Werner Kraus: Bio
My name is Werner Kraus and I have been a resident of Area G for 34 years. I was born in West Germany and moved to Canada in 1972 by way of Australia.
After three years in Vancouver we made a break with big city life and moved permanently to the Kootenay. My home, a hobby farm, is located on a large parcel of land suitable for creating a very large garden.
Shortly after coming here I found employment with Teck Cominco. Over the past 34 years I had a number of jobs with Teck, mostly in maintenance and machining. On March 19, 2012 I will retire from Teck.
My daughter Jessica attended elementary school in Salmo and graduated from L.V. Rogers. My main reason for running in this election is the lack of sustainable vision for the future of our area.
We need change in so many ways and the time is now.
Top 3 issues
#1. Working for more open accountability for our tax money. Where to and to whom is it going and do we as taxpayers get a return benefit? An example is the $2,500 grant for establishing a community garden next to Ymir school house. All we got is lots of uncared, dried plants.
#2. Keep the Canex landfill open and make it free for local residents to use it. Under present plans we will have to take our garbage to Castlegar or Creston. Only Ymir’s small transfer station will remain. Illegal dumping will become uncontrollable and very costly to clean up.
#3. Giving support for local food security. Help reestablishing farming co-operative for local food producers. With the whole world in ever increasing turmoil we have to go and do it ourself and not wait for outside help in the long run. A 100 kilometre diet may be needed.