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 Darrell Dunn.
Question 1: Tell me who you are.
Dunn: I was initiated into prairie politics a long time ago when I was a kid, and my dad introduced me to the then Premier of Saskatchewan. Learning about ‘Citizenship’ was done around our kitchen table and the prevailing attitude was, “You need to be involved to get things done”. It didn’t so much matter who the party was as it did to vote for the person best qualified to represent you.
My wife and I have lived in Lloydminster for over 15 years, and it is home. I have been involved in civic affairs for a number of years. My business is a legal issue consultancy including private investigations, small claims agency work, legal documentation, notary and commissioning duties. I have been active with the Snowflake House Respite Foundation, the Lloydminster Concerned Citizens for Seniors Care Society, a run for city council in 2020, and the recent by-election. In 2022 I became the vice president of the Alberta Party and then corporate secretary and then ran in the 2023 provincial election. I’ve enjoyed a variety of careers including agriculture, law enforcement, elected official, bureaucrat, consultant, and advocate. My educational background includes law, political science, history, and economics.
Question 2: Why do you want to be a city councillor?
Dunn: The city is facing some significant immediate and long-term challenges. I believe I have the skills and experience to contribute to moving forward working on solutions. I am able to devote all of my time and energy to the work. I not only enjoy engaging with people but believe it is essential to understanding what directions the city should move.
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?
Dunn: Lloydminster is a central hub for an estimated 150,000 people in the surrounding area. The core problem with healthcare is the fact that demand far exceeds the supply of services. Whether it is a new hospital, or an expanded facility we need to continue to advocate to both provinces for their attention to the need. We need to draw in the support of all the affected MLAs in the region.
Question 4: What is your plan to deal with homelessness and the unhoused?
Dunn: First; there is no magic solution. At best the situation might be “managed”, but it will never be eradicated. People living in the area around the Shelter are incredibly frustrated and angry about the consequences of addiction, mental health and homelessness that they must live with on a daily basis. The “East Side” community feels under siege and frequent calls to the police don’t seem to produce significant results. The location of the Shelter is a primary issue. It simply is not working where it is now. The question of where it should/could be must be addressed as a first step and all the affected parties need to be part of that discussion. There is no question that services are needed, but there also needs to be recognition that citizens, homeowners and businesses are entitled to live and operate in a safe, secure environment. While the city may be somewhat limited in the tools it has at its disposal to work with the situation, it needs to be directly involved in the discussion with citizens, police, social agencies and governments in working towards solutions. Other jurisdictions have undertaken various creative programs, passed specific bylaws, expanded the police/security presence and we need to examine anything that might be applicable to Lloydminster. It is a file that will demand a lot of work and recognition that it is always “ongoing”.
Question 5: What are your thoughts on dealing with crime and insecurity?
Dunn: This is another highly complex file with no easy answers. The RCMP members in Lloydminster do an amazing job given the system the work under. Not only are they consistently understaffed, but the legal processes of having to deal within two jurisdictions dramatically increases the administrative work they have to do on many of their files. Increasing the “boots-on-the-ground” is less about money than it is the RCMP organizational structure in terms of how it allocates new recruits across the county. Those decisions are not made locally. We have the RCMP, Sheriffs, Peace Officers, and Bylaw Officers in our jurisdiction. The RCMP also have an “auxiliary” group. The question, and I don’t have an answer yet, is: How can these resources be allocated, coordinated and deployed to address our particular circumstance?
Other jurisdictions have programs where citizens and the police work together to put additional “eyeballs” on the streets to be present and monitor. We locally have the Citizens on Patrol Society who do exactly that. Could they fill an expanded role? Again, we need to examine what’s out there and see if there are some creative ways to improve our security presence along with pushing the government of Saskatchewan to provide the almost $500,000 of funding that they withdrew when the RCMP Headquarters moved to the Alberta side. Does this mean that the Maidstone RCMP Detachment should be the one to service the Saskatchewan side of the city?
Question 6: Final thoughts.
Dunn: We could write a book about the things we need to deal with. But at the end of the day, if you want stable, responsible government, then you need to examine the candidates, and then get out and vote.
