THUNDER BAY – Brian Phillips says he’s been watching municipal affairs for a long time, joking he’s sometimes been an “armchair quarterback" of Thunder Bay's city council.
Phillips, one of 24 hopefuls for council's five at-large positions, has done more than watch from the sidelines. He says his time as manager of the Victoriaville Centre gave him insight into the workings of local government.
“I was there for six years and got to know the ins and outs of city administration, and how things work and [don’t] work,” he said.
His experience in the private sector and working with local non-profits has been just as important, he added.
Currently the building manager for Arthur Street Medical Health Centre (the Spence Clinic), he also works part-time at Home Depot.
His work with that company's charitable efforts "sheds a lot of light on what jobs still need to be done in this city" to confront issues like poverty, addiction, and crime, he said.
“We need results. There are mental health issues, there are crime issues, as we all know. We need to fix that in order for the city to grow on a positive wavelength.”
Tackling crime means working together with organizations beyond police, he said.
“We need more policing [and] paramedics, but we also need those programs to help the people who are in need, and not shut the door on them."
If elected, Phillips said he'd push for the city to be more aggressive in attracting industry and tourism.
“Let Thunder Bay grow the way it should grow,” he said. “Give incentives to new companies [we] need to come in and help us grow, make this a tourism destination point for sure. We’ve missed out on a few things.”
He pointed to his experience negotiating with commercial groups as an asset, saying it's an area where he the city could expand its efforts.
On the question of a proposed indoor turf sports facility, he's not necessarily afraid to go big - but says that doesn't necessarily have to come with an inflated budget.
The $46 million design most recently considered by council "can be shaved down," he believes.
"I’m for a facility, be it a turf centre or a stadium, or something that would draw but be totally useful for everybody in the city," he said. "Not just one group – it has to be for everybody, for trade shows, concerts, curling events, whatever. We’re in the middle of Canada – we should be way ahead of where we are."
“I was thinking more along the lines of the Hangar, like at [Lakehead University], and make it triple the size.”
That would allow it to house trade shows, conferences, as well as soccer, cricket, badminton, and other uses, he said.
