Leading up to this year's municipal election, we'll be featuring interviews from the three Moose Javians running for mayor. Nancy Nash is one of those candidates.

Each candidate was asked the same list of questions. Here are Nash’s answers.

 

Q: Can you introduce yourself to our readers?

A: My bosses have been many. The Madmen of Canada, GGRP and Terry O’Reilly of Pirate radio, Jim Pattison, and of course Bob Hope who I worked with from 86-92.

I'm Nancy Nash my Haida name Sazacha Sk'tghaxeeahw means "red sky full of hope". My jobs - mostly all in service - include carhop to bartender, caregiver to teacher, and creating courses for Vancouver Community College, and sorting trees for Tolco. I have cared for Native children on my dollar raising them in their people's traditional way, am adopted into Haida, Ts'leil Watuth, Okanagan and Shuswap families, and of course the pursuit of music since I was a girl and to have a voice in that medium.

In Edmonton and later Vancouver then Toronto I recorded with and worked alongside countless musicians, some were celebrities but most of them like me trying so hard to be heard. Bryan Adams once my background singer, Cher, Loverboy, Bon Jovi, are a few.

A 20-year-old vision came to fruition when my sister and I moved back to the prairies, choosing Moose Jaw/Moosoochapeesk'un where I got work as a cashier.

Q: What do you think is the most significant accomplishment of the current mayor?

A: The COVID movement was confusing and uninformative thanks to the blundering directives, inconsistencies between the WHO , CDC, and governments. I was quite impressed with how Moose Jaw city council and the police treated the citizens without force or tyranny and did the best they could considering they were never being told scientific facts and each day a different directive. So, kudos to Mayor Tolmie and his team for respecting citizens and their Charter Rights.

Having only lived four years I’m so grateful to Mayor Tolmie for providing excellent garbage service – large containers – no one's back gets injured thanks to the innovative hoist truck system. Also Kudos to the sanitary engineers and council, our garbage system is much ahead of most cities.

Q: What experience or knowledge do you bring to the table?

A: My life experience. Empathy… organization. I am not afraid. My approach is round the table, include ALL especially the MOOSE JAW citizens. I finish what I say I'm going to do. Leave no stone unturned. I've survived controversy and praise, walked side by side with poor and forsaken, and the richest and most famous. There is no job too important or too beneath me. I have always cleaned my own toilets and served people and the creatures and Mother Earth my entire life, making many mistakes I call lessons of life. I've lived off the grid alone and after a decade, my most important lesson: I am human after all and need human company. We need hugs, conversation, laughter, and each other as much as food, clothing, and shelter. I'm wired to be positive, look at the bright side, consider myself lucky. Always worked hard and found a solution when other people said to give up or why bother trying. My motto remains: There is enough for everyone IF we share.

Q: What do you think are the biggest issues facing the city right now?

A: 10 yrs ago, Moose Jaw citizens had $107 million. It was put into a " reserve investment fund" valued today at $100 million and is held by RBC. A loss of over 6 million dollars.

Moose Jaw council also set up a debt loan of over 90 million that now sits at 60 million... also held by RBC. I call this a double-edged sword and I question, isn’t it also a conflict of interest? To my understanding, RBC is not only losing Moose Jaw citizens' money but making hundreds of thousands perhaps millions in interest on the debt loan.

Question: What was the debt 10 years back versus the 107 million?

If we do the math we might still be $40 million to the good. However, if we don’t fix this situation it could well be there won’t any money soon to build or maintain anything. In a short time, Moose Jaws debt could vastly exceed its assets. 

There IS a FIX. A thorough re-evaluation of the books alongside Mr. Puffalt and council and if required outside financial expertise. Heaven forbid MJ citizens be sluffed down the river valley or taken over by possible covert financial institutions and /or foreign powers that do not mean kindness or prosperity to MJ citizens. So the equation is: What is the payout penalty - versus interest being paid on the debt - versus the interest incurring on the 100 million dollar investment?

Q: How would you go about attracting new businesses and residents to Moose Jaw?

A: First, take care to make sure our current citizens are given priority, they have the first opportunity to job availability. As mayor, this is my duty. Take care of the citizens already here.

Also, a city's health is judged by its downtown core, also called the heart of the city. We've already begun the round-table talks with business owners downtown because they need to be included. Brainstorming…

Let's build upon the vacant lots and derelict buildings downtown. Incorporate Cottage industry, smaller – not giant chain stores. We have enough Dollar stores. Thoughtful and long term variety of business where there are NO monopolies and also a moratorium decided by citizens and council on the maximum same type of businesses so as not to run each other over putting someone out of business. I want citizens to be involved in all aspects of “running their city”.

Also...we want to offer the potential for home-grown products manufactured right here in Moose Jaw. YES...I have ideas and so do about 10,000 other citizens. Bring your ideas.. the city will consider offering things like interest-free loans over a reasonable time period. Especially people who lost their livelihood in 2020. It’s a collaborative effort.

Q: How should the city handle cast iron replacement, roads, and other infrastructure?

A: People are sick and tired of being told the streets are going to be properly repaired. And it never happens. Let's do the job right the first time and if it can never be solved we need FULL disclosure and information why.

I have my strong opinions of water pipes and replacement. Personally, we should replace house and business lines to the MAIN pipe in the street ALL at once. Attach the entirety – this cut and paste nonsense has to end. My interest in the mechanics of building operations is part of my life experience that also includes solar, carpentry, even forest management. I’m not afraid to put on a hard hat, know how to run almost every saw, and will be involved at every level. This includes signs on EVERY street and directional signage. Folks are tired of getting lost in their own town.

Any job hired out by the City will withhold a portion of the payment for a time allotment period to ensure quality control. There be NO monopolies with respect to companies hired by the city.

Q: How concerned are you about the financial losses at Mosaic Place? How would you address this?

A: Thanks to the COVID movement, the citizens couldn't celebrate or cheer, and blow the stink off this year. A million dollars in debt seems a lot. However, between our creative thinkers and artisans and pragmatic strategies, we can get this one done.

Before running for Mayor, I wanted to bring some of my associate rock stars to town to Mosaic Place in a little different way, ultimately raising funds to build a new animal shelter. Today we can include paying down the debt, creating women and men shelters from local abandoned houses, refurbishing the Mission, while at the same time providing income for local handymen and local builders and companies willing to work for reasonable fees and yes, a new building for the critters.

We can incorporate other materials if lumber is still unavailable. We can even consider alternative solutions to heat, clean water, etc. perhaps our own factory similar to GREEN SOLUTIONS in Manitoba. My off-grid skills come in here. Rather than isolate each issue, let’s collaborate. So...for example: erasing Mosaic's debt creates care and provides employment. Plus No free tickets...for anyone. Everybody pays and everyone can go because tickets will be affordable for everyone.

Q: How do you envision the city coming out of the pandemic?

A: People have the right to their freedoms in the Charter of Rights. It's their individual choice and I am deeply impressed by how respectful citizens and the police have been in general. I trust and respect the citizens and believe they're smart enough to decide for themselves how they want to conduct business. People are still hurting from losing their jobs, stress, addiction, anger, fear of the uncertainty of our future, especially the children, elders, and those with special needs.

Let's get the city's affairs in order, safeguard what's left of our citizens' investment portfolio, and work hard to get back on track, brighter than ever. My mentors taught me to take my problems and make something beautiful from them. I see a lot of derelict houses let's get them functioning and lived in.. Actions are all that matter...lead by example. Moose Jaw is open for business

Q: What is your overall vision for the city of Moose Jaw?

A: Preserving the past and paving the way for a brighter future.

We want to have a variety of business and entertainment options to bring more folks from farms and surrounding communities. They are an integral part of Moose Jaw's well-being. As well as increasing police presence within the city. Look to our officers as protectors and friends, NOT someone to avoid. I want to include addressing the street race car drivers that endanger everyone. Being a former race car driver myself, I stuck to the track and would like to see this for our young people who right now are tearing around the streets. They would also be part of creating and maintaining such a ‘track’.

Since the COVID movement took over, many of our citizens lost their business and job. We want to get our local citizens back to work. This includes ensuring Aboriginal people feel welcome. I like the idea of innovative smaller mom & pop type businesses that don't encroach upon each other or monopolize. Less tech, more organic which means everything that isn’t tech. Once again, include MJ citizens and their visions.