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Three questions for Qualicum Beach councillor candidate Dave Willie

Candidate for councillor
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Dave Willie. - Submitted photo

What do you feel is the most pressing election issue in your community?

There is a lack of opportunity – particularly for the younger members of our community.

We need more jobs, we need more light industry, we need a variety of housing, we need a vibrant commercial core which requires the pedestrian traffic to do it, but we have no plan for any of these or for dealing with an aging future.

We have an OCP that talks about the issues and the problems and it is our job as a community to find a way of making it happen. We have a community growing old and older. We need light industrial use in and around the airport to provide jobs and opportunities - we need housing alternatives close and within walking distance of the downtown services and in the downtown core.

We need to clearly identify how and where we are going to answer these problems and make it happen with partners including the Town of Qualicum Beach.

How will you balance the needs of seniors and those of younger residents?

This presupposes that there are conflicting needs that need to be balanced. We need to recognize the needs of residents and provide the services and opportunities that they would like to see.

We are all one community working for the greater good and will have our wish list and differences in priorities but we must make decisions in the best interests of the community not in the best interests of seniors, not in the best interest of younger resident and not trying to balance the two.

Our community has a solid foundation in infrastructure from Parks, curling rinks, lawn bowling, tennis courts, dirt bike track, skate board park, civic center, theatre, museum, waterfront, legion, community centre, children’s village, community gardens, hospice, to name a few. Let’s build on these as a community for everyone’s benefit.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

My experience in the community, my experience as a counsellor and a director on the regional board and my experience in business.

I can bring history to the table that may bring some context to the discussion. I will listen, fully review the issues that come before counsel. ask the Mayor and other councillors to consider what opportunities might also need to be considered before making that decision and I will definitely tell you what I think. I will consider and where appropriate defer to the plans in place, but I will not be stuck to a plan or idea simply because a previous councill has set that plan in place – even if I was on that council.

No one person, council, community or plan has all the answers. As the world changes, the Town has to change to deal with these .

Council should have the diversity and representation to represent the community as a whole.