In the run up to the 2017 election, we asked our readers and listeners what issues matter most to them. Every day, we ask candidates for their thoughts on healthcare, growth, traffic, city facilities, downtown, and the other issues important to their campaign. Today, Rick Northey addresses your issues.

Council candidate Rick Northey believes Airdrie is at a crossroads, and hopes to sit on the council that he thinks will make many important decisions that will steer Airdrie in a direction for decades.

Northey is quick to admit that he does not have all the answers, but wants to work with Airdrie's citizens to put Airdrie on the best path possible.

Northey said he is a great supporter of the Airdrie Health foundation and the work they are doing on a local health cooperative. Northey said he is a huge supporter of the cooperative model, which he thinks is the way of the future for health care. He believes a local health cooperative will fill gaps in Airdrie's health care, since it does not seem that Airdrie is a priority for the provincial government when it comes to building a hospital.

 On growth, Northey said it is really up to residents to decide what they envision for Airdrie's future.

"The heart of it goes to what the citizens' vision of Airdrie actually is. If we want to continue growing out, Airdrie's going to need more land. We'll have more single family detached dwellings, which means Airdrie will have a bigger footprint. We'll have to provide services over a wider area. If we want more density, again, we'll probably increase traffic."

Northey would like to see more input and involvement from members of the community as to what Airdrie's future should look like.

When it comes to burdens associated with growth like traffic, Northey said it is important for the City to have more outlets onto Highway 2, in order to ease congestion on Yankee Valley Boulevard. He's supportive of plans to build a connection onto the highway from 40th Avenue, and if elected would work with the City to advocate for that project at the provincial level. Northey also said the City should be working with developers to make sure they've considered any impacts that new residential neighbourhoods will have on traffic.

Northey also said he would like to push to see a new recreation centre built on the west side of Airdrie. As he's engaged with voters, he's become aware of the need for that type of facility.

"From talking to people, they're saying it's very difficult to get into Genesis Place. I talked to one gentleman who said he went to the website and kept hitting refresh at 12:01am, and the way he described it, it made it sound like trying to get into a Garth Brooks concert, so obviously there's a real need for more facilities for swimming and for ice sports in Airdrie."

Northey expressed his belief that having additional facilities would benefit the city because it would help keep people in Airdrie rather than see them travel to Calgary.

Northey also said that if elected, he would want to start from scratch on any plans for downtown redevelopment. Any plans for downtown would need more input from businesses and citizens.

"Having a cultural plan downtown isn't a problem, it's who's going to pay for it? I do like the idea of having an identity for Airdrie, but I don't like the idea of the City acting as its own developer, because the City isn't an expert on these issues. There are professionals out there who can do this."

Northey was adamant that he hopes people will get out and vote in this election, and was hopeful that members of the community will take part in the democratic process.

 

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