Marc Leger
Candidate Q&A
Q1
What's your top priority, and what's your plan to achieve it?
I want people to feel safer in Moncton. I will support policing reforms including a transition to a municipal police force and increased by-law officer authorities, training and resources that can respond to community policing needs in the short term. I will support efforts to lobby the provincial and federal government to ensure they make the necessary changes to legislation that enable the city to take a more active role in designing a police force that responds to our complex challenges.
Q2
What is your plan to address homelessness in Moncton?
Support for all types of housing development in Moncton, including the deeply affordable housing. This can be achieved through zoning changes in our next municipal plan as well as investments in affordable housing projects led by the province of NB and NGO's.
Q3
Moncton's policing budget has grown significantly in recent years, yet concern about public safety remains high — how would you approach public safety spending as an elected official?
I intend to attach any increase in public safety spending to measurable outcomes. If increased spending on public safety isn't resulting in lower crime rates specifically in the areas that residents want to see improvements I will not be able to support it.
Q4
How do you see Moncton growing over the next decade — where should we build, and how should people get around?
We must densify our downtown and we must stop urban sprawl by following our urban growth strategy.
Q5
Which major developments do you plan to support in the next four years?
Our new Municipal Plan, the acceleration of the build out of our Active Transportation system, beginning of a waterfront redevelopment plan, the formal establishment of a new park in Vision Lands.
Q6
How will you make life more affordable for Monctonians feeling financially squeezed?
Keeping tax rates low, ensuring our city can support thriving one car families, making public transit a preferred and convenient choice through improved busing service. Ensuring all types of housing are being built and available, including the missing middle.
Q7
Where do you think the city can generate new revenues or find cost savings?
I believe the city can generate more revenue by increasing taxes on vacant land and surface parking lots, especially within the city's downtown core and adjacent areas. Increasing density where appropriate within the urban growth boundary will increase the tax base and help to reduce the infrastructure deficit we face today and help to save costs by adding more users to existing infrastructure where it capacity exists.
Q8
What's a decision Moncton council has made in the last four years that you disagreed with, and what would you have done differently?
It's a tie, I disagreed with councils reluctance to begin developing its own municipal police force. I would have voted to begin taking steps to transition from RCMP to a municipal Police Force. I also disagreed with the city councils choice to disregard staff's advice to not permit a new subdivision outside of the city's urban growth boundary. I would have voted against the Eastgate project.
Q9
Outside of the issues above, what's one thing you'll be focused on that voters might not expect?
I will focus on building in-house municipal policing expertise that can help lead the development of a new modern municipal police force that responds to the policing needs in Moncton.
Q10
Tell us something about yourself that voters wouldn't find on your campaign website.
I was part of a documentary film, called Surviving the Fundy Footpath.
Q11
Final word?
I think Moncton needs new energy and fresh perspectives on city council.