Ken Boshcoff Team Heading to Home Stretch in Campaign
THUNDER BAY – Ken Boshcoff is enjoying the experiences of Campaign 2014. Speaking on the issues of crime, infrastructure, the event centre and taxes, Ken Boshcoff says that he is encouraged by the people supporting his efforts to return to the job of Mayor of Thunder Bay.
One of the issues in the campaign has been the sign wars. Despite the threat of a $5000 sign, Boshcoff says that his campaign has seen a huge number of signs vanish.
It is an all out push in the next weeks of the campaign. Boshcoff enthuses that he is able, on his new knees to get to more doors than ever and he is doing more doors than ever before.
Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce Survey Answers
What experience do you bring to your role on City Council and how will it help you make decisions?
Director of Marketing-Port of Thunder Bay Owner- Boshcoff & Associates Insurance Services Vice-President / AON Reed Stenhouse Insurance Mayor City of Thunder Bay
District Planner -Government of Canada
Ken Boshcoff Advisory Services-Business Development and Government Navigation Member of Parliament -Canada
Councillor -City of Thunder Bay
President -Association of Municipalities of Ontario Director-Federation of Canadian Municipalities President -Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association President -Ontario Roads Association
Board of Directors
All local hospital boards
Northern Ontario School of Medicine Royal Canadian Mint
Canadian Institute for the Blind
plus hundreds of other Boards, Committees,Task Forces, Fundraising, Volunteer, Charitable and other community-based groups.
If elected, will you support the completion of a core business review to identify and recommend areas for potential service changes (alternative service delivery, privatization or divestiture)? Why or why not?
Yes, it would benefit everyone to examine either to validate services or to see how we can improve operations.
What is your position on the Event Centre?
This is a good concept that is needed for the eventual replacement of the Gardens. The messaging to the public has not been muddled resulting in considerable confusion. I have many unanswered questions at this time including long-term operational costs.
What should City Council do to support and encourage economic development?
We have to get competitive. We must understand our competitors are other northern Ontario cities firstly, then other areas of the Province and then the US vying for limited numbers of new businesses. We must get aggressive and focused in our marketing and creative in our offerings. These are the fundamentals. It worked for me in business and I can’t see why we don’t apply the same techniques for the City.
In your opinion, are City operations delivered efficiently and providing good value to the taxpayer? Explain.
In general yes. People within the City structure advise me there are many ways to become more efficient and I am listening to them as well as the community.
Crime is a significant concern for our members. What should City Council do to support increased safety and reduced crime in our community?
Firstly we need to rally the community and endorse police and frontline workers that their efforts are appreciated. As Mayor, a visible leadership role is necessary to convene a public forum so that we all can set about increasing the safety factors. Once we see that all of us have a common goal then “Front of mind” support with a united City on this will be our base starting point.
What steps should City Council take to improve the competitiveness of our city’s business environment?
Tax reduction or at least containment. Support for local business through objective analysis of the tendering process. Ensuring paper flow understands the timelines of contractors and other businesses.
What role do you see the City playing in enhancing aboriginal business partnerships, opportunities and relationships?
As a member of the Chamber’s Aboriginal Opportunities Committee I have learned a great deal from the concept of welcoming the influx of skills, talent, and capital into our community. The City’s role is to encourage investment so that we all benefit.
In addition to mining, which sectors/opportunities would you support to advance the healthy diversified economy that is vital to our long term success?
Medicine, health care, biomedical research, technological research, skills training, educational specialists, geological and mining supply, tourism, the Port, sports and events hosting, the arts, musical special events, historic re-enactments- there are many more. I hear of great opportunities all the time and have always had time to sit down and encourage them.
What would you consider to be success at the end of this 4 year term?
A prosperous, safe, beautiful, community that we are all proud of and want to spend the rest of our days living in !
