Mark Casson

2026 Election Candidate

Environmental

Policies in the Armstrong Official Community Plan "direct future growth strategically to protect ecological and agricultural areas, offer more housing and transportation choices, support economic prosperity and diversity, prioritize sustainable municipal infrastructure planning, enhance community wellbeing, and support our transition to a more sustainable and climate resilient community." Please give local examples of 'good' and 'not good' building development in Armstrong, and state why. Do you support the downtown revitalization plan for Armstrong and why/why not?

I am in agreement with the Official Community Plan as worded above. However I am not in favor of the work done at Pleasant Rd under the " revitalization" zone. From what I can see of the plan so far, it appears to favor a design that sees heavy pedestrian traffic and less vehicle traffic. This town does not yet have the population levels to favor a redesign like this. It is a place for rural folks with their trucks to gather.

The road needed to be repaired/improved absolutely, but there was no overwhelming demand, or current support, for such a departure from what it was before.

Armstrong has experienced significant climate impacts for the last few years. How do you propose to address these crises, both in preparing ahead for disasters like drought, wildfires, heat domes and floods, as well as reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that lead to climate change?

I would work to ensure that we prioritize the projects that secure us against future droughts. This would include better water capture and reuse, storage and conservation awareness to the community Encourage better forestry management and mitigation of nature based fire hazards from forest conditions in the non-fire season. Emergency services and the like, must always be supported no question.

Do you support the use of public funds to contribute to acquiring natural lands for environmental conservation purposes? Under what conditions would the perceived need for more housing, businesses, roads and other infrastructure prompt you to trade away natural lands with high ecological value for urban expansion?

I support the use of public funds being used in the acquiring of what the city needs to improve the quality of life for residents and ensure its upward mobility in future. I do not wish to damage or negatively effect our environment or trade its high ecological value away for it. My conditions would be in favor of the people, if it were dire need and there was no other way.

Drought, contamination, increasing demand are just some of the water issues. What actions would you prioritise to protect our creeks, lakes, aquifers, and groundwater for home and agricultural water sources, habitat for fish and wildlife, and human recreation?

I would listen and learn from those who have managed the short falls of water supply to hear what they need. Water as a natural resource is increasing in demand and I will be in favor of any effort to ensure that we have the supply we need and increasing the amount stored year over year. I will be educating myself on the different options on an ongoing basis.

Social

In smaller communities we need to be creative in how we help one another; how do you see the role of local government in this?

Lowering the legislative requirements for all residents who lead non profit organizations and those who volunteer to participate in them. Local government should empower all less cost efforts to improve the community that are put forward.

How do we tackle misinformation and growing distrust in local government as well as uncivil behaviour on social media and in person?

Encourage greater participation in the process of city hall decision making. Establish greater levels of effort to reach the residents by more than 1 or 2 methods. And look for the feedback rather than assuming non. Have locally based points of contact in the community with a proven track record of responses and bring them in on the communications.

What personal and/or professional experience has most shaped your understanding of Truth and Reconciliation, and how would it influence your decisions as a municipal elected official?

Personally I have not had extensive experience of First Nations cultures and History. In my job I have worked on many First Nations land reserves all over BC. I very much am in favor of Truth and Reconciliation of course as everyone should be. Whatever is owned or owed should be restored and if Truth establishes injustice, than it must be reconciled. But I do believe that it is necessary for both sides of this very important and painful issue to recognize, that it is possible for nefarious actors and groups to infiltrate the process for the purpose of enriching and empowering themselves and their friends. This would of course be unjust and terrible, regardless of the perpetrator. We need to be on guard against this, to ensure that Truth is true, before Reconciliation can progress.

Cultural

How do you personally engage with arts, culture and heritage in Armstrong, and how do you think local government should support these features of our community?

I have extensive experience in classical music, history and theory. I have earned Grade 10 Cello and Piano certificates through the Royal Conservatory of Music. My cello music teacher gave me lessons from her home in Armstrong. I have family in town who are teaching over 50 students from the local area in their home studio. I would love to see more music related art supported in the local venues and events. Hosting performance based scholarships in town like I had growing up would be a great start. Of course giving all support to the ongoing events organized in the Hassen Arena area including the IPE.

Economic

What is your understanding of how small local governments can support our economic development, including the success of our small local businesses?

We have to get rid of as much of the legislative complexity from the process as possible. Ensure that residents do not fair the consequences of disclosers while trying to get answers from city hall. For some businesses there is ongoing issues related to non conforming buildings grandfathered in from a different time that can constantly attract the attention of the building inspector. If council takes a more direct approach to the communications there, it will go a long way. Also ensuring that produces are not punished for being successful through punitive taxes, but are given more leeway whenever possible. They risk everything for the value they generate in this community and council members must always remember that.

What is one action the municipality should take to strengthen our local food system and improve access to healthy, affordable food? Why that action?

Allowing residents to source their food from their own land where possible. Increase supply is the only way to decrease prices, otherwise the cost is born by everyone through tax payer funded subsides. Diversifying the markets sources that provide those items and helping residents access them.

Health

As Mayor / Councilor, how would you work to support access to medical services?

I would ensure that we provide all necessary support to existing levels of need, while taking all proposed solutions for near or future demand into account. I will need to learn more on the options given to a municipal government for this particular topic.

How will you ensure that our planning of our built environment, our programs and our policies support the diverse physical and mental health needs of our population?

We need to keep improving accessibility for all buildings new and old. An assessment of the needs for improvements could be put on record, listed in order of priority. Than we can find the budget space for each one as it comes up. This too I will need to learn in order to better handle each scenario as it happens.