Mike Zaradic

Public servants who are less visible to the public are often the ones making decisions that directly affect everyday life — permits, service delivery, regional planning. When we can't easily find out what decisions they're making, who they're answerable to, or what their record looks like, it's impossible to hold them accountable. What I can say is that the cost of living in this country has gotten worse while layers of public administration kept expanding. More officials, more offices, more consultants — and ordinary people still can't afford rent. Every person in public service needs to be able to explain what they've actually done for the people paying their salary.

Had to navigate building inspections for a home renovation and the wait times were genuinely painful. When you're coordinating contractors and materials, delays from slow inspection scheduling cost real money — and with construction costs so high right now, every day matters. The inspector was professional and thorough when he arrived, no complaints there. But at the senior level I'd expect more focus on improving the department's efficiency and reducing the backlog. Homeowners trying to do things by the book shouldn't have to fight the system to get it done.

Mike is a great inspector, he really knows what to look for. When he shows up at a jobsite, goes directly to what normally get missed or done incorrectly.