Joel Malcolm likes open door meetings because the ones behind closed doors can cause suspicion and mistrust.
The long-time barber is running for Area C director again in hopes to represent rural Oliver constituents.
He believes his many years of listening to the people (while behind the chair) gives him an understanding and knowledge of the issues.
For starters, Malcolm believes that “secret,” complaint-based bylaws enforced in a dictator-like fashion must end.
He said altering traditional rural lifestyles when it comes to outdoor recreation, farming and viticulture must only occur by consent via enlightened and transparent representation.
Malcolm wants to work towards the need for safe (day and night) pedestrian highway crossing at Gallagher Lake. He also wants to reclaim one if not both frontage road accesses lost in previous upgrading work.
“Waiting for the predictable fatalities and injuries to be the catalyst to act is reckless.”
Malcolm said many Area C residents believe that the proposed national park may hurt the traditional lifestyles and economic viabilities of local ranchers, farmers, and outdoor recreation enthusiasts.
“I also sense the resistance is not necessarily to the idea of parkland in itself, but rather the concern of another bureaucratic level of governance in their midst.”
On the issue of commercial signage, Malcolm said signs on private or commercial property should be within the purview of the landowner or proprietors.
Another issue that the candidate feels strongly about is the operation of Frank Venables Theatre under the Oliver Theatre Community Society.
He noted the society stands alone, and unlike most other societies (such as the Elks and the legion) does not hold annual elections for accountable members.
“The problem is that within societies structures there are no provisions for transparency, no provisions for the guarantee of the future society members’ mindsets and no provision for taxpaying public’s participation other than to pay.”
Malcolm said there is also no provision for cost control of the society’s paid manager and other employees.
Because funding can only come from all willing and all unwilling taxpayers, without any elected participation, there should not be any more private societies in public government, Malcolm stated.
