Andre Proulx moved to Thompson back in 2008. A mechanic by trade, Proulx opened his own business AMP Industries to provide various automotive services. At the tail end of last fall’s municipal election, Proulx tied with fellow candidate Chiew Chong for the final seat on city council after they both garnered 1,009 votes apiece.
What motivated you to run for city council a second time?
Just not to give up on the first goals [I had] and since we were tied, Chiew and I, I figured I still have a good chance to enter into council.
What is the most important issue you want to tackle if you are elected to council? Has this changed since the initial election cycle took place back in the fall of 2018?
It hasn’t changed drastically. There are a few different changes. I still am really big on wanting to work together with the northern communities surrounding us and to obviously bring new industry to Thompson and to diversify our income base. Now I guess there’s a few twists with the announcement of the pool and that kind of stuff that we didn’t know about in the fall, so I guess that’s also going to also take some priority.
Why should someone vote for you over the two other candidates who are running for this last seat on council?
I think I bring to the table definitely a strong drive to unite the surrounding communities, to work together to fix some of our problems such as the downtown issue and to bring business sense to diversify the industries in Thompson and to look at partnering up also. I bring good negotiating skills to the table. I’ve got a fresh outlook and I’m quite open-minded. I grew up in The Pas as well, so I’ve been in Northern Manitoba my whole life and I know how it is and I know what needs to be changed and how to change it.
Do you foresee any difficulties in joining the current city council, now that they are several months into their term?
It would probably take a few months to kind of catch up and get up to speed, but I think the transition should be pretty smooth. They’re already making the budget and that, so we can’t turn back time and I can’t change what’s been done. But moving forward it sounds like they are looking for that eighth person. So I feel like they would be willing to help guide that eighth person coming into council. I think for a while I’d be falling behind, but I’m a quick learner so I think we’d get up to pace real quick and get working together.
Is there anything else you want to add?
If I do get in, if I am successful, I am looking forward to facing the challenges, to addressing the challenges we do have. I’m definitely not scared of it. I know there are some major fiscal problems, but I think I bring a lot to the table to help alleviate those issues and different ideas to bring in more income for the city.
