Dave Moore has lived in the Cariboo all his life. He works at Gibraltar Mine as a blaster and loves his job.
What is the solution to Williams Lake’s current housing and rental shortage?
With the current housing and rental shortage instead of making the top of Boitanio Mall into what it is slated for, make it into rental units for people moving to Williams Lake.
There is 14 acres of land for sale by the United Church which the city might consider buying and developing into low income housing and approach the owners of some of the empty buildings downtown to renovate into rental units and base all rental on income.
What are your thoughts on the proposal to burn rail ties at Atlantic Power?
I think, for myself, I am opposed to burning rail ties. But, with everything still being dealt with by government on what the facts are going to be, if they say yes the city will have to write a letter asking for stiffer guidelines to burning ties for emission coming from Atlantic Power.
If Atlantic Power needs fibre all the timber that got damaged by the wildfire of 2017 that cannot be milled can go to Atlantic Power, which would keep them going for years.
What measures by council do you think would help diversify and strengthen the local economy?
Council could start by looking at reducing tax when a new business wants to start up, plus look at attracting secondary types of business that would pull us through when forestry takes a downturn, or mining takes a downturn.
Also, get rid of the business association charge, which I think is not needed. Also, talk to building owners to see if they would reduce rent for the first year while the businesses are trying to start up to give them some sort of tax break to make up some of the costs.
With the change in climate and increasing threat of wildfires, what strategies would you support to make the community safer and more resilient?
With the change in climate and increasing threat of wildfires the strategies I would support to making the community safer and more resilient would be to put in some form of fire guard cleaning up all areas within the city boundaries. And get as much of the forests cleaned up of the fuel that would make a fire more intense and see what trees could be removed.
This way, if a fire was to break out there would be a better chance of putting it out.
Considering we always rank in the top 10 for crime severity, do you think Williams Lake is a safe place to live for everyone?
Well, with the per-capita ranking, to me it is way off the mark.
They, the government, has to change the way the stats are done. If you compared Williams Lake’s crime with Vancouver’s crime we have very little, where Vancouver is in the news every day.
I think Williams Lake is a very safe place to live and to raise a family. The police are doing a great job, they just need more members and a more strict court system. Council would have to make the budget bigger for more members to be employed in Williams Lake, and also, have cameras throughout the city.
What would you do to protect and/or enhance the city’s air quality?
Well, living in a valley brings some challenges. As we all know Williams Lake is growing and with growth comes more people. With that, more vehicles and more pollution, adding to the industry mills, pellet plant and Atlantic Power. City council has to figure a way to deal with this using what they can come up with and listen to the people’s ideas. Aso, there should be more strict guidelines and, if other big companies want to start up we will have to look at better placing of that industry or business so the city’s air would not take a hit.
What ideas do you have for the proposed trail and amenities on the RC Cotton Site that would preserve Scout Island as a nature sanctuary and wildlife viewing area while giving residents more access to the lake?
Some of my ideas would be to let the trails be built. Everyone likes walking in nature.
Now, on the other side of things, a nice boat launch would be nice. I think looking at the road from the mainland to Scout Island with the water main burried under it should be opened up to let the lake drain as it was in the beginning. This should have never taken place to start with and then some sort bridge or some better culvert system put in place to let the water flow where it should. This my clean up the lake attracting more visitors.
Plus, I think on the RC Cotton Site a nice RV park would attract more tourism to the city.
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