Darren MacDonald is hoping to earn a third term on Martensville City Council in the municipal election November 9.
First elected in 2012 and returned to the council table in 2016, MacDonald said he believes the next four years are critical for the city’s future.
“I’d like to see the big projects that we have in the works completed,” said MacDonald in an interview. “Among those projects are the water and wastewater system being built in partnership with Saskatoon; and the first phase of the new multi-purpose recreation facility on the west side of Highway 12.”
MacDonald said encouraging more business investment and attracting additional residents would also set a positive direction for Martensville’s future.
MacDonald is a lifelong resident of Martensville.
“I grew up here and I’ve watched Martensville grow from a little town to a vibrant small city,” said MacDonald. “It’s where I chose to stay and raise my own kids. It’s very family-oriented, and I’ll always consider it home.”
MacDonald described his first term on council as a steep learning curve.
“I decided to run because I wanted to be part of the things that were happening and have a say in the decisions that were being made,” said MacDonald. “I wanted to help make Martensville a good place to live, work and raise a family.
“That’s still my motivation. The difference now is I have a lot more experience and understanding of municipal government.
“The bottom line is, you can’t do the job as a city councillor if you’re not passionate about your community. Council members have to make decisions efficiently and effectively, and even if they come at things from different perspectives, they all have the same goal: to do what is best for the community as a whole.”
MacDonald said the regional partnership with other municipalities in the north Saskatoon area is beneficial for all communities.
“Collaboration will lead to growth,” said MacDonald. “You can’t just be focusing on your own borders; you have to look at the region as a whole. Partnerships allow the costs, and benefits, of big projects to be shared.
“The paving of Martensville’s Main Street (Township Road 384) east to Highway 11 is a good example of that,” he added. “Corman Park has also helped with Martensville’s skate park for youth; and the new water and wastewater project wouldn’t be happening without the partnership with Saskatoon.”
MacDonald said he is “value-oriented” when it comes to investing in municipal infrastructure projects. He said both council and administration need to be diligent with tax dollars.
“Not spending money isn’t an option,” he said. “You need to provide services and infrastructure in order to attract more people and businesses to the area.
“This is especially important with regard to attracting business investment, because we need to diversify our tax base and not have such a heavy burden on residential properties.”