CBRM District 7 election profiles
This profile is the seventh in a series of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality’s 12 council seats.
Name: Ivan Ralph Doncaster Hometown: East Bay, Cape Breton
Age: 74
What did you do before you decided to run for office?
I worked at the steel plant, coached minor sports and served as volunteer firefighter over 40 years. I served on several boards and committees and fundraised for Heart and Stroke, the MS Society, Canadian Cancer Society, Salvation Army and church groups. I also have years of valuable experience as a dedicated municipal councillor. What do you feel is the key challenge facing the community/region and how would you work to address it?
Sufficient service of rural broadband internet is a key challenge within rural communities, now more than ever. I have been working with and will continue to work with individual community groups and Cape Breton Partnership to support continued improvements to rural internet. In rural areas like District 7, maintaining the CAP is also a challenge that I will continue to defend, including facing the option of adjusting the tax rate to reflect services received. •••
Name: Adam Christopher Douglas Young Hometown: French Road,
Nova Scotia
Age: 40 years, but 10 birthdays (I’m a leap day baby)
What did you do before you decided to run for office?
I work full-time running social-media accounts and websites for Parks Canada’s places on Cape Breton Island. As a musician, I have travelled literally around the globe promoting Cape Breton’s culture to worldwide audiences. I have volunteered on the board of several local organizations, including the Marion Bridge Community Council. What do you feel is the key challenge facing the community/region and how would you work to address it?
This may be unpopular, but I believe we are stuck on equalization payments as a be-all/end-all answer to our problems. It would be great to see further disbursements provided through equalization, but we should not put all our eggs in that basket. We need to develop a sustainable regional economic development strategy based on what we currently have to work with. While we work toward
equalization, we plan as if we won’t receive it.
•••
Name: Stephen Todd Parsons Hometown: Big Pond
Age: 53
What did you do before you decided to run for office?
I have been employed with Eskasoni First Nation initially as a high school business teacher and for the past eight years as the general manager of corporate services. My primary role is to both vet and create business opportunities through joint ventures that enable the band to provide for new revenue streams and employment opportunities for band members both within and outside of the community. What do you feel is the key challenge facing the community/region and how would you work to address it?
Over the years I have come to learn that when change needs to be affected in a positive manner the biggest hurdle is change itself. If CBRM’s future is to be one of improvement, the new council has to take the lead and make some tough decisions when it
comes to getting its finances in order and the setting of new priorities for its future. It will all start with the mayor and council working together in tandem and as a cohesive team with the same mandate. All councillors represent their respected districts and will strive to improve them, but collectively the mayor and council must work together to improve the collective whole of CBRM. ••• Name: Kevin Hardy
From: Marion Bridge
Age: 61
What did you do before you decided to run for office?
Worked across Canada as a quality control manager/auditor in heavy industry. During the past four years owner and operator of the former Hardy’s Seafood Delight restaurant on Mira Road. What do you feel is the key challenge facing the community/region and how would you work to address it?
We have been a regional government now for 25 years, yet we have not been able to act as one community. This has impacted us all with imbalanced taxation, economic development, deteriorating roads, services and real estate values. Regional council must begin to act as one unified voice to get provincial and federal help.
As an active member of council I will actively seek support from other members to work together for all of our best interests.
It’s time for change.