Jim Pickard Files

Thursday, 17 July 2014 13:00

South-West Oxford Ward 5 Councillor Jim Pickard files for re-election.

SOUTH-WEST OXFORD- South-West Oxford Ward 5 councillor Jim Pickard has some unfinished business with council which is motivating his return for another term.

“I’ve really enjoyed the first term on council it has been a learning experience and we were able to accomplish a lot of things. The other thing is that I’m in the middle of some projects and I’d like to see them through to completion.”

One of the projects is the newly created Rural Oxford Economic Development committee which Pickard cites as one of the reasons he is seeking another term.

“I’m the director of the Rural Oxford Economic Development committee so were just starting up that. I want to see those things get off the ground and running and in order to do that I need another term on council.”

The upcoming council year will prove a challenging one for councillors who will have to figure out how to squeeze money from shrinking provincial and federal grants. Pickard expects that the grant cuts will be felt across Oxford County.

“What that means is that we are going to have to find money in 2015 which could mean higher taxes or debenture of projects or it could mean that some projects may not get done. Certainly there is going to be a huge tax increase in 2014 and the way it looks based on the recent Liberal government budget here in Ontario it looks like there is going to be higher tax increases at the municipal levels as a result of decreased funding from the province.”

As for how he expects to tackle these concerns.

“I will analyze the upcoming 2015 budget very very carefully and try to be reasonable and try and make sure what dollars we do have are used properly, not wasted and that we fund the most needy projects. That would be the only other alternative to higher taxes would be to find some efficiencies in existing operations.”

While Pickard does not have a website or social media for constituents to access his platform he says there are other ways to get a hold of him.

“If people are interested in talking to me I’m well known in the community in Ward 5 and Sweaburg and I’m out and about everyday and people are always stopping and talking to me and I think people know me well and what I’m about and they know where to find me if they need me," said Pickard.

“My platform is too simply to represent my ward as best I can and be here to serve the community,”

CHAIR of Energy Conservation committee

-2014 ERTH award for energy conservation

-2013 OPA Community Conservation award

DIRECTOR of Rural Oxford Economic Development