David Gordon seeks another term as Sioux Lookout councillor

Former Lac Seul chief David Gordon is running for his second term as councillor at large in the upcoming Sioux Lookout municipal elections.
“I would like to capitalize on my experience from the last four years,” Gordon said, explaining his first four years in municipal government were a real learning curve. “Now I feel really comfortable in that environment so I think I can work towards making changes a lot more effectively.”
Gordon, who works with Lac Seul as a project co-ordinator on a number of construction projects, is pleased with the achievements he and the other council members have accomplished over the last term.
“It was a really good experience working with the mayor and councillors,” Gordon said. “Everybody respected each other and we basically got along pretty good.”
Gordon is particularly proud of the new committees of council that were struck by the mayor and council over the last term, including the environment committee and the economic development commission and the development work that was completed on the community’s new youth and cultural centre in the former Sioux Hotel as well as on the former CN train station.
“They basically are just getting off the ground now in terms of the actual renovations,” Gordon said. “The youth centre (former Sioux Hotel) will be completed some time towards next fall and the CN Station as well.”
Gordon is also looking to continue with the urban reserve feasibility study if re-elected.
“That work is not finished yet,” said Gordon, chairperson of the urban reserve sub-committee. “We are currently hoping to do a feasibility study and if I am elected again I would like to continue to see that process through, which is completing the feasibility study and determining what happens after that depending on the outcome of feasibility study.”
Gordon voted for the plastic bag ban bylaw prohibiting the sale and free distribution of bags.
“That was a recommendation that came out of the environment committee that council had struck,” Gordon said, explaining the plastic bag ban was presented to the council by the environment committee. “It is scheduled to come into force one year from now. That was a fairly controversial initiative and I did support it. I think it is the right thing to do. It is a very small thing but I think we need to start doing small things like that to have a better environment in the future.”
Gordon, chairman of the Town of Sioux Lookout Non-Profit Housing Corporation, is concerned about the cost of housing in Sioux Lookout.
“It’s always a concern to make the housing affordable,” Gordon said. “I know that a lot of people are struggling lately.”
Gordon brought up concerns he has heard from people in Sioux Lookout about the increasing costs of water and electricity.
“Some people are just finding it really difficult to continue to be able to live, even in non-profit housing, especially people on social assistance or low income or single families,” Gordon said. “That is one of my concerns and it is not an easy (issue) to overcome.”
Gordon wants to create more employment and jobs and help people out of low-income situations through more training and education.
“In Sioux Lookout, the municipality is investment ready,” Gordon said, explaining the community has invested in improvements to infrastructure, including extending and upgrading water lines and extending services to the airport. “I believe that Sioux Lookout will continue to grow and prosper.”
Gordon is looking for more opportunities once the new hospital opens its doors.
“I really believe the new hospital in Sioux Lookout is going to make Sioux Lookout more of a regional health centre,” Gordon said, noting he is looking for developments in the area of health education. “We need to really capitalize on the fact we do have a new hospital.”