North Bay City Councillor Mark King says that the City of North Bay needs to hold the line on taxes.
"Inflation and interest rates are rising faster than we have seen in decades," King says in a news release.
"Families are feeling the pain of the high cost of inflation, and those who own homes are now paying more interest on their mortgages. Corporations worldwide are scaling back. Local small businesses are also cutting back to survive, and we, as a city, should be no different."
King suggests the City needs to cap spending, reduce waste, and remove unneeded barriers.
"Finally, we do not need a municipal government that looks down on our citizens by limiting their free speech at the Council Chambers. The citizens must be heard, loud and clear, once again."
In October 2014, King successfully ran for city council and was re-elected as a Councillor in 2018. He is now seeking his third successive full-term.
King has served on numerous boards and committees, including the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board for seven years, including five years as Chairman. He is currently the Vice Chair of Cassellholme and Cassellholme Arms, North Bay Public Works, and the Northern Ontario Service Delivery Association.
King has also been a member of the North Bay Planning Advisory Committee, the Blue Sky Economic Growth Corporation, North Bay Hydro Board, the Laurentian Ski Hill Board, and Discovery Routes.
Born and raised in North Bay, King spent 23 years with the Canadian National Railway, conducting rail traffic control in the Great Lakes region. In 1998, King assumed ownership of H. Freeman & Co, a wholesale and industrial supply company, which he still owns. He was also a principal owner of Mark Wood Estates, and in the process, he gained extensive municipal planning and land use experience in the Trout Lake watershed.
During the early 2000s, King was the North Bay Chamber of Commerce Director, eventually becoming its President and Past President.
King mentions several issues he will address as the campaign proceeds forward, including:
- Housing shortages;
- Replacement of existing infrastructure;
- Route 5 development;
- Social assistance;
- Support for ongoing Cassellholme redevelopment; and
- Transparency of municipal affairs.
