How-To Candidate: Step #1 - Answer Questionnaires (preferably on-time)
2025 RMWB Election
As I mentioned previously, I plan on making all my views running for Pubic School Board Trustee as transparent as possible. This includes the MANY questionnaires that get sent for all candidates to complete.
Click here to find out WHY I’m running…
The first one to reach my inbox was from the Wood Buffalo & District Labour Council.
Now full disclosure, I actually found the email with this questionnaire in my SPAM folder so I believe I missed the deadline to submit it. I filled it out and sent it off anyway cause they were kind enough to reach out, so they deserved a response; but my first ever questionnaire as an election candidate and I failed… off to a good start…
Wood Buffalo and District Labour Council
2025 Trustee Candidate Survey
Introduction
The Wood Buffalo and District Labour Council (WBDLC) represents unionized workers across our region. We advocate for strong public services, local job creation, and a more equitable economy. We’re asking candidates to respond to the following questions to help workers and their families understand your positions ahead of the 2025 Trustee election.
Section 1: Your Perspective and Priorities
1. Why are you running as a Trustee in 2025, and what motivates you to serve this community?
I chose to put my name forward primarily because I believe School Boards are in a unique position to be able to pressure the provincial government to ensure adequate funding is in place for our education system to thrive. We all hear the excuses the government uses and we all see where their current priorities are. Trustees can show just how impactful a properly funded system can be to our future generations, which is also my primary motivation to serve.
2. What do you see as the most urgent challenges facing Education today?
The biggest issue is a clear one, funding. While the provincial government keeps saying how much they put into the education system, what they don’t say is how this funding stacks up against the rest of the country. Trustees and School Boards can influence our funders to ensure they understand the importance of facing this critical challenge.
3. What does an inclusive school system look like to you? What is an adequate number of students in a classroom? With an educational assistant?
To me, an inclusive school system is one where a child is able to be themselves regardless of their background; one where a child can thrive by being themselves without having a school policy that works against them unfairly. Coming from an Emergency Management background, “span of control” is a topic that I have great experience in. While of course classroom size is substantially different then incident command, I believe the magic ratio of Teachers: Students should hover around the 1:15 mark. We all know special circumstances exist, but striving to that 15 target would ensure proper care and attention while still being realistic.
Section 2: Handling of Education Funding and working with Government
4. Please give your thoughts on public funding of Education in Alberta. What areas will you advocate for and why?
The funding model for Education in Alberta needs to be more transparent. While the government does make the budget public (as it has too), a lot of how they come up with data and numbers is done in secret. While I believe as a province we done a decent job at building schools, a focus needs to be put into proper staffing and retention of teachers and support staff to ensure longevity of our education system.
5. Do you, as a potential trustee, plan on standing up to the Minister of Education to advocate for students and staff in this division if need be? Give an example of an issue that you plan to advocate on if elected into this role.
Yes, as I mentioned before, I believe with the current environment between teachers and government, School Boards and Trustee have a unique opportunity to show the provincial government that simply increasing dollar amounts won’t do. “Dollar-per-student” models need to be weighted in accordance with the rest of Canada as well as inflation matching for budgets. The Alberta Government puts a large emphasis on industry, but they need to be shown that the same emphasis needs to be places on our education system in order for it to stabilize.
Section 3: Working with Employees of the Division
6. In a Trustee role you will be working with CUPE, ATA, Administration, and Out of Scope employees. How do you plan on addressing the concerns of all these groups? How will you be staying in touch with the employees of the division you are running in?
My biggest leadership piece has always been communication. Listening to the issues, and more importantly, asking staff how problems should be address, has always led to success in my adult-life. I would encourage and advocate for group meetings, lots of discussion and empowerment for workers to be able to identify issues and actually implement their own solutions. I would accomplish this by making myself available to any and all staff whenever needed.
7. How do you feel about being involved in contract negotiations with union leaders? Do you have any experience in union negotiations?
Working in the oil sands, I have experience working with unions and formal interactions with union leaders. To tie my answer to the above, I find that conversation and discussion between union leaders and elected officials has always proven to entrust a more positive relationship and the ability to effectively mitigate any conflicts between the two groups.
8. Do you, as a potential trustee, plan on keeping with the current policies to support staff health and safety?
Health and Safety of everyone in our school system, from the administration staff to teachers to support workers to students, is absolutely pivotal and must remain top priority for anyone in any position. My goal if elected is to understand the current policies better and determine if the workers find them adequate. My knowledge from just being a parent of a student in the system, I understand that there’s a few policies that need to be addressed when it comes to violent student behaviour towards teachers and staff, so addressing these would be a priority for me.
9. Some school boards have been changing their structure and contracting out more jobs within the school board. As union leaders we are completely opposed to this change. What will you do to ensure all jobs in the bargaining units are kept and workers keep their positions?
While contracting out jobs may be “cheaper” in certain circumstances, there are far more factors to showcase value in a person’s work other than bottom-line dollar. Showcasing the workers value to prove that all bargaining unit positions enhance the education system would be a priority for me if elected.
Section 4: Working with Families and the Community
10. In a trustee role there are many stakeholders. Students, families, the community, staff, and administration. We know that here in Fort McMurray we have many different needs and programs. How do you plan on hearing the needs of all stakeholders?
As I mentioned above, I am a big believer in communication. A discussion with stakeholders, be it on a personal level such as a phone-call or email, or a more formal session with large groups, can be immensely valuable in hearing what the concerns are…and more importantly, what solutions individuals may have to address their concerns. I find many people who do the work on the ground level know how to make their jobs better and more effective, even when presented with a challenge they may not initially understand; empowerment to improve usually leads to success for all.
For a full list of candidates and voting information, visit the RMWB Elections page (or just click here).