Steve Nickels – Meaford Council Candidate
First of all, tell us a little about your background and overall platform in 100 words or less.
Steve and his wife live in Woodford with three of their five children.
Steve’s background includes eighteen years of municipal management experience, reporting to a variety of councils. Steve has also operated a small business for Twenty years. He worked for the Liquor Control Board in management for fifteen years serving as a store manager, district trainer, acting district manager and provincial training coordinator.
Steve has been an active serving as: a fundraiser working with firefighters, a volunteer with Victim Services responding to crisis situations, a school volunteer serving at breakfast club, and an assistant coach with the Meaford Coyotes.
What do you see as the major issue(s) facing business-owners in Grey-Bruce?
As a business owner in this area I have found red tape painful. We need to careful to ensure that our community remains safe, but we do need to allow a business to get on with business. As an owner requiring high speed internet it really would be nice to able to get high speed other than satellite where I live.
The one thing I can think of that small business could really benefit from is a red tape specialist to help businesses navigate through the paperwork.
What strategies do you have in mind to stimulate economic growth in the region?
I believe that we need to change how we approach our marketing. It is time to accept that we will not likely be able to attract major employers so it is time to focus on marketing the lifestyle we enjoy here. We should go after the smaller operator and remember the older demographic. This is such a wonderful place to retire; we need to capitalize on that.
Do you feel economic growth should focus on:
A) Bringing in new business developments, or
B) Encouraging small businesses presently in operations?
BOTH
Do you think local business taxes should be:
A) Increased
B) Decreased
C) Maintained at current levels
As a business owner decrease, but as a taxpayer we are only shifting the burden so we would be better to try band increase our tax base.
Should there be any changes in the services offered to local businesses?
We should always be looking at ways to support small business; however, I don’t have specific services in mind. The one thing I can think of that small business could really benefit from is a red tape specialist to help businesses navigate through the paperwork.
