Prince George, B.C.- Council incumbent Glenn Scott says the economy in Prince George is not going into the tank. Speaking on the Meisner program this morning on CFISFM, Scott says there are signs of diversification “We have UNBC, CNC, the Cancer Clinic being built, the Duchess Park construction, the airport expansion, the Sandman is being built,   we may not be as robust as we used to be, but we are not in the tank.” Scott says he would like to see the Performing Arts Centre built within his term, and suggests a cost sharing system with the federal, provincial and private investor money to fund the $14 million dollar facility.

Scott also says he would like to see 6 more police officers hired for the downtown and surveillance cameras added in the downtown.

Council Candidate Dwayne Stene says his three priorities are air quality, beefing up the RCMP and focus on youth. He says while he is not an expert on air quality it is clear to him that something has to be done because there are many people who can’t leave their homes because of air quality issues. He says there needs to be a police task force to deal with organized crime, gang activity and drugs. When it comes to youth, he says there needs to be more skate parks and possibly a drop in centre.

With a salary increase of 5% over the past 3 years, Stene says he is concerned about the rising rates in taxes, and says roads are in poor shape.

He says if there are studies with recommendations to improve the air, the recommendations should be put to work, although he laughed at the idea of street sweeping in February or March as there are still lots of areas in the City which still have plenty of snow. He supports the ban on backyard burning but raises questions about where the line will be drawn on anti-idling “Do we make police turn off their vehicles when they’re investigation an accident for a few hours?”

He says with youth being overlooked, there is a potential for problems. “There is nothing in this City that is free that they can do.” He says another skateboard park in College Heights and one in the Hart would be  helpful because “That’s what kids are into these days.”

Candidate Cameron Stolz pressed his common sense approach“Our roads are obstacle courses to drive on”says Council candidate Cameron Stolz. He  says the City should have put the issue to referendum asking voters if they wanted to spend a certain amount on road repair, rather than a 4% tax lift.

 Stolz says the priorities are scewed, that more should have been spent on road repairs, rather than looking to match funding for projects that don’t need to be done right now. (for example matching dollars availabe from the Province to redo the Cenotaph area)

 

“There is a plaque at the corner of 6^th and George saying the City is taking steps to improve the downtown, the sign is dated 1985”

 

I think the City of Prince George has other issues ( than the downtown) that need to be addressed.”

 

Monday, Meisner welcomes two canidates for the Mayor’s chair, Eugene Fetterly and Don Zurowski.