Jo McDermott

On a personal side, I have made sure to follow a recycling program that is as thorough as possible. I recycle everything that I can, including glass, which is not picked up by our local recycling service, and I donate my items with deposits to our local animal rescue society. I compost as much of my green waste as possible, including any compostables that I create in my baking business. There is no compost service at the community kitchen that I share (for now - I would like to help change this), so I take my compostables home for pickup there. I have recently purchased an E-Bike, which I use within the city when possible. Salmon Arm lends itself well to utilizing such transportation, and it helps me with my health goals, so win-win! If I am elected to council, I plan to commute to city hall on my e-bike, weather permitting.
As a business owner, past and present, I strive to reduce my carbon footprint as much as possible. I recycle whatever I can, much like in my personal life, and I also re-use whatever I can. When I purchase ingredients that come in useful containers, I repurpose these containers for storage of other ingredients. I also use these containers when I purchase items at our local bulk foods store, instead of using their plastic bags.
Another of my long-term goals is to be able to purchase an EV, and replace my current gas-powered vehicle. (VW id Buzz anyone?)

The Climate Resilience Plan that has been developed for Salmon Arm is a very thorough and intricate plan of action. Careful consideration has been taken to ensure that the aims and goals listed in the CRP are prioritized in a manner that makes the most sense going forward. By assessing each step and process the city needs to take to meet the expected KPI's, the CRP includes a prioritized list of steps / actions. After reviewing this document, I feel that the prioritization process has already been assessed and determined. My main thought while reviewing the CRP is that it can be quite daunting to understand. It's not a document that one can simply skim through and expect to walk away with a deep understanding. This issue is a perfect example of one of my personal priorities - to make municipal information and decisions easier to access, understand, and comment on. I would like to see a separate website dedicated entirely to how the municipality is addressing items in the CRP, what residents can expect from the city, and what the city expects from the residents. Easily accessible links to pertinent resources and information sources should be readily available, as well as options for residents to ask questions or provide feedback. Implementing ideas and programs will only go so far if the general population does not have access to the resources they need to be successful. Communication is key to the success of reducing our environmental impact.

In order to provide support during and after an emergency, all levels of government have to be aware of what support is available, and what the organizations providing that support need in order to be successful. By reviewing and updating emergency action plans before they are needed, and providing support to the involved organizations before and during emergencies, constituents will feel safer, and more confident that their government is ready to support them through any disaster. The Shuswap Emergency Program (SEP), which can be found through the CSRD website provides a lot of information for residents that can help prepare in advance for emergencies, as well as the ability to download an app that forwards emergency alerts to users phones. These are great resources, if people know that they exist. Integrating resources like these into information sources that are more widely accessed (like the city of Salmon Arm website, and even through organizations such as the Red Cross), will also help residents and visitors alike navigate emergency situations. Publishing pertinent information in readily available sources, such as local newspapers, websites, and other mass-media style sources, will also go a long way in ensuring that the appropriate information is available when needed. I revert again to my oft stated personal priority of making sure that communication is easy, accessible, and demonstrates common sense and integrity.