My Platform

For those of us who may not know what Strong Mayors powers is and how it affects you, I will provide the follow description.

Strong mayor powers are legislative tools granted to heads of municipal councils that shift traditional decision-making authority away from the full council and place it directly in the hands of the mayor. Primarily used to fast-track government priorities like housing and infrastructure, they give the mayor control over budgets, staffing, and vetoes.

Strong mayors powers being granted to 216 mayors across the province of Ontario has had a major negative effect on our democratic rights as citizens. Our individual voices have been silenced and our elected representatives can no longer fully represent their constituents. Some mayors have respected their councils, residents, and democracy by refusing to use these powers. In Springwater we have not enjoyed that leadership.

Strong Mayors powers is poorly thought out legislation and its execution in many municipalities including Springwater’s have been damaged by them – both in terms of blows to democracy and in terms of functionally worse decision-making and high costs.

A core example of this damage is the Mayor’s annexation of land to Barrie that happened last year. This event cost the Township likely hundreds of millions of dollars in lost potential revenue – even though the majority of Council voted against it. When one person’s agenda can force a change as large as this, we know there is a problem.

I encourage all voters to ask the candidates what their stance on Strong mayors powers is. My stance is strongly against. Your councilors’ stances on strong mayor powers will tell you whether they will stand up to overreach or go along with it.

There are recommendations in the Midhurst Secondary Plan (MSP) that current residents be forced to connect to the new sewer system. This will cost you tens of thousands of dollars to hookup plus an ongoing monthly sewage cost. The costly decommissioning and potential removal of existing septic systems would also fall on the residents. Councilor Hanna tabled a motion to eliminate that requirement however, it is still on the table for this coming term. I do not agree with costly mandatory sewer hook ups for existing residents.