fellow board members on HHMJ who have worked so hard and accomplished so much in recent years!!

I am an Accountant with the Coop Ethanol Complex, Federated Coop is an absolute class company to work for and leaving my job would be my only regret in becoming the mayor of this wonderful city.

I am a “cup half full” person, friendly and affable with a keen sense of humor, inherited from my father. It is difficult to appear humble when writing paragraphs as this, but I am always humbled by the support, help, camaraderie and family feel of our city, it truly is a blessing to live here. 

2. Was there one event or series of events which made you decide to run for Mayor? Can you describe them?

It is difficult to pinpoint one event. I would say I have always been a leader, problem-solver and organizer. At last falls election I was concerned for my available time and choose to run for a seat on council.

When former Mayor Tolmie decided to resign, I felt our city was in real need of a leader to instill hope, integrity and vison to get us all through the next three years, I believe that leader is me.

3. What do you see as the main issues facing Moose Jaw and how would you fix them?

As always, Moose Javians are concerned about tax increases and more importantly, true value for their tax dollar.

Council has a duty to determine the level of service that our citizens want and balance that with the level our citizens are willing to pay. Upcoming budget deliberations are in the forefront for the new Mayor, a strong business and financial acumen at the helm is very important at this juncture.  

Our increase in crime must be addressed immediately, the new Mayor will need to seek solutions at the root of this problem by working with the professionals and NPO’s adept at easing the drug use, mental health problems and street level problems, the physiological needs of the individuals that are compounding these crimes.

We need to help lift our most disadvantaged, I am not saying to be soft on crime but showing some compassion and help individuals find the tools to help themselves.

Further we must continue with the huge strides we have made in infrastructure renewal and replacement, always looking to federal and provincial funding wherever possible, and planning for the future in maintaining and replacing our infrastructure into the future.

4. A key plank in your platform is an Invest In Moose Jaw approach with the reserves. Can you tell us how that will work? Are you saying invest locally or are you trying to build confidence in local businesses? How do you address criticisms that the Reserves right now earn interest through a variety of means which subsidize taxation and your plan eliminates that and has the potential of raising everyone's property taxes?

My Invest In Moose Jaw approach is not a plan to deplete any reserves but utilize some of those reserves to strengthen our local economy rather than investing all those reserves in entities with no relation to Moose Jaw.

We have near 50% asset allocation of our investments in US and International interests and our Canadian investments contain Hydro One, Ontario Power and Quebecor? We need to look at investing in our own community through supporting local non-profits that do “double duty” by supporting our own local businesses.

I am not talking about hand outs but let’s ensure entities like MJ Tourism can secure funding for a new trolley, our local hospice can attain funding for expansion, I fully support helping groups that are helping themselves and, in turn, our local economy.

Let’s invest in our people through promotion of remote work, can we attract offices and professional jobs via investment in a cooperative office like the former Ross School? Perhaps? People can choose to live away from their work today unlike when a person had to move to their job now their job can move to Moose Jaw so let’s make our city attractive to live here.

5. When was the last time you attended a City Council meeting?

October 11, 2021

6. What is your strong point?

My ability to lead and always seek the best and most efficient methods.  

7. Conversely what is your weak point?

A strong propensity to take on too many tasks in my innate need to always be helping people.

8. A main issue which Council has to deal with is a sense the City is conducting too much business in-camera or in secret. Some things such as legal, land and personnel must be conducted in private while other matters could be discussed in public. Do you agree? If so how would you help to increase transparency - where permitted - at Council and Executive Committee meetings? 

As mentioned, somethings must stay in-camera but I believe in-camera and “secret” are very different issues, one involves privacy and one involves an individuals ethics.

I am ethical through my upbringing and ethically bound by my accounting profession.

I feel much of the feeling of “secret” dealings stems from the way media reports many issues. I think we can all be served better through a more professional relationship between media and city hall, certainly Communication Manager Craig Hemingway works to this end tirelessly.

I am in favor of public disclosure and public consultation, I would look at forming residential focus groups, to discuss and conclude direction for community development. After all, there is no better way to promote trust and get real citizen feedback and direction than through participation.

9. Do you have any concerns about the hours or sacrifice necessary to be Mayor? Is the remuneration too little, just right or too much in your opinion?

I have no concerns about the commitment to time nor the remuneration.

Coming from the business management and accounting world, I recognize time commitments and indefinite schedules as part of a commitment to any job worth doing.

As I am currently a full-time senior administrator and a MJ Councillor, my family and I think that service to our community is worth our commitment regardless of a somewhat reduced compensation package. The role of Mayor is all about leadership and not about dollars.

10. Do you have anything else to add?

I am an ethical, respectful leader capable of good governance and promoting Moose Jaw’s collective vision, I support a downtown revitalization plan that includes a theme promoting our “roaring twenties” connection.

I feel it unfair that one of the mayoral candidates claims in order to save a few dollars on a by-election do not vote for Robinson, Froese or Eby. I think this is a patently antagonistic approach as I believe in the adage of “you get what you pay for.”

On November 3rd, regardless of whether you support myself or not, please vote with your head, vote for the leader you think will help return Moose Jaw to the vibrancy I knew as a younger man and this one time do not be concerned with the possibility of another election as I can say that none of our current council wishes to trigger another election but we all truly want the best for our city.

Most importantly, on November 3rd get out and vote!