Council candidate wants to boost growth and address homelessness

Having witnessed minimal growth in the community since he moved here 18 years ago, he chose not to complain but to step up and be part of the solution.

He emphasized that the city should focus more on strengthening its ties with the surrounding First Nation community to enhance economic development on a broader scale rather than just focusing on expansion within the city.

Wiese’s vision for economic growth is clear. He believes in providing tax incentives to attract locals to open businesses, rather than ‘taxing the heck out of them’.

“To bring people to the community saying, “Look, North Battleford has these incentives where you can open a business and you either pay minimal taxes for X amount of years or no taxes.”

“I feel like the more businesses we get brought in and can succeed, the more tax money we can collect from them, and then potentially down the road, we can lower residential taxes,” Wiese explained.

Alongside his commitment to driving the city’s progress, he also wants to address the ongoing homelessness problem. He understands that this is a multifaceted issue that extends beyond mental health and poverty and recognizes that it is not something that he could do alone so he would look for council co-operation.

He also emphasized the need for the city to make a long-term commitment to the council, ensuring that ideas and potential projects are allowed to grow and aren’t simply forgotten when a new council takes over.

“As a contractor, I understand things take time to develop, and a city is just a massive project that takes time to develop. So, you might have a great idea that takes two years of planning and then two years of getting the ball rolling, and it’s like if you don’t get reelected, maybe that plan is going to get swiped under the rug,” he explained

“Time is our biggest burden.”

Wiese is the owner/operator of Just Giver Construction.

Municipal election day is Nov. 13. Other confirmed candidates include Alvin Baptiste, Rodney Fedler, Mercy George, Bill(Thomas) Ironstand, Greg (Gregory) Lightfoot, Kent Lindgren, Ross Macangus, Dennis Mercer, Donald Meriam, Dan Suberlak, Darryl Williams and Warren Williams.

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com

by Kenneth Cheung

Council candidate wants to boost growth and address homelessness

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