Jake Hiebert announces candidacy for Steinbach council

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This article was published 25/07/2022 (1060 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Jake Hiebert has announced his candidacy for Steinbach city council in the upcoming fall election.

Hiebert is the third councillor to make the announcement that he will be seeking re-election, after Michael Zwaagstra and Bill Hiebert.

In an interview July 7, Hiebert said his original platform still stands.

In it he advocated for public safety, fiscal restraint and responsibility, and creating a friendly environment to attract new businesses. He said it’s important to welcome new manufacturing and industry to allow those who grow up in the community to get not only jobs but occupations that will allow them stay.

“In that vein, good stewardship of the taxpayer’s money is ultimately important as is bringing new manufacturing and industry to the city,” he said.

Hiebert, 70, was elected to council in 2018. As the oldest sitting councillor, he said he thought carefully before committing to another four-year term.

With a background that includes 39 years in policing, one year as a judge at Stony Mountain Institution, and six years on the Parole Board of Canada, he remains involved with two tribunal boards including the one for the Vulnerable Persons Registry and a national board which sets the parameters for people that have committed crimes but are unfit to stand trial due to mental issues.

Combined with his committee work on council, Hiebert admits he’s busy, and ensuring he has time for his children and grandchildren is also important.

“All my life I’ve volunteered,” he said. “I just see myself continuing to be a valuable contributor to society still.”

Although he’s still a rookie councillor, Hiebert said he found the transition to council fairly smooth with many similarities to how he’s served in the past.

“One of the things I’ve always been cognizant of is legislation and liabilities and treating people fairly, biases, prejudices, all those issues,” he said. “I’ve worked in that framework for 50 years.”

That also leads to his philosophy as a councillor.

“I am here to serve the people of Steinbach. That is my job,” he said. “I have nothing personally at stake. What I’ve always tried to do and continue to do is with any issue, look at all the relevant information, put all biases and prejudices aside and based on the information available make the right decision.”

“The values that I bring to council are deeply engrained in who I am,” he added.

Hiebert said diversity in his life has helped with those values. That diversity includes the many places he’s lived, the cultures and ethnic groups he’s lived among and served, and the different levels of government he’s worked with.

“Sound decision making is probably the biggest value or trait I bring to council,” he said.

Hiebert also praised the current council and mayor for doing their part to ensure the city is operating as efficiently and effectively as possible.

“When you work as a team, you’ll get a lot more done,” he said. “Our council’s been very efficient, we’ve got a lot of work done in short order.”

“I am here to serve the people of Steinbach. That is my job. I have nothing personally at stake. What I’ve always tried to do and continue to do is with any issue, look at all the relevant information, put all biases and prejudices aside and based on the information available make the right decision.”

He also tipped his hat to past councils, and said it’s important to remember that council achievements are only possible because of the work that takes place over many years.

“This is an ongoing process and we just happen to be at this stage of the process,” he said.

He also praised the city’s policy of borrowing for projects by taking loans no longer than five years.

“When I first came on, I disagreed with that and I see the value of that now,” he said.

He gave as an example the Steinbach Aquatic Centre, which required a $1 million upgrade 18 years after it was built. Many municipalities would still have been paying for the initial construction, but Steinbach had paid the loan off 13 years before improvements were made.

Hiebert said he’s not the most vocal councillor and said there’s a good reason for that.

“Most of the time I know what my position is, but I want to give other people the chance to voice their positions,” he said. “That gives me all the relevant information, and then I can without bias or prejudice make a decision based on everything I’ve read and heard.”

He’d like to see more people head to the polls.

“I encourage everyone to get out and vote, and if you vote for my re-election, that’s a bonus,” he said.

Those considering running for council still have plenty of time to make their decision.

The candidate registration deadline is Sept. 20 with the municipal election taking place Oct. 26, 2022.