Leslie McVeety used the Labour Day Picnic in North Bay to quietly walk around the crowd handing out flyers while introducing herself as a mayoral candidate in the upcoming municipal election.
In return, she listened to constituents voice their concerns.
“I’m hearing a lot of the same things. Everybody is tired of the way the city is going with all the crime that is going on, all the bike thefts, all the break-ins. We need to do something about that. We need to do something to help the homeless, rent control, I’m hearing a lot of concerns,” shared McVeety who wants to offer a “Second Chance” program for the homeless.
“I would like to use the money we get from the casino and put it into buying either tiny homes or maybe one house, running it as a group home, something like that, to help get the homeless off the street, teach them any life skills they might need, like budgeting, whatever they need,” said McVeety.
“And letting them live rent free or cheap rent, a $100 a month or something like that just to get them on their feet in six months and then they can find their own place, have a job. Give them a second chance at life.”
Under the plan there would be random drug tests during the six-month period, with zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol.
McVeety suggested the tiny homes could be placed on surplus city property.
“Or just find a piece of vacant land buy that and put the tiny homes there,” said the mayoral candidate.
“I would buy the land and buy the homes, however many we can get. Let’s get the homeless off the streets.”
The mayoral candidate waited until the last day to throw her name into the race.
“I was waiting to see if anybody else was going to (run). The two people running didn’t seem to really care about the issues I care about, and so I thought ‘You know what? I’ve got to stand up for the people, for what the people want.”
McVeety believes she has what it takes to be a good leader.
“I’d listen to what their concerns are. I’m an honest person, they can trust me. I’m going to do what I say I’m going to do. I’m transparent, I am a people person. I’m here for the people.”
This is McVeety’s first foray into politics.
“I have zero political experience whatsoever, but I’m willing to learn. I’m a quick learner. I’m a PSW (personal support worker) so I’ve been advocating for patients for years. Let’s advocate for the city and get something done,” McVeety stated.
Safety is a priority for the candidate #letsmakeNorthBaysafeagain.
The plan for people who are given a “one-way ticket” to North Bay is to “send them back."
"The cities sending them will be told to stop. We do not have the resources to help them.”
McVeety would also consider a by-law that would fine people for giving panhandlers money. The fine would be $50 with the proceeds going to the Food Bank.
She would also push for a decrease in the number of methadone clinics.
“And one of the other things I’m looking at is the needle exchange program. There are a lot of needles left on the ground, it is not safe to walk yourself, your children, or your dog. It is scary,” McVeety pointed out.
“Let’s try to get the needles off the streets. I would petition the government as hard as I can to get some extra money for a detox centre. I would like to put that up at the old psych maybe, so they’re away from their triggers, away from whatever triggers they might have that made them do the drugs in the first place. Stay in the detox centre, but I do need help from the higher levels of government for that.”
The mayoral candidate says there is a need for more counselling services.
“More help getting them off of the drugs. I would like to really look at how the methadone clinics are run.”
McVeety says more needs to be done if the city wants to attract businesses with high-paying jobs.
“We need to clean up the city first to make it attractive for them. It might bring them here if it looks like a place they would like to live,” McVeety said.
“As far as the businesses that are already here, I would definitely like to help out Main Street. The businesses on Main Street have been suffering because people are afraid to shop downtown. And maybe do some tax breaks for small businesses because they have been suffering.”
For campaign updates, follow McVeety for Mayor on Facebook [email protected]
McVeety is running against former deputy mayor and current North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce president Peter Chirico, as well as city councillor Johanne Brousseau.
