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David Sampson
- 'The division of the municipality into two units with smaller councils to better serve the rural and urban communities more effectively and efficiently.' Select 'Yes' if you support dividing the municipality in this manner, or 'No' if you oppose the division.
No. I cannot support such a division without much more information about where the division would take place and how it could be worked out that areas as diverse as say the Musquodoboit area and the Pennants could possibly be under one council and have any consensus reached on any issue of import.
- 'Tax reform that more closely aligns taxes with the actual cost of services delivered.'Select 'Yes' if you support reforming taxes in this manner, or select 'No' if you oppose.
No. It will always cost more to deliver services in suburban and rural areas and people should not be penalized because they cannot afford to live on the peninsula. The property values are lower in these communities and they have no opportunity to recover the tax money when selling while those in the urban areas where property values rise at a much faster rate do.
- 'More aggressive development of the Arts and Culture sector by committing a minimum of 1% of the annual municipal budget to this sector.' Select 'Yes' if you support committing a minimum of 1% of the annual municipal budget to the Arts and Culture sector, or 'No' if you oppose.
No. I would be in favour of spending more on arts and culture with the provision that part of that money go toward programming in rural areas where both children and adults do not have equal opportunity to experience and take part in the arts. In the end this would help with a larger audience for the arts and perhaps help it on the road to sustainability.
- 'The creation of the position of Chief Sustainability Officer with the necessary authority and budget to ensure Halifax becomes the most sustainable city in Canada by 2020.' Select 'Yes' if you support creating the position of Chief Sustainability Officer as described in this statement, or 'No' if you oppose.
Yes. I am in favour of working toward sustainability but I would need a lot more information on the proposed powers and the scope of this position before I would wholeheartedly support it.
- 'The development of an integrated intercultural strategy to attract and retain immigrants and to better support disadvantaged groups within our community.' Select 'Yes' if you support developing an integrated intercultural strategy to attract and retain immigrants, and to better support disadvantaged groups within our community, or select 'No' if you oppose.
Yes. Dealing with the disadvantaged is one of the most important issues in my community and I am strongly in favour of any strategy that will help getting support and services to the area. I also believe that it is past due time that the city and province re-visit the disaster that is the exchange of services agreement as it has left behind a great number of people.
- 'The creation of a transportation authority to develop and implement a long-term comprehensive transportation strategy that integrates all modes of transportation.' Select 'Yes' if you support creating a transportation authority as described in this statement, or 'No' if you oppose.
Yes. I would agree with this as long as their mandate is to make public transportation available to all before upgrading for a few.
- 'The adoption of a more transparent and streamlined development process as proposed by the HRM by Design initiative.' Do you support or oppose adopting a more transparent and streamlined development process in this manner?
Yes. I am in favour of HRM by Design and I wish that a hold had been put in place on the areas that have not had their turn so that major developments that will not fit in and indeed may interfere could not go forward and would come under the final design.
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