A bit about Me

Photo Credit Cochrane Times

I work for the Government of Alberta. As a front-line worker with over 23 years of experience in three different department, I see the effects of policy and legislation in people’s lives every day. The critical thinking skills that I have developed over the years should help me work with administration while in analyzing, implementing and anticipating the effects of policy change. 

I am very good at operationalizing ideas within a system focused on bureaucracy. I am fearless in introducing ideas, persistent, and I know how to make policy work towards achieving my goals.

This will be the second week that I will provide further details that outline my campaign. Again, my belief is that before you vote for me you should know what I hope to accomplish and how I plan to accomplish those goals.

I have committed to 3 main areas of focus and I have clear, realistic plans to achieve my goals. Those 3 areas of focus include one, restoring budget fundamentals to save the Cochrane taxpayers money, two, I will restore transparency and accountability in council chambers and three, I will address the other issues affecting our Cochrane like the environment, emergency services, seniors, traffic, public safety, sustainable growth etc. I also have some other ideas that you will find interesting.

Some of my specific ideas include:

- There has been a lot of talk about supporting our local businesses but see very little leadership in this area. I think there is more the town can do. I want to create a ‘Cochrane First’ Operational policy.

This policy will include a directive for all operational expenses to be sourced locally, if possible. I would anticipate having to first do an inventory of what expenses would be included in this policy followed by a cost analysis. I believe it reasonable to expect a price differential but any additional costs would be made up with additional economic activity within Cochrane. This cost differential comes with a limit and an acceptable price difference would have to be determined by council.

- I think there is more that can be done to support locally owned and operated businesses using the town website. I would like to create a data base of Locally owned and operated businesses that would be posted on the town’s website so that those interested in shopping local and/or Canadian can find these companies with ease.

- I have reviewed our budgets in as much detail as is possible for over a decade now. I have written about my concerns in the paper multiple times. Cochrane has an unfortunate history of planning difficulties costing the taxpayer millions of dollars. I believe there are changes that can take place to increase oversight and implement processes to ensure this does not continue.

There are solutions to address this issue. For example, ensuring contractual wording safeguards are in place for would ensure that the Cochrane taxpayer is safeguarded from project cost over runs. The Cochrane taxpayer should not be paying for cost over runs, it should be the contractor that was hired to do the job.

However, transparency would prevent issues as well. I would want to see quarterly council updates on any contract taking over 1 year. I would like to make a list of automatic reporting rules for any contracts over $500k. I would want to explore the practicality to have an automatic public plebiscite for all contracts over 5-million dollars in value.

- I believe strongly that if you want to learn about peoples circumstances you talk to them. That may not sound revolutionary but in politics it seems to be. I have been in touch with Seniors on the Bow for awhile now. I know that there are plans that are being explored that could potentially revolutionize the services available to Seniors at all level’s of care in Cochrane.

If required, and it looks like it will, I hope to champion some ‘Cochrane made’ solutions to present to the provincial government.

- I hope to explore the expansion of ‘low-cost’ option heath care options for seniors. Hopefully in time those ‘low cost’ options could become ‘no cost’ options and be expanded to other health needs as well. The focus would be to focus on prevention in order to limit emergency care.

The main idea would be to form a partnership with some educational centers like SAIT or UofC to run some of their practicums for health care programs here in Cochrane. I will provide some further details on that coming up.

- I would be seeking to have 24/7 emergency care be established in Cochrane. To help facilitate this and other forms of possible cooperation with the provincial government I have already explored having our MLA, Mr. Peter Gunthrie, to attend council meetings semi-annually in non election years.

- Last month I found out that the present SLS governance structure was meant to help protect the center from future mismanagement. The belief was that if other municipalities were involved then it would limit the chance of mismanagement. I believe that the SLS center should be focused on Cochrane’s needs first and foremost as was intended. To better reflect this, I would want to institute a ‘Cochrane first’ program registration policy. Simply put, this policy would allow Cochrane residents the opportunity to register in SLS programs.

- The Cochrane Ranchhouse has the capability of hosting large event. I believe strongly that the Town has a moral obligation to put efforts into events like hosting a nonpartisan election forum. I would seek to make this a reality.

- I believe in encouraging voter participation. I believe that the town can help remove the reasons people use to not vote. In council I would introduce concrete efforts to remove these reasons. I would first want to identify the reasons and then see what programs council could be put in place to address those concerns. One idea could be to have the town provide free transportation via Colt on election day for seniors and/or people with disabilities.

- I have been talking to businesses for well over a decade now. There is one area of town that seems to have been forgotten by council, businesses on main street. I would like to take steps to create a different shopping experience for these businesses – an all-day shopping experience. I would like to explore seasonal pedestrianization of Main Street.

Another synergistic idea that I want to look at is an ongoing ‘Friday nights on main street’ event. Imagine live music, patio’s, liquor sales and markets on Mainstreet.

- I believe that you have the right to know who voted for what. I would want to increase the visibility of this information to allow a quick reference for the public.

I hope to talk to you soon.

Dan Cunin