Name: Chris Emanuel
Position for which you are running: Regional Councillor & Deputy Mayor
Do you reside in the ward/area in which you are running: Yes.
Outline your background/experience (100-word limit):
Chris Emanuel is a 30 year resident of Newmarket who served as Newmarket’s Ward 7 Councillor for 3 terms. In 2014, Chris chose not to run for re-election and joined Newmarket’s largest private sector employer as the Director of Government Affairs, and was later tasked to also lead its recruitment division for North America.
Chris Emanuel’s previous leadership roles:
- Chair, Central York Fire Services, and led the development of
- Chair, Newmarket’s Cultural Master Plan Committee
- Board Member, Federation of Canadian Municipalities
- Chair, Canadian Women’s Hockey League
What are the top four qualities required to be an effective municipal representative? (4-word limit)
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Vision
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Communication
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Collaboration
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Dedication
Explain why you are the best qualified candidate. (100-word limit):
I bring to the role of Regional Councillor a balance of both government and private sector experience.
I understand the issues that are facing families and seniors in Newmarket. The importance of recreation programs, cultural events, and economic development.
My plan is ambitious, but not cost prohibitive, I have a clear commitment to keep tax increases to minimal levels and to find efficiencies at both the Town and the Region. We need to regionalize our fire services and find other ways to better serve our residents.
What are the two most important issues for your ward/constituents? (200-word limit):
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Fiscal State – We need to find ways to do more with less. That means finding savings where we can. Residents don’t want to lose services, but they cannot afford large tax increases. Council must balance our wants and needs and set priorities while maintaining lower taxes compared to our neighbours.
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Housing – We need housing that is affordable to ensure seniors, working families and young people have options. Newmarket cannot become too expensive to live. If we lack economic diversity it will be difficult to attract employers and drive economic development
What will you do to ensure you are accountable to your constituents? (50-word limit):
We need to improve access to government – Council meetings must take place when residents can attend. Utilize social media better to engage the community. I would like to see a lobbyist registry introduced as well.
What is the most important issue for council/school board to address in the next term? (100-word limit):
Balancing progress with fiscal restraint. We need to strike a balance between a wish list of things we’d all like to have with the financial realities that residents cannot afford large tax increases. We must level set with residents the services they expect and ensure we are delivering them well. We cannot afford lavish promises with the associated tax increases they come with.
Describe your dream project that would result in a better quality of life in Newmarket. (100-word limit):
I would love to see a mix of housing that provides options for all residents. Seniors shouldn’t have to leave Newmarket to maintain their lifestyle and we still need to attract young people and families to our community. This means all levels of government would need to collaborate to ensure policies are established to make this happen. Too often governments point fingers at each other, we need to all recongize we can only do this together.
Answer Yes or No? (1-word limit):
Should salaries be reduced for the mayor and councillors? NO
Are taxes too high for the services provided to residents? YES
Do you support tax increases to pay for the purchase of properties, such as Mulock Estates? YES
Should opening a second branch of Newmarket Public Library be a top priority for the next term? NO
Should the town continue to give incentives and loans to Main Street businesses as part of its revitalization strategy? YES
Should the town provide additional incentives to developers to encourage more affordable rental units? YES
Should councillors be required to provide more fully itemized and detailed expense reports, accessible online at no cost to the public? YES
Should the mayor and councillors block followers on their town social media accounts? NO
Should there be fixed terms for councillors? YES
