For Change
2022 Charlottetown Municipal Election
Daniel Mullen: A Long Term Plan For Our Future
For a number of years I have been watching just how things ‘work’ in Charlottetown, yet the truth is that many things do not: our current mayor and city council are dysfunctional, simply reacting to events and to certain complaints, and there appears to be an absolute unwillingness to change.
Charlottetown is an ever expanding city, yet year after year, the current mayor and council have failed to keep pace with the challenges facing our city.
Whether it is ignoring the lack of affordable housing, failing to invest in infrastructure, or not properly planning for emergencies, it is abundantly clear that it is time for change.
We need to revamp how the city operates, create a more coordinated operational framework, and ensure that the policy objectives of the mayor and council are translated into action.
Of course, that means that a new mayor and council should actually have some policy objectives.
It's Time For Change
My Policy Objectives
Before I get to some of the things I would see as some of these policy goals, or 'objectives', it is important to make it clear that our city government should tightly collaborate with subject experts: those leaders who are qualified in certain fields of expertise, who can contribute to a more liveable, sustainable, and better-run community.
The City of Charlottetown should provide excellent by-laws and regulations in all areas of policy. Instead of short-term goals, we need to create a sustainable and long-term outlook that addresses the needs of everyone in our city.
First, I propose the new mayor and council will hold regular meetings more frequently - that means more often than just once a month - to ensure important issues are handled in a timely way.
Secondly, the city needs to have a lawyer on staff. If we are going to start following the law, we best have someone on staff who can explain it to everyone within the city.
Third, Fiona has shown every resident of Charlottetown how government treats its citizens, especially seniors and people who do not have housing, and how lack of planning can lead to (mis)managing natural disasters. Thousands of residents did not have any power for over a week. Hundreds of families needed to wait more than two weeks, and many people throughout the city are dealing with problems that will take months to rectify.
Our overhead power lines are not nearly resillient enough to withstand future storms, especially in a city which has more than 12,000 trees in public spaces. Fiona will not be the last storm affecting Charlottetown, so we need to partner with Maritime Electric to develop resiliency in their electrical network within the city. When our electrical network is improved, it will also improve matters for people who live outside of Charlottetown, because it will mean that we tie up fewer repair crews during storms so as to reach rural residents sooner.
It's Time for Change: My Goals
- Create new housing.
- Develop a New Policy and Management Framework for the City
- Update Bylaws to Ensure Safety and Resiliency
- Create a True Public Transit System.
- Improve Outreach and Recreational Services.
- More Active Transportation Paths and More Sidewalks
- A Cleaner and Greener City
I propose a New Charlottetown Housing Authority, which will have the goal to leverage federal and provincial supports into creating 1000 units by 2030. The city will identify and make available land for housing, and institute a 'use it or lose it' development policy.
I propose a fundamental revamp of policy, management, and operations, far beyond the last-minute efforts of the current mayor and council. That means small things, like not paying for booze for the mayor and members of council, and big things, like how we handle development and balance the needs of residents.
I propose that specific locations, such as larger apartment complexes and seniors housing, will have fully functional back-up power systems and approved action plans for operation during emergency situations. Service stations with eight pumps or more, and important businesses such as pharmacies, will be required to demonstrate the ability to continue during emergency situations.
I propose that we ensure seniors who receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement will ride at no charge, and all seniors will be able to purchase half-price bus passes. Charlottetown will determine when and where buses will offer service, including to seniors complexes, clinics, grocery stores and to the food bank.
I propose that we expand recreational services, especially for seniors, with the goal to help residents stay fit and independent into old age. We will provide more recreational facilities and increase accessibility in existing ones.
I propose that we make the city more accessible with planning focused on quality of life for its people, active movement, and mobility. Development agreements will include provisions for sidewalks and high-value green spaces. We will create a comprehensive traffic management plan to deal with the ever-increasing volume of cars.
I propose that, along with more playgrounds and dog parks, we create a new park north of the city which will provide expanded walking and cycling opportunities for our residents.
About the Candidate: Daniel Mullen
Business owner and engaged citizen
Born right here in Charlottetown, I have seen this city expand and morph into a very different place, and there are many more changes to come. Our once-vibrant downtown core once offered a wide range of shops and services, but now has become a shadow of its former self during the tourist off-season. Many of our suburbs lack basic elements such as sidewalks and neighbourhood play areas for young families. New developments have been built without considering access to mass transit or safe places for cyclists and pedestrians.
I have worked for companies such as IBM and AOL in Europe and in the U.S., and seen first-hand how liveable cities attract and retain the best and brightest talent for their communities. While in Europe I earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Liverpool and later founded my own company, which specialized in the areas of telecommunications services, infrastructure design, application of technologies, and regulation.
Back in Prince Edward Island, my company is building an entirely underground fibre optic communications network, including a substantial communications system for the Charlottetown Water and Sewer Commission, and a number of rural projects, which include two projects that were awarded to my company by the Government of Canada.
In other words, I have a great deal of experience in dealing with various community and government players, whether it is in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, or here at home. It is time for our city to reflect the priorities of its citizens and for its mayor and council to lean into the work of building a better Charlottetown.
Lastly, I am not a landlord, and do not even own a home. I understand the challenge of housing and will work to ensure that housing will be central to our plan for a better Charlottetown.