Ward 3 Candidates Questionnaire

Questions by Phillip Blaney - Ward 3 Resident

Answers: from Candidate, John Campbell
November 28, 2010

1: What is your position on development in Rockwood Park.

A. I have stated publicly many times that I am against development in Rockwood
Park other than for the recreational needs of the citizens.
1a what are your thoughts on councils recent vote concerning development in Rockwood
Park
A. They are either ill informed or ignorant of the facts; from what I can gather it is
the latter.
1b how will you vote on future votes concerning development in Rockwood Park
A. I will oppose any development other than a strong case for recreational purposes.
1c what are your thoughts on the city not including Rockwood Park in the new municipal
plan
A. Outrageous in a word.
2: Have you attended any of the Plan SJ events and which ones
A. I have attended the one at Harbour view High and Simmonds High as well as
dropped into the office uptown and conveyed some thoughts.
3:Do you believe that this Mayor and Council have lived up to the Goals and Statements
represented in Vision 2015.And if not how would you help to bring about the realization of
Vision 2015.
A. This Mayor and Council has not lived up to Vision 2015 or any other priorities
they have set. It is important that I received a strong mandate so as to influence the
major of council that the will of the people must prevail.
4:How would you help to engage the citizens of Saint John, and encourage them to
participate in solving the problems we face as a community.
A. I had spoke with Premier Alward some 18 months ago and recommended if his
party takes power he should insist that all MLA’s hold regular town hall meeting
which he has enacted as policy. I would do the same at the civic level and ensure the
citizens feel their remarks are being taken seriously when the matter comes before
council.
4a would you if possible bring forward municipal legislation, which gives citizens more say in
municipal affairs. And which would call for a full and independent review of council decisions
if a petition were presented to council with the signatures of over 3000 citizens of
Saint John.
A. I would be in favour of such a proposal provided it was clearly spelled out the
process and procedures so that the Mayor or senior Management could not
manipulate the process.
5: Do you believe as the newspaper seems to that Saint Johns debt and the pension
shortfall is solely the fault of city unions? And therefore are the only ones who should pay to
fix the problem. Or does the local paper put the solution to our problems a bit more complex
than that forth.
A. I was part of a group of citizens who look quite deeply into the pension problems
and concluded a number of items that have contributed to the pension problem.
Some of those issues were Disability payments, pension plan was used to remove
someone from the work forces without going thru the proper dismissal process,
increase in benefits and of course the pension board is made up of amateurs, and puts
Mayor and two councillors in conflict and of course no representation from the
general public. Ultimately Mayor and council should be held accountable, they put
their heads in the sand and twiddle their thumbs, shame shame shame.
6:The petition put forward by Friends of Rockwood Park reads as follows: We the
undersigned believe that Rockwood Park must be kept intact and protected from
development. We request that no Rockwood Park lands or city properties bordering
Rockwood Park be sold. The Mayor has attacked and vilified Friends of Rockwood Park,
and has insinuated that the citizens of Saint John are idiots. As he has said that many of
them had no idea what they were signing when they signed the above-mentioned petition.
Do you agree with the Mayor? And if not will you seek a public apology from the Mayor in
Council. [As his statements were made in Council] For Friends of Rockwood Park and the
Good Citizens of Saint John who have taken the time to participate and who fully understand
this and the many other affairs that concern the body politics of daily life in Saint John.
A. I signed the petition and was personally insulted by the Mayor’s comments. I
further felt frustrated at yet another example of good citizens with the best intentions
of the city at heart being dismissed as if they were enemies of the city. I as a
councillor will not stand for such rude and ignorant behaviour, this bullying must
cease.
7:How will you as a Councillor help those living in poverty in Saint John.
A. Without getting into to much detail though I will not hesitate to tell my story it is
suffice to say I was brought up in desperate poverty, and every day I engage in
helping the poor, we need to realize that everyone need to participate for moral
reasons, but because of the scope of responsibilities and taxing power we need to put
pressure on the province and feds to step up to the plate and accept their
responsibilities. Two years ago I gave a fairly lengthy speech on this subject, which
I personally was very proud of, the theme of which was lets stop managing poverty
and actually take the necessary steps to eliminate it if not fully as least make a real
change.
8:Do you believe in Climate Change and if so how will you push to help this city and her
citizens face and prepare for the challenges of Climate Change.
A. Yes I do, back in April I address a public meeting reference NB Power and put
forward suggestions for policies to reduce our dependence of fossil fuels. One of my
key proposals was to promote and enhance solar hot water for domestic use. Last
year I suggested to the Mayor that we start replacing street lamps with solar power
ones, it is obvious this suggestion went know where. We also need to engage the
public on ideas and policy that could and should be implemented.