Sharon Scott is running for Councillor of Ward 9 in Greater Sudbury.
Sharon was born Sudbury where she raised my four kids. She has four grandchildren that she spends a lot of time with. When her kids were young, she volunteered on Our Children Our Future for 10 years providing prenatal nutritional information for expectant mothers and organizing activities for preschool children. She has worked as a manager and a bookkeeper but has spent most of her life in the transportation field as a driver as well as a trainer. In her spare time, she’s an author and an inventor.
Why are you running for this position?
I'm not just running for a ward am running to make Sudbury a better place to live. I believe I can make a difference. I know I can't fix everything, but I’m great at looking outside the box; looking at the small things and making them better so that it can help out the most people and make the city a lot safer. You need to be accountable for your actions, make better decisions for the next generation. Use common sense, listen to and respect each other, look at the bigger picture and move forward.
What innovative projects would enhance life in your municipality?
What I would like to do is make the city a lot safer. We’ve been down to one hospital for over a decade and we don’t have a dedicated left-hand turn leaving the hospital. There are stop signs put up in dangerous spots. There may be smaller problems but they are just as important. They shouldn’t fall through the cracks because people think they’re unimportant.
If you received a $1 million grant to use for your municipality any way you wanted, what would you do with it?
I would like to find a way to harness the power of the Wanapitei river to get a clean power source to lower the cost of utilities and provide well needed jobs.
What do you think are the greatest challenges your municipality faces?
I think the biggest challenge to the city is that we are scared of change. We want to move forward but taking the first step is hard. I would love to see fresh ideas as well, based on some of the good things we’ve had in the past.
Other than the official communication methods (minutes, municipal notes), how else will you reach out to your constituents to involve them in the decision making process?
I would try to make it fun for all citizens to be involved in adding their input on how to make the city run better. Listening to good ideas and moving them forward in a rapid manner. Invite them to all the ward meetings around the city to see what’s happening.
What is your favourite thing to do in your municipality?
Spending time with my family, enjoying the lakes and the forests. It is my favourite thing to do.
Why do you think it’s important for women to be represented in civic leadership, including on committees, boards and municipal councils?
It’s important for women to work in all parts of municipal government, especially in a leadership role. First to show our daughters that the stars are not out of reach. Second, women think differently multitasking comes easily to us. Most of all, people are people no matter what gender they are.
What does a ‘feminist city’ mean to you?
To have equal pay for the same jobs that we do as men. Jobs should be available to anyone who has the appropriate qualifications. Canada’s not about male or female it should be about people.
Please identify the most critical policy, project, or initiative in your platform that addresses systemic barriers faced by women in your municipality, and describe why:
Men in policy came up with government assistance projects to help women stay home and have children, not to help women to reach their full potential. With a step-up program starting with mandatory education, first we should be bring up their self-esteem. Nutrition and an education program with several subjects to help them find what they are good at. If their children see that their mothers are doing homework the kids will be eager to do so as well.
Where can people find you?
Sudbury Ward 9 Facebook Group
Email
Twitter
