Six questions with Jean Mills Applegate, 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 Jean Mills Applegate.

Question 1: Tell me who you are. 

Mills Applegate: I am a long-term resident of Lloydminster. I used to work for the City of Lloydminster. While working for the city I was an active member of the Union and a member of the safety committee. I learned a lot while working with the city. I have seen a lot of changes. As part of the union, I suggested at one of our meetings that we make a motion to have a mayor with a wage – someone who will be at city hall full time. That motion was taken to the mayor and council meeting, and it was passed. I really enjoyed working there because I’m a people person. I enjoy meeting people. I volunteered with the Lloyd Ex and the Sask Summer Games. 

I also worked as a certified nurse’s aide at the Doctor Cook Nursing Home. 

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

Mills Applegate: I’m running for council because of the issues we are facing in this city. Homelessness – that is why I’m in the process of putting my name to be a board member at the Men’s Shelter. We don’t know the issues the Men’s Shelter is facing. Health care is another issue. We just don’t have enough doctors for our population. We need to deal with that issue. How to keep the doctors here, we have to ask ourselves why they are leaving. We need more seniors’ housing. Families have to take their elderly parents to different towns or cities because we don’t have enough facilities for them and we have to make them affordable. 

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? 

Mills Applegate: I totally agree with what Mrs. Young is saying. Our hospital is old but then again, why get a new hospital or expand the existing one if we don’t have the doctors. 

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

Mills Applegate: Again, I’m planning on being a part of the board. I can put my input on how it’s run. We donate a lot of stuff to the Men’s Shelter. I agree that they need bigger accommodations but what are their rules, how long they can stay, have they been given an opportunity to do upgrading or something like that. They are all humans. Just because they don’t have a home, they should not be treated unequal. I’m sure they all have families, but we don’t know their issues. 

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

Mills Applegate: Crime in this city is getting bad.  Do we need more police officers? I think we need to shut down all the drug houses and demolish them. They get busted but they just move other dealers in them. I think the landlords should be held responsible for the activities that happen in their houses. If someone complains the landlord should be contacted. 

Question 6: Final thoughts. 

Mills Applegate: My final thoughts are if I get voted for city council, I want to be the voice for the people. I’m a team player. I have heard a lot in the last few weeks on other issues like rising taxes. I want to make a difference. My mother was a wise elder who always told me to treat people the way you want to be treated. In today’s society we have lost respect for others. I was thought to always say excuse me and thank you.