Cumberland Candidate Stephen Blais believes it is important for city councillors to show fiscal restraint. This is why he is in favour of city hall eliminating the unaccountable $6,000 car allowance currently given to city councillors as part of their salary.

“There is no denying that the city has significant budget pressures, which is why elected officials should lead by example”, said Cumberland Candidate Stephen Blais. “If elected to city council, I will not accept the unaccountable $6,000 car allowance.”

Currently, there is only one city councillor, Steve Desroches, Gloucester South-Nepean who does not accept the unaccountable car allowance. While the savings are small in the context of the entire city budget, if city councillors eliminated their car allowances, the city would save $138,000 per year or $552,000 over the full-term of council.

“If city council decides against the elimination of the unaccountable car allowance, I will donate mine to charitable groups in Orléans-Cumberland, who are in much more need of this money,” added Cumberland Candidate Blais.

When Stephen Blais ran for Catholic school board trustee in 2006, his desire for change was to ensure there were more committed individuals in politics and less career politicians. As an example, he decided not to accept the 150% trustee raise but rather donate this money to causes important in his community: a bursary for less affluent students from the Orleans area, breast cancer awareness, military families and the school breakfast program.