2026 Charlottetown Municipal Election Questionnaire

I would ask them what their experience has been so far on the job and what are the major changes they have observed in their time in the role.  I would ask what the City could best do to support the department into the future.  I am not nor have I ever been a firefighter so I don't have expertise in this area. I would want to listen to voices with that expertise so that the City makes the best possible decisions for the firefighters and public safety.

I would ask: "What are the most significant risks facing Charlottetown’s fire service over the next five to ten years, and what decisions does Council need to make now?”

This would help Council identify immediate priorities and plan responsibly for future growth.

For context, this meeting will happen after, at the very least, we share the Fire Underwriters Survey assessment report with our fire departments. My first question is: Based on the report's recommendations, what do you believe should be our top priority? What do you believe is missing, and how can we work together to improve our local fire departments?

I would ask:

“What emergency, or combination of emergencies, could overwhelm us today, and what do you need to change that?”

That gets beyond simply counting firefighters or trucks.

It addresses staffing, simultaneous calls, industrial incidents, severe weather, communications, apparatus, mutual aid and the City’s overall emergency readiness.

I would want to put the same basic question to the Police Chief and our emergency-management professionals, and then get those people around the same table.

A hurricane, major fire, hazardous-material incident or other disaster does not respect the organizational chart at City Hall. Our preparedness cannot operate in silos either.

I want us planning for the difficult day, not simply the average day.

I would ask: “What needs to be done first to better protect our residents and firefighters, and what do you need from Council to get it done?”

I would want a direct answer. Then I would want Council to establish what can be done immediately and what needs to be included in the next budget.

Provide me an overview of Fire Services, including strengths, areas of concern, mitigation strategies and what your 5-year plan is so long term financial implications can be addressed. The discussion will also focus on the key areas identified in question #1.

The first thing I would ask would be where do they feel the city has failed the most in our emergency planning/management, and where have we failed the people serving our city. Both questions are ones I would have no answer to as it is very detached from my life and I feel it is important to support the people providing our community's best force of good as well as we can.