In the run up to the 2017 election, we asked our readers and listeners what issues matter most to them. Every day, we ask candidates for their thoughts on healthcare, growth, traffic, city facilities, downtown, and the other issues important to their campaign. Today, Mike De Bokx addresses your issues.

Council candidate Mike De Bokx believes it's time for a fresh voice and a fresh point of view on City Council. He believes he brings that fresh perspective if elected.

De Bokx thinks it's vital for the next council to advocate to the provincial government when it comes to needs like health care and infrastructure. De Bokx said it's great that the Urgent Care Centre is now open 24 hours and that the next council must continue to support the Airdrie Health Foundation, but a community the size of Airdrie needs to continue to push the province for a hospital. Until that happens, it's important to expand the health care we already have in Airdrie.

"Going to 24 hours is fantastic, but I think while we're waiting to get a hospital or while we're continuing to lobby to get a hospital, we can expand the services that are available there and the care that they can provide."

Having lived in cities like Vancouver and Toronto, De Bokx believes Airdrie's traffic problems are actually not too severe. Even so, the next council needs to continue to push for more access to Highway 2. De Bokx thinks both health care and traffic infrastructure issues could be addressed through a groundswell of community voices being heard by the provincial government, and points to the number of new schools built in Airdrie in the last few years after an outcry from residents as an example of that happening in the past.

De Bokx also believes other traffic issues can be addressed locally. He thinks 40th Avenue, when complete, will help to ease congestion. He does think the next council will need to examine Airdrie's intersections, saying synchronizing traffic lights will only go so far. As the city grows, traffic will get heavier, and the City will need to be open to look at how other rapid growing cities have addressed traffic concerns. The City will also need long term vision to address traffic problems.

When it comes to growth, De Bokx believes a growing community is a good thing. He does not think that limiting growth is a good idea, and thinks any person that wants to call Airdrie home should be welcomed. De Bokx said he loved the small town feel of Airdrie when he first moved here 19 years ago, but it is time to realize that Airdrie is a big city now, and needs to be treated a such. He thinks there will always be hiccups associated with growth, but planning for the future can address that. He also thinks the residents need to be realistic about how services need to be funded in a growing community.

"It's not that I'm proposing tax changes or huge increases to taxes. Nobody wants to see that. I don't want to see that. But knowing that we're continuing to grow, artificially trying to keep increases to taxes very, very low, well, there's a trade off. You're keeping taxes low, you're handcuffing the City when it comes to income. Well, then they can only do so much when it comes to infrastructure."

On the topic of building additional facilities, De Bokx said it is important for Council to take the lead, but the vision for facilities needs to come from the community. He thinks shelters, outdoor pools, a westside rec centre and an indoor skate parks are all great ideas, but the community needs to drive the conversation based on what is most needed. He says ultimately, it comes down to what is most important to the community, and how it will be financed.

De Bokx also thinks a particular concern is the library.

"I agree that the library is crowded. We need to expand it, or why not look at a couple of different locations for libraries in town. Why do we only need one? You could have two or three and spread out different programs amongst the different locations."

In regards to downtown redevelopment, De Bokx is in favour but he thinks it is key that the process be transparent to the public. He was concerned with the role out of the Airdrie Main Street Square earlier this year involved too much behind closed doors discussions. He does think that a vibrant downtown is important for a growing community. De Bokx also wondered if increasing height restrictions on buildings could lead to more downtown development of higher multi-family dwellings, which in turn might increase foot traffic and attract business. Ultimately, he thinks whatever is done downtown should be done with transparency and financial responsibility.

 

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