Meet the candidates: Timmins

The city of Timmins has threecandidates for mayor.

Former Mayor George Pirienow represents the city and region in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

Mayoral candidateRichard Lafleurdid not respond to CBC's request by thedeadline.

Michelle Boileau

What are the top three issues you would like to tackle, if elected?
It is not easy to identify the three biggest issues for the city, as everyone's perspective on which is the highest priority can vary.

That said, by focusing on:

1. population growth;
2. housing and homelessness;
3. and health care access

I believe we can be on our way to making Timmins a better place to live for all.

What is your involvement in the community?

I have always been actively engaged in the community. I have dedicated my career to bettering the socio-economic well-being of people throughout northern Ontario. Elected to the municipal council in 2018, I am proud to serve on several community boards and committees.

These include Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board (as chair), the Timmins Police Services Board, the Timmins Public Library Board (as chair), the Museum Advisory Committee, the Violence Against Women's Committee, and the Francophone Liaison Committee (as chair).

In addition to my appointments as a councillor, I also chairthe Northern Ontario Service Deliverers Association, and siton the board of directors of the Centre de sant communautaire de Timmins, Le Centre culturel La Ronde, as well as the Cochrane District Social Planning Council. Moreover, I also intently support local business and sports and recreational activities. In my downtime, you can find me snowboarding at Mount Jamieson or shopping at local markets.

If elected mayor, what will be your first priority?

If elected mayor, my first priority will be to humbly learn the full breadth of operations at the city. This will allow me to make more informed and strategic decisions regarding municipal budgets. In parallel to this, I would develop a strategic framework in collaboration with the council to help direct our work.

My goal is to strive to make Timmins a better place to live for all. This requires taking both immediate and assertive action in a few different areas, including but not limited to continuing our work to eradicate chronic homelessness by 2025, realizing the four priorities set out in the Community Safety andWell-Being Plan, encouraging and supporting housing development, coordinating efforts to improve access to health care for residents, enhancing transportation systems, diversifying economic and recreational activities, etc.

Joe Campbell

What are the top three issues you would like to tackle, if elected?
Three that are pressing but not the only ones:

1. Homeless and the opioid crisis
2. Lack of supportive and transitional housing
3. Attraction and retention of people as our businesses struggle to fill staff vacancies impacting the economy

What is your involvement in the community?

I have a 50 year history of being involved in the community.

Founding member of Schumacher Day Committee that has raised over $1.2 M for youth programs.

Involved in minor hockey for 18 years as an executive and coach in Timmins, Schumacher and Porcupine.

Volunteer with Ontario Lung Association for nine years.

President and Executive director of Timmins Northstars Hockey for 13 years.

Chairman of the Board of Camp Bickell children's camp for 36 years (last 20 as Chair) personally have spearheaded fundraising campaigns that have raised in excess of $5 millionto upgrade the camp and save it from closure.

Chaired 12 NOHA championship tournaments.

Acted as a volunteer director of a camp for asthmatic kids for nine years at Northwood Camp in Kirkland Lake for nineyears.

22 years acting as volunteer treasurer for several youth organizations.

If elected mayor, what will be your first priority?

The City of Timmins has several issues that would require council working together simultaneously to resolve. To concentrate on one would not be my position. They can be resolved on parallel paths. There can be a priority but it can't consume all of council's time at the expense of others just as pressing.