Your Questions
And my answers
People have been writing to me with thoughtful questions, by email and through this website. Here are some of them, with my answers. I have left out who asked. Some answers are shortened; nothing has been added.
Why I am running
Why are you running for council?
I’m running for LaSalle Town Council because I care deeply about our community and its future. After 30 years of running my own business, International Art Designs, in LaSalle, I know the importance of hard work, listening to people, making responsible financial decisions, and making every dollar count.
I want to bring fresh eyes, a business perspective, and common sense to council. I believe residents deserve to be heard, their hard-earned tax dollars respected, and their concerns taken seriously.
LaSalle is our home, and I want to help keep it a community we can all be proud of, today and for generations to come.
I’m not running to be a politician. I’m running to be a voice for the people of LaSalle.
What sets you apart?
What sets me apart is the 30 years of real-life business experience I bring to the table.
Running a retail business is not easy. I’ve faced the challenges of 9/11, the 2008 recession, COVID, and the growing competition from online retailers like Amazon. Through it all, I learned to adapt, make tough financial decisions, watch every dollar, and work hard to earn my customers’ trust.
But the most important lesson I’ve learned is that people want to be heard. My business was built on customer service, listening to people’s needs, respecting their budgets, and finding solutions that worked for them. I believe those same values belong at the council table.
I’m not saying I have all the answers, but I’m not afraid to ask questions, look closely at the numbers, or speak up when something doesn’t make sense.
LaSalle has supported me and my business. Now it’s my turn to give back to the community that has given me so much.
I’m not running for a title. I’m running to make a difference.
What is one promise voters can hold you to?
My one promise is that I will never forget who I work for — the residents of LaSalle.
I promise to listen to your concerns, ask the tough questions, and make decisions based on what is best for our community, not what is easiest or most popular.
I may not always be able to give everyone the answer they want, but I promise to be honest, approachable, and accountable. I will treat your hard-earned tax dollars with the same care and respect I would my own.
In business, I’ve learned that trust isn’t something you ask for — it’s something you earn through your actions.
Four years from now, I want residents to be able to say, “Ivana listened, she spoke up, and she never forgot who she was there to represent.”
Taxes and spending
What is the most important issue facing LaSalle?
I believe one of the biggest issues facing LaSalle is rising property taxes and the feeling among residents that their voices are not being heard.
After years of running my own business in LaSalle, I understand how hard people work for their money. Every dollar matters, especially for families and seniors trying to keep up with the rising cost of living.
I believe we need to take a closer look at where our tax dollars are going, find savings wherever possible without compromising essential services, and make decisions based on need, value, and affordability.
But just as importantly, I believe residents deserve a voice in how their money is spent. Before making major spending decisions, we need to listen to the people who will be paying for them.
LaSalle belongs to its residents, and I believe council should never forget who they work for.
What problem can Council actually solve, and what should be different four years from now?
Keeping LaSalle affordable while continuing to provide the services residents expect.
I don’t believe LaSalle has to choose between being a great community and being financially responsible. But we do have to recognize that every dollar the Town spends ultimately comes from somewhere.
If I’m elected, I want Council to ask: What are we spending? Why are we spending it? What are we getting for it? And is there a better way?
Four years from now, I would like residents to be able to say: “We can actually see that Council looked for savings. We can see where our money is going. And we didn’t sacrifice the services that matter.”
Should Council keep tax increases at or below the rate of inflation?
I cannot promise you a specific tax rate because one councillor cannot make that promise. Council makes those decisions together.
What I can promise is that I will look at every expense carefully, ask why we are spending it, look for efficiencies and question whether something is a need or a want.
I ran a business for 30 years. I had to watch every dollar because it was my money. Town money is also someone’s money. It comes from the taxpayers of LaSalle.
I want to do everything I can to keep tax increases low and manageable, without cutting the services people in our community rely on. Council showed us that it was possible in the 2026 budget: the original proposal was a 5.98% municipal tax increase, and they brought it down to 3.47%.
Would I love to see a 0% increase? Oh yes! I would need a “good team” to work with on that goal.
What would you be willing to cut, delay or spend less on?
I’m going to be honest: I don’t think a responsible candidate should walk into an election and randomly name a program to cut without first seeing all the numbers.
But I absolutely would be willing to say no to something if the numbers don’t make sense.
If something is a “nice to have” rather than a “need to have,” and we’re facing financial pressure, I believe it should be considered for postponement. I would look particularly closely at:
- new staffing positions;
- consulting and outside professional services;
- contracts and purchasing;
- discretionary projects;
- projects that can be phased rather than completed immediately;
- and expenditures where the Town cannot clearly demonstrate the value to taxpayers.
After 30 years in business, I know you don’t just accept the first price you’re given. You shop around. You negotiate. You look at quality. You look at the long-term cost.
I’m not interested in cutting services just to make a headline. I’m interested in finding waste, duplication, inefficiencies and expenditures that can be delayed without hurting residents.
When is the cheapest option not the best one?
Cheap isn’t always inexpensive.
If you buy something because it’s the cheapest option and it breaks down three times, you’ve probably spent more money than if you bought the better product in the first place. Municipal government is no different.
If we’re buying equipment, building infrastructure or making a major capital investment, I want to know the full cost over the life of that investment.
- What does it cost today?
- What will it cost to maintain?
- How long will it last?
- What will it cost to replace?
- What happens if we choose the cheaper option?
If spending more today genuinely saves taxpayers money over the long term, I can support spending more. But I want to see the evidence.
I don’t want to hear: “It’s more expensive, but it’s better.” I want to know: How much more? Better in what way? And what are taxpayers getting for the additional money?
When the Vollmer Centre’s debt is paid off, what should happen to that money?
When we talk about “kitchen table economics,” I believe the same principles we use in our own households should apply to the Town: needs come before wants, we need to know what we can afford, and every dollar should have a purpose.
I would not look at that money as an opportunity to simply spend more. I would first look at where taxpayers are under the greatest pressure and where the Town has the greatest need.
My first priority would be to examine whether some of those funds can be used to reduce pressure on the tax levy, while also putting an appropriate portion toward our long-term infrastructure and asset-management needs.
We know infrastructure is not going away. Roads, drainage, water, sewer systems, facilities and other assets require ongoing investment. I would rather see money planned responsibly for those needs than have taxpayers face larger increases later because we postponed necessary work.
How do you weigh big new projects against roads, drainage and other basics?
I am not against recreation, parks or community projects. They are part of what makes LaSalle a great place to live. But we have to distinguish between what we would like to have and what we need to have.
Before approving a major capital project, I would want Council to clearly understand:
- What is the total cost — not just the construction cost?
- What will it cost taxpayers to operate and maintain it every year?
- What grants or outside funding are available?
- Can development charges or other appropriate funding sources contribute?
- What infrastructure projects are currently waiting for funding?
- What happens to the tax levy if we proceed?
- What are the long-term costs 10, 20 and 30 years from now?
And very importantly, I believe residents need to be heard before we commit large amounts of their money to major projects.
After 30 years of running a business in LaSalle, I have learned that you cannot spend the same dollar twice.
My commitment is simple: protect essential services and infrastructure, challenge unnecessary spending, listen to residents, and carefully examine major projects before asking taxpayers to carry the cost.
Around LaSalle
Does the Vollmer Centre need a major expansion?
I truly value recreation. It matters for families, seniors, and the everyday life of our community. I’m not against improving Vollmer or investing in the spaces that bring people together.
But a major expansion that could cost $40 million is a big decision. Before we move forward, we need clear answers and, most importantly, your input!
What will it cost to build? What will it cost to operate each year? Are grants available? Are there other options? And what do residents actually want? And when?
A simple online questionnaire or a phone survey could help us hear from the community. The Town plans to bring detailed design and financial information to Council in 2027. Until we have the full picture, I believe we should take the time to listen carefully and make sure any investment is affordable without putting unnecessary pressure on property taxes.
I’m not here to tell people what they want to hear. I will listen, ask the right questions, look at the numbers honestly, and use my vote responsibly.
Front Road has had a lot of public investment, yet many properties sit empty. What is holding it back?
I think this is a very important question because we’ve already put significant public money into the Front Road area.
So my question would be: What is stopping private investors from taking the next step? I don’t want to guess. I want Council to ask the people who actually considered investing there. Was it:
- the cost of development?
- zoning?
- parking?
- approvals?
- servicing?
- taxes or development charges?
- uncertainty?
- lack of traffic?
- or simply that the business case doesn’t work?
Some of those things Council can influence. Some it cannot.
If there are municipal rules or processes making investment unnecessarily difficult, I want to know about them and see whether they can be changed.
My approach would be to stop guessing what investors want and start talking directly to investors. As a business owner, that’s how I would approach it.
Should LaSalle review how its police service is run, for example by working with Windsor Police or sharing dispatch?
I love our police — a service I will not give up lightly. They know our streets and our families. That local knowledge, the community connections, and the proactive, personal approach they bring are real strengths that matter in LaSalle.
At the same time, if the people of LaSalle want to review the operating structure — including options such as greater collaboration with Windsor Police or a shared dispatch model with another service — and if that review shows we can save substantially while still protecting the quality of service residents expect, then it is worth a careful, transparent look.
Any decision of this importance belongs with the people of LaSalle. The people must decide. I work for you.
Should LaSalle elect councillors by ward instead of at large?
I would want to hear from residents before deciding on this. There are reasonable arguments on both sides.
What matters most to me is that every resident feels heard and that councillors are accountable to the entire community. I don’t want someone in LaSalle to feel that their concerns don’t matter simply because they live in a different part of town.
Where do you stand on bike lanes and protected pedestrian crossings?
I believe pedestrian and cyclist safety are very important, especially for our children, seniors, and families who enjoy walking and biking throughout LaSalle.
I am certainly open to improving bike lanes and adding protected pedestrian crossings where they are needed. However, I also believe we need to look carefully at traffic patterns, safety concerns, costs, and how many residents would benefit.
I would also like to ask you which streets or intersections in LaSalle you feel are most in need of bike lanes or safer pedestrian crossings. I believe residents who use these roads every day can provide valuable insight into where improvements are most needed.
My approach is simple: safety first, listen to residents, prioritize needs, spend responsibly, and use common sense.
What would make LaSalle a place for people in their twenties?
I don’t want young people to grow up in LaSalle, leave because they can’t see a future here, and only come back years later when they have children.
I would want to be able to point to real changes. I would want to say: We made it easier to live here. That means looking at:
- different housing options;
- opportunities for young entrepreneurs and small businesses;
- better connections to employment;
- transportation;
- recreation and activities for young adults;
- places where people can actually meet and socialize;
- and creating reasons for young people to stay in the community.
LaSalle is currently developing a five-year Transit Master Plan, including examining how transit can better serve residents as the Town grows. That’s exactly the type of issue I think we need to keep looking at.
But I don’t want to sit in a Council chamber and guess what young people want. I want to ask them! And then I want to bring their answers back to Council.
Where do you think the current Council has got it wrong?
I don’t think it’s fair to sit here and say, “Council was wrong,” without knowing everything they knew when the decision was made. I’m not running to attack the people currently on Council.
But there is one assumption I would challenge: Just because something was planned or approved previously doesn’t mean we should automatically continue doing it.
Circumstances change. Costs change. Priorities change. And sometimes you have to stop and say: “Does this still make sense?”
I would also want major projects to come back to Council with updated costs and updated information when circumstances change.
Being willing to change your mind when the facts change isn’t weakness. It’s responsible decision-making.