Jillian Foster is running in Cumberland County.
Q. What’s your full name?
My give name is Jillian Foster.
Q. Where are you from?
Linden, Cumberland County is my home, and has been either home or “back home” for me since 1976. I was born in Northumbria, England and came to Canada as a child with my family when I was nine.
Q. What position are you running for?
Cumberland County councillor, District 2.
Q. What did you do before you decided to run for office?
I am a mother, grandmother, farm partner and trained problem solver. I look for root causes of problems, analyse situations and find feasible solutions. I have also volunteered as a 4-H leader and with my work for food security and food sovereignty in Nova Scotia. My formal profession is veterinarian.
Q. Why have you chosen to run in this election campaign?
I find myself grounded to home base and believe by serving as councillor my skills and experience could benefit my community. Wellness and vet medicine is not the limiting factor to success of most of the farming community today and am running in hope that my skills can be of benefit to our community as a whole.
Q. What strengths would you bring to council if you are elected?
I hope my years of listening, analytical, logistical and problem-solving skills and experiences will be an asset to the work of the municipality and over the next four years will help with policy for health and rural renewal. I have worked with various community and task forces on sustainable renewal, food security and food sovereignty.
Q. What do you see as the biggest strength/asset of the community/region and what measures would you take to capitalize on them?
The foundation of Cumberland County’s economy, the traditional primary industries, have been taken for granted and disregarded in policy in all levels of government over the last 70 years. In spite of being forgotten the farm and forestry foundation is still there, it is not dead and if supported could be revived to help the county thrive in the areas it did before. The people of Cumberland are our strength; we have a lot of good volunteers. The youth of yesteryear have left for opportunity elsewhere, I did too, I went away for experience and came home out of necessity and love of the land. I hope my grandchildren and all the others who have left can come home out of desire and love … or as a minimum Cumberland County can be a place where they can contribute, and their needs are met. We need to learn to do it our selves we can if - paraphrasing Melville Cumming Secretary of industry in NS from over a century ago - “the same opportunity and effort is made hereby and for those who leave as away.”
Q. What do you feel is the key challenge facing the community/region and how would you work to address it?
Erosion of equity to survive and loss of critical mass for services to be efficient. The rest of Canada thinks of Cumberland County as a wasteland with a path through it to the Port of Halifax and Cape Breton. In reality, there is as much potential here as in the rest of Canada if it was recognized by those who grow up here. We need to be proud to the point of valuing the work we do, our skills and our people. That starts with recognition and support of our neighbours. It starts with us. There are huge untapped import replacement opportunities. Our neighbours can not buy from us if we don’t buy from them. Our labour force should be for the benefit of here, not away. Same with our investments. Investing in entrepreneurs from out of the area through so-called local investment funds that won’t invest here because we are not big enough. Lack of stable investment in the basics needs and foundation of our economy is detrimental. There needs to be collaboration with other municipalities and not just next door to get things done. What will I do? I know I will have a steep learning curve. I trust fellow residents will approach me and tell me their concerns and thoughts. Life is far from static. I can not promise what I will do but I will not abandon my Cumberland Can and Food First lenses, and that I will always vote on council for the best choice for today and our grandchildren, and if that choice is not presented do something about it.
Q. What one message do you hope gets out to the voters during this election campaign?
I hope the residents of District 2 will fulfil their civic duty and vote. Informed consent is important. If you live in polling district 2 and are not certain about voting for me please call me and speak with me before voting. Again, I can only promise to do my best and to not let the potential of our traditional primary industries to turn us back to vibrancy be overlooked.I believe CUMBERLAND CAN – if it is to be it is up to us – together we can.
Q. How can people contact you?
I welcome calls and messages. My cell phone is best 902 664 4307.
Email for election purposes my email is [email protected]