North Battleford’s incoming mayor faces no competition for tough job

No one but Ryan Bater wants to be mayor of North Battleford, a city beset by an oil spill, racial tension and Canada’s worst crime rate.

On top of that, residents have been engaged in a heated debate over whether to amalgamate with the adjacent town of Battleford.

“We definitely have issues to overcome,” Bater said in an interview Thursday.

When the nomination deadline passed this week, the former Liberal Party of Saskatchewan leader was the only one who had filed papers. It appeared current North Battleford Mayor Ian Hamilton was preparing for another campaign, but the incumbent pulled out a couple of weeks ago.

In Saskatoon and Prince Albert, four candidates are vying for the mayor’s chair. Regina and Moose Jaw each have five contenders. In all four cities, mayoral incumbents are seeking re-election.

Bater, 38, said he planned to run for another term as a city councillor, but Hamilton’s withdrawl “left a leadership void.” City councillors and other others talked among themselves, several encouraged him to take on the job, and he agreed, he said. “It was a call to service.” Bater said municipal government is collegial and “much more pleasant” than partisan provincial or federal politics.

That said, the new mayor and council will face a host of problems that thrust the city of 14,000 into the national spotlight in recent months.

On July 20, the Husky oil spill forced North Battleford to shut off its main drinking water intake in the North Saskatchewan River and use alternate sources.

An outpouring of hatred on social media and among some Battlefords-area residents followed the Aug. 9 killing of Red Pheasant Cree Nation man Colten Boushie on a nearby farm. Hundreds attended rallies outside the court appearances of the alleged murderer.

North Battleford also currently ranks first on a national crime severity index.

Bater said the oil spill was unfortunate, but Husky and the provincial government have treated North Battleford fairly. He said the new council will be watching closely to ensure more safeguards are put in place to prevent future spills.

He said council is taking some “bold steps” to deal with crime, such as creating a force of community safety officers. To really address it, however, everyone has to realize that racial tension, poverty, addictions and other factors all play a role, he said.

“Those are the root causes of crime. Change will not happen overnight, but we want to address these issues head on.”

Bater said all levels of government in the region — municipal, provincial, federal and First Nations — must work together to improve things. That’s one reason he’s in favour of amalgamating the Battlefords, but he won’t force the issue unless Battlefords leaders request it.

“I’ve always seen it as one market, one community, but I won’t pursue (amalgamation),” he said.

Bater, who has lived in North Battleford since age three and heads up the local tourism bureau, said his city has a lot of potential, and he’ll try his best to bring it out.

“This is home,” he said. “I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”

Change will not happen overnight, but we want to address these issues head on.