Tracey MacKinnon
Tracey MacKinnon is running for Councillor in McKellar Ward in Thunder Bay.
Tracey MacKinnon (she/her) is a human rights activist, ally, person with lived experience (PWLE), and person with a disability (PWD) who lives in social housing. She serves on national and local boards and participates in organizations and working groups focused on women's housing and homelessness, human rights, poverty, fare-free transit, and basic income. A former participant in the Ontario Basic Income Pilot, Tracey is also a co-founder, author, editor, mother, sister, Kokum, and friend. She advocates for people with disabilities, seniors, vulnerable community members, and people struggling to survive on low incomes.
Why are you running for this position?
To give those who don't have a voice.
What do you love most about your community?
The diversity.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing your municipality right now?
Lack of affordable housing, poverty, homelessness, mental health, addictions, cost of living, transit challenges, economic growth, lack of family doctors, NPs and PSWs.
If elected, what is one thing you would like to accomplish during your term?
Revisit our transit system, which needs an overhaul, express buses, more drivers, economic growth to grow the economy, invest in Indigenous relations, small businesses, reconciliation.
What is one thing you would like to see your municipality do differently?
How we're tackling the unhoused crisis, mental health and addictions, those struggling to find safe affordable housing with transit/schools nearby to employment, grocery stores, walking trails, community gardens, local foods, green and open spaces, nature and water.
What does good local government look like to you?
Accountability, transparency and engagement in and with PWLE/PWD. Listening to the community you represent. All voices matter, are important and are worthy of our time.
If you received a $1 million grant to use for your municipality any way you wanted, what would you do with it?
If I received a $1 million grant, I would look at having my building and other similar social housing units fumigated, residents moved elsewhere (temporary) while the building was "tented" for fumigation.
How do you approach working with people who disagree with you?
Constructively, giving them a chance to see other sides of the conversation, usually from a PWLE or PWD perspective. It helps them see things in a different view.
What does having more women in local leadership change?
Having a voice or (more) voices at the table, balanced leadership.
What is something about you that you would like voters to know that they might not learn from your campaign platform?
I want our ward to thrive, come alive and be great again. We can do it together with community partnerships and collaborations with local groups.
Where can people find you?
Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61593794318558
LinkedIn: Tracey MacKinnon
