City By-election coverage
Submitted by Phil Houle-Gregg
My name is Phil Houle-Gregg, and I want to be your Councillor. I was not raised in Wetaskiwin, but I am proud to call it my home. Our little city has an amazing community atmosphere where I enjoy being connected through our many community events and volunteering where I can when I am not spending time with my family.
I am a Lieutenant on the Wetaskiwin fire department, a director for the Wetaskiwin and District Heritage Museum, Vice Chair for the Horizons Centre Board of Directors, and sit on the City’s Subdivision Zoning and Appeals board. Professionally, I am part of the Leadership Team for the worlds largest Food and Beverage Company. In this role, I am responsible for identifying inefficiencies, cutting costs, and stream lining work flow through developing new processes.
Just like in my day to day job, I intend to be fiscally responsible, while providing Wetaskiwin’s biggest customers, YOU, its residents and business owners with the amenities you need and deserve while developing strategies for growth and keeping tax rates top of mind.
Being an elected official is more than just reducing tax rates, or creating strategies fuelling economic growth. Social issues mould how others see us, and affects who chooses Wetaskiwin to be their home. I will be an advocate for Wetaskiwin when it comes to lobbying our provincial and federal partners for facilities to aid our residents who need help with addiction and homelessness. If my kids grow up and chose this community as their forever home, I have done my job.
Some areas I would like to see rapid improvements are; accountability through transparency, tax rate reduction achieved by moving select city run initiatives to private enterprise, dedicated focus on both Economic and Community Development, further exploration into grants for funding, an effective crime reduction program with re-defined community policing standards, and a Recycling Program that reduces waste sent to our landfill.
As your Councillor, I understand I am responsible for governance and developing strategies that allow our city to grow in a positive direction. This is a task that comes with massive financial responsibility. I know how to operate a large business, while looking for cost savings and maintaining customer satisfaction. I will work the city as a business, continue to be involved in my community, and establish a strategic plan where our community is always evolving.
I know I will do well as your councillor, and I will help move Wetaskiwin towards its vision…a Safe, Strong, and Proud Community. On September 11th, Vote for Phil.