Entering the new year and the final year of Flin Flon City Council’s current term, The Reminder reached Mayor Cal Huntley by email to discuss priorities for 2018 and check in on the outcome of some of council’s priorities over the last term.
The Reminder: What are council’s top priorities for 2018?
Mayor Cal Huntley: I can only give you my opinion on this – maintaining the level of services we presently have while looking for opportunities to improve. These opportunities will continue to focus on diversification, fiscal responsibility and promotion of the area.
TR: What is the biggest challenge Flin Flon faces as we head into 2018, and how will it be addressed by the municipal government?
CH: There shouldn’t be anything really out of the ordinary for 2018. We will continue to address issues around infrastructure, seniors’ housing and taxes. There will be even more of a focus with the province and the feds around supporting us in continuing to transition ourselves from a single industry mining community to a recognized service, retail and preferred retirement community for northwestern Manitoba and northern Saskatchewan. I think the upcoming completion of North of 53 Co-Op’s project as well as the upgrade to the Flin Flon General Hospital speaks miles to servicing the north into the future.
TR: What are the greatest opportunities Flin Flon has right now, and how will the municipal government take advantage of them?
CH: In my opinion the greatest opportunity and the greatest resource Flin Flon has right now is it’s people and their love of the area. People want to live here, they want grow their families here, they want to play here and they want to retire here. The work, the culture and the opportunities will continue to make us a unique destination of choice.
TR: In 2016 you said, “The quality of life here is something worth fighting for, but we can’t do it alone. It is imperative in moving forward that we start dealing with opportunities and concerns regionally. The NWMO initiative started by Creighton is a perfect example of this. I would hope by this time next year we have formalized some of those relationships with our neighbouring communities of Creighton, Denare Beach and the surrounding area.” Has Flin Flon been successful in forming these types of regional relationships, and if so, how, and what has the outcome been?
CH: Again, in my opinion, we are experiencing some of the strongest relations we have ever had with our neighbouring communities. The tri-community funded Regional Economic Development Commission speaks to the formality of these relationships. What’s good for Creighton and Denare Beach is good for Flin Flon and vice versa. As with any economic development outcomes, it is a work in progress. Our new [economic development officer] has just joined us and will be focusing all of our communities on strategic planning to facilitate diversity of our regional economy. Outside businesses and developers have reached out to us around industrial initiatives and housing opportunities. Certainly at the preliminary level but interest is being shown.
TR: When you ran for mayor in 2014, you said your top priorities were fiscal transparency and responsibility, a more planned approach regarding infrastructure renewal, and establishing and maintaining favourable relationships with stakeholders. Do you feel you have achieved these priorities over the last three years, and if so, how?
CH: I think fiscal transparency has always been a fundamental around Flin Flon civic government and in that respect my goal was to continue and maintain those practices. I believe, to date, we have done that.
With regards to infrastructure renewal we were successful in several of our funding grants and with our relatively new director of works and operations, have adopted a more pragmatic strategy in the use of these funds to address our existing infrastructure in general. I am comfortable with the approach management has taken, understanding the restrictions of our budget while trying to address the immediate concerns to get the best bang for our buck.
With regards to stakeholders, I’m not the person to answer that. You would have to query them to get their opinion. In saying that, I believe that we have generated some positive direction with the stakeholders involved in our community. From a provincial aspect, we have been able to get much better access to the provincial ministers where we continuing to lobby for the base tax, addressing the unreasonable request for rate hikes by Manitoba Hydro, seniors’ housing and a mechanism for the uncontrolled outlying areas to participate and support the communities of significance that provide recreation, retail and services.
From a regional perspective, I think I’ve already answered that referencing the REDC.
From a health perspective, we continue to have a strong voice on the NHA and the continuation and upcoming completion of our Flin Flon General Hospital upgrade speaks to that
From an individual community member perspective, the door is always open. If you want to present at council let us know and we will put you on the agenda. If there is a hot topic you want to speak to you will be heard. We will not be able to make everyone happy all of the time but our decisions are based upon what we feel is best for the community. A key point to note is every individual has influence.
The Reminder: Will you seek re-election later this year?
CH: As long as there are no significant changes to my health or family, I believe I will.
