Name: Michael Fougere
Current Occupation: Business Executive
Voter Information: Michael Fougere Campaign Office, 309 Albert Street, Phone: 306.775.1255, Email: office@fougereformayor.com, Twitter: @fougereformayor, Website: Fougereformayor.com
I served five terms on Regina City Council, representing the residents of Ward 4 and been President of the Saskatchewan Construction Association since 2004. I hold a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from St. Francis Xavier University and a Masters of Science degree from the London School of Economics. I have been involved in many community activities, including president of the Home and School Association at his children’s school. Also coached soccer, baseball, and basketball and has managed a local hockey team. I have also served on many committees and boards during my time on Council. I have worked extensively in business development, investment attraction, and business immigration in Asia, Europe, and South America.
QUESTION AND ANSWER
1. Briefly, why are you running for council?
I am running for Mayor because I want to make a greater contribution to our City and our future. I believe I have the experience and ability to lead Regina and to build upon the foundation of growth we have put in place over the past few years. I also want to make a real difference in people’s lives and I will measure and balance the needs of every neighborhood and of every person because each decision has an effect on you, your family and the lives of others. We will build on the positives of the past and continue to work towards making Regina a vibrant city in the future. A great city is measured by the quality of life it provides its citizens and if elected I will take the initiative to make sure we get things done quickly, efficiently and economically
2. What is the single most pressing issue facing Regina? How would you solve it?
Housing is a major issue in Regina and it is vital that we have more affordable housing. I will make this key issue a priority by calling for a housing summit. We need to act immediately and I will lead this initiative. With the one of the lowest vacancy rates in Canada, our community must come together and find solutions. I will engage all levels of government, key City officials, community groups, housing industry leaders and the general public to find answers to the housing crisis we face in Regina. My top concerns that must be addressed now are; affordable housing, below market housing and land availability.
3. Beyond immediate concerns like housing, the stadium and infrastructure renewal, what “big idea” project do you want to work on that nobody seems to be talking about?
For maximum efficiency, we need redesign our transit route system. I believe that our transit routes must be designed to get passengers to their destination in the same time as it takes to arrive by car. As well, we must look at the viability of non-stop express lanes from suburbs to down town, a free downtown shuttle service that uses small buses to circulate riders within the RDBID district and more direct routes to the University and SIAST. Time efficient transit will encourage residents to regularly use our service.
4. Name something the last council got right.
Regina Revitalization Initiative
5. Now, point out their biggest mistake.
Over the past 15 years Council has made many decisions to move Regina forward. We made those decisions on the best information available at hand.
6. What are you reading these days?
I’m reading two books: Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin on Abraham Lincoln, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest, by Steig Larsson
7. Beyond your residence, do you own any property in Regina or in the immediate area?
No.
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FUN QUESTIONS!
1. What is your favourite Regina restaurant?
Regina has so many excellent restaurants. It’s hard to pick one. The last restaurant I went with my family was Enso, an excellent sushi restaurant.
2. Who is your favourite Regina artist?
There are so many artists in Regina, it’s hard to choose.
3. What actor would play you in the gritty cable drama, Queen City Hall?
The Mayor.
4. How would your character die?
Protecting the City.
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PICK A SIDE
Cats or Dogs? Dogs
Vampires or Werewolves? Vampires
Boxing or Roller Derby? Roller Derby
Steak or Sushi? Sushi
Hill Towers or Legislative Building? Both
Quance Street or Dewdney Avenue? Dewdney Avenue
Artesian or Wascana Park Gazebo? Both
Prairie Dog or Richardson Ground Squirrel? Prairie Dog
Giant Grasshopper or Stegosaurus? Both
Saskaboom or SaskAdvantage? Saskaboom
Bike or Sports Car? Bike
Le Macaron or Five Guys? Both
The Beatles or the Rolling Stones? The Beatles
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BONUS QUESTION: Make up your own question (And answer it, of course!)
Describe your leadership style.
My leadership style is based on collaboration and consensus. It’s important everyone sees themselves as Councillors in the vision and they are part of a team to move our City forward.
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Find out about all the other people running in this election on our Candidate Profiles page. And follow all of our online election coverage — including interviews, analysis and podcasts — on our Regina City Election 2012 page.