Benoit wants to figure out other ways to bring in new revenue, increase tourism

September 24, 2018

Vanessa Benoit doesn’t think there is a magic solution to the dispute at the Inwood Fire Department. The newcomer to Brooke-Alvinston wants to be part of council to help the community continue to grow.
Benoit has been in the area less than a year, but neighbours encouraged her to run in the Oct. 22 election. So, for the first time, she’s seeking a seat at the table..
What is the biggest issue in the election?
“I think there are a number of people worried about the issues going on with the fire department. At the same time, I’ve looked into that quite a bit and there is actually very little that can change.
“Unless there is an opportunity to smooth things over within the framework of rules we have to live with…other than that I think everywhere in rural communities this is an issue, the money coming in from the province is dwindling…We have to look at other ways of bringing in revenue and hopefully we’ll be creative about that. Try to build up tourism…trying to figure out ways to come together as a community…
“I think it would be really good if we got a mayor and council in to say ‘What can we do to bring more business in, to encourage more tourism; what can we do other than these temporary things like apply for grants.”
“I think it is a great place and has a lot to offer it is just going to take some interesting and creative thinking.”
From your perspective, do you think council had been moving in the right direction on economic development?
“I know not everyone liked the water bill going up but I also know the finanical reasons behind that. I think council that is there now has been trying their best with what they have but maybe it is time for someone with new ideas. I don’t think they have done a bad job.”
Do you have something you would like done in the next four years?
Benoit likes the tourism efforts so far; “what if we could get more people here…drawing more attention in …as a way to galvanize the community and get people interested.
If not that, I want to be full throttle brainstorming on that.”

Share This

Image
Front Page

Pinsonneault ‘disappointed’ Ford government reneges of promise of EA for Dresden dump

April 20, 2025

Province “must ensure we have the tools and resources to respond to any unpredictable decisions” from Trump, MPP adds Heather Wright/The Independent Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Steve Pinsonneault says he’s disappointed the province won’t require the York1 project at the Dresden dump to undergo a full Environmental Assessment. But he seems to be supporting the Ford government’s move, saying “we must ensure

Read More

Image
Front Page

Lamore campaigning for the second time in 2025

April 20, 2025

Blake Ellis/The Independent This is the second time in two months Mark Lamore is on the campaign trail. He ran for the Ontario Party in the Feb.28 provincial election and now is running for the Christian Heritage Party in Sarnia-Lambton-Bkejwanong in the current federal election campaign. The vote will be exactly 60 days later; April 28. Lamore actually had no

Read More

Image
Front Page

PPC’s Everaert runs for a third time saying things haven’t changed for the better

April 20, 2025

Blake Ellis/The Independent “Things haven’t changed for the better in Canada.” That’s why Brian Everaert is once again running for the People’s Party of Canada in Sarnia-Lambton-Bkejwanong. “We want Canadians to come first all of the time.” Everaert is a founding member of the party which sprang to life in 2018 under the leadership of Maxime Bernier. He ran in

Read More

Image
Front Page

NDP’s Chan hoping to make change from the inside

April 20, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent Lo-Anne Chan says her experiences as an immigrant, a student of criminology and psychology, anentrepreneur and a mom have shaped her to meet people with compassion. And she thinks that may just be the thing voters in Sarnia-Lambton-Bkejwanong may be looking forApril 28 when they vote for their MP. Chan became the candidate for the New Democrats

Read More