Parksville Mayoral candidate calls for spending restraint, job creation

“We don’t want those tax raises, and please space out the spending that you’ve decided to incur for all of us, and let’s make some wise decisions going forward,” Butler said, who advocated on behalf of the RDN Taxpayers Alliance.

Butler said seniors and families are moving away from the region as a result of high property taxes, which he said needs to be addressed.

One way to combat ever-rising taxation rates, according to Butler, is to focus on private sector job creation.

Butler said establishing a climate to encourage private industry growth, while establishing private/public opportunities to effectively leverage senior levels of government partnerships needs to be more of a focus in Parksville.

Butler believes governments in the province have relied far too heavily on property taxes to fund various initiatives.

“We have to make things affordable, focus on opportunities for job creation and good paying careers, but not just go to the taxpayer every time to pay for it,” Butler said.

Professionally, Butler is the CEO of Coastal Gateway Port Ltd., a Canadian port and shipbuilding company.

Escalating water user rates and shortages of the invaluable resource are significant worries in Parksville and throughout the region, Butler said.

Seasonal water restrictions impacting large chunks of the summer are a concern Butler has heard from citizens while door-knocking during his campaign for mayor of Parksville.

“I said ‘well, you have to elect the right leaders that have the ability to get things done.’ Unfortunately, with all of this growth, they haven’t really addressed the infrastructure needs whatsoever.”

Butler believes governments in the province have relied far too heavily on property taxes to fund various initiatives.

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by Ian Holmes

Parksville Mayoral candidate calls for spending restraint, job creation

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