Gloria Haner
After one term as Ward 2 councillor for Central Manitoulin, Gloria Haner has decided to run again as she enjoyed herself so much over the last four years.
Originally, Ms. Haner said she was approached by members of the community to run in the 2010 election, even though the thought had never crossed her mind before. Now, she’s glad she did.
“I really enjoyed it and we had a great group of people and staff to work with,” Ms. Haner told The Expositor.
Over the last term, Ms. Haner said she was pleased to see the Yonge Street reconstruction finished, acknowledging previous councils for getting the ball rolling on the project. “We got very fortunate in getting funding for it,” she said. The municipality has also seen many upgrades to its buildings over the last four years too, she shared.
One of Ms. Haner’s concerns for the municipality is roads and keeping them well maintained, explaining that the largest portion of the municipal budget is allotted to roads.
As for projects for the next term, if elected, “The safety of our main intersection,” she said firmly. “We’ve been working on it for four years and we just got nowhere, but we’re not going to give up on it.”
Ms. Haner said she’s also concerned as to what might happen to Carter Bay when, and if, it’s sold by Blue Goose, as well as the invasive phragmites reed that can be found on the Providence Bay beach.
She said she would also like to see a cleanup week for Central Manitoulin where tipping fees are waived.
“During our next budget, we need to take into consideration the new assessments,” she said. “We can’t keep raising taxes. We’ve got to keep it affordable because our community is growing and we’d like to keep it that way.”
During her time on council, Ms. Haner sat on the cemetery and arena committees, noting that the arena is of special importance to her as a hockey mom, now grandma, par excellence. When the municipality begins to come in line with Ontario’s accessibility laws for its buildings, she has ideas for the old barn.
In her spare time, Ms. Haner enjoys afternoon curling and is now a firm believer in the power of ‘the stick,’ she laughed. The stick allows those with mobility issues a great throw down the sheets. And if she doesn’t make council, she plans on getting even more involved in her community, noting the hospital auxiliary’s good works.
