Infrastructure must keep pace with West St. Paul's growth. My priorities are maintaining and improving roads, addressing drainage and culverts, planning for wastewater needs, and ensuring new development does not overwhelm infrastructure. We need to look ahead rather than waiting until infrastructure fails. A long-term capital plan should identify which roads and infrastructure require immediate attention, which can be scheduled over several years, and how those projects will be funded. Increasing traffic requires better planning around development, road connections and transportation patterns. The measurable goal should be a clear, prioritized infrastructure plan with projects completed according to need and available funding. Growth provides opportunities, but it also creates responsibility. We need to make sure infrastructure decisions today do not create larger costs for taxpayers tomorrow.

West St. Paul needs to moderate the pace of residential growth so roads, drainage, water, wastewater, and public services can keep up. Development should continue, but Council must understand the infrastructure each proposal requires before approving more growth. My priorities are a funded road renewal schedule, improved drainage, and a clear assessment of water and wastewater capacity. Retail development should remain in areas identified for it, with traffic impacts on Main Street addressed before new sites open. West St. Paul also has an excellent trail system and linear parks. I would work with neighbouring RMs to connect those trails across municipal boundaries, giving residents safer ways to travel between communities for recreation and everyday trips.

Most of this will seem like a reiteration of my previous points above but infrastructure needs to keep pace with development rather than playing catch up years afterwards. My priorities are roads, drainage, traffic safety and wastewater infrastructure. Pushing for a long term infrastructure plan that clearly identifies projects, priorities and expected costs to convey realistic timelines for residents. We also need to be working closely with the province and neighbouring municipalities because many traffic and infrastructure challenges do not stop at municipal boundaries. Preventive planning is generally better and less costly than repeatedly fixing problems after they occur.

Currently, the highest priority for me is advocating the Manitoba Government to address the poor conditions of the provincial roadways within the boundary of West St.Paul, and address the safety concerns at the intersection of Pipeline Road and the Perimeter. These are areas the residents have raised with me these past few months.