Denis Bedard

Oct 02, 2014

Councillor

Denis Bedard – extension of community commitment

Since Denis and Rose Bedard bought Double S Sport and Marina 11 years ago and moved to Palmerston Lake from Mississippi Mills, where Denis had been working as a engineer for the town, they have been active in the local community.

“We have been involved with the fire department, the Christmas parade, ATV runs, a whole bunch of things,” Denis said.

As the deputy fire chief in Ompah, Denis has been involved with some of the seemingly endless debates about what should be done with the hall. This summer, by bringing up some issues in a public space, Denis was removed as a firefighter.

“I felt that the project was wasteful and will cost $300,000 in the end, more than it should cost. But I said some things in public and that is that,” he said.

His decision to run for Council is not related to the fire department, however.

“I've spent several years being frustrated about how money has been spent in this township, such as $47,000 for a star gazing pad, and a proposal to spend $2 million on a township complex, with no idea how we are going to pay for it. I think over the last term this administration has been allowed to get away with a few things. It's time they were held accountable,” he said.

He would like to see the economic development task force opened up and continue to develop.

“I would like to invite business-minded community user groups, artists, forestry groups, community groups, service groups, special interest groups such as ATV and snowmobile associations, to provide input into the future direction of the community business development plan,” he said.

He would like to see a new signage strategy in the short term, and for the committee to “key on the strengths of the township, tourism and forestry, and then expand to whatever new types of businesses we would like to add.”

One of the major concerns Denis Bedard has with the way council operates has to do with staff and council proposals to spend money.

“If a staff member comes to council with a proposal I want to know a few things. I want to know who is getting the money, what they are going to do, why we need to spend and where the money is coming from. As a community we deserve honest answers with respect to how our money is being spent,” he said.

He does not think that the township is poorly run, but that some tweaking is necessary, and he said that the multi-use complex that has been proposed is something that 90% of the people are dead set against.

He is, however, supportive of the fire departments and thinks keeping departments in Plevna, Ompah and Snow Road is “essential”, pointing out that each department has developed their own specialty.

And the township halls are described by him as “the heart and soul of the community”.