All nine candidates vying to become the next mayor of Moose Jaw took part in a virtual candidates' forum hosted by the Moose Jaw and District Chamber of Commerce on Thursday night. 

The event was moderated by Chamber of Commerce president Aaron Ruston. Taking part in the forum were current councilors Kim Robinson, Crystal Froese and Heather Eby as well as Clive Tolley, Sam Morrison, Mike Simpkins, Michael Haygarth, Brett McAuley and Wayne Watermanuk. 

After opening remarks, the candidates were asked about the biggest changes they would make if they were elected mayor. 

Robinson said it comes down to community engagement. 

“We have so many challenges to meet in Moose Jaw, but we also have so many great community members that want the same thing as I would want as leader of the city,” he explained. 

Simpkins agreed that the lines of communication between city councilors and residents had broken down. 

“I feel there's a bit of a disconnect between our current councilors and our taxpayers and a lot of times the feelings that I get (from residents) is that they're not being listened to,” he answered. 

McAuley said there are several issues that need to be addressed including when the city repairs streets and sidewalks and has to tear up people’s yards. 

“Their yards were torn up and they weren't left with a gaping hole, but it was filled in with dirt and grass seed. My philosophy, leave it like you found it. Come on, we're the city, for goodness sakes. We owe our taxpayers more than this,” he said. 

The candidates were asked what they think are the top three economic drivers in the city and how they would engage with them. The majority of the candidates agreed that agriculture, tourism and small business are the biggest drivers. 

Asked how they would work co-operatively with city council considering the mayor is only one vote at the table, Tolley used a hockey analogy of a new head coach walking into the locker room for the first time. 

“The first thing that the coach needs to do is listen to the people that are already on the team,” Tolley explained.  

“If I'm happy to be elected mayor, I would be listening to Heather and Crystal and Kim and the other councilors.” 

Haygarth said it is the job of the mayor to bring everyone together towards a common goal. 

“We all need to work together and if I were to become mayor, I guess what I would want to bring in is like an energy level that unites everybody.” 

Morrison agreed with Tolley with the fact that, if elected, he would listen to what the other councilors have to say. 

“My duty as mayor will be to listen to council, who has gathered information from administration and help city council develop solid solutions without creating more problems,” he said. 

The issue of crime and poverty came up during the forum, and the candidates were asked how they would address it from a community level. 

Eby said it’s a fine balance as issues such as addictions and mental health that go hand-and-hand with crime and poverty are not city mandates, but the key is partnerships with groups such of the Crystal Meth Strategy Committee. 

“When you want to keep a line on taxes, you won't keep a line on taxes if you take social programs into the municipal budget, but we can partner with the agencies that are responsible for those,” she answered. 

Froese said crime is an issue that seriously needs to be looked at from the municipality level. 

“It is in our lane as far as caring about how our community is operating right now and there has been a surge in crime here in our city. What I would like to see is a street-level approach to this,” she said. 

Many of the candidates pointed to the fact that Moose Jaw does not have a women’s shelter. 

“A few schools here that are going to be vacant soon. Maybe converting one of them into a shelter somehow. The buildings already there and going to be abandoned when school opens up on South Hill,” Watermanuk said. 

With the mayor position being a full-time job, the candidates were asked if there were prepared for the responsibility, to which they all agreed. 

The final question of the night was in regards to the perception that there are too many closed-door meetings and a lack of transparency with city council.  

Simpkins said transparency is very important to him and understood that some topics are for public discussion, but wondered if “we are hiding a bit more than we should be.” 

Meanwhile, the candidates that are currently on city council explained that there is legislation that council is bound by when it comes to what can be discussed with the public and what has to be discussed in an in-camera meeting.  

All candidates agreed that they would never participate in “secret meetings.” 

Byelection day to elect a new mayor is set for Nov. 3. 

You can watch the candidate forum in its entirety below: