Editor’s Note: Joe Kowalski pays me and produces this paper. As such, he asked me to write something on his policy, so I felt I should do it as an interview.
What are you planning to do if you win the election for Councillor?
“The reason that I am running is that I’m a very simple person. There are big issues happening in our municipalities. Even in my business, I like to start in the business, and for council, the beginning to raise enough funds . I like to focus on the input rather than the outfit. How to raise the most amount of taxes without raising taxes. Having more economic activity in the municipality.
“The way we can do that is to have our own Official Plan. Right now we’re part of Renfrew. The prime example of not having our own is Whitewater Brewing Company. They started 10 years ago, and when they were starting out, they required a letter of support from municipality, but the county of Renfrew planner cautioned council not to do that. Because the county planner’s interpretation of a brewpub was an industrial process. And his recommendation was for them to hold off until it was rezoned industrial.”
“The best government is always close to the people. Had that county planner been local, it might have been totally different. “
“I have found the county because it’s a higher level of government it’s more distant.”
“Even if I’m not on council, I’m still going to push for our own Official Plan.” he said. “It’s my area of expertise, I’m in business, I really have the most experience.”
I asked him how he felt about the Forester’s Falls petition to add to the Forester’s Falls road construction and build more access to the hamlet’s features.”
“All that’s well and good, everything to improve the good. Where does the money come from. My focus is for generating income for the municipalities. Generate the money. Expanding the tax base, getting more people to live here, if you have more taxpayers, you have more revenue. There’s strength in numbers. More residential development.”
“I’ve always maintained that tourism and residential development are very very close. People want to move into an area because they have a high quality of life. Tourism, biking and trails, add to the quality of life.”
“My background my degree in Math. You try to think logically, I apply logic to all of my thought processes because of my background; I spent many years in the military. They teach you the principle of ‘Critical Path’ its the approach of achieving objectives in the most efficient and lower cost.”
Me: “Do you make a distinction between the longterm residents, and the cottagers/
“Not at all, they’re all rate payers.” he said.
“Westmeath meeting were people who had summer cottages, they had a summer cottage, they grew to love this area, and when they retired a lot of them upgraded.”
“The area has to be dynamic, if we want to keep our young people. We need restaurants, we need nightlife, it needs to be vibrant.”
“I want to make Whitewater region hip for young people.”
I asked about the cost of water in Cobden and his opinion on how to resolve the issue.
“I don’t live in Cobden exactly, if there were new people in Cobden, then the cost of water and sewer would go down. I’m a firm believer in multi generations – young people have a lot to teach old people, and older people have a lot to teach younger people.”
“I’m whitewater region’s oldest teenager; a lot of whitewater’s employees are very young. That enthusiasm is infectious. And older people impart wisdom. I don’t stereotype people. I truly think that they are all important. My best friend is Dell O’Brien, in his late 80s. He is so knowledgeable, the renaissance man of the Ottawa Valley.”
He described Dell O’Brien as a lawyer for most of the Whitewater Region, operated Pem-air and served as lawyer for all of the local municipalities.
“I treasure our time together.” he said. “Most people his age would be in a home, he’s on the farm, he’s active in politics. His mind is stiil sharp.”
“I value each and every one of them.”
I asked what his first step would be, once elected.
“I would set up an official plan committee, and I would ask the committee to find what the process is. Getting back to Critical path, it’s where you start.
“There’s a lot of other candidates that have experience with roads and rinks, I’m the most knowledgeable with development.” he said.
“I believe in our exceptionalism. We have the best municipality in the Ottawa Valley. We need to capitalize on it, we’re right next to Ottawa.” he said. “We have so much available land that wouldn’t affect farming. We could have more amenities, more businesses.”
“If it’s done correctly, it’s a good thing.”
“When I looked up the other Councillors. The simple person like me, i look for the beginning.”
“The funds for municipalities do not come from higher taxes, they come from lower taxes, just from a wider tax base.”
“I lead a busy life, because I’m the only one familiar with issues, and I asked a bunch of different people to run for Council and tjeu wouldn’t do it, it really is a thankless position. I wouldn’t ask anyone to do anything I wouldn’t do it myself. I couldn’t get anyone to do it.”
“I want to get in, do my job and get out, I’m not a career position, I don’t want to run for more than one term.” he said.
With lifetime positions, they rig the system sot hat they keep getting elected. They make it so complicated that. Only the incumbent knows.”
“One Monday, if you asked so many people what an Official plan is, they would not know. If you asked the majority of the candidates, they wouldn’t know. You d have to do what I do to know. Not many know.”
“I can’t do my own tax returns. Why does the tax code have to be so complicated. It favours the incumbent.”
“I want to make [Whitewater Region] the best place.”
