By james art YORKTON – The 2024 municipal election, set for Nov. 13, will see the public vote with two mayoral candidates and 10 councilors to choose from.
SaskToday.ca reached out to each candidate with a set of questions to help inform the public about who they are voting for.
Ron Irvine, candidate for city councilor
First, a brief history of your stay in the city. How long have you been here, work experience, political experience, etc.
I was born and raised in Yorkton. After graduating from Yorkton Regional High School in 1995, I moved to Regina and spent some time working before continuing my education in computer networking. I joined Access Communications in 2001 and returned to Yorkton in 2007 when I accepted the role of Eastern Regional Manager. Over the past 17 years, I have built strong relationships with local businesses and community groups (as well as in communities across the province) through my work at this not-for-profit cooperative. My political and community experience includes five years with the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce, where I was President in 2012, as well as nine years as a leader and fundraising coordinator for the Yorkton Chapter of Boy Scouts of Canada, and over 15 years on the Board of the Film Festival in Yorkton, currently as co-chair.
Why do you think you are qualified to represent the public on City Council?
I believe my lifelong connection to Yorkton, combined with my professional experience and volunteer work, uniquely qualifies me for this role. I understand the challenges our community faces, and my extensive work with local businesses and community organizations has equipped me with the skills necessary to effectively advocate for our residents. I am passionate about Yorkton and my commitment to listening to the concerns of my fellow citizens will guide my decisions on the City Council.
What issues do you think are most pressing for the city? How do you plan to address these issues?
Some of the major issues facing Yorkton today include barriers to growth and development in our business community, aging infrastructure, and the impact on the community with the increase in residents struggling with mental health and addictions. To address these challenges, I would prioritize working with local businesses to identify and remove barriers to growth, advocate for funding to upgrade our infrastructure, and work closely with community organizations to advocate for mental health and addiction services. I believe that open dialogue with residents is critical to developing effective solutions.
In Yorkton, we are concerned about homelessness, drug abuse, mental health and crime. Although separate issues, they are often intertwined and something that falls on the shoulders of the provincial government. What steps would you take, as a councillor, to ensure a closer working relationship with the provincial government so that a meaningful impact can be made on these issues? What job or education do you have that qualifies your answer?
As a councilor I would actively advocate for Yorkton’s needs at a provincial level. Building a strong relationship with provincial government is essential to providing the resources and support needed to address homelessness, drug abuse, mental health and crime. My extensive volunteer experience with local organizations and my role in a community cooperative have given me a solid understanding of these issues and the ability to communicate effectively with a variety of stakeholders. I would push for regular meetings with provincial representatives to discuss our city’s unique challenges and seek joint solutions.
What would you do to improve transparency to maintain public confidence in their municipal government?
To improve transparency and maintain public trust, I would advocate for more open council sessions and limiting closed-door discussions to only necessary legal matters. It is crucial that residents feel informed about the decisions being made on their behalf. I would also prioritize developing better channels of communication between the City Council, Yorkton’s business community and local organizations. Regular updates on council activities and decisions, along with opportunities for public input, would build a more inclusive environment and strengthen community engagement.