With polling day just two weeks away, mayoralty candidates take a look at sustainability.

We asked the question, “Over the last number of years the City has undertaken development with eye towards environmental sustainability. Is this a focus you would like to see continue and what initiatives have you included in your platform to proceed down that path?”

Here are their responses.

Kerri Riehl

The current options and opportunities are limitless when it comes to environmental sustainability. We are fortunate to live in a time where sustainable development and environmental stewardship are being fostered by every level of government. Elaborate plans, and research is not required.

Endless grants and funding opportunities are laid out for us. We need to capitalize on these opportunities. There are many grants and incentives available through Efficiency Manitoba, (provincial), the Green Municipal Fund under the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (federal), the federal government and Manitoba Hydro.

The key is changing mindsets and getting “buy in” from the community including council. To me, public engagement means sharing a vision, sharing what the city of Dauphin is currently doing and engaging knowledge. Communication, and sharing of information is key. We have incredibly knowledgeable people in our community on numerous subjects, but we must be willing to invite them to participate.

I am fortunate to have the ear of a power engineer, a niece who is an environmental engineer currently working for the City of Regina, and her husband who is a petroleum engineer working for the Province of Saskatchewan. They are incredible information resources. Visionaries, with endless possibilities who just recently revamped my compositing system.

Competency in the role and job is key. The city draft plan states that in March of 2020 they finalized a community and energy emissions plan. Plans are a great starting point and a snapshot of existing infrastructure, but they require competent action with measurable goals and sufficient competent resources for implementation.

While working for two international diamond mines, technology from Israel, South Africa and Australia was incredible. Virtual meetings were held daily.

In 2018 when I was elected to council, paper agendas were still being utilized and there was no IT position. I suggested an online upload version of agendas. In 2020 Justin Tokarchuk was hired as Information and Communications Technology manager. With his knowledge and competency, he has made incredible strides in bringing the City of Dauphin into the technology era within two years.

The visions are there. They need to be accessed, actioned, and completed. FCM Green Municipal Fund currently has an energy grant for transitioning ice rinks and swimming pools to net zero. Our systems currently are at end of life and require replacing. We could significantly lower our operating costs. The federal government has a $27 billion grant available for electric vehicle transit buses until 2025. We could have a transit bus at no cost. Biomass energy opportunities in this area are available for our agricultural partners. Not only would it be environmentally sustainable, but it would also provide incredible economic development opportunities.

I currently have an off-grid property utilizing biomass heating, solar, compositing, and has net zero impact. At home, food security is key for me growing my own vegetables, microgreens, composting, and I am now experimenting with hydroponic vegetable growth throughout the winter months. I am committed to environmental sustainability.

Stewardship is a key role of council. Council is “responsible for the supervision and care of the municipality’s resources. This means making sure that infrastructure, money, and staff are used properly and effectively. This also means planning strategically for the challenges and opportunities of the future. Only council as a whole can make decisions for the municipality.”

People must understand that the mayor has no additional perceived authority or power over any other member of council. The mayor has one vote. Every council member has one vote. Everyone is to have an equal voice. There are to be no meetings held outside the council chambers excluding other members. There is to be public debate. It is not what “I” can achieve, it’s what we can achieve together through research, knowledge, discussion, and the willingness for progressive change. Seeking individual solutions is not effective. You won’t hear me say “I will,” “I can”, or “as mayor I will,” because it’s not one individual who makes the difference, it’s the entire council.

The possibilities for environmental sustainability are endless and very exciting. We simply need to make it a priority.

David Bosiak

I would like to broaden the definition of sustainability in my response to include more than the environment – and start by saying yes. The City of Dauphin must forge ahead and embrace all forms of sustainability, as it is a key component to building a safe, healthy community.

I wrote a book in 2014 titled If You Don’t Look After Your Body, Where are You Going to Live that focussed on caring for yourself so you would be better able to care for others. In a broader context, we must do the same with our community, we must care for it so it remains a healthy and vibrant place for ourselves and our children and grandchildren.

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities recently produced a report that outlines the role of municipalities in building a greener economy. The report states, “Green economy initiatives can improve a community’s quality of life, foster economic development and drive competitiveness, while creating jobs and enhancing the skills of the local workforce. . . Making municipal operations more energy efficient can produce substantial cost savings, freeing resources for other municipal objectives.”

Former Mayor Eric Irwin strongly believed in sustainability and was instrumental in establishing a pilot project in Dauphin that created a Community Energy Advocate position, the first of its kind in Manitoba. Mayor Al Dowhan also supported the program, and many innovative environmental initiatives occurred under the direction of Steve Sobering, our Community Energy Advocate.

You might recall the various LED lighting projects in Dauphin that brightened our streets, most commercial and all municipal buildings - including the CUP, solar panels at the City shop and #1 Lift Station, our active transportation plan, lagoon upgrades, a recycling and diversion centre at the waste management site, green bins . . . these are all helping us be more sustainable. But we must continue to innovate, to do more.

Selkirk recently hired an Energy Advocate and now leads Manitoba in sustainable energy initiatives. Their city has received considerable funding from the provincial and federal governments because of their actions related to environmental sustainability.

If elected I would immediately urge council to re-establish an energy advocate position, fund it appropriately and initiate innovative projects sitting on the shelves at City Hall and in the minds of our citizens.

That will lead to cost savings and a more sustainable future for all of us.

If elected I will also advocate for a greenhouse gas emission monitoring program that will help us become more efficient in our energy use and help us plan for the future. I will investigate the options of replacing our diesel garbage truck with an electric model, that will reduce both emissions and operating costs, and do the same for the pick-up trucks used by the public works and recreation departments.

However, sustainability is more than environmental. The availability of recreational and cultural facilities is paramount to community sustainability, and if elected I will ensure adequate funding is provided to Dauphin Recreation Services, the Dauphin Public Library, the Watson Arts Centre, Northgate Trail System and museums in our community. I will encourage council to continue its support of the Maamawi Park development at the former DMCC grounds and ensure Vermillion Park and its trails and pathways are always accessible and available for citizens.

I will encourage council to support health and education services and programs offered through the Dauphin Friendship Centre, Parkland Crossing, Regional Connections, Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation and other not-for-profit agencies. These partners are doing tremendous work in helping make Dauphin a great place to live, work and play.

The purposes of a municipality are to foster economic, social and environmental well-being and Dauphin can continue to do that by embracing and encouraging partnerships and productive supportive relationships.

I have a track record of working with others and getting people to get along. Working together to enhance our community sustainability will be a top priority at City Hall if I’m elected on Oct. 26. Forward. Together.

Check the Dauphin Herald's Election Section this week for more on the upcoming Municipal Election ---> VIEW HERE!