Scott Fitzgerald s a candidate for Councillor-at-Large in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Why did you decide to run for this office?

I have lived here all my life. My wife and I have raised our family here. My kids (and hopefully their kids) are my motivation for running. I want St John’s to be a place that they want to stay and live because it offers everything they could ever want: adequate housing, safe streets, recreation and green space, reliable services, reasonable taxes, and an overall great quality of life. I want to help take St. John’s to the next level and make it attractive to everyone whether they want to live here, build a business, or visit.

I love St. John’s and I truly believe we are so fortunate and lucky to live in this place. But it can be better.

What are the three main issues you’d wish to tackle if elected and why?

As I see it, the three main issues facing the next council are:

- Building more housing. We have to unlock the regulations and bring down the barriers that slow the development process. The city can help by reducing or eliminating parking requirements, making more city owned land available for development, and eliminating the exclusionary zoning rules to allow for a variety of housing types in a single development application.

- Fiscal Responsibility. We have to continue to strive for value for money and look for savings where we can find them. We have to keep in mind that people are very much still feeling the pinch of the cost of living and that tax increases are just not on.

- It may seem like a contradiction but we also need to strive for continuous improvement in the services we provide our residents. Things like public transportation and sidewalk snow clearing need continued investment. By building more density we can expand our tax base as sustainably as possible.

How do you intend to work with your colleagues at City Council to tackle these issues?

I've always prided myself on my ability to build relationships and mutual respect. Working well with fellow councillors and city staff is essential to building consensus and working towards common goals that benefit the city as a whole.

Where do you see St. John’s in four years?

Four years from now I see a city that has taken huge strides towards tackling the housing problem we have. When you look at the social determinants to health and safety, housing is such a key to affecting positive change in areas like crime, safety, and poverty. I believe we can do this because I believe the will exists to get it done. I also see a city that continues to recognize the importance of improving services while ensuring we don't over-burden taxpayers any more than we already do.

Contact Information

• Phone: (709)-764-8580
• Website: https://scottfitzgerald.ca/
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