Five wards up for grabs in RM of Tache

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This article was published 11/10/2022 (927 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

An election is underway in nearly every ward in the RM of Tache.

Except for Ward 2 in which incumbent Coun. George McGregor was re-elected by acclamation, five wards are up for grabs. The Carillon profiled candidates in each ward ahead of election day on Oct. 26.

Ward 1

Bowker offers fresh perspective

Long-serving LUD and former Tache Fire Department member Steven Bowker hopes to bring young blood to council. The 32-year-old said a “different line of thinking” would benefit the RM.

Increasing public works staffing to address road, dust and ditch issues is on the candidate’s wish list. Bowker said sustaining residential and commercial growth would address tax increases.

“If you’re stagnant, as everything increases you pass it onto your tax base,” he said, adding he would work with rural residential areas to ensure most needs are met.

“Not everyone’s gonna be happy with it, but to make sure that it’s an acceptable level going forward for people.”

The dialogue around policing in the community should be constructive, Bowker said, noting the issue has become stale on council in the past two years.

Trudeau seeking balance

Incumbent and seasoned Coun. Jacques Trudeau seeks to create balance in residential development in his community by improving communication between residents and municipal council.

Drainage, low property taxes and improving internet connection are also on the candidate’s agenda, as well as fostering regional partnerships to secure more funding from multiple levels of government for future projects quicker.

Solutions to youth and property crime by way of increased resources and services would help with the municipality’s desire for more policing in the RM, Trudeau said.

“[RCMP] don’t have the manpower, they don’t have the time. So we have to find a way of how can we make our roads and our communities safer for everyone,” he said, adding more police and enforcement through subcontracts with neighbouring municipalities is also on his radar.

Trudeau is, in principle, supporting a proposed land annexation to the RM of Ritchot to expand the community of Ile des Chenes.

Ward 3

Clarke keeping it rural

Secretary-Treasurer of Lorette Metis Local Andrea Clarke is prioritizing road repairs in her campaign, saying her community in Ward 3 has been waiting for repairs and paving for upwards of 20 years.

Garbage pick up and building relationships within council chambers are areas of interest to the candidate, saying the only way to achieve goals is to work together.

Her campaign slogan, “Keeping it rural” refers to keeping the desires of rural residents at the top of mind when voting on developments. Clarke said she doesn’t want to turn the community into a “suburb of Winnipeg.”

“We have to care about our residents who are already here,” she said, but added bringing businesses to the area to keep residents accessing services locally would assist in keeping taxes low.

Clarke has a degree in psychology and said she would look at bringing more mental health and wellness resources to the area to address youth crime.

Candidate Dawn Braden did not make herself available for an interview before press time.

Ward 4

Jolicoeur juggles multiple issues

LUD of Lorette member Colleen Jolicoeur is seeking a bigger platform for her voice to address taxes, policing and recreational opportunities.

More active transportation routes are a priority for Jolicoeur as well as bringing more business to the community through tax incentives.

Jolicoeur said she would work with the provincial and federal government to address policing in the municipality. She would also be interested in contracts with police in neighbouring communities.

Practicing fiscal responsibility while keeping the community open to business would aid in keeping taxes low for residents, Jolicoeur said. Residential development, like multi-family housing, would only come if it meant a positive impact on existing residents.

“it’s a balancing act of trying to make people happy with the growing community and being able to bring business and support it,” she said.

Plett to change minds

A long-time Lorette resident says growth in the community is lagging behind other bedroom communities in the province.

Robert Plett wants to see a new community centre, a hotel for travelers on the Trans-Canada Highway to attract tourism and old mindsets on growth in the community to change.

“You got to dream in the future, you can’t dream in the past,” he said.

Plett said policing in the community should be carried out by the citizens by way of increased neighbourhood watch, adding the current COPP program isn’t enough and more preventative measures like the newly-opened youth drop-in centre would help in decreasing crime.

To slow tax increases Plett said the municipality must cut back on areas in the budget but also suggested households cut down on their own expenses to save money.

Stein wants schools

Incumbent Coun. Steve Stein wants the province to commit to adding more schools to the RM of Tache.

“That’s unacceptable because this community is never going to get smaller,” he said, adding schools in the area are at capacity and the problem needs to be addressed.

The candidate said completion of a sidewalk along Station Road is his priority to maintain resident safety, while policing should remain in the hands of the RCMP to keep costs low.

Stein said he’s firm on keeping vacant lots on Main Street in Lorette for commercial business to aid in economic development, while residential development can, and will, be supported through the expanded lagoon to be built in town.

A proposed land annexation to the RM of Ritchot to expand Ile des Chenes should instead be a swap to address traffic and drainage from the Seine River to Highway 59, Stein said.

Ward 5

Black focused on public works

Incumbent Coun. Victor Black wants to keep the ball rolling since winning his seat in a by-election in 2020.

Since then, he said he’s focused on expanding the municipality’s Public Works department to keep on top of projects in rural areas and infrastructure projects like cubs, sidewalks and road repairs.

As for safety in the RM Black said it’s up to residents to take care of themselves, adding residents would benefit from keeping an ear to the ground on behalf of their neighbours instead of spending money on a larger police presence.

Economic development in Tache comes with careful planning, Black said. Establishing incentives like tax breaks would attract businesses to come to the community, while working with other municipalities and forming an economic development committee would aid in moving forward.

As for a proposed land annexation deal between the RM of Ritchot and Tache to expand Ile des Chenes, Black said he would prefer a land swap to address traffic and drainage issues in the RM.

Greenway’s tax plan

A 27-year servant of the Royal Canadian Air Force said his experience would make him the best agent for change in Ward 5.

A self-described fiscal conservative, Vern Greenway said he would put a hold on taxes which he’s seen increase over the years he’s lived in the community and address deteriorating roads and ditches.

“When they pay their taxes, people expect value for the taxes that they’re paying,” he said, adding he feels there’s been less value for the taxes residents pay. Greenway said he thinks Ward 5 taxes are disproportionately used by the RM to aid in urban development in other areas.

Policing in Ward 5 is a “sensitive topic” Greenway said, noting proactive measures like drop-in centres would be more useful than adding more police.

“I don’t think there is really an easy, or an inexpensive, or highly effective solution that’s readily at hand.”

Jobs on Manaigre’s mind

Funding for the community arena, job opportunities and development of Centre of Canada Park are at the top of Marcel Manaigre’s campaign promises.

Keeping taxes low through economic development and establishing an industrial area to bring in business are areas Manaigre thinks can be achieved.

Fiscal responsibility is also on Manaigre’s radar. The candidate said reducing spending on fire prevention would allow for more money to be spent elsewhere.

Manaigre also said he wants to be a councillor of, and for, the people.

“I want to try to bring that back, that their voices are going to be heard. They might not like the outcome that’s going to happen but at least their concern has been looked at,” he said.

Candidate Shonna Peitsch did not respond to requests for an interview before press time.

Ward 6

Lapeire to do what’s best

Incumbent Coun. Natashia Lapeire hopes to keep recreation and management of public works projects in Ward 6 if re-elected to council.

Proper road maintenance and drainage is an area of focus for the rural candidate as well as ensuring property owners have options when looking to develop land in the growing municipality.

“We really do think all those things through and do what’s best for the municipality as a whole,” she said.

Lapeire said while mill rates have increased on her time as council the return comes back to residents in offering more services, like road maintenance with the purchase of a new grader this year. She said she would continue to ensure financial accountability within council.

Continued, ongoing communication between the Mounties and the RM will assist in making residents feel safe, Lapeire said, adding Ward 6 being serviced by Steinbach RCMP rather than St Pierre like the rest of the RM is a step in the right direction.

Lucko focused on roads

A former RM of Springfield councillor and a candidate with 15 years of experience working in provincial affairs wants to bring his experience to the RM of Tache.

Ken Lucko would like to adjust the municipality’s tax rate in light of increasing property assessments.

“Give the residents a break,” he said.

More effective use of the area’s transfer station is on Lucko’s campaign list, as well as establishing a reporting line for residents to call in road complaints to the Public Works department and have the complaint tacked with a tracking number until the municipality completes the request.

“I’d like to have the best roads in eastern Manitoba,” he said.

Lucko wants an expanded RCMP presence in the municipality and says residential developments must come with adequate public consultation.

Candidate Roger Meilleur did not respond to requests for an interview before press time.