Deep River Municipal Election

                                                                                                            October 25^th, 2003

 Deep River Municipal Election

 
While we are poised to exercise our voting rights to elect the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and 5 councillors for the Deep River, it is clear that we have a very enthusiastic slate of candidates for the positions.
 
The candidates bring various issues of interest before the voters. However, the times have changed. The population mix in Deep River is changing. Some members of the Canadian Forces as well as retirees are finding a home in Deep River. There are many new residents who had originally emigrated from many different parts of the world.
 
Despite the changes in the population mix, the number of the residents has not gone up substantially and the Town still “maintains”  a single-employer town status. This is in spite of many years of effort by the Economy Development office within the Municipal Organization.  
The property taxes in Deep River have gone up substantially.  
This time the elections shall be for the complete change in the ways the Deep River is run including the running of the Council itself. As a non-candidate (but a resident) I see challenges and opportunities for the new coming Council.  
There are myriad issues facing the new Council. There are lingering issues, which the citizens are somewhat aware of such as the operation of new Pollution Control Facility and the development of the Keys Center property. There may be others, which are not quite transparent.  
The main issue for the new Council, in my view, is to reduce property taxes while delivering municipal services, which are satisfactory to the citizens. 
I am sure that the Council will know what core services the Council is legally (and some morally) required to provide, how these are provided and at what costs? The publication of a list of such services (probably in the North Renfrew Times), at appropriate times, would go a long way in making the residents understand the costs and thus the property taxes.  
 
The property taxes can only be reduced if the expenditures are reduced or if population or business base is increased.   
The new Council has an opportunity to review the usefulness of the Economic Development office and full time Fire Department, owning of various properties, use of money from sale of Deep River Hydro and others issues (including the staff structure) which are not quite transparent to the public.

 
The challenge to the Council is how to increase the population and business base in Deep River. 
I am suggesting that the Council shall offer to reduce property taxes (from 10% to 25%) to members of Canadian Forces who have bought or who will buy homes in Deep River. We have a duty to recognize and appreciate these fine young men & women who serve in far away “failed” countries to defend our values and democracy. We shall not forget their sacrifice.  
We are fortunate that Deep River is situated close to a Canadian Forces base in Petawawa and thus can express our appreciation in a tangible way.  This way we may also attract more of them to choose Deep River as their home. 
We need Council members who will focus to reduce property taxes without sacrificing core municipal services. 
 
Pravin Shah

Canadian Peacekeepers