YORKTON – The 2024 Municipal Election set for Nov. 13 will see the public cast their votes with two mayoral candidates and 10 councillors to choose from.
SaskToday.ca reached out to each candidate with a set of questions to help inform the public on who they're voting for.
Dustin Brears, Candidate for City Council
First, a brief history of your time in the city. How long have you been here, work experience, political experience, etc.
I grew up in Bredenbury and moved to Yorkton in 2010. My kids were born here and my wife and I have enjoyed raising our family in such a great community. I was first elected to council in 2020 and am part-owner of a company in town that employs up to 100 people in peak seasons. I am a member of the Legacy Co-Op board of directors, vice-president of Parkland Search and Rescue and the provincial media liaison for Search and Rescue Saskatchewan. I am trained as a paramedic, search manager, pilot and a Canadian Registered Safety Professional. My time on council has been enjoyable and rewarding being able to help folks through various situations and advocate for our cities growth and potential.
Why do you feel you're qualified to represent the public on City Council?
I am a sound decision maker who likes to take all information into account before making a decision. My time on council has been marked by a list of successful projects, tax base growth, residential & commercial building starts, and a surplus in funds from responsible spending and investments. Growing up in a small community, I have learned the value of volunteerism and tight budgets. Being part of a business has shown me the value of marketing, treating people right, and responsible spending. Yorkton is the best place on the planet to live and I would like to be a continued part of that success.
What issues do you feel are the most pressing for the city?
Inflation, infrastructure, public safety and spending.
How would you plan to address these issues?
Inflation has made life difficult for everyone and as a municipal government, we need to do our part in making sure that our projects and spending do not put unnecessary pressures on our residents. Taxes are a fact of life unfortunately and I don’t like them either, but they are necessary to maintain our quality of life and allow its continued success. Public tax dollars must be spent in the most efficient and effective way possible. I commit to continued spending management and holding other levels of government to account in an effort to properly fund infrastructure and public safety initiatives going into the future.
In Yorkton we're experiencing concerns with homelessness, drug abuse, mental health, and crime. Though separate issues they're often intertwined and something that falls on the shoulders of the provincial government. What steps would you, as a city councillor, take to ensure a closer working relationship with the provincial government so that a meaningful impact on these issues can be made? What work or education do you have that qualifies your answer?
It is important that we collaborate with all levels of government and community groups to come up with effective solutions. I currently sit on the protective services committee and my extensive experience with emergency services including search and rescue at the provincial level has given me a distinctive perspective. Although each community is somewhat unique in its needs, there is larger issues at play that contribute to the concerns across the county. I will continue my work at the committee level, and through Council, to collaborate and hold accountable other levels of government to work towards a common goal of a healthy, vibrant community where everyone can feel.
What would you do to improve on transparency to maintain the public's trust in their municipal government?
Transparency is important. When you are dealing with public dollars, it is important to be as transparent as possible. It is somewhat standard procedure across municipalities that items pertaining to budget, property and personnel are dealt with in-camera, but otherwise, all other items should be dealt with in the public view. I encourage people to attend council meetings, committee meetings, committee of the whole, etc. and get involved with council matters. Hearing input from residents and business at the committee level and having them involved in the official decision making process contributes towards accountability and transparency of elected officials.
