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Jayson Faulkner

Candidate profile
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Hockey Card:

Occupations? Retail storeowner, mountain guiding service owner, sales and marketing executive, finance/investment.

Furthest place you travelled and why. Mt. Shishipangma, Tibet for a mountaineering and ski expedition.

Describe yourself using five words or less. Determined, outgoing, optimistic, supportive, creative.

What is one thing people would be surprised to learn about you? I am not very good at video games.

Profile Questions:

What do you see as the top election issues? The obvious core concern is regarding the unsustainable RMOW fiscal situation. The other issues - pay parking, transit, asphalt plant, accountability, RMOW direction and management, Whistler 2020 and the OCP - are in many ways affected by it. Fact is, when you can't meet your commitments financially, the options you have on all your other programs become very limited, very quickly. Community needs very quickly overcome community wants, and that can create a very different kind of local government. So living within our means is an absolute fundamental principle in being able to create a community with the vision we all want.

How would you address the budget shortfall? Frankly the only real option is to reduce costs. Additional revenue options are very, very limited and unlikely.

Despite what some claim there are no easy or simple answers to the 2012 deficit. It is a very serious situation that can only be dealt with by addressing the cost base of the RMOW. There is a reasonable chance that our municipality's revenue streams may decline further between now and 2012; so fiscal conservatism is a necessity. A serious look at all aspects of the RMOW's operations must be taken and all managers must be held to account to justify their budgets. The community will not settle for anything less.

What do you think is the RMOW's role in boosting tourism? Of course the RMOW has an important role, but it must be consistent with its core responsibilities and its mandate as determined by the residents. We have dozens and dozens of businesses and organizations that are professionals at boosting tourism. It seems that the RMOW has, for whatever reason, become the lead agency for this. I would argue that is not the primary role of a municipality. I believe that this is a distraction, in costs, manpower, direction and resources. Our role is to help and enable the other community groups and professionals do their job, not do it for them.

What would you do to enhance the environment for business? Most importantly, make sure Whistler is a place that people desire to come to live, work and play. Also, keep costs as low as possible while providing efficient and effective services for the community; effect policy that encourages new businesses which would provide diversification for the community while being consistent with our common goals and values; work closely with the business institutions in the community (Chamber, TW, community groups, etc) to support their initiatives and ideas; create and maintain an atmosphere of cooperation and collaboration; engage the community for ideas and initiatives; and bring the community together to move forward for the benefit of all.

Give an example of a difficult situation you have overcome. Starting and running a successful independent retail business in Whistler for more than 20 years.

Where can people go to get your election platform? My blog and/or contact me at jaysonfaulkner@gmail.com



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