Six questions with Jim Taylor, candidate for Lloydminster City Council

MyLloydminsterNow has reached out to the 14 candidates running for the six positions on Lloydminster City Council in the November 13 city-wide elections. Here are the views of Jim Taylor. 

Question 1: Tell me who you are. 

Taylor: Born and raised in Lloydminster and like many others, I moved away and then made the choice to come back for family, and friends, and to start a business in Lloydminster. I am married with two busy children and a very hard-working wife. 

With both of our families being here, it was easy for us to want to make Lloydminster our home. 

I have been involved with the Community Youth Centre, and then later I spent time as a board member and a chairperson on the Lloydminster Interval Home Centre Board. 

Being involved in many areas of business, I also coach, teach, volunteer and get involved in many community events. 

Question 2: Why do you want to be a city councillor? 

Taylor: Being a busy family man, local business owner, volunteer and community supporter, I have the pleasure of working alongside, listening and learning from many people in our city. These conversations have encouraged me to take the conversation out from behind my work counter and aim to have these conversations at a level at which decisions are made. 

Every day I assist a variety of people in our community. They bring me their most prized possessions, or maybe their only possession, and ask to listen to their problems and come up with a solution that works both financially for them and my business. 

Having this day-to-day experience has given me the opportunity to listen, learn, and work alongside our community. I get the chance to take what I do every day and now hope to bring that to council in a positive way. 

I want Lloydminster to be the place my family and other families choose to call and make it their home and a place to grow their businesses. 

Question 3: Colleen Young, candidate for the Saskatchewan Party has said, “Our hospital was built for 15,000 people back in 1986 and has not seen significant expansion. Previous ministers of health have recognized the need to expand the hospital in order to serve patients better. That is another aspect that I would like to see done.” 

What are your thoughts on a new or expanded hospital in Lloydminster? 

Taylor: We all know how our city has grown and outgrown current facilities, and we see and experience the issues this creates. 

A new hospital or expansion would be great and is needed, and our goal as a city is to support the provincial government and to continue to advocate the need within our city for this to happen. 

Question 4: What is your plan to deal with homelessness and the unhoused? 

Taylor: On a daily basis I assist people in need, I know that sounds funny coming from a bike shop owner, but really I do. 

I have people who are in need of repair, or maybe just a new tube, with absolutely no way to pay for it, coming in and asking for help. I deal with each situation in its own unique way. 

Similar to the homeless and unhoused, we have a unique and individual problem. There isn’t an easy solution like a new bike tube, and with the mental health, addiction issues, and for those that just can’t get back on their feet, there isn’t an easy fix for this. 

I want the city to be able to support when asked what they can do. Listen to the issues and be a positive assistance and help guide agencies in the best practices when giving support services. 

My previous board experience gave me insight on how a community service strives daily to meet their mandate and focus on that provided service. 

It can be difficult to stay on task, and not try to solve all the problems at once, and I don’t see an easy answer for this issue as every community and city is dealing with it in their own unique way too. 

Question 5: What are your thoughts on dealing with crime and insecurity? 

Taylor: I am active in and around my business daily. Whether my store is open or not, I am there and watching. I feel that each individual can take some action in being involved and watching out for their business, property and home. 

I feel insecurity is brought on by the unknown and being more involved and aware can help ease that insecurity. 

Maybe that means helping out with Citizens on Patrol or driving by your friends store when they are away. Maybe that means saying, “hi” to the stranger or talking to a new person when out on your day. 

Building our community back up is key to removing insecurity. 

Crime is unpredictable, and when faced with crime, we as a city need to work side by side with the RCMP. With this relationship, communication is key and knowing what struggles we are facing as a city and when to involve the RCMP is top priority. The job of the RCMP is tougher than ever and our city needs to be in alignment to help reduce the growing crime we see. 

Question 6: Final thoughts. 

Taylor: This time leading to this election has shown that people want to be and are more involved than before. 

Communication is an issue I hear daily. In my opinion communication only works when the other person is listening. 

More community people are coming out to events and have more discussions about the city, and it is encouraging to see more involvement and more people interested in this. This leads to participation and from this we can build community. 

Strong communication and community are vital, and my goal is to join in, learn and make the best decisions possible for the people who are geared towards the same goals. 

Thank you all and good luck to all involved.