Osoyoos Municipal Election all-candidates Q&A – Part 3

Sue McKortoff – Mayor candidate (incumbent)

Sue McKortoff – Mayor candidate (incumbent)

Q5. We need to attract health care workers and retain them. Some may start work here but could have housing or childcare issues. We have a variety of housing units being started and a new childcare business being planned. Some may leave for higher wages, or a chance for a larger workplace, with a diverse team. Continuing to talk and work with Health authorities and providers is crucial.

Q6. The FireSmart BC program offers education and advice  on how to protect your home and property. Suggestions like cleaning roofs and gutters and your chimney, removing debris in your yard and not putting firewood or shrubs next to the house are important. Oct. 9-15 is Fire Prevention Week. Learn more, visit the Firehall Open House and ask for a safety audit from our local Osoyoos Fire Department.

Dustin Sikora – Mayor candidate

Dustin Sikora – Mayor candidate

Q5. The addition of three or four family doctors would be one of the most significant and positive things to ever happen to Osoyoos. There is a shortage of doctors in Canada, so we must look abroad to find them. We can attract these foreign doctors if we look hard enough and make a serious effort to reach out and recruit. Creston, BC has done it and it’s my intent to use the same formula of success.

 Q6. I believe FireSmart should be encouraged for all properties however, this is most important for properties that are near or outside of town boundaries that interface with nature’s high risk areas. Yes, I believe these zones should be highlighted for incentives and there should be consultation with the insurance industry and local fire authorities to further monitoring and promote FireSmart.

Myers Bennett – Councillor candidate (incumbent)

Myers Bennett – Councillor candidate (incumbent)

Q5. I  have worked tirelessly alongside Interior Health, area doctors, and local Indian band leaders to find a solution to this significant problem. I’ve met with government leaders echoing these concerns alongside many other affected communities. The BC government recently announced a new physician compensation model, expected to be unveiled this year. It will help address the issue of rising costs too.

 Q6. Communities implementing FireSmart standards have better chances of survival in a wildfire. Improved understanding of risks and responsibilities living in an area with an active wildfire season is essential, as is interagency wildfire planning alongside our outlying communities. We are fortunate to have excellent fire chiefs and volunteer fire departments who do a great job of promoting FireSmart.

Johnny Cheong – Councillor candidate

Johnny Cheong – Councillor candidate

Q5. The BC government recently outlined 2 major initiatives.  Pharmacists will have enhanced ability to renew and prescribe medications, many of which pertain to chronic disease which is more prevalent in our demographic.  There will also be more positions allocated to the nurse practitioner program.  By focusing recruitment to these two HCP’s, we can efficiently alleviate strain on our local system.

Q6: The lack of meaningful council action following the Nk’Mip Creek Fire last summer is deeply troubling and indicates the importance of fire prevention initiatives like FireSmart at the municipal level.  I believe that having a strong cross-platform education campaign promoting the FireSmart initiative is crucial.  What greater incentive is there than the peace of mind of keeping your family safe?

Wesley Greve – Councillor candidate

Wesley Greve – Councillor candidate

Q5. In B.C., the Municipality Act says town councils can’t provide financial support to privately-owned businesses (including most doctor’s clinics). So, there are some boundaries which would have to be respected while improving our community health care. A successful doctor recruitment program exists in Creston – I would advocate modelling a program based on their strengths and learnings for Osoyoos.

 Q6. Our town has faced repeated wild-fire crises, so we should follow the simple ideas that FireSmart suggests for home safety. Many areas in the RDOS have had community FireSmart days to team up on small projects which protect their homes. The OIB and the RDOS were awarded a number of FireSmart grants to support their residents. But Osoyoos withdrew their funding application – I’d like to know why.

Jim King – Councillor candidate (incumbent)

Jim King – Councillor candidate (incumbent)

Q5. This is a Provincial issue along with our area of B.C. The present council identified this issue over 5 years ago and met with the Health Minister to talk about this. A strategy would be to meet with our doctors, along with healthcare providers, and then advocate government with our ideas. The two towns, did provide incentives (housing) for doctors. We need a clinic of some kind.

 Q6. We live in a wildfire sensitive area, FireSmart is important to property owners. This is a way to evaluate your property against fires, Keep gutters clean, separate fencing from your home, trees should be kept trimmed or cut down if touching you home or out buildings etc.. We have a FireSmart instructor in the South Okanagan who can come out and evaluate you home. Incentives would be a good idea.

Sy Murseli – Councillor candidate

Sy Murseli – Councillor candidate

Q5. Financial help with moving costs (maximum limit to be determined) and help finding housing with provincial government assistance. 

Unspecified incentives to healthcare providers choosing to work in our area.

Q6. FireSmart is important and should be supported.  After a property clean up, dump fees could be waived. More effort should be made to help homeowners understand the importance of being pro-active in building and maintaining properties.

Zach Poturica – Councillor candidate

Zach Poturica – Councillor candidate

Q5. We need to be unique in our efforts to advocate and recruit for expanded healthcare services, We have an aging community staffed by medical professionals who have significant patient workloads. The loss of one medical professional can add even greater strain on the current crisis.  We can’t continue competing against other communities facing the same situation.

 Q6. As a former Firefighter and Deputy Fire Chief in the RDOS, I know firsthand the impact of wildfires in the South Okanagan. After the challenges faced in 2021, we have an opportunity to follow the lead of communities like Anarchist Mountain which first reached Firesmart status in 2013. We need to find new opportunities to encourage residents to Firesmart their properties.