The following summary of the Open Conversations held on April 25th was captured by the conversation leader.  We want to continue the dialogue, so please use the form below to provide us with your big, blue sky ideas!

Session Convenor: Kathy Craig

Participants: Don Shea, Peter Behr, Midge Thompson, Sara Stashick, Murray Driscoll, Grace Losier, Richard Malone, John Wallace, plus others

Main Points from Discussion:

• Finn Report
• Cooperation regional issues
• Recommendation to send message to Mayor’s Caucus from ESJ (or to all councils) to get “buy in” from each council to co-operate on regional issues
• Each council appoints a “champion” from Council and volunteer organization. These people can not do it alone and there would be a need for volunteers from the communities who are also champions and workers to see these issues through to the end
• We need to look at models of what is being done "right" - an example was given of regional EMO
• There is a need to get by the "lip service" and get on with the work
• New committee should pick "winners" to begin with and tackle harder issues after some successes
• That group pushes the agenda forward reports back to Council (but agree not to shoot the messenger)
• For issues discussed as possibilities:
  • Recreation
  • Transit
  • Land use planning
  • Policing
  • Economic Development
  • Waste (solid)
  • Potable Water
  • Purchasing
  • Mutual aid
  • Resource Pooling
  • Training & Development
  • High speed emergency telephone service
  • Councilor’s dialogue
  • Integrated internet services
  • Mutual aid agreements
  • Regional EMO
  • Asphalt bidding
  • HAZ-MAT Response
  • Inter-municipal radio
  • Health insurance purchase pooling
  • Trail development
  • Waste water
  • Information exchange (policies)
  • Celebrations (Christmas parade)

What Should Happen Next?

ESJ to give outcome of today’s discussion to all Councils.