The Cochrane Eagle is asking candidates an issue-based question each week leading up to the election that they will answer in their own words. If a candidate does not answer a question, we will include a bio box with a disclaimer saying the candidate did not respond. All candidates were given a limit of 185 words and questions will be edited to fit that length. Our third question is:
How do you plan to address the town’s growing traffic congestion?
Fixing traffic congestion in Cochrane must be the next mayor and council’s top priority. There are a number of projects which can help vehicles and pedestrians get through Cochrane, and I will support every good idea that we can afford. However, I have always believed that traffic itself is not the problem. Instead, traffic congestion is a symptom of our town growing too fast. Cochrane has simply been growing faster than the government can build infrastructure. If the next mayor and council continue to approve new residential development plans, any traffic projects we pursue will just be Band-Aid solutions to an ever-increasing growth problem.
If we hope to get ahead of our infrastructure deficit, we must first get growth under control. Even if we stop giving new approvals today, there are still several thousand homes which will continue to be built well into the future. I propose that the next mayor and council stop giving *NEW* residential approvals, and instead look to approve commercial and industrial development, which will create jobs and opportunities. If you agree, please sign the petition at www.fixtraffic.ca.
