Needs of poor, seniors a priority for council candidate Ginther
After many years working with international development and relief organizations overseas, Bill Ginther and his wife moved to Lethbridge four years ago to retire.
But then he got involved with local organizations like the Interfaith Food Bank and the Lethbridge Soup Kitchen. Earlier this year, he was named the Soup Kitchen’s executive director.
Now Ginther is preparing for a new assignment. If Lethbridge voters so decide, he’ll become a first-term member of city council.
But regardless of how many votes he receives Oct. 16, Ginther has plenty of issues he wants to advance. The city must become more proactive, he says, in addressing the needs of its poor families and homeless people.
And it should pay more attention to issues raised by seniors, he adds.
The city’s “Housing First” initiative has proven effective in reducing some of those issues, Ginther says. But too many people are still “sleeping rough” and too few people seem to care.
While Lethbridge has a number of rent-subsidized options for seniors, he says there’s little available for lowincome families just scraping by. Little social housing is being built, and owners of privately held rental units are reluctant to deal with individuals who don’t have an assured income.
“The issue of affordable housing for all is also very important.”
With more than 40 years of overseas development experience, Ginther knows how community groups have found solutions to those problems.
The city’s seniors have different needs, he says, even though they’re getting a pension cheque. Fair and equitable taxation on seniors’ condos is one of their issues, he says.
“I feel that seniors aren’t always listened to,” but as someone their age he could be their contact on council. To promote better communication for all, Ginther says, the city should move to a ward system for council.
Recycling has been a hot-button issue here for many years, he notes, while other cities have moved ahead.
“I feel that it is time to move forward on an affordable and sustainable curbside recycling system,” he says.
Private-sector operators should be given an opportunity to bid on contracts to provide that service, he adds.
Ginther is also enthusiastic about the City’s downtown revitalization initiatives. Programs like “Heart of our City” bring activities and people back to the centre of the city.
“It’s like the engine for our city,” with positive energy spreading across the community.
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