This week, we are featuring platform highlights from the Ward Councillor candidates in the upcoming election. Our stations have reached out to each Councillor candidate to outline their platform for listeners. This is Ward 5 Councillor candidate Noella Rinaldo’s submitted platform.

For the past two terms it’s been my privilege to have worked as a councillor for the municipality, to serve on a variety of boards and to advocate for constituents. I am hoping to be given that opportunity again with a new council, to be one of the leaders in continuing to position our city as forward, modern and livable. I expressed strong, clear opinions on many issues on both my terms. I feel my voice was one of reason, who knows the reality of running a business, who knows the not-for–profit world. I am engaged, involved everyday with the community and I am known as someone who rolls up her sleeves and gets things done.

I sit on both Not-for–profit Housing and the Cochrane District Social Services Board. I am proud of the work we have done to work towards helping the homeless and improving social services in the city. The Living Space program, the investment in housing programs has improved but not yet solved our lack of affordable housing. An important task ahead is the reconfiguration of the funding formula for the CDSSB. The inequity of sharing of costs in the region, threatens the sustainability of the programs and as the city most affected, our citizens tax dollars.

I sit on the Museum Board and the recent expansion of the Timmins Museum and Exhibition Centre is a step forward in offering more in our Arts and Culture programs.  I am past chair of the MRCA and current board member, board member on the Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee and board member of the Goldcorp Advisory Committee and a variety of committees. I was also a recipient of the Northern Ontario Influential Community Trailblazer award for my community work. This is all work that I am very proud of, work that directly affects people and their quality of life.

With more than 11 million spent on the connecting link in the last term and another 6 million coming we are finally with aggressive campaigning, starting to address our needs for replacement on our roads and infrastructure.

The cities investment in the industrial park has attracted diverse business that continues to invest in the city and create employment. With the wide investment in mining, and growth, expansion from local business, the possibility that the hard work for the Noront project will pay off is optimistic.

As a council we have accomplished with the lowest net expenditure in the last fifteen years to have a significant increase in the statistics, for the quality of life here in the city. 

There are so many challenges ahead. A crumbling infrastructure, a need for a variety of affordable housing, increased costs of living, the need to invest capital in quality of life facilities and events. These will have an impact on the municipal budget. The need to look at the bigger picture is key, to look at long term needs and the future of the city. The conversations need to be to building a city that is inclusive for all, that offers employment to our citizens and fulfills expectations of a quality life.

I have proven that I have no problem offering a different perspective, as politics is not a spectator’s sport. However, it is neither a single voice but a combination of many voices. I know my voice is of a value, as a voice of experience, a voice of a strong woman and the voice of your future Timmins.           

 In the upcoming election I hope I can count on your support.              

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