Leading up to this year's municipal election, we'll be featuring interviews from the three Moose Javians running for mayor. Fraser Tolmie is one of those candidates.  

Each candidate was asked the same list of questions. Here are Tolmie's answers.  

Q: Can you introduce yourself to our readers?

A: I'm originally from Ontario but I came out here with the military and met my wife here. I decided to settle down because I loved the city. I've been happily married for twelve years and we have two daughters.

Q: What do you think is your most significant accomplishment as mayor over the last term?

A: I would say that my most significant accomplishment is bringing the community together. Before I was elected in 2016, the city was divided over the Cast Iron Water Main Referendum and the people didn't feel like they were being heard. I felt that that was the root problem in the city and having addressed that, we've been able to face the challenges of the last four years as a community that's working together. This has made our city a lot better because we've been able to solve our problems by having more people involved in the discussion.

Q: What could be improved?

A: I'm someone who is always self-evaluating. We're going to have at least three new faces on City Council and I'd obviously want to work well with the new councillors. I believe that I would be bringing experience with my last four years but I would also want to listen to what the new councillors would want to do as well.

Q: What experience or knowledge do you bring to the table?

A: Well, I spent three years as a city councillor and then the last four years as Mayor. The past term has been challenging but we've maintained a steady course with a strong consensus on inclusion and bridge-building. I think that's important in this election, especially during the challenging times we're facing with the pandemic. I feel that this is really important for the role of Mayor.

Q: What do you think are the biggest issues facing the city right now?

A: One of the challenges will be getting people back to work. So creating jobs is very important and that's been something that we've been aggressively pursuing for the last four years. We've been attracting investments which have gotten close to 1 billion dollars over the past term. But at the same time, we have to make sure people are safe.

Q: What plans do you have for the reserve investment fund?

A: In the last term, we created an investment committee to maximize investment returns. These returns will be used to pay for infrastructure projects which reduces our need to borrow and also keeps the tax burden low for our residents. I think we need to stay the course on this.

Q: How would you go about attracting new businesses and residents to Moose Jaw?

A: I believe that our track record has proven that you cannot just sit about and wait for investments to come. You must go after them and I will continue to do that if re-elected. With new jobs comes new opportunities and obviously, people follow to where the jobs are. That's critical if you're looking to grow your tax base.

Q: How should the city handle cast iron replacement, roads, and other infrastructure?

A: Like with anything, the more you do it, the better you get. Four years ago had just started doing cast iron replacement infrastructure. Prior to that, we were only repairing broken pipes. So I believe that we will continue to improve and get better as time goes by and we'll be implementing new technologies such as waterline inserts which will reduce road damage and the need to repair and repave roads. So I'm very excited about that. We've been focusing on the areas of the city most at risk for breakage and that will continue to reduce the number of repairs over time. And we will keep doing more in the coming years.

Q: How concerned are you about the financial losses at Mosaic Place? How would you address this?

A: These facilities are subsidized [by the city]. What we've done is put in place third-party management to reduce that subsidy and increase the number of events. This obviously has been impacted by the pandemic but I believe that the plan we have in place will ultimately be very successful. These facilities are economic drivers for the community and we want to reduce the subsidy. I think we've been very successful with the Yara Centre with the city taking over those facilities. That's how I believe we will be successful once the pandemic is over.

Q: How do you envision the city coming out of the pandemic?

A: I think that getting people back to work is the biggest thing. To do that we're going to need jobs so it circles back to attracting investments.

Q: What is your overall vision for the city of Moose Jaw?

A: Well, as Mayor of Moose Jaw, I'd work collaboratively with our citizens and businesses as well as our provincial and federal partners to build a community of opportunity and prosperity were people can thrive for generations to come. We need a community where we all feel included and can feel proud of. I will continue to do that if re-elected.

Election day is on Nov. 9.

*(Some answers have been edited for clarity and length.)*