2026 Municipal Election: Owen Sound Candidate Q + A

I am running for the office of the Mayor to directly deal with the drug Pandemic in Owen Sound!
It is my calling and mission God has given me.
It is a rescue and supportive mission that involves every age of our society. It is to “Save Lives” !!!
I especially desire to lift up and encourage our next generation. Setting an example by serving and listening to them!
It’s so important to celebrate them by reinforcing their positive steps in life.
Serving as Mayor (if elected) it will be a constant supportive role that I’ll play. Empowering the Youth to meet personal goals by supporting and encouraging them each step of their way!
I count this to be a Great Privilege.
My mandate is to “Save Lives”!

I have for over “24” years played an active role (behind the scenes) in municipal affairs. I have learned in an unorthodox way the inner workings of local government. Many may know me by the Strong Conviction and Service I have maintained in Owen Sound (since April of 2002).
I have also served in a number of capacities in leadership roles on P.T.A.’s. and school board committees in Africa.
….including: School Supervisor, Children’s Pastor, Evangelist, Consultant for the food industry (all in Kaduna, Nigeria).
I served in Nigeria on “9” distinct Missions and other West African Countries as well.
Locally, I have often visited and engaged with the local council on numerous issues of concern. I have also had the privilege to film local council meetings with community broadcasting. This has helped me greatly in understanding municipal affairs. Much of what I know today about local governance can be contributed to this outreach service.
I further have found drawing from local Councillors of their understanding of proper governance has improved my status as a local community servant.
There is Always something to learn in municipal affairs.

My Faith in Jesus and the reliance on His Holy Spirit is the key to greater understanding and wisdom in my life.
It is without a doubt many hard decisions brought before me (if elected) will be a reliance on my Saviour Jesus Christ. I believe Jesus’s teachings and the word of God serves us as a community (and in our lives) in a most positive way.
Decision making can and is mostly common sense, yet wisdom from on high brings lasting positive results.
So YES, practical governance is a gift and my movement on decisions will be (to the best of my ability) the wisdom from God’s Word the Bible.
Expecting that each decision will be to the best of All our residents and community.

In my overall platform, I address this issue by opting out of Grey County.
We don’t want to be micromanaged anymore.
We are to Stand Alone and become the Great City we were destined to be. Strong, Purposeful and Beautiful!
The 23% that is taken from our property taxes to Grey County contributes to about 17.5 million dollars. Money We will free up and give us more room for our concerns re: the cost of living.
But this is only the start!
A Major project in around 2029 will possibly bring the Greatest Economic Windfall for Owen Sound!
The Water Storage Facility in Meaford will be up to a “9” BILLION Dollar project.
This must be considered a project we as a city Must get behind, and I mean Now!
Hundreds of skilled and labour related jobs are but only the beginning…
To bring down our taxes and cost of living we must merge into an area we have not experienced before.
It’s a Win, Win, Win for us and for our future children’s children!
Support this project and it will Support You!

I believe the current tax rate in Owen Sound is in step with the overall Owen Sound budget. However, in my opinion water rates are extremely out of step.
I believe that our new water treatment facility should be subsidized by our Ontario government!
Relieving our residents with much lower water rates! Our water bills are Not appropriate and we as a city should have much lower rates. Which would help offset our current tax rate.

The # 1 issue facing Owen Sound is the drug pandemic!
We are facing a crisis this city has never seen!
My *soul* purpose in running is to deal with this issue head on!
If elected, I will redelegate the “Strong Mayor Power” back from the City Manager to the Mayor’s office.
I will then be able to amend/veto/create relevant bylaws that will be enforced. The new bylaws will support Police and also bring safety and protection to our residents.
…. furthering to align strategic measures I will be announcing soon!

A regional transit system first of all should be a seamless sustainable system. Able to connect with each town and village along the way. It is Now time to interconnect us together.
This regional system, I believe, is a gateway for Prosperity and Tourism at the same time!
To fund this endeavor, I also believe it should be a joint partnership(s) with every local area and be spearheaded by the Ontario and Federal governments.
We all together can make this a sustainable and ongoing privilege that we can all be proud of everyday!

I am confident that the New Water Storage Facility in Meaford will be the start of great prosperity for Owen Sound and this region.
It will be an Economic boom!
It will address our current infrastructure and service needs hands down!
This initiative is up to a “9” billion dollar project!
We as a city must Now Support and Proactively make viable concessions for our anticipated growth.
This is a catalyst for green energy and prosperity for our city. We must stretch out our tent pegs and be ready for major growth.
Owen Sound is soon to become One City with Meaford!

I believe to support housing supply we must amend current bylaws regarding zoning.
To effectively reign in higher costs we as a city should show the example by waving developmental charges.
This will start to invite developers to pass on their
windfall to the landowners. It starts with us as a municipality.
If we show that we as a city put first the people, we then as a city will benefit in many wonderful ways!
Let’s pay it Forward!

Again, in my overall platform We will Stand Alone!
We will withdraw from Grey County!
Being a 24 year veteran Outreach worker here and abroad it is these issues that interconnect us as a Spiritual problem.
Knowing that the first step for Us All is to acknowledge we as persons are created by God.
The holy scriptures give us pertinent answers to life and how we are to treat one another!
To Support and Love one another is the golden rule!
To actively change these challenges we must individually start with accepting we can’t do it ourselves!
Loving one another is the second step!
I have a number of strategic initiatives I am already delivering. …and more to follow.
My Mission is to “SAVE LIVES”!
Jeremiah 29:11

I have yet to have an answer to this question.
I will research this topic more in depth in the coming days.
Though not a great admirer of this technology.
I can honestly share that if we as a municipality stay connected and directed by God’s word we can never be led astray.
A.I. is already here!
My hope is in my heavenly Father not in artificial intelligence.

I am running for Mayor so I can ensure the fairness of quality to each resident of Owen Sound. To ensure that any changes that are needed will benefit Owen Sound residents.

I have a security background of twelve years and that experience has enabled me to make solid and fair decisions in a timely manner.

I have a security background of twelve years and that experience has enabled me to make solid and fair decisions in a timely manner.

It’s time to apply the Mayoral veto power if it means making decisions that will advance growth and development.

The candidate did not submit a direct response to this question.

In my opinion, it’s a combination of safety and the homeless issue. We can’t fix the one, without fixing the other.

We will lobby intergovernmental grants, service reviews and definitely conduct annual department audits.

First I would see a possibility of a public vote and hear the concerns of the residents.

As Mayor, I will offer incentives to potential landlords and new builds that offer below market rents.

The candidate did not submit a direct response to this question.

Review power grid. Assess our water supply.

Over the last 8 years as a City Councillor I have seen our City change. I hear the concerns of our community. I am running because I want to see greater vitality and civic pride in this place we call home, Owen Sound! This means:

• getting back to the basics by providing essential and core municipal services when and where they are needed.
• building stronger connections between City Hall and the public. This means practising and expecting civility in meaningful communication.
• using a whole community approach to the complex issues of the homelessness, addictions and mental illness, housing and affordability.
• providing a transit service that meets the needs of current and future residents.
• actively supporting local businesses and attracting new businesses and entrepreneurs by addressing the issues of cleanliness and safety in the downtown area.

I first ran for Council because I had concerns for the safety of our children, those with disabilities and those who were on the margin. I continue to approach these concerns with energy, enthusiasm and determination. I am experienced, connected, committed and ready to serve.

My career has included leadership and management positions in the public and private health care sector. I have had operational responsibility across multiple departments and various geographic locations. The skills I have gained through my work experience that I apply to municipal governance include effective communication, budget oversight and financial and project planning. I have collaborated with various community and business partners, built high performance teams, and ensured compliance with legal statutes and regulations.

I understand the distinction between the governance role and operational municipal activities. I have served on the Grey Bruce Poverty Task Force, the Owen Sound Police Services Board, the Owen Sound Municipal Non Profit Housing Corporation and Owen Sound Housing Company Boards. I have been a member and participant in the Institute of Southern Georgian Bay Affordable Housing and Finance Working groups and the Owen Sound RentSafe Collaborative. I have been a planning team member in multi agency, cross sector and community conferences. All of these activities have given me experiences and skills that apply to municipal governance.

Effective decisions rely on information, establishing clear outcomes and evaluation of results obtained. I have evaluated project proposals and case models to determine if the return on investment is worth the expenditure. I have participated in operational service reviews optimizing staffing resources within budgets to deliver programs and projects in small and larger organizations.

I have training and experience in human resource management, labour contract negotiations, policy and procedure development, legislation relating to privacy of information and record keeping requirements. As a Councillor I have engaged in effective decision making including the City’s annual capital and operational budget review, multi year capital planning and asset management processes.

Owen Sound can address cost of living and affordability pressures by:

• tax stabilization and limiting property tax increases through operational efficiencies.
• seeking cost savings through a regional waste management system
• reviewing costing and allocation of bag tags for households
• implementing transit fares with family rates and for children under the age of 12
• reviewing current fees and charges structures and options for subsidies
• using municipal tools such as building permit fee forgiveness, waiving development fee charges for the new or retrofit builds supplying deeply affordable housing, repurpose underutilized city facilities to support non profit and support service agencies for housing for at risk and marginalized populations.
• adding our voice along with the Grey Bruce Poverty Task Force and Public Health Grey Bruce advocating that the higher levels of government increase Social Assistance rates for Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program.

Our residential taxes are higher than is financially comfortable for many in our community. We need to stabilize the tax rate and work towards operational efficiencies focussing on core and essential services that meet the needs of our residents.

We have a significant funding gap for the care and upkeep of our current facilities. Buildings and equipment will need repair and rehabilitation over the next few years. We have capital equipment needs that are currently not funded. Getting back to the basics to determine what our tax base can afford to sustain is a first step. We can repurpose facilities and surplus housing through the newly formed Community Development Corporation for Local Housing for affordable housing. There is potential tax base broadening as a result of new building constructions underway. When these new builds are occupied, additional revenue will be realized by an expansion of the tax base.

A regional approach and shared resources for certain municipal administrative functions and services may create efficiencies through economies of scale to assist in stabilizing the tax rate.

Growing concerns related to homelessness, addictions, mental illness, cleanliness and safety throughout our neighbourhoods is resulting in a loss of civic pride.

A regional integrated transit system is a key economic driver for the city. It will support future business investment and improve local access to jobs, health care and employment opportunities. A regionally connected system based on a shared funding model across all levels of government plus grant funding reduces the economic burden of car ownership and supports the environment by reducing carbon emissions with less vehicles on the roads. This system also needs to incorporate local transportation providers. A provincial review of the regulations relating to ridesharing services will guide future ability of taxis and rideshare to work across all four counties and reduce barriers to accessing services.

A financial needs analysis of capital and facilities requirements is essential. We have an unfunded capital and infrastructure requirement of $ 37.2 million and a facilities condition assessment indicating $31 Million is required over the next 5 years to keep city buildings in a state of good repair.

Our city faces an affordability crisis. As a priority, an organizational structure review process using a working group model, with public representation, is required. We need to review our current reserve funds and policies to determine if changes and reallocations within the categories will assist in decreasing the debt load on our municipality.

Regional purchasing and shared project costing for major expenditures like waste management, road resurfacing and paving and winter maintenance has potential for cost savings through economy of scale. Entering shared service agreements for corporate functions like payroll administration, human resources recruitment and orientation scheduling have potential advantages for cost reduction.

Housing and rental availability and affordability are strong economic drivers for growth and development in our city. Municipalities have various tools they can use to increase the housing supply.
I have learned that a community wealth strategy where we lend, spend, and invest locally involving a whole community approach creates a significant return on investment. Municipalities must apply a “housing first” policy to expedite approvals, building permit fee forgiveness and development fee waiver for affordable housing builds and renovations to existing building stock. Municipally owned surplus lands and facilities could be repurposed for affordable housing and rental units. These options can be explored through the Community Development Corporation for Local Housing under the umbrella of the Community Foundation Grey Bruce.

We can utilize the experience and knowledge of our local non profit housing developers along with their networks to ensure that affordability is factored into building units that are a combination of affordable, rent geared to income and market rates.

We can expand the Community Improvement Plan. We can consider Community Bonds to support affordable housing incentives to construct units and pass this affordability onto households in low to moderate income ranges.

Yes. Owen Sound can:

• prioritize projects and housing approvals that support a Housing First with wrap around services approach.
• engage as a member of the Community Wellbeing and Safety Action Tables and support local action forums with current service providers, agencies and those with lived experiences.
• add public bathroom facility availability and hours of operation to 24/7 to ensure the sanitation of our streets and sidewalks.
• increase the number of safe disposal units for syringes and drug paraphernalia in the downtown area to protect all residents in public areas.
• provide garbage cans in areas where people gather to encourage appropriate disposal.
• add our voice to encourage provincial funding to resume the Neighbourhood Response Team and support neighbourhood watch groups.
• speed up the by-law review of the encampment and outdoor sleeping protocol using a human rights lens.
• consider a tax reduction option for those businesses willing to offer amenities like bathroom access to the unhoused.
• consider an amnesty locker facility for the storage of personal belongings without fear of threat
• work with local support agencies on additional best practices, strategies and incentives they recommend.

Municipalities must:
• evaluate the potential use and risks in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in relation to their specific municipal functions and capacity.
• establish clear corporate AI policies to mandate human approval for financial and legal decisions, with an audit process for compliance.
• establish protocols to protect public data privacy, cybersecurity and prevent algorithmic bias
• review zoning allowances for massive data centre builds and ensure that liability coverage is in place for unanticipated breaches.
• evaluate that if becoming an AI data centre is a business opportunity, would there be financial benefits and enhanced economic development
• have a clear understanding of the climate and environmental impact of data centres.
• consult with the Indigenous community around resource demands such as water and power associated with any new AI data center developments.

I am passionate about the City of Owen Sound, and believe in giving back.

As a news reporter I covered Owen Sound city council for 13 years, and learned a lot about municipal governance watching Ovid Jackson, Stew Taylor and their city councils.

With the exception of one three-year term, I have been on the board of the Owen Sound and North Grey Union Public Library, for most of those years as chair. I was a city councillor from 2014-2022, and sat on all of the city’s standing committees, as well as chairing the Economic Development, Tourism and Culture Committee; I also chaired the Tom Thomson Art Gallery Advisory Committee. I was a member of the board of the Owen Sound Hospital Foundation for many years, and led the citizen group which saved the Owen Sound Marine and Rail Museum, forming the first board of the Community Waterfront Heritage Centre.

I listen before I speak, I am decisive and have 40 years’ experience at City Hall.

The best thing the municipality can do to address affordability is to build assessment so that property taxes can be lowered.

Like all taxpayers in Owen Sound, I’d like property taxes to be lower. Realistically, there are only two ways to make that happen: service cuts, and assessment growth. I believe that reviews of city services to look for saving should be ongoing.

One of the most successful ways this occurred in the past was through the OSCARS (Owen Sound Can Achieve Real Savings) program, which gave front line city staff an opportunity to suggest areas for savings. I’d like to see this program brought back.

In terms of assessment growth, this is something we know how to do. In 2015, I proposed a development charge holiday which doubled the amount of new home construction in Owen Sound during the following three years. This created half a million dollars of tax revenue which was permanently added to our tax base. We need to work harder to attract new assessment, which is why I’m proposing bring back an Economic Development position to the city administration. In 2016, we gave this responsibility to Grey County. While they have done an excellent job, they also serve nine municipalities. I think it’s time for the City of Owen Sound to start working harder on its own behalf.

The Downtown River District is the number one issue facing the city. This area of the city is facing a serious and persistent crisis involving homelessness, addiction, public drug use, disorder and crime. Businesses and residents are suffering, and people are increasingly reluctant to come downtown.

I believe addressing these problems must be one of the mayor’s highest priorities, and I will take responsibility for bringing the people and organizations involved together to find solutions.

Owen Sound has responded to homelessness and addiction with compassion and significant community effort. I applaud the organizations and individuals doing this difficult work, and we must continue to support effective programs. But compassion cannot come at the expense of the safety, livelihoods and quality of life of residents and businesses in the Downtown River District.

The purpose of transit is to connect people and places, and a good transit system must do that, or it will not work for users. I think a regional system should be made up of set transit routes with standardised operating hours, supplemented by public/private partnerships with rideshare companies to fill in the gaps. User would pay a nominal transit fee, with the system funded by the four upper tier municipalities and the Province of Ontario.

Aside from cutting services, the chief way for the municipality to address taxes is through assessment growth. Without new assessment entering the tax roll, the same small taxpayer base has to finance any levy increases. As I mentioned in question 5, I’d like to use development charges as a tool to attract investment. A targeted growth development charge will allow us to attract the type of investment we need.

Several Ontario municipalities area already working in this area, forming private/public partnership with builders to create affordable housing. In Saugeen Shores the ‘affordable’ threshold is $400,000. I think we have to do better in Owen
Sound. I propose bringing together local builders and not-for-profits to see whether we can create a made in Owen Sound solution utilizing surplus city lands.

I created a 10-point Safe River District Strategy to restore safety, cleanliness, and confidence in downtown Owen Sound while guaranteeing vulnerable people get the help they need.

I will ask council to create a coordinated River District Action Team that brings together the city, Grey County, police, health care providers, and social service agencies to solve problems together rather than work independently.

Key measures in my plan include rapid-response downtown cleanup, consistent enforcement of public behaviour standards, expanded neighbourhood outreach, and Good Neighbour Agreements that require service providers to manage their impact on surrounding businesses and residents. The plan also proposes exploring appropriate licensing standards for shelters and service facilities.

Long-term solutions include reducing the concentration of social services in the downtown and accelerating affordable and supportive housing. Downtown businesses and residents will have a formal voice, while a publicly accessible dashboard will measure progress on safety, homelessness, policing, housing and neighbourhood conditions.

During my first 120 days as Mayor, I will bring key partners together, identify service gaps, establish performance measures and seek Council approval to begin implementing the strategy.

My objective is not to abandon compassion. It is to restore balance.

I’m not sure this is something the city will have to deal with during my time as Mayor, but there are resources available to municipalities now, including the Province of Ontario’s Data Centre Playbook. Our province is attractive to Data Centres because we have electrical capacity, land, a cool climate and a skilled workforce. For our municipality, first steps would be to update our zoning by-laws to define where a data centre could locate and evaluate our infrastructure to see whether we could event accommodate a data centre.

I’m Andrii Zvorygin, and I’m running for Mayor because I want my children and every Owen Sound family to have a safe, affordable, and vibrant future. That means homes people can afford, useful local work, and reasonable property taxes. My plan begins with a 2027 City budget more than a quarter million below 2026 while maintaining and improving services.

By attending and participating in Owen Sound and Grey County Council, I saw the need for leaders who understand resource limits, know the cost behind proposals, and explain what they can do within their authority. The Mayor leads Owen Sound Council, represents Owen Sound at Grey County, and advocates to provincial and federal governments. I bring preparation for each responsibility, along with two profitable businesses, treasurer experience, practical housing and safety plans, and HelpOS.ca so residents can follow public work.

I am offering myself for public service so residents can work with me openly to build a more affordable, safer, and more opportunity-filled Owen Sound.

I have attended and participated in Owen Sound and Grey County Council, spoken with municipal leaders and staff, met with provincial and federal representatives about local needs, and built HelpOS.ca so residents can follow public work.

I run two profitable businesses. LiberIT helps people with computers, and Lyis Forestry is a farm that helps with food security. As a treasurer, I help with budgets, records, purchasing, cash flow, and accountability. I have interviewed urban planners and regularly meet scientists and engineers to help with education and understand the forces shaping local life.

That combination applies directly to municipal governance. Council requires careful decisions, administration requires clear systems, and public trust requires understandable records. My work gives me experience with each part, while my local participation keeps the work connected to Owen Sound residents and Grey County communities.

I make decisions by listening to affected residents, checking evidence, confirming authority, and measuring results. That process gives residents a clear reason for each choice and a way to improve it when new information appears.

As Mayor, I will use that approach for the budget, City services, and Council communication. I have applied it while building two profitable businesses, serving as a treasurer, researching municipal records, and developing a platform from resident concerns. HelpOS.ca shows how public information can become easier to follow.

I will set a baseline and ask staff for complete financial records showing costs and results. Residents can add local knowledge through a Public Council Forum and bounded written deliberation. A public Savings Ledger can show each verified saving, service result, and tax effect.

Residents deserve clear choices and an accountable result. That is how sound choices can build trust and improve daily life.

Owen Sound can lower the local costs it controls while helping residents find stable homes, reliable services, and useful local work. As Mayor, I will replace costly software with simpler tools, streamline repeated office work with clearer workflows, and improve purchasing. Residents can help identify where the same work is repeated or where a lower-cost method can deliver the same result.

I will support free food delivery to struggling seniors through an OSHaRE partnership. I will return vacant homes to use, support affordable construction, and keep transit reliable within the existing service base before expanding it when recurring funding is available.

At Grey County, I will propose Affordable Rural Communities: a warm resident-owned home with productive land for about $700 a month. Local production and procurement can keep more spending and jobs in Grey-Bruce. The result is lower tax pressure, more housing choices, and a stronger local economy.

The current tax burden is too high for the incomes of many Owen Sound households, and the City needs a new direction. Over the last twelve years, property taxes rose more than twice as fast as incomes. High taxes squeeze seniors on fixed incomes, push rents upward, and make it harder for businesses to find workers at available wages. Families have less to spend locally, weakening the economy and deepening housing pressure.

My draft 2027 City budget is more than a quarter million below the 2026 budget while maintaining and improving services. As Mayor, I will personally prepare and propose the budget, direct staff to provide the records needed to understand spending, and invite residents to help identify savings.

The review will connect each service to its full cost, purpose, demand, and result. Modern software can simplify administration and reduce recurring costs. A verified saving will show its former cost, what implementation requires, and its service and levy effect.

Residents deserve property taxes that reflect what local incomes can support. With clear information and practical choices, Owen Sound can lower tax pressure, care for essential services, and build confidence in the future.

The top issue is affordability because it connects household stability with downtown conditions. Homes people can afford support stable residents, workers, customers, and local businesses downtown. Returning vacant homes to use, supporting affordable construction, and creating useful local work can strengthen both housing security and the downtown environment. My plan also lowers tax pressure and improves safety through practical neighbourhood cooperation.

Affordability also requires a lower-cost City government. As Mayor, I will use complete financial records and resident input to identify savings, publish the service result, and connect downtown conditions with stable housing, reliable services, and local work.

The City can return vacant homes to use, support affordable construction, improve transit reliability, and help local businesses produce more of what residents already buy. At Grey County Council, I will propose Affordable Rural Communities so families can create warm resident-owned homes with productive land for about $700 a month under the current rounded planning model.

When people can afford to stay, participate, and contribute, the whole city becomes safer, more hopeful, and stronger.

Residents need dependable access to jobs, health care, and education. Grey County is designing a common network and governance structure; as Mayor, I will advocate for a fixed-route backbone with on-demand feeders. Final routes, service levels, fares, governance, and municipal cost shares remain under review.

Fixed buses can connect Owen Sound with Wiarton, Guelph, Orangeville, and other destinations. Smaller accessible vehicles can connect neighbourhoods, seniors, workers, and lower-density areas to terminals or limited stops. Owen Sound’s central bus stop and library can take phone or in-person reservations. Evening and Sunday trips can use on-demand vehicles when demand is lower. Mobility Transit should receive equivalent service through integrated booking and dispatch.

Partners should create one passenger experience with shared booking, fares, transfers, and real-time information where the agreement permits. The design should guarantee booking windows and maximum waits, publish cost per trip and passenger, report performance, and separate City-funded local service from Owen Sound’s regional share. I have costed this hybrid approach. Owen Sound should pay only for regional service its residents receive. I will seek resident feedback and bring the agreement to Council. Residents can use a dependable network that grows with evidence.

Owen Sound can maintain services and infrastructure by showing each service’s full cost, protecting essential work, and choosing reliable construction and maintenance methods. The Asset Management Plan shows that stormwater needs close to ten times current funding, while overall needs are close to three times current funding. That gap makes savings, careful timing, and better use of existing infrastructure essential.

As Mayor, I will prepare and propose the budget, provide complete financial records, and work with residents to identify waste, needed work, and better options. Periodic zero-based reviews will connect each service to its purpose, cost, and result. Residents can help identify priorities and efficiencies.

Preventative maintenance can extend asset life and make better use of existing infrastructure. Right-sized missing-middle construction for its use can avoid expensive overbuilding and reduce pressure to expand roads and services before demand requires it. For roads, I will publish repair priorities, asset risks, debt, and rate effects. For wastewater, I will prioritize inflow and infiltration investigations, sewer separation, contamination tracing, and prompt incident reporting. A verified saving must show its service effect and its dollar value.

That approach keeps infrastructure sound, gives residents clearer choices, and directs money toward daily needs.

Owen Sound can add homes by using existing buildings, making affordable construction easier, and moving stalled projects through clear steps. Higher-priced units are under construction while many households seek attainable homes they can afford and choose to rent. The City can offer time-limited incentives for projects that deliver affordable units, with the benefit tied to delivery and returning to the tax bill when delivery falls short.

Market housing can add homes, assessment, and revenue while affordable projects receive a clear reason to proceed. The City can return vacant homes to use, give tenants clear information, and allow townhomes and multiplexes alongside market and affordable homes.

At Grey County Council, I will propose a framework for families to finance resident-owned homes on securely leased productive land, with a warm home and land possible for about $700 a month. Surplus lots and brownfield sites can add homes while parks are for residents.

Yes. My plan improves downtown conditions through practical help, housing support, safer neighbourhood cooperation, and a voluntary path toward stability. Grey County leads important housing and social services, while the City can coordinate public spaces, local pilots, and neighbourhood participation.

My draft 2027 City budget funds trained civilian follow-up and free meals for struggling seniors and people living unsheltered on the outskirts. Civilian responders can handle lower-risk calls with optional police backup, so police can focus on serious crimes like theft and drug dealing. A vacant-home tax can return empty homes to use and put downward pressure on rent prices.

Local Representatives can help neighbours meet, organize watches, and coordinate signs and cameras, then bring concerns to their councillor. At Grey County Council, I will advance Affordable Rural Communities and voluntary rural recovery with meaningful work, stable homes, and life-skills support.

Residents deserve clean public spaces, practical help, and a path toward belonging. Good service can care for people while helping downtown families, workers, businesses, and visitors use the area comfortably together.

Residents are more likely to benefit from small local computer systems; as Mayor, I will focus preparation there because large data centres are very unlikely in Owen Sound or nearby. Large computers once filled rooms and served big institutions. Personal computers later made computing smaller and local. Today’s giant data-centre boom is drawing to a close; only 40% of announced projects are being built. If a major proposal came forward, I would evaluate it only after clear resident demand and public review of its power, water, roads, wastewater, environmental, and emergency effects.

The more likely opportunity is a few local server racks in City or County Hall, the Police Service, libraries, and educational facilities. Computers capable of running modern software can use a couple hundred watts. They could process local information privately and reliably, support staff, improve training, and create local maintenance and technical jobs.

As Mayor, I will compare resident demand, privacy, security, energy use, cost, and results. This approach gives Owen Sound useful local information processing, stronger skills, better services, and jobs that grow from community needs. Residents can see the results and build confidence in a practical local software future.

I placed my nomination to again run for Council to represent residents in a personable and responsive way supporting the allocation of resources to fund services in the community that we can afford and not beyond what the community can afford.

I grew up near Keady in an environment of volunteering for the community in different ways. While owning a business in downtown Owen Sound for twenty years I have continued in the past contributing to the community coaching minor hockey, softball and organizing the local Terry Fox run for ten years. I bring my business perspective to the role in municipal governance. Interestingly, I find that my experience in the past as a fastball umpire assists in the role. At times, the catcher is happy with the call and the batter is angry and at other times it is vice versa. But the fact remains you make a decision on the best information available at the time. My history on Council demonstrates that I am not afraid to act as a decision maker and that I look to attain the best information for Council to inform the decision.

Largely answered above. I will add that I think that I am approachable for the residents to come to with concerns and that I respond with staff to those concerns. With my business perspective I advocate for organizational systems that assist with creating operating efficiencies or utilizing time for everyone in effective ways. Meetings for the sake of having meetings is not effective or a good use of well paid resources

A significant amount of cost of living concerns is resultant from federal policy choices leaving residents looking to municipal officials for solutions of which there are few when it is property taxes left to fund service provision. Council does not control the value of the currency impacting importation of food, automobiles, immigration policy and its’ resultant impact on housing prices or taxes contained within fuel prices. Council does have the ability to reduce the impacts of cost of living through unnecessary expenditures that drive up taxes or some charges such as water rates. I have historically opposed development charges for purpose built rentals and supported delayed D.C. payments until occupancy to assist with reducing costs integrated into the cost of units for rent. With the apartment growth being realized the city must embark on evaluating our existing transit routes and services. I have always supported transit as walking, cycling or riding transit to work can be financially beneficial for residents. The last Council also implemented the green bin program drawing from reserve over several years to minimize the immediate tax impact of the program. As a positive environmental initiative the service allows residents to save on bag tags through a reduction in garbage.

The current residential tax rate is $1520 of municipal tax per $100,000 of assessment. That is too high and a number I reiterate to colleagues around the table during spending discussions. As a comparison I believe Orangeville is approximately 36% and Collingwood 47% less than our residential tax rates. Those are staggering differences and reinforce the need for the next Council to embark on ensuring every city service continues to be evaluated for maximizing service provision in more financially sustainable means. It is necessary to pursue sustainable growth to yield more assessment to share the costs of service provision across the city.

Enhancing housing options of all types. We need greater supply and competition in the market to assist in lowering rents.

A regional transit service should not be funded by the residential property tax base.

Ideas such as restructuring our transit to a 45 minute service with three routes opposed to the four route 30 minute service which struggles to maintain on schedule may allow for potential savings and/or possibly adding a one or two route service beyond 6 pm at night are worth discussion because it is trying to reallocate existing funds and resources to address potential need without simply increasing taxes.

The previous Council increased density through less restrictive height limits. Council can continue to work towards reducing or removing fees and unnecessary studies for development as well as assisting with the provision of land where possible. The recent donation of land to Owen Sound Housing for development exemplifies this.
Council must continue to work on economic development initiatives to assist in locating jobs here.

I support the police arresting for open drug use which is what many residents are concerned with. Council does not have the authority to arrest individuals nor remove individuals against their will when some citizens are on lists indicating service restrictions to them from social service providers. The city will continue to work with Owen Sound Housing company and other housing partners identifying land opportunities where possible for targeted affordable living opportunities. Some locations such as the soon to open Rockview apartments operated by Grey County and staffed by CMHA demonstrate the continued development of housing with supports which is a critical first step in the housing continuum.

I don’t support utilizing valuable serviced employment lands and sacrificing water and waste water capacity for this type of development. Those expensive to create and replace assets need to be protected for development that provides jobs and allows for growth. Expansive development with low job yields such as this is something I think Grey County should target to place in areas where primary services do not exist. This is very similar to mini storage locations which may be best suited in areas such as Springmount adding to that municipal tax base but not sacrificing expensive to service employment lands.when extensive water and waste water services are not potentially required in a significant way.

I really love my new city and I want to see it reach its potential. This means addressing some significant challenges as well as creating an environment for new businesses to grow and thrive to keep young people and families in our community.

I have spent almost 40 years in the private sector working with all levels of government at the political and civil service levels to achieve results for Canada’s auto sector. I have a good understanding of how government works, as well as the importance and power of collaboration and consensus-building. I have also learned that it is equally import to identify practical solutions as it is to identify problems.

For the last 20 years I have run an industry association with 16 members representing Canada’s leading automakers. Leading an organization like that required communication skills and consensus-building skills to settle on both priorities and policy direction. I think being an effective decision maker on council requires those same skills. A single councillor cannot make an decision without the support and collaboration of others.

This is a top of mind issue for all citizens. The municipal taxes we all pay are the main area where cost of living concerns can be addressed. We need to be judicious about how we spend the funds put into our trust and it seems that many are concerned with how their tax dollars are being spent. We need to strive for efficiencies wherever we can find them in the budget and ensure that proper cost/benefit analysis is undertaken for any new projects. I also do not believe that you can cut your way to prosperity. Capital projects for instance, only end up costing more if you do them later rather that preventatively today.

I would say that in comparison with surrounding communities our tax rates are higher… with citizens questioning why that is the case. Three budget buckets: Fire , Police and public transit make up significant chunk of the budget. So while I have nothing against our police force, I think an apples to apples costing for the OPP to provide services is appropriate to determine if there are savings that could be realized.
With respect to public transit I do not believe the service we have is meeting the needs of the people. With a regional hospital and a vision to promote Owen Sound as a retirement community we need a system that is essentially “on demand” so people can get to appointments and where they need to go efficiently. I am aware of a micro-transit provider that is operating with success in Brampton and West Gwillimbury as a turn key system withe their own wheelchair accessible electric vehicles . I would support council looking into this alternative model

Homelessness. Followed closely by open drug use in the downtown core. It is not good enough to say that other communities have the same issue, we need to figure out how to reduce both. I do not have the answers but I know the Mayor of St. Thomas and have spoken at length with him about what they did to significantly reduce their homeless numbers and eradicate tent cities. I think the same solutions could apply to Owen Sound and I know Mayor Preston would be very happy to make representation before city council to assist us. Unless we compassionately address the homeless and drug issues it will be difficult to restore business to the downtown core and to attract more tourists to Owen Sound

I think the regional transit system needs to be looked at through the lens of demand and competing fiscal priorities for Owen Sound. If we are to move a head with such a system then funding needs to be e fair and equitable amongst the counties so that you don’t have one county subsidizing another.

The only real solution in this regard is to grow the tax base. That is not to say that municipal services should not be assessed for relevance and cost effectiveness but it seems to me that the long term solution is to grow the tax base which means attracting more business and more families and more development to Owen Sound. Those things are difficult to do give. The current state of our downtown – which needs to be our first priority

We should be investigating – if we are not already doing so – all potential sources of provincial and federal assistance as well as reducing the friction for developers looking to build housing. This may include things like reducing or eliminating development charges and creating a one-stop shop for expedited permitting and approvals.

First the homeless need to be recognized as people with names, families and individual histories I think that is the first step. St. Thomas has done a good job in this regard by establishing a by-name list of all homeless, what their background is and any additional challenges they may be dealing with and sharing that list around to all social service agencies.
I don’t think anyone chooses to be homeless so it is important to provide the homeless with a place to go that provides more then just a bed but also services to assist them in securing a job and providing a road map out of their current situation.
It might be a little Pollyanna-ish but is there a way for other community members to take on a mentor/friend role for a homeless person in the sense of being a resource for them to to talk to for support etc. not monetary support

Start now! While the merits of AI and whether it will ultimately be good for us are still being sorted out, if we want to position our city as a hub for a data centre then we should be working now to make Owen Sound as attractive as possible by ensuring we have serviced tracts of commercial land that the city owns to make the decision easy. This would apply to attracting any new industry or business to Owen Sound – do we have large tracts of serviced land that we can put on the table as a key chip to attract new investment and make the decision that much easier for prospective investors

I am running because I believe Owen Sound residents are paying a lot in property taxes and deserve good value and reliable services in return.

During this campaign, I have tried to reach homes across Owen Sound and speak directly with residents. That experience has reinforced something for me ,we need a better system for connecting residents with Council.

I support geographic responsibility for councillors so residents have a clear primary point of contact for their area. If that councillor does not respond or resolve the concern, residents should still be free to contact any other member of Council. The purpose is accountability and accessibility, not limiting residents’ access to Council.

I also want more working people to participate in Council and committee meetings. Public meetings should generally be scheduled after supper or outside normal working hours. City staffing schedules could be adjusted , take a late start ,when necessary rather than expecting residents to repeatedly miss work to participate.

I am running to listen, ask questions and make informed decisions—not make promises I cannot guarantee.

I currently work for Canada Post and serve as Vice President of CUPW Local 582. That role involves representing people, listening to different viewpoints, reviewing policies and agreements, resolving problems and working with both employees and management.

Before Canada Post, I worked as an Operations Manager, Product Manager and in various management roles in retail and wholesale industries. I have a Bachelor of Technology in Textile Technology and have held Canadian licences in mutual funds and life insurance.

These experiences taught me that good decisions require more than good intentions. You need to understand the numbers, listen to the people affected, ask difficult questions and consider long-term consequences.

Municipal government is also about teamwork. I may disagree with another councillor on one issue and work closely with that same councillor on the next.

I don’t begin with the assumption that I already know the answer.

An effective councillor should listen to residents, obtain reliable information, examine costs and alternatives, ask questions and then make a decision. But the process should not end there. We should measure the results of major decisions, determine whether they are achieving what was intended, and make changes when something isn’t working.

My experience trying to reach homes across Owen Sound during this campaign has also shown me the value of accountability.

I support assigning councillors geographic areas of primary responsibility. Residents would have a clear councillor responsible for following up, while remaining free to approach any councillor.

I also want Council to hear from people who cannot participate during normal working hours. Committee and public meeting schedules should make participation practical for working residents.

Finally, councillors should explain their votes. Residents may disagree with my decision, but they deserve to know why I made it.

Municipal government cannot control grocery prices, interest rates or many other household expenses, but it can influence some important costs.

Property taxes, water and wastewater charges, transit, recreation fees and housing-related municipal policies all affect household budgets.

Before asking residents for more money, Council should examine programs, procurement, staffing structures, contracts and other expenditures for efficiencies while protecting essential frontline services.

We should also look carefully at outside consulting costs. Before outsourcing work, the City should determine whether the expertise already exists among staff or whether experienced local or retired professionals could contribute where appropriate. Consultants will sometimes be necessary, but there should be a clear need and value for taxpayers.

The City can also review development processes and fees affecting housing costs. Reliable and affordable transit can reduce transportation costs while improving access to employment, education and services.

Every municipal spending decision should ask: are taxpayers receiving good value for their money?

Property taxes are one of the concerns I hear most often while speaking with residents.

My position is that Owen Sound residents need relief. I support working toward a two-year municipal property-tax freeze while Council conducts a serious review of spending, priorities and service delivery.

A freeze cannot simply mean ignoring inflation or cutting essential services. It means challenging ourselves to find efficiencies, review how programs are delivered, examine management and administrative costs, improve procurement and make better long-term decisions.

I would ask departments to identify potential savings and efficiencies and clearly explain the consequences of each option to Council.

There will always be infrastructure and services that must be funded. My concern is making sure we have exhausted reasonable opportunities to control costs before asking residents to pay more.

Affordability, because so many of our other challenges are connected to it.

When housing, property taxes, utilities, food and transportation become increasingly difficult to afford, families have less room in their budgets and vulnerable people can be pushed closer to housing instability or homelessness. Financial stress can also contribute to mental-health pressures.

Homelessness, mental health, addiction and affordability are complex issues, and none has a single cause or solution. But if we improve affordability and housing stability, we can reduce some of the pressures contributing to these problems.

That means controlling municipal costs we can influence, increasing housing options, improving practical and affordable transportation, and creating conditions for employment and economic growth.

Affordability also cannot become an excuse to neglect infrastructure, public safety or essential services.

The challenge isn’t simply spending less. It is getting better value from what we spend and measuring whether our decisions are actually improving people’s lives.

I support practical regional transit connecting people with employment, healthcare, education and neighbouring communities.

Owen Sound should be an important regional hub, with useful connections to communities such as Wiarton, Sauble Beach, Collingwood and Guelph, while connecting with other transportation networks.

Routes, frequency and schedules should be based on how people actually travel, with ridership and results regularly measured. A regional system can also create stable local employment.

Funding should be shared fairly among participating municipalities and counties, while pursuing provincial and federal funding.

I would also approach school boards and other institutions about partnerships. For example, if students could receive transit passes and the system could help meet some transportation needs, we should examine whether costs could be shared.

Fare revenue should contribute, but fares need to remain affordable enough that people actually use the service.

Regional cooperation can provide better transportation without every municipality trying to operate an isolated system.

Start by determining what we need, what we already have and where the money is going.

I support a systematic review of municipal programs and expenditures, procurement, management structures, contracts and service delivery. Departments should identify potential efficiencies along with the consequences of each option.

We also need long-term infrastructure planning. Deferring necessary maintenance can make something appear cheaper today while leaving taxpayers with a much larger bill later.

Council should distinguish between essential infrastructure, desirable projects and projects that can reasonably wait.

I support clearer public reporting so residents can see major projects, debt, costs, progress and whether expected results were achieved.

The goal should not simply be cutting spending. It should be delivering services efficiently, protecting essential frontline services and ensuring every tax dollar produces as much public value as possible.

There is no single housing solution because people need different types of housing at different stages of life.

The City can ensure zoning and planning policies allow an appropriate mix of apartments, townhouses, smaller homes, rental housing, secondary units and other forms of housing while still planning responsible growth.

We should review development approval timelines, municipal fees and development charges to identify unnecessary barriers and determine whether targeted incentives could encourage genuinely affordable or attainable housing.

Municipally owned land should also be examined, where appropriate, for potential housing partnerships.

However, incentives should have measurable outcomes. If taxpayers provide an incentive for affordable housing, there should be clear requirements demonstrating that affordable units were actually created and maintained.

Owen Sound also needs economic growth alongside housing growth. People need not only a place they can afford to live, but opportunities to earn enough to build their lives here.

Yes. Grey County and the Province have major responsibilities for housing, health and social services, but the City deals directly with impacts on streets, parks, businesses and public spaces.

Homelessness has different causes. If someone loses housing primarily because they simply cannot afford it, without significant addiction or mental-health barriers, our goal should be to help that person return to stable housing as quickly as possible.

For people with more complex needs, housing must be coordinated with appropriate health, mental-health or addiction supports.

We also need adequate emergency shelter. In a Canadian winter, nobody should be left outside because there is nowhere safe to go. Where appropriate shelter and support are genuinely available, we should work toward preventing public spaces from becoming long-term encampments.

Homelessness itself is not a crime. Criminal activity and violence require an appropriate public-safety response, including enforcement against illegal drug trafficking.

Most importantly, we need to measure outcomes: Are fewer people homeless? Are people remaining housed? Is downtown safer? If an approach isn’t producing results, we should change it.

We should prepare before an application arrives rather than trying to understand the issue after one is already on the table.

Council should understand potential requirements for electricity, water, wastewater, land, emergency services and other infrastructure, along with potential tax revenue, construction activity and permanent employment.

We also need to understand potential environmental and infrastructure impacts and who will ultimately pay for them.

If a proposal comes forward, the City should clearly understand both the benefits and costs before making commitments or providing incentives.

I would want staff to present Council with evidence-based options covering infrastructure capacity, environmental considerations, municipal financial impacts and realistic employment benefits.

Owen Sound should welcome responsible economic development, but development should provide measurable benefits to our community and should not shift unexpected infrastructure costs onto existing taxpayers.

Technology is changing quickly. We don’t need to predict exactly what will happen, but we should be prepared to properly evaluate opportunities when they come.

In the five years I’ve lived in Owen Sound that I’d like to see more diverse views on city Council. And as a conservative right leaning person decided it was my turn to serve. In the democracy citizens should all take a turn in government – politics should not be a career.

I’ve never been in politics before, other than being elected to the Senate at York University. At York I’ve managed thousands of students at a time Directing dozens of TA’s working with staff and departmental personnel.

I’ve never been in politics before, other than being elected to the Senate at York University. At York I’ve managed thousands of students at a time Directing dozens of TA’s working with staff and departmental personnel.

Reduce the size of government, and thus reduce municipal taxes. Over the decades taxes keep going up but we still have the same city.

Reduce the size of government, and thus reduce municipal taxes. Over the decades taxes keep going up but we still have the same city.

There is no climate Crisis. We need to stop this net zero nonsense. But keep common sense ideas such as updating street lighting by not broadcasting energy up into the air above. Recind, reverse remove climate catastrophe measures.

Once I see some reports and some data from other places I can make a common sense solution here. As was mentioned at the all candidates meeting, sure we can increase taxes and increase services but there should be ways of optimizing spending to give a better bus service such as a hybrid, on demand busing including perhaps smaller buses and crosstown bus for example.

Once I see some reports and some data from other places I can make a common sense solution here. As was mentioned at the all candidates meeting, sure we can increase taxes and increase services but there should be ways of optimizing spending to give a better bus service such as a hybrid, on demand busing including perhaps smaller buses and crosstown bus for example.

The candidate provided no direct response to this question.

Increase the police budget including one or two more officers. Put the dealers and pushers in jail and get the drugs off the street. Offer labour for my knee such as cleaning up garbage and shovelling snow.

I’m in favour of having a data centre here only if the people building the data centre also builds electrical generating plant. Which should use fossil fuels. There is no climate crisis. We need to increase our use of fossil fuels particularly natural gas to provide electricity – The TC energy project is a monstrosity and never should’ve been undertaken.

I’m running because I believe Owen Sound needs change. As a resident, taxpayer, business owner, and father, I’m concerned about the direction our city is heading. Rising property taxes, public safety, homelessness, addiction, and affordability are affecting our community.

I want to be part of a council that listens to residents, asks tough questions, spends taxpayer dollars responsibly, and puts the people of Owen Sound first.

My experience comes from working as an armed guard and operating my own DJ business for over 20 years. Both have taught me responsibility, financial management, problem-solving, communication, and how to make decisions under pressure.

Working as an armed guard has given me firsthand experience dealing with public safety concerns and challenging situations. Running a business has taught me the importance of budgeting, accountability, and delivering quality service.

While I haven’t previously served on council, I believe these practical skills would be valuable in municipal government.

I believe effective decision-making starts with listening, gathering facts, and understanding the financial and long-term consequences of every decision.

I’m not afraid to ask difficult questions or challenge spending when necessary. I also understand that council decisions require cooperation and compromise.

I will approach decisions with an open mind and put the interests of Owen Sound residents ahead of personal differences.

Municipalities cannot control inflation or grocery prices, but they can control many local costs that affect residents.

We need to review municipal spending, look for efficiencies, support local businesses, encourage housing development, and avoid unnecessary increases to property taxes and service fees.

I would also like to revisit the additional costs residents face, such as garbage tags, and examine whether some services could be delivered more cost-effectively through their existing taxes.

I believe property taxes in Owen Sound are too high, especially when compared with neighbouring communities.

Residents are struggling with affordability, and seniors on fixed incomes are finding it increasingly difficult to remain in their homes.

Owen Sound’s 2026 budget initially projected a 4.72% combined property tax increase, adding further financial pressure on residents already struggling with affordability.

I believe we need to focus on controlling spending, reviewing staffing and administrative efficiencies, and finding opportunities to reduce financial pressure on taxpayers.

My goal is to work toward stabilizing property taxes and reducing unnecessary expenses without sacrificing essential services.

Public safety is my number one concern.

Residents should feel safe walking downtown, visiting our parks, shopping at local businesses, and enjoying the waterfront.

Homelessness, addiction, and mental health challenges are complex issues that require compassion and practical solutions.

I support increasing visible police presence where needed, improving lighting in problem areas, and working with community organizations to expand access to treatment, supportive housing, and recovery services.

We need to protect public safety while ensuring vulnerable individuals receive the help they need.

I support a regional transit system that connects smaller communities with larger centres, making it easier for residents to access employment, healthcare, education, and essential services.

The system should coordinate with existing transportation services rather than duplicate them. It should provide affordable fares, practical schedules, and connections between local and regional routes.

Funding should be shared fairly between participating municipalities and counties, supported by provincial and federal funding where available.

I would want to review the proposed costs, ridership projections, and long-term financial impact before committing additional Owen Sound taxpayer dollars.

We need to start by taking a detailed look at where taxpayer dollars are going.

I would support reviewing departmental budgets, staffing structures, administrative costs, outside consulting contracts, and opportunities to eliminate duplication.

Infrastructure maintenance must remain a priority because delaying necessary repairs can lead to much higher costs later.

I would also advocate for competitive bidding, long-term infrastructure planning, and pursuing provincial and federal funding.

My approach is simple: Before asking taxpayers for more money, we need to demonstrate that we’re making the best possible use of the money we already collect.

Owen Sound needs more housing options for everyone, including young families, seniors, renters, individuals with disabilities, and low-income residents.

I support reviewing zoning regulations to encourage developments such as townhouses, duplexes, multiplexes, and additional residential units.

However, we also need to increase the availability of community housing and rent-geared-to-income housing.

While speaking with a resident during my campaign, I learned that he and his wife, both receiving ODSP, were told they could face a 10-year wait for community housing. Grey County’s reported figures show that 2,545 households were on the affordable housing waitlist in 2025, with an average wait of 4.9 years.

These numbers highlight the need for more affordable housing in our community.

I believe the city needs to work more closely with Grey County, housing providers, and other levels of government to expand affordable and community housing, identify suitable development opportunities, and secure additional funding.

Everyone deserves access to safe, affordable housing, regardless of their income or circumstances.

Absolutely. While Grey County is responsible for many housing and social services, Owen Sound still has an important role.

We need stronger coordination between the city, Grey County, police, healthcare providers, treatment facilities, and community organizations.

I would like to see a greater focus on treatment access, transitional and supportive housing, and proper discharge and aftercare planning so people aren’t simply returning to the streets without support.

We also need to work with downtown businesses and residents to address public safety, discarded needles, garbage, and other concerns.

We cannot solve homelessness through enforcement alone, but we also cannot ignore its impact on residents and businesses.

We need a balanced approach that combines compassion, accountability, and public safety.

Artificial intelligence and data centres could bring new investment and economic opportunities to communities like Owen Sound.

However, before welcoming these developments, we need to understand their impact on our infrastructure, particularly electricity demand, water consumption, land use, and municipal services.

I would support reviewing zoning requirements, consulting with utility providers, and ensuring developers are responsible for infrastructure upgrades associated with their projects wherever legally possible.

I would also want to understand how many permanent local jobs a proposed development would create and whether the economic benefits justify the demands on our community.

I’m open to responsible investment and innovation, but Owen Sound taxpayers should not be left paying for infrastructure primarily benefiting private developments.

Owen Sound is my home, and I take pride in my community. I grew up and attended school here, and my fiancée Valerie and I are raising our blended family here.

I’m running because I want residents to feel heard and see their concerns reflected in council’s decisions. Families are struggling with everyday costs, businesses need support, and people deserve confidence that their tax dollars are being spent properly and purposefully.

I want council to put necessities first, examine spending carefully, and strengthen the relationship between City Hall and the community.

I’m not a career politician. My background is in healthcare, community service and Owen Sound minor sports. I’m prepared to listen, research issues and put in the work. I also have the time available to make this role a priority.

We all need to work together to move Owen Sound forward. Whether someone agrees with me or not, they deserve a councillor who is approachable, responsive and accountable.

I have more than 17 years of healthcare experience, including work as an RPN, RAI Coordinator and Wound Care Champion. These roles required sound judgment, accurate documentation, teamwork and advocating for people whose needs could otherwise be overlooked.

With Home and Community Support Services Grey Bruce, I worked as a care coordinator and later Transportation Manager. My responsibilities included daily operations, safety, staff training, departmental performance and supporting budget management. That experience helped me understand transportation’s importance to independence and access to services.

As a union steward, I learned to listen to different perspectives, work through disagreements and seek practical solutions. As Student Body President at Georgian College, I advocated for students.

I have also spent more than 14 years coaching youth sports and served as Field and Facility Coordinator with Owen Sound Minor Baseball.

These experiences have taught me to manage responsibilities, ask questions, work within available resources and keep people at the centre of decisions.

I don’t believe good decisions come from having an immediate answer to every question. They come from listening, gathering reliable information, understanding the costs and consequences, and being willing to reconsider your position.

I will ask questions, review the facts and seek input from residents, staff, community organizations and other councillors. If I don’t know an answer, I will say so and follow up.

My personal opinion should never be the only consideration. Residents’ views can change my position, and I will weigh those views alongside evidence, legal responsibilities and the community’s long-term interests.

My healthcare, management and volunteer experience has taught me to make difficult decisions and work with people who disagree.

I also understand that one councillor cannot act alone. Being effective means building support for practical proposals, working respectfully with council and staff, and explaining decisions clearly.

I want residents to understand what was decided, why, what it costs and how we will measure whether it worked.

A municipality cannot control grocery prices or solve every affordability problem, but it can avoid adding unnecessary pressure.

That starts with responsible spending, reviewing fees and prioritizing services that help people meet their daily needs. Reliable transit can help residents get to work, appointments and shopping without the expense of owning a vehicle. Housing policies can support a wider range of homes.

One of my first proposals would be to temporarily suspend or at least lower the interest and penalties charged on overdue property taxes. I would request a report on the legal options, financial impact and number of households affected, including how any lost revenue could be offset through other savings.

Residents struggling to catch up should not simply be pushed further behind. Late-payment charges should not become revenue we depend on.

The city should also be a strong partner to organizations supporting food security and basic needs. Affordability needs to be considered in every budget decision.

I believe the property-tax burden is too heavy for many Owen Sound households, particularly when combined with housing, food and utility costs.

However, comparing tax rates alone does not tell the whole story. We also need to examine assessed property values, actual tax bills, services provided and the responsibilities Owen Sound carries as a regional centre.

My concern is whether residents are receiving good value and whether every expenditure is necessary, effective and affordable.

I want a thorough review of staffing and management structures, service delivery, major operating costs and discretionary spending. That includes police, fire and the Tom Thomson Art Gallery. Reviewing these areas means asking serious questions about costs and alternatives while protecting essential services.

I will not promise a tax freeze without knowing how it would be achieved. I will push for justified spending, clear explanations and realistic savings.

Residents work hard for their money. Council must treat every municipal dollar with that same respect.

Affordability is the number one issue because it affects almost every other challenge facing Owen Sound.

Families are trying to keep up with housing, groceries, utilities and taxes. Businesses face rising costs. Some residents need better transportation to maintain employment, while others depend on community organizations for food and basic support.

The city also faces infrastructure needs and competing demands on a limited tax base.

My priority is responsible spending that protects necessities first: roads, water, sewer, public safety and access to essential services. We need to distinguish between what is necessary now and what can reasonably wait.

That means examining existing spending before asking residents for more, pursuing outside funding and working with neighbouring municipalities where sharing services could improve value.

We also need clear communication about the choices involved. Residents deserve to know what council is funding, why it matters and what results they can expect.

Affordability must guide our decisions without allowing essential infrastructure to deteriorate.

A regional transit system should connect people to employment, healthcare, education, shopping and other essential services. Its usefulness should be measured by whether people can make the trips they actually need.

Regional routes should connect properly with local transit, with coordinated schedules, straightforward fares, accessible vehicles and clear information. Early, evening and weekend service should be assessed against work shifts and appointment needs.

In Owen Sound, I want the costs and benefits of service from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday service examined as part of that planning.

Funding should combine provincial and federal support, reasonable fares and a transparent contribution formula among participating municipalities and counties. Owen Sound taxpayers should not carry an unfair share of a regional service.

We should coordinate existing operators and community transportation providers to reduce duplication.

A phased approach would allow us to start with priority connections, measure ridership and unmet needs, and expand where the evidence supports it.

We need to prioritize essential maintenance and examine how services are delivered before defaulting to higher taxes.

I would support a service and spending review covering staffing structures, procurement, contracts, facilities and programs. The goal would be to identify real savings and better outcomes.

Roads, sidewalks, water and sewer should have clear priorities based on condition, safety and long-term costs. Delaying necessary maintenance can make the eventual repair more expensive.

I also want stronger cooperation with neighbouring municipalities. Fire-service collaboration, shared purchasing, equipment and other joint services deserve serious examination. Before major fire-hall investments, we should assess whether a shared or amalgamated approach could protect service quality at a more sustainable cost.

Discretionary projects should be weighed against urgent needs. Facilities such as the Tom Thomson Art Gallery need transparent financial review and consideration of alternative operating models.

We should pursue grants and budget realistically for ongoing costs. Any savings identified must be verified before being committed elsewhere.

The city can make it easier to build a wider range of housing while ensuring development is supported by adequate infrastructure.

That includes reviewing zoning for additional residential units, duplexes, townhouses, apartments and appropriate redevelopment of underused properties. Approval processes should be clear, timely and predictable.

Growth must also account for traffic, water, sewer, transit and neighbourhood impacts. Protecting community character does not mean preventing all change; it means planning change thoughtfully.

For deeply affordable and supportive housing, the city should work with Grey County, nonprofit providers and provincial and federal governments. Municipal land and targeted incentives may help suitable projects proceed, provided the public benefit is clear and enforceable.

We should examine opportunities to convert appropriate vacant buildings into housing and support rental options alongside homeownership.

I would be cautious about incentives without measurable commitments. Residents should know what affordability is being delivered, for how long, and at what public cost.

Yes. The city should be a strong partner to Grey County, OSHaRE, Safe ‘N Sound, the Salvation Army, United Way, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Grey Bruce and other organizations supporting our community.

Learning from these organizations has reinforced that they serve people from many circumstances, including working families. Their role extends well beyond homelessness.

We need coordinated access to shelter, housing, healthcare, mental-health and addiction services. The city should help identify gaps and advocate for provincial and federal support.

We must also address downtown cleanliness and safety fairly. Public drug use, garbage and disruptive behaviour should be addressed based on conduct, rather than assuming everyone responsible is homeless.

I want to explore shared waste arrangements with landlords and businesses, accessible bins, and dedicated downtown cleaning coverage if sustainable funding can be identified.

Enforcement must be lawful, consistent and coordinated with outreach and realistic shelter options.

Compassion and a clean, welcoming downtown can be pursued together. The organizations doing this work deserve City Hall’s support.

The city should prepare before an application arrives by understanding suitable locations, servicing capacity and the questions any proposal must answer.

Data centres may bring investment and tax revenue, but we need to assess permanent employment, electricity demand, cooling-water requirements, noise, backup generators and environmental impacts.

I would want early coordination with the province, utilities and relevant agencies. Council should understand whether a proposal could limit capacity needed for housing, existing businesses or other development.

The financial picture must be transparent. What infrastructure upgrades would be required? Who pays? Would the long-term municipal benefit justify any incentives?

Developers should pay their appropriate share of costs, and residents should have meaningful opportunities to understand and comment on proposals.

We should seek local hiring, training and supplier opportunities where practical, while verifying promised benefits.

I am open to investment that benefits Owen Sound, but approval should depend on evidence, suitable planning and protection of the community’s resources.

I am running for council because I’ve been told many times by people that if you don’t vote you cant complain so I’m here to be a directly engaged in the system.

I don’t have any direct experience in municipal government but I am a good listener and will listen to the concerns of the Owen Sound residents and make decisions accordingly.

As a councilor I will take facts into my decision making for the city not emotions.

I believe a municipality can address the cost of living by controlling our expenses, limiting property tax increases and trying to find some internal savings within the city.

My view on Owen Sounds current tax rate is that it is very high and people are very concerned about it.

I believe our number one concern right now is the high cost of living in the city’ at some point people aren’t going to be able to pay the high property taxes within the city and will leave for less expensive areas.

A regional transit system within these areas is a big undertaking and wont be easy. I think the transit system could be funded by the province, municipality and ridership as well. A well run regional transit system would be great for all residents.

Owen Sound needs to maintain the basic services necessary to maintain the cities’ infrastructure, fix and maintain the infrastructure we already have before building more.

Housing is generally a Grey county concern, however Owen Sound and the county can work together to try and find solutions to our tight housing conditions.

I’m not sure the city can do more to support the homeless in our city, shelters are available as well as meals at various places. We could possibly do a better job of making sure our homeless residents are aware of all the services that are being provided.

I’m honestly not too sure how we can directly prepare for data centers coming to our area. I do think it should be looked at though. Our close proximity to water and available land make us a possible place for them.

I am running because I believe elected officials should be judged on whether they do what they said they would do.

Over the last two terms, I have made commitments to residents and worked to deliver on them, including introducing the green bin program, increasing investment in roads and core infrastructure, and supporting continued investment in the downtown.

There is still more to do. My priorities for the next term are clear: clean up and improve the downtown, use the City’s purchasing power to support Canadian businesses, take back greater responsibility for economic development, and get the basics right when it comes to roads, water, wastewater and other core municipal services.

I have served on Owen Sound City Council since 2018 and have been directly involved in municipal budgeting, infrastructure, governance, economic development and strategic planning.

Outside of Council, I have more than 15 years of experience in government and public affairs, working on complex policy, economic and infrastructure issues and with governments at all levels. That experience has given me a strong understanding of how decisions get made, how to navigate government, and how to move projects from an idea to a result.

I have a record of making decisions based on the information in front of me, rather than simply taking the politically easiest position. I also believe voters should be able to look at what I said I would do and judge me on whether I followed through.

Good municipal government requires balancing affordability, service levels, infrastructure needs and long-term growth. My approach is practical: make clear commitments, do the work to deliver on them, and be accountable for the results.

Municipalities cannot control grocery prices, interest rates or inflation, but we can control the cost of local government and work to grow the tax base.

Since 2016, new properties in Owen Sound have added approximately $321 million to the City’s total assessment base, an increase of about 14.7%. That growth matters. Every new home, apartment building or commercial development that is added to the assessment roll helps spread the cost of municipal services across a larger tax base.

That is why I put such a strong emphasis on housing and economic development. Continued residential and commercial growth is one of the most effective tools available to a municipality to help keep future property tax increases down for existing taxpayers.

Property taxes are high, and Council needs to continue putting downward pressure on increases.

Part of that is controlling spending and continuously reviewing how the City delivers services. But the other side is growth. We have seen substantial new residential and commercial development move forward in Owen Sound, and that new assessment will increasingly contribute to the tax base as projects are completed.

Growing assessment is one of the best tools we have to keep future tax increases down while still paying for roads, water, wastewater, policing and the other services residents expect. My focus is not simply on cutting, but on attracting development, expanding the assessment base and spreading municipal costs across more taxpayers.

The downtown.

Our downtown is the heart of the city, and when it is struggling, residents and businesses feel it. We need a cleaner, safer, more successful downtown, with better maintenance, stronger enforcement where public safety is affected, and continued investment that supports businesses and brings more people into the core.

That is why improving the downtown is one of my central commitments for the next term. We have made progress, but the standard needs to be higher. A successful downtown matters not only to the businesses located there, but to Owen Sound’s economy, its image and the quality of life of the entire community.

A regional transit system should focus on practical connections between major population, employment, education and healthcare centres, and it should be designed around actual demand.

Owen Sound already has a role to play through our own municipal transit system, and our priority should be making sure that service is reliable and meets the needs of residents.

A separate regional system should be funded by the counties and the Province, not by Owen Sound property taxpayers. If the service is regional in scope and serves communities across multiple counties, the funding model should reflect that.

You have to do both sides of the equation.

Council needs to continuously review operations and find efficiencies, but we also need to grow the assessment base so the cost of services is spread across more taxpayers. At the same time, getting the basics right has to remain a priority. Roads, water, wastewater, stormwater and other core infrastructure cannot simply be deferred indefinitely.

When I joined Council, the City’s overall road condition was rated D-. It has improved to C+, but that is not good enough and the work needs to continue. The answer is disciplined spending, better procurement, productivity improvements and economic growth.

Municipalities need to use the tools they actually control to make housing projects viable and get them built.

I moved the motion to waive approximately $63,000 in building permit fees for St. Clare Place, a 40-unit seniors’ housing project now under construction downtown. The City has also used development charge exemptions for purpose-built rental housing, helping advance major developments on the former BCK and RCA lands.

That is the approach I support: remove unnecessary municipal costs and barriers where doing so will produce real housing. We need more supply across the spectrum, including purpose-built rentals, seniors’ housing, apartments, townhouses and family homes. The City cannot build all of that itself, but it can create the conditions that allow others to build it.

Homelessness services are primarily the responsibility of Grey County as the local housing and homelessness service manager, and I think it is important to be clear about that.

That said, no single level of government or organization is going to solve the issue on its own. The City, County, Province, police, healthcare providers, service agencies, businesses and community organizations all have a role to play in working together.

For the City, that means focusing on the impacts within our jurisdiction, including public safety, cleanliness, bylaw enforcement and the health of the downtown. As services expand or change, location, security, operating standards and impacts on neighbouring properties all need to be part of the discussion, not an afterthought.

The solution requires coordination, but responsibility also has to remain clear.

The City should be prepared to evaluate those opportunities, but there must be a clear community benefit from the company.

Data centres can bring significant investment, but they can also require substantial electricity, water, land and infrastructure. Owen Sound should not take on major servicing costs or infrastructure pressures simply to secure an investment.

Any proposal should demonstrate clear benefits for the community, whether through jobs, new assessment, infrastructure investment, local procurement or other tangible economic benefits. Economic development has to work for the community, not simply produce a large investment number in a press release.

I am running for Owen Sound City Council to bring proactive, transparent, and community-first leadership to our city chamber.. My platform is built entirely on listening to the everyday concerns of our residents, business owners, and families. I want to build a safer, more vibrant, and affordable community where our infrastructure keeps pace with our lives and everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

I bring over 15 years of hands-on experience working directly with residents, grassroots organizations, and municipal advisory boards.. Most recently, my role on the ground as an Employer Liaison and Job Coach in Owen Sound has given me deep insight into our local economic realities. By working daily with both job seekers and local business owners to bridge employment gaps, I have gained first-hand knowledge of the systemic challenges facing our local workforce and business community. I am also a sitting Public Member of the Operations Committee for the City of Owen Sound.

Effective leadership is earned through deep community roots and a commitment to listening, rather than deciding behind closed doors.. I combine analytical problem-solving skills with practical, on-the-ground professional experience. Because my platform is directly shaped by the voices and real concerns of my neighbors, my decisions on council will always reflect clear, direct advocacy for the people who live and work in our city.

Municipalities must focus heavily on practical fiscal accountability and creating the conditions for sustainable local growth.. We can alleviate cost-of-living strains by ensuring strict value for money on city contracts, keeping municipal services efficient, and actively supporting smart growth so everyone can find an affordable home. Additionally, aligning public transit with local employment and education hubs helps lower commuting and living costs for our workforce.

Our focus must be on maximizing value for every single dollar collected from residents and providing total budget clarity.. Taxpayers deserve to know their hard-earned money is being respected. My view is that any discussion around municipal taxation must be met with absolute fiscal accountability, transparent budgeting, and highly accountable contracting to protect our citizens from unnecessary financial burdens.

Balancing sustainable, affordable growth while strictly maintaining community safety and core municipal services is our defining challenge.. We cannot look at our challenges in isolation; our economic realities, the need for affordable housing, workforce gaps, and public safety are all deeply connected. We need a council that tackles these overlapping pieces simultaneously to keep Owen Sound secure, vibrant, and viable for families and seniors.

A regional transit system must be strategically aligned to directly support local employment, economic mobility, and education hubs.. It should feature reliable, accessible connections that link working residents smoothly to local employers across county lines. Funding should be a collaborative, fair-share model leveraging provincial infrastructure grants alongside regional partnerships to ensure the financial blueprint provides clear value for money without overburdening municipal taxpayers.

We must prioritize absolute budget transparency and highly accountable contracting practices.. We can protect core infrastructure—like active, dependable snow removal and keeping our drinking water safe—by eliminating internal inefficiencies and ensuring transparent, competitive bidding for city projects. We must secure maximum value for money before asking residents to pay more.

Owen Sound must champion sustainable growth policies that cut red tape and actively encourage diverse housing developments.. The city needs to plan infrastructure proactively so that residential development can scale effectively. By fostering an open-door approach with builders and aligning municipal zoning, we can create a sustainable local ecosystem where young workers, families, and retirees alike can find a home they can afford.

Yes, community safety and support must be built from the ground up through active, integrated collaboration.. Owen Sound can take a leading role by actively coordinating municipal services and emergency teams directly with local outreach organizations and grassroots groups. Every business owner, resident, and vulnerable individual deserves a safe environment, and we achieve that by fostering an inclusive, communicative network that bridges the gaps between immediate downtown safety needs and long-term county resources.

Preparing for high-tech infrastructure requires analytical problem-solving, transparent economic planning, and ensuring our core utilities are ready.. Data centres demand immense energy and water resources; therefore, our first step must be evaluating our water safety and utility capacities to ensure they can scale sustainably without impacting residents. We must review our long-term infrastructure planning with an analytical lens, ensuring any potential developments offer explicit value for money and a clear net benefit to the local workforce.

I am running for Owen Sound City Council because I believe strong communities are built when people come together to solve problems. Our city faces challenges with affordability, housing, infrastructure, and economic development, but I am optimistic about what we can achieve. I want to help create constructive conversations, bring people to the table, and focus on practical solutions that strengthen Owen Sound. Just as important, I want to help move good ideas from discussion into action. Real progress happens when we work together, make informed decisions, and follow through. My commitment is to listen, work collaboratively, and make decisions that support a strong, sustainable future for our community.

As Executive Director of the Georgian Bay Folk Society, I oversee budgeting, strategic planning, grant management, fundraising, marketing, community engagement, and organizational governance. I have experience managing complex projects, balancing competing priorities, and working within financial constraints while collaborating with government agencies, businesses, volunteers, and community organizations.

My professional background includes managing retail departments and stores, supervising staff, administering payroll, and overseeing warehouse operations. I have run my own business, worked as a freelance technology professional, and earned part of my living as a musician. I have also served on numerous committees and boards, where collaboration, consensus-building, and governance are essential.

Throughout my career, much of my work has focused on bringing people together around a shared goal and helping turn ideas into reality. Whether in business, the arts, tourism, or the non-profit sector, I have learned how to build partnerships, coordinate teams, and move projects from concept to completion. These experiences have given me a practical understanding of leadership, accountability, transparency, and long-term planning that I believe would serve Owen Sound well.

I believe effective decision-making requires listening, asking questions, evaluating evidence, and considering long-term impacts. Throughout my career I have worked with diverse groups of people and often had to find solutions that balance different perspectives and priorities. I am not interested in politics for politics’ sake. I am interested in the results. I will approach every decision with a focus on financial responsibility, transparency, and what is best for the community as a whole. Residents deserve representatives who are prepared, informed, and willing to work collaboratively to solve problems.

Municipalities cannot control inflation, but they can help reduce the cost of living by focusing on housing, transportation, and responsible spending.

Housing is one of the biggest affordability challenges. The City should increase housing supply by streamlining approvals, reviewing zoning, supporting appropriate density, permitting secondary and garden suites, and reducing barriers for affordable housing projects. We should also advocate strongly to provincial and federal governments for housing and infrastructure funding while ensuring landlords and property owners meet the standards our community expects.

Transportation is another major household expense. We should improve and expand Owen Sound’s transit system, including exploring extended service hours, while supporting regional transit connections that help residents access work, education, healthcare, and services.

At the same time, Council must be responsible with taxpayer dollars through long-term planning, operational efficiencies, and partnerships that reduce costs. Affordability is not always about spending less today. Sometimes it means making smart investments now to avoid larger costs in the future.

By keeping affordability at the centre of every major decision, we can help make Owen Sound a more affordable place to live, work, and raise a family.

Owen Sound is already one of the higher-taxed communities in Ontario, and tax increases in recent years have outpaced the cost of living.

My instinct is never to look at raising taxes first. The first question should always be whether we can do things more efficiently, reallocate existing resources, find savings, pursue partnerships, or secure funding from other levels of government.

My goal would be to keep tax increases as low as possible while ensuring residents receive good value for their tax dollars and the services they depend on. Taxpayers deserve accountability, transparency, and confidence that every dollar is being spent wisely.

The most significant challenge facing Owen Sound is affordability. Housing costs, taxation, infrastructure needs, economic development, workforce retention, and homelessness are all interconnected. We are also struggling to create enough opportunities for young people to build careers and stay in our community. Too often, our youth leave to pursue employment and opportunities elsewhere.

A healthy community requires affordable housing, good jobs, reliable services, strong municipal finances, and opportunities for the next generation. If we can improve affordability while supporting sustainable growth, attracting investment, and creating opportunities for young people to live and work here, we will be better positioned to address many of the other challenges facing our city.

A regional transit system should focus on connecting people to employment, healthcare, education, and essential services throughout the region. It needs to be practical, reliable, and reflect the realities of rural communities. Owen Sound should serve as a key hub connecting surrounding municipalities while avoiding costly duplication of services. Funding should involve a combination of municipal, provincial, and federal support, with user fees helping offset operating costs. Any system must demonstrate clear value, measurable outcomes, and long-term financial sustainability.

The key is proactive asset management and long-term planning. Owen Sound has a significant infrastructure backlog, and delaying repairs only makes them more expensive. We need to prioritize the projects that address the biggest risks and save the most money over time.

I am cautious about reducing or waiving development charges. Growth requires infrastructure, and those fees help pay for both new infrastructure and maintaining what we already have. We need to encourage development through better planning and faster approvals, not by shifting costs to existing taxpayers.

I will work with City staff to identify projects that, if made a priority today, will save us the most money later.

I also have significant experience in grant writing. By partnering with community organizations, I believe we can access more provincial and federal funding for cultural facilities, community spaces, and service improvements. That can help free up municipal dollars for core infrastructure projects.

Maintaining services and infrastructure without significant tax increases will require smart planning, outside funding, and making sure every dollar is spent where it has the greatest impact.

The city can help by streamlining development approvals, ensuring adequate servicing capacity, supporting higher-density housing where appropriate, encouraging mixed-use development, and reducing unnecessary barriers to construction. We need a range of housing options, including affordable housing, market-rate housing, rentals, seniors’ housing, and family homes. The municipality must work collaboratively with Grey County, developers, non-profit organizations, and senior levels of government to create conditions that encourage investment and increase housing supply.

Yes. While Grey County leads many housing and social service initiatives, the City of Owen Sound still has an important role to play. We can work with service providers, healthcare organizations, businesses, law enforcement, and community groups to improve coordination, identify service gaps, and support practical solutions.

I also believe the public needs clearer and more consistent information about what is already being done. Residents should know what programs exist, which organizations deliver them, how they are funded, who they serve, and how those organizations work together. From there, we can better identify gaps and determine where the City can help through bylaws, zoning, enforcement, advocacy, or other municipal tools.

Most importantly, we need to spend time listening to the organizations doing this work every day to understand how we can best support their efforts. Addressing homelessness requires compassion, public safety, stable housing, mental health and addiction supports, and continued advocacy for stronger provincial and federal investment. It is a challenge that no single organization can solve alone.

Owen Sound should review its policies, infrastructure capacity, energy supply, and water capacity before considering any data centre proposals. We should also learn from municipalities that have already dealt with this type of development, both positively and negatively.

Data centres can bring investment and tax revenue, but they also place significant demands on infrastructure and utilities. Any proposal should be evaluated based on its impacts, its benefits to the community, and whether our existing systems can support it. The goal is to make informed decisions before development occurs, not after.

I am running because I believe in Owen Sound and want to continue serving our community.

My experience on Council has given me the opportunity to listen to residents, understand local challenges, and work toward practical solutions. Through my work in community services and education, I have also seen how important it is to build a community where people feel safe, welcome and supported.

I want to continue bringing that experience, perspective and commitment to Council—working responsibly for taxpayers while supporting strong infrastructure, community safety, economic development and a vibrant future for Owen Sound.

I bring four years of experience on Owen Sound City Council, with hands-on experience in municipal governance, decision-making and community leadership.

During my time on Council, I have served for two years on the Police Services Board, chaired the Corporate Services Committee, served on the River District Board, and served on Community Services and Operations Committee. I have also contributed to the Service Review Committee and served as a Board Director with the Quill Board.

These roles have given me experience in governance, financial oversight, public safety, service delivery, strategic planning and working collaboratively to make responsible decisions for our community.

I am proud of the work I have done serving Owen Sound over the past four years, and I am ready to continue that work.

I bring experience, a strong understanding of our community, and a commitment to residents and getting things done. I will continue to approach Council with honesty, accountability and a focus on responsible decisions that protect our community today while building a stronger Owen Sound for the future.I am asking for the opportunity to continue serving, and I will remain accessible, committed and focused on the people of Owen Sound.

Municipalities cannot solve the cost-of-living crisis alone, but we can take practical steps to reduce the pressures residents face.

For Owen Sound, that means being disciplined with municipal spending and looking for efficiencies before increasing the tax burden. It also means supporting attainable housing, reliable and affordable transportation, local businesses and economic development, and access to essential community services.

I have and will continue to support working with the County, Province and community partners to improve access to healthcare, childcare and other services. My focus would be on responsible spending, finding efficiencies and making decisions that provide the greatest value for residents.

Owen Sound residents are feeling the pressure of rising costs, so property taxes must be approached with discipline and accountability.

I recognize that the City needs sufficient revenue to maintain essential services, infrastructure and public safety. At the same time, I believe Council has a responsibility to carefully examine spending, find efficiencies and ensure that tax increases are sustainable for residents.

My approach is to protect essential services while asking difficult questions about priorities, efficiencies and value for taxpayers. Before asking residents to pay more, we should ensure that every municipal dollar is being spent wisely and that we are making the best use of available grants, partnerships and other sources of revenue.

For me, responsible taxation means maintaining the services our community depends on while keeping the tax burden as manageable as possible.

I believe the No. 1 issue facing Owen Sound is affordability.

Residents are dealing with rising housing costs, higher everyday expenses and increasing pressure from property taxes. At the same time, our city must continue investing in infrastructure, public safety and essential services.

My focus is on finding the right balance: responsible municipal spending, supporting attainable housing and local economic growth, and making sure residents receive strong value for their tax dollars.

I believe Owen Sound can learn from Orangeville’s approach to transit. Orangeville has focused on creating simple, connected routes, a central transit hub, affordable access and connections beyond the municipality.

For Owen Sound, I would support a similar model—strong local routes connecting neighbourhoods to key destinations such as the hospital, Georgian College, shopping and employment areas, combined with reliable regional connections to communities across Grey and Bruce.

Funding should be a shared responsibility. I support maximizing provincial and federal funding, using fare revenue and other sources such as advertising and partnerships, while sharing the remaining operating costs fairly among participating counties based on the service they receive. The City and taxpayers should not be expected to carry the burden alone.

Regional transit is an investment in affordability, access and economic opportunity—but it must also be financially sustainable and accountable to taxpayers.

We have a responsibility to maintain our roads, facilities, infrastructure and essential services—but we also have a responsibility to protect taxpayers.

My approach is simple: before asking residents for more, Council must first make sure we are getting the most from what we already have. That means rigorous budget scrutiny, finding efficiencies, reviewing services regularly, prioritizing essential infrastructure, and eliminating unnecessary spending where possible.

We also need to maximize provincial and federal grants, pursue partnerships and other revenue opportunities, and use long-term asset management to plan infrastructure investments before they become expensive emergencies.

I will support responsible investment where it is necessary, but I will not support increasing the tax burden simply because it is the easiest option.

Every tax dollar matters. Council must spend wisely, prove the value of its decisions and make every effort to control costs before reaching into residents’ pockets.

Municipalities play an important role in creating the conditions for more housing to be built.

Owen Sound has already taken some important steps on affordable housing, and I believe we need to build on that momentum.

We are seeing this through the St. Clare Place project, the Bayfield Landing lands being advanced for affordable housing, development-charge exemptions, brownfield incentives, municipal land opportunities and partnerships with Grey County, the Province and non-profit housing providers.

As a councillor, I support continuing to use City-owned land strategically, speeding up approvals, reducing unnecessary development costs and making municipal incentives work harder to create actual housing.

We also need a broader range of housing—including affordable rentals, attainable homeownership, seniors’ housing, supportive housing and smaller units for young people and families.

The key is turning partnerships and municipal tools into homes. I want to see Owen Sound continue moving from planning to shovels in the ground and units that residents can actually afford.

Homelessness and addictions are among the most difficult issues facing Owen Sound, and I believe we need to approach them with both compassion and accountability.

I recognize that Grey County has the primary responsibility for housing, homelessness and social services, while health and community agencies have important roles in mental health and addictions. The City has direct responsibilities for policing, public spaces, safety, planning and the health of our downtown.

There is already a tremendous amount of work happening locally.

– Grey County provides short-term shelter(The County bought a hotel (27 beds) in Owen Sound)
– The County has established a Transitional Housing Centre in Owen Sound with financial support from the province. The Canadian Mental Health Association Grey Burce receives provincial funding to run full programs.
-Grey County has a housing plan, www.grey.ca/government/strategic-planning-and-studies/housing-action-plan and a plan to reduce homelessness www.grey.ca/government/strategic-planning-and-studies/housing-and-homelessness-plan.
– The County paramedic services run the SOS support program to offer medical services to people on the street. The city police, CMHA and paramedics stay in contact with homeless people to offer shelter and help. Owen Sound Police were one of the first in Ontario to take CMHA councillors with them to mental health related calls.

Artificial intelligence and data centers could bring investment, jobs and new economic opportunities, but Owen Sound needs to be prepared before considering a major development.
I would support a proactive municipal framework that:
• Identifies appropriate employment lands and ensures data centres are compatible with surrounding land uses.
• Requires a clear assessment of electricity, water, wastewater, roads and other infrastructure capacity before approval.
• Ensures the developer—not local taxpayers or existing utility customers—pays the appropriate costs of infrastructure upgrades created by the project.
• Establishes clear standards for noise, backup generators, emissions, water use and environmental impacts.
• Requires proponents to demonstrate meaningful local economic and community benefits, including jobs, investment and infrastructure improvements.
• Ensures emergency services and the City have the capacity to respond to the facility.
• Works with Grey County, the Province, utilities and neighbouring municipalities so that regional infrastructure impacts are considered.
• Reviews municipal planning and zoning policies now, rather than waiting for the first major proposal.
Ontario’s electricity system is already planning for significant demand growth, with the IESO identifying data centres as an important driver of future electricity demand.

I am running to listen to taxpayers and represent their concerns at Council. Residents tell me taxes keep rising while the city does not feel like it is moving forward. Population growth has been weak, the River District no longer feels safe to many people, and some are leaving because of the city’s reputation. I want Council to require results before it asks households and businesses for more.

I served in the Canadian Armed Forces in ship and aviation maintenance, including workups on HMCS St. John’s and Sea King servicing. That work required clear communication, flight-safety discipline, training new members, and bringing a crew to one decision under time pressure. I also volunteered with the Mustard Seed in Victoria, serving people who were homeless or less fortunate. Municipal government is different work, but the habits carry over: do the job properly, say the problem plainly, and spend public money only when the result is clear.

I will start with the taxpayer, not a personal agenda. On the flight deck, a decision was not finished until it was safe, and the crew understood it. I will use the same standard here: hear the facts, weigh cost against result, and accept a slower or smaller option if the larger one cannot be justified. Effective means explaining the vote and owning it.

The city cannot control grocery prices or interest rates. It can control the property tax levy, water and wastewater rates, development charges, and how fast housing is approved. I would hold levy increases for minimum of 3 years, review fees that add to the cost of new housing and stop spending that does not produce a service residents can see. Keeping the core usable also protects property values and local jobs.

It is too high relative to what residents are getting. I will not support a tax increase on homes or businesses if the city cannot show progress. Prosperity and growth should come before a higher levy. An increase is justified only by a legal requirement, a public safety need, or a repair that will cost more if it is delayed. “We always add to last year’s budget” is not a reason.

The condition and reputation of downtown, and what that does to the rest of the city. Visible homelessness, addiction, and public disorder have made many people unwilling to use the River District. Businesses lose traffic, property values, and the tax base suffer, and some residents leave. The human problem is real and deserves a humane response. The city will not grow while people do not feel safe in its core.

The four-county study is proposing inter-community routes centered on Owen Sound, more on-demand service, and a joint board, with provincial money covering much of the early cost. I support connections that people will actually ride to work, medical appointments, and college, at a reliable time, with Owen Sound Transit linked in rather than duplicated. I do not support building a network whose local cost jumps when provincial funding ends in 2030. Fares should cover a fair share. County and city contributions should be approved only after ridership targets, and the post-2030 levy is on the table. Empty buses are not a service.

Maintain what people use and stop treating last year’s budget as the starting point. I would require every department to identify 5 to 10 percent in savings options, including staffing, before Council discusses a tax increase. Capital should be ranked by safety and the cost of delay, not by which project has the best presentation. New assessments from housing and business should be used to hold the rate on existing households. Water and wastewater increases should come through the same budget review, with Council accountable for the rates it approves.

Speed and certainty. Review development charges so they encourage units rather than maximize fees on paper. Support targeted, time-limited reductions where a builder commits to delivering housing, including affordable or geared-to-income units, with conditions if they do not. Allow additional units and conversions where servicing exists. A slow approval process is a tax on the next household. The city does not build the social-housing wait list by itself, but it controls zoning, fees, and whether a project can start.

Yes. I support a coordinated plan with the County: treatment and mental health access, real pathways into housing, consistent enforcement when streets and businesses are unsafe or unusable, and clear expectations on publicly funded support. Sympathy for people in crisis does not require accepting an open-air downtown. The city does not run hospitals. It does control by-laws, property standards, parks, and whether the River District is a place families will visit. I would measure success by whether people use the core again, whether businesses stay, and whether fewer residents feel they must leave.

Do not chase a project the grid, the water system, and the tax base cannot carry. Before any proposal is entertained, Council should know the power and water demand, the backup generation, the noise and land-use impact, and what share of new assessment stays in Owen Sound after servicing costs. Data centers employ few people relative to their footprint. I will support one only if the proponent pays the full cost of infrastructure; existing ratepayers are protected, and there is a clear net benefit.

I have been on Council for 4 years now. I am hoping to be re-elected to use the experience I have gained in my first term to make more effective progress on issues facing the City during my second term.

As stated above, I have been on Council now for 4 years. Besides the experience I have gained as an existing Councillor, I am also a Business Owner in the Downtown with a strong focus on Fiscal Restraint.

I have a proven track record during my first term of showing up prepared, asking questions, and making hard decisions that may be unpopular but necessary.

We have to focus on Core Municipal Services and look at cutting costs where we can. Every service we provide comes at a cost, so it is difficult to suggest things we could do to help with affordability. For instance if we paused garbage bag tags or decreased transit fees or further subsidized childrens sports, there would be an out of pocket savings to users in the immediate term, but the cost of providing the service remains and it would then be recouped by the entire tax base with higher levy. We have approximately 1,000 housing units being constructed currently between HarbourWest, SkyDev and Bayshore Terrace. Hopefully adding these units to the available housing stock will decrease market prices for rent, but that remains to be seen. Adding these units to the tax base will also help ease budget pressures and hopefully lower taxes.

I would say that the current tax rate in Owen Sound is somewhat high compared to neighbouring municipalities, however, Owen Sound also receives a higher level of services. We have 2 large recreation complexes, Transit service, 17 playgrounds, numerous parks, an Art Gallery and Museum buildings, water and wastewater services, a large fire department, municipal police force, school crossing guards, numerous tourism related events etc. If constituents want to pay lower taxes, we need to reduce service levels and focus on CORE municipal services.

The downtown core and the perception that it isn’t safe or a place people want to come to. We need to flip the narrative and focus on the positives and get people back downtown.

I look forward to seeing the report on the regional transit study. A regional transportation network opens up opportunities for Economic Development. As it is a regional initiative it should be funded by the upper tiers.

We need to focus on Core Municipal Services and use the information we have accumulated through the Service Review and Asset Management Plan work that has been undertaken to right size some of the assets the City owns and services that we provide that aren’t providing good value to the tax payer.

Municipalities can waive or defer development charges for affordable housing, use the CIP program for brownfield development to phase in taxes, Council has offered land the City owns to non-profits to build affordable housing, and the City could look at Inclusionary Zoning.

This is a tough issue. I know people are tired of hearing that the City doesn’t get funding to deal with the homeless issue but it is fact. Grey County receives the funding from the Province to provide Social Services to the County for things like housing, mental health and addiction supports. Our tax base in Owen Sound can not afford to provide housing support. What the Municipality can do and has done is increase our By-Law staffing, move to proactive enforcement in the Downtown Core, tightened up our Waste By-laws to address waste issues in the downtown. I would like Grey County to diversify where it funds and provides supports for the homeless across the County.

I am not going to pretend to have any answer for this question at this point. AI and data centres are a new and emerging sector that I am unfamiliar with. I would need to research the benefits vs the risks of what a Data Centre in our Municipality could mean to our tax base versus the environmental impacts it might have.

I’m running because I want to contribute to positive change in our downtown.

I have 8 years experience on City Council, 4 of which were County Council as Deputy Mayor.

I will be effective and successful because I lead through partnerships and relationships. I have the ability to bring people together.

When I was at County Council I championed a 1% County- wide levy for housing. We need to push the County to increase that percentage. At our level we can work to keep taxes at a minimum.

Taxes are high. We pay taxes for 50,000 people, mostly because people living in other municipalities use our parks, arenas, etc at no cost to them.

The number one issue in Owen Sound is definitely the Downtown Crisis.

Regional Transit should be funded by Grey County and it should be 7 days a week till 11pm.

The average taxpayer in OS doesn’t realize the County is downloading County roads to the city. This will add $400,000 to our snow removal budget each year. With this download, we are forced to pay for bridges and traffic lights. There is no way to sugarcoat this download. The snow removal is an automatic 1% increase on our taxes alone.

We can partner with groups like Lutheran Services but we need to pressure the County to increase their housing levy.

Yes. As a Police Board member, I can tell you I will play a part in RENEWING our partnership and relationship with Police services. Once on the same page, we need to set some standards that include the proper balance of Structure-Discipline and Compassion. Then we need to ENFORCE those standards. If we don’t enforce our standards, we have NO have standards. The only way to tackle this crisis is through collaboration between municipality and OS Police.

I have a lot of work to do in educating myself on AI but I like to think it will be a positive tool. As far as development data centres are concerned, we aren’t at the point of having to worry about it at this level in my opinion.

I decided to run after volunteering on city committees for the past 10 years. I habe seen the difference my voice can make as a volunteer and I’m ready to be have more of a voice. I want Owen Sound to be a place my boys want to come back to.

In 2014 I volunteered on the heritage housing committee. The committees amalgamated and I then volunteered on the community services committee. After my term on that committee was finished I decided to go further and volunteered on the operations committee so I could learn more of what the city does.

I have a business and construction background. I can make pragmatic decisions quickly.

I have sat on numerous boards and have always been a great ideas person. I think at this time we need more ideas put forward to help the city be its best self.

To address cost of living concerns we need to do our best to maintain the current tax level. We also need to be pushing at a higher level for more funding to support the amount of people who use our services every day.

I think the current tax rate is high. I think we need to find ways to maintain and I also think we should be trying to get more funding to support the amount of people we service

Downtown

It should be funded by the province.

I would ask the city manager to look for savings in every department.

We need to have incentives at a higher level of government to help builders to build affordable housing

I think the city needs to have more funding from higher levels of government to support Owen Sound because we are the social services hub for the region.

I think by laws should be reviewed right away so we are ahead of the Ai data center developments. We live on a very large body of water that we enjoy so we need to ensure we have all the research to ensure our residents are protected

I am running because I want to find a new way to serve the community, as I have been. For years I have volunteered 40 hours and sometimes as many as 80 hours a week across different community building projects and activities in Owen Sound, and I want to bring that same energy and commitment to City Hall. The community has been kind to me and I want to give back.

I have a business degree and years of accounting, plus dozens of years of business management experience, and have served on numerous boards, both for profit and not for profit. I founded Owen Sound Food Not Bombs, which has served over 12K free meals to the community. I volunteer more than full time every week here for years in a variety of groups, as I have said above. This year I have attended just about every council meeting, many committee meetings, and have done all of the readings of all of the key city documents and I am going on to my 4th read through pretty soon.

Because I know how to balance a budget while putting people first. My business management background means I weigh long term impacts and risks, but my years volunteering means I lead with compassion and facts. I do the homework, I show up, I have interacted with many residents through my community work, and I am not tied to a slate or any single interest beyond the community’s best interest. I will ask hard questions and explain my vote.

Focus on what drives cost of living most, which is housing. We can make it standard practice that when the city has an empty lot it is not using, we look at affordable housing first, and move faster with not for profit and co op partners and Grey County to get homes built. We can also make approvals faster and more predictable for rentals and gentle density like 2nd and 3rd suites inside existing homes, allow up to 4 units within existing height and setback rules with privacy protections that respect neighbourhood character, and keep pushing the province and County for more supportive housing funding.

Residents are stretched and deserve real value for every dollar. The current rate reflects years of infrastructure backlog and rising costs, but we cannot keep relying on rate hikes. I support a careful line by line review that protects core services, looks for efficiencies and savings, and works hard to secure every provincial and federal grant. Long term, the healthiest way to stabilize taxes is to grow our assessment with a major emphasis on affordable housing units of all types in the right places, including using empty lots the city already owns for affordable rentals with not for profit partners, so more people can live here and share the cost of services.

The biggest issue is homelessness, addiction and mental health downtown and how it impacts businesses and residents.
What actually works are these 5 things together.

1. Real housing with staff where meds are taken daily so people are stable and not in crisis on the street, and police have somewhere to take someone besides ER or jail for a few hours.

2. Keep the NRT outreach team that was piloted last winter, the on call team that helps businesses when someone is sleeping in a doorway.

3. More transitional housing for people who are ready to move forward, they need a bridge with a door that locks and rent they can cover.

4. Do not push services to the edge of town, that does not move drug supply and just hurts the half of folks who do not use drugs at all.

5. Support policing to focus on trafficking hot spots and disrupt supply when residents report it and push police to act on those tips.

I support keeping GOST. It helps people get to work, school, and appointments. It works because it is funded as a shared service by Grey County, Wellington, and the province. We could seek additional outside funding to explore options like a book a ride van to reach areas that do not have service now. I am open to input on any of my ideas.

We could fix what we already own first so emergency repairs do not cost more later. We can follow the citys own asset data with a disciplined 10 year plan for roads, sidewalks, water, wastewater and public buildings. Prioritizing prevention and accessibility projects would stretch dollars further. Another way to stretch dollars is securing provincial and federal grants for every eligible project. We might also explore co owning or co booking expensive gear like Vac trucks, sweepers and CCTV sewer rigs, and sharing specialized staff like licensed water and wastewater operators and inspectors with nearby municipalities and Grey County, so each town does not buy the same idle equipment. Keeping procurement open and competitive would keep value up.

Build the right housing in the right places, and keep it community owned where possible. That means supporting not for profit, co op and community land trust housing, making it faster to add units inside existing houses and secondary suites, focusing townhouses and small apartments on main streets and downtown, keeping the same height and setback rules in established areas to respect neighbours, and making affordable rentals the default when the city has surplus land available. Clear and consistent rules for everyone who wants to invest here.

Yes. As I outlined in my answer to number 6, I see this as a housing and health issue that lands downtown. The city does not deliver housing directly, but it can make what the County and health partners do actually work on our streets. That means pushing for stable housing where support is built in, so daily routines are possible and crises are less frequent. It means keeping a responsive outreach presence that businesses can call in real time, not just the next day. It means having that next step ready when someone is stable enough to move on, a simple place with security and affordable rent. It means keeping supports central and walkable, since relocation does not address supply and it disconnects people from food, work and care. And it means staying focused on disrupting the supply side when the community flags specific concerns. City leadership can keep those pieces coordinated between city, County, health and the River District downtown businesses, with better lighting and consistent upkeep so downtown feels welcoming for everyone. We could also explore adding two or three portable washrooms like Johnny on the Spot units in key downtown areas as a practical step.

By being precise and taking server farms off the table without blocking real job creators. I would bring forward an update to our Official Plan that defines large scale data centres and server farms as a specific use, buildings used primarily for high density computing and data storage with continuous high power and cooling loads and very low employment density, and makes clear they are not a permitted use anywhere in Owen Sound. That protects Georgian Bay, drinking water, neighbourhood quality of life and taxpayer dollars, while still leaving room for housing, small business, health care, light manufacturing and other green industries that do create local jobs and are reviewed on their own merits. I would also coordinate with Grey County and neighbours on a shared approach so companies cannot shop around, and focus our economic energy on affordable housing and businesses that actually stay and serve residents.

I’m running because I believe Owen Sound can be more affordable, and because local government should put people before profit.

For too long, City Council has prioritized business and economic development while the needs of working people have received less attention. I want to help change that by improving the material conditions of the working class: making it easier to afford to live here, get to work, and access public services.

Our transit system is a good example. Buses stop running at 6 PM and don’t run Sundays, leaving working people without reliable transportation. Buses also routinely run late, often cancelling routes so the system can catch up. For someone earning minimum wage, that can mean arriving late for work or losing an hour’s wages getting home.

I’m running to fight for practical improvements: transit that runs later and on Sundays, a library open seven days a week, and two free bags on garbage day. I also want to use a vacant residential property tax to bring vacant homes back onto the market and generate revenue for needed services.

Our city should be designed around the people who work in it, not just the businesses that operate in it.

For the past 15 years, I’ve been deeply involved in Owen Sound community life. I’ve served on City committees including the Cultural Advisory Committee and the Festival of Northern Lights, volunteered with organizations and events including the Roxy Theatre and Summerfolk, and organized the Bleeding Carrot Alley Project, which brought public art and creativity to downtown.

I’ve also spent years advocating on local issues, speaking to City Council, organizing community projects and bringing people together around issues that matter to them.

That experience has taught me how important public consultation, collaboration, transparency and follow-through are to good municipal governance. I’ve also learned through that work that municipal decisions don’t affect everyone equally.

The people with the least time, money and institutional access are often the people most affected by decisions made at City Hall. I want to bring that perspective to Council.

I have been advocating to City Council for years, digging into municipal issues, asking difficult questions and developing well-informed positions on the issues facing Owen Sound. I’m not entering this election without an understanding of how municipal government works or what I want to accomplish.

I bring a strong understanding of the experiences and priorities of working people in Owen Sound, along with years of experience in community organizing and civic engagement. I’m prepared to do the work, scrutinize the information put before Council, listen to residents and staff, and stand behind my decisions.

I’m also not afraid to challenge the status quo. I believe Owen Sound needs councillors who are prepared to ask hard questions, advocate for their constituents and follow through on their commitments. That is the kind of councillor I intend to be.

Municipalities can’t control inflation, wages or the price of rent, but they can make everyday life more affordable through strong public services and policies that reduce costs for residents.

Reliable, expanded transit means working people don’t have to spend a significant portion of their wages on taxis or maintain a car simply to get to work. Longer library hours provide free access to services, technology and community space. Two free bags of garbage on every collection day put money directly back into household budgets.

We can also address housing costs through a vacant residential property tax that encourages vacant homes back onto the market, increasing housing supply while generating revenue for essential services.

Affordability also means looking at who carries the cost of municipal government. I support keeping property tax increases manageable, but not by cutting services working people depend on. A lower tax bill doesn’t make someone better off if they then spend hundreds more on transportation or other necessities because public services have been reduced.

For me, affordability means investing in practical services, increasing affordable housing and reducing costs rather than shifting them from the City onto residents.

I believe we need to talk about who pays municipal taxes, not simply how much we collect.

When Owen Sound became part of Grey County in 2001, we successfully advocated to retain control over our tax ratios. Ontario Regulation 311/01 preserved that authority without setting a deadline for the City to align its ratios with the County.

More than two decades later, I believe it’s time to challenge that direction again. Council should advocate to the Province for greater authority to design a tax system that reflects our community’s needs.

Over the last term, Council has reduced the multi-residential tax ratio from 1.6779 to 1.0. That didn’t reduce what the City needed to collect; it changed how the levy was distributed.

In other words, Council decided that working-class homeowners must pay more so that landlords could pay less.

The City’s plan for next term is to lower the commercial tax ratio from 1.71 toward 1.0, shifting more of the burden onto residential property owners.

I disagree with this direction. I want Council to fight for greater control over municipal taxation. The answer isn’t simply lower taxes – it’s fairer taxes.

Affordability.

It connects housing, transportation, municipal taxes, access to services, and community participation. Owen Sound should be a place where service workers can afford to live, seniors remain connected, and families aren’t forced to choose between necessities.

If elected, I would address affordability by investing in services that improve people’s everyday lives.

I would fight for expanded transit, with buses running later and on Sundays, so people who work late aren’t left without a way home.

I would fight for Library hours of 9 AM to 9 PM, seven days a week, so this service is available when people have time to use it.

I would support two free bags of garbage per household on every collection day, so struggling families don’t have to choose between groceries or bag tags.

These improvements would cost money, so I support a Vacant Residential Property Tax. According to the last census, 511 homes in Owen Sound were unoccupied. A vacant home tax could encourage owners to rent or sell them, while generating revenue for essential services.

For me, affordability means more than keeping taxes low. It means making sure people can actually afford to live here and access public services.

The study presented to Grey County Council on September 24, is ultimately a County-level matter. I can speak to what Owen Sound should do while that work is underway.

City staff has indicated they want to wait for the regional study before considering significant changes to local transit. I don’t think that’s good enough for people who need transit now.

Regional and local transit serve different purposes. Someone working at Walmart until 9 PM and living out Brooke doesn’t need a regional bus – they need a reliable local bus home after their shift. A regional system won’t solve that problem.

I support regional transit connecting communities for work, health care, education and other necessities, coordinated with existing local systems. I also believe regional transit should be funded regionally.

The study proposes that participating counties cover the remaining cost after fares and senior-government funding. I would not support downloading those costs onto Owen Sound’s municipal tax levy.

Owen Sound should continue improving the local transit service it is responsible for rather than using the regional study as a reason to delay action. Residents shouldn’t have to wait for a regional project to get the local service they need today.

We need to distinguish between responsible investment and unnecessary spending.

The City should prioritize core services and infrastructure, plan for maintenance before assets reach crisis conditions, and make full use of available grants. We should also pursue funding from the Province and County for costs that should not fall on municipal taxpayers.

The courthouse is a good example: it serves a regional population, yet Owen Sound paid about 32% of the net cost overage in 2025 alone. I believe we should continue pushing to have the Province and County assume the full cost, rather than asking Owen Sound residents to pay for it.

We should also question whether discretionary investments should take priority when essential services are under pressure. For example, I would question whether the proposed Art Gallery expansion should come before investments in transit, housing and other core services.

Efficiency shouldn’t simply mean spending less. When public services are cut, costs are often shifted onto residents, particularly working-class people least able to afford private alternatives.

My goal is to make responsible investments, pursue funding from the appropriate level of government, and evaluate the full cost to the community – not simply whether a budget line gets smaller.

I don’t believe the solution to the housing crisis can be left to the private market. If we want housing across the affordability spectrum, the City needs to take an active role in creating and preserving public and non-profit housing.

Owen Sound has done this before. In the 1950s, former Mayor Eddie Sargent helped establish social housing here, and decades later, local housing champion Ken Thomson remembered that work as a model for the Owen Sound Municipal Non-Profit Housing Corp. We should continue building on that history.

That means investing in public and non-profit housing, using City-owned land and buildings where possible, converting vacant or underused properties, and using tools like a vacant residential property tax to bring empty homes back into the housing market.

I also don’t support development charge holidays. Working-class homeowners shouldn’t be asked to subsidize private development that makes wealthy investors wealthier. The Harbour West project received a $1.1 million exemption, without a requirement for affordable units. That was a missed opportunity to make those benefiting from development contribute to housing people can actually afford.

I would support reviewing the City’s art collection, including whether responsible deaccessioning could help create a permanent affordable-housing fund.

Yes. The City has a role, even though housing and social services are primarily responsibilities of the County.

Owen Sound should support organizations providing shelter, outreach, meals and other services. These organizations should be welcomed as partners, but we shouldn’t download responsibility onto groups already operating with limited funding. If the City expects additional cleaning, security, staffing or neighbourhood management, it should provide the resources to make that possible.

The City also needs to consider how its own decisions affect people experiencing homelessness. In June, garbage cans were removed from Carney’s Lane, where people regularly gather to eat meals provided by OSHaRE. More recently, electrical outlets outside City Hall were turned off at night, affecting people who rely on them to charge their phones. For someone navigating the housing system, a charged phone can be essential for accessing housing.
These decisions may seem small, but they can create additional barriers for people already facing them. If elected, I would work to ensure the impacts on vulnerable residents are considered before changes are made to public spaces, and to reverse decisions that unnecessarily create barriers.

The long-term solution is more housing – not policies that make life harder for people experiencing homelessness.

I do not believe Owen Sound should be looking for ways to accommodate AI data centres.

If elected, I would support a one-year moratorium on new data centre development while Council reviews impacts on our water, wastewater, electricity, land and other infrastructure. Larger Ontario municipalities are already taking similar precautions.

Climate Action Team Owen Sound (CATOS) also supports a one-year moratorium on new data centre development in Owen Sound, noting that, “There is growing concern across Canada about the rapid expansion of AI data centres and their potential impacts on freshwater resources, wastewater management, electricity demand, ecosystems, infrastructure, employment, and the local economy.”

Owen Sound already maintains approximately $971 million in water and wastewater infrastructure. I do not want to see limited water capacity committed to a private, high-consumption industry that creates relatively few long-term jobs while concentrating wealth among the corporations and investors who own it. Owen Sound should prioritize development that creates good, lasting jobs and improves economic security for working-class people.

My position is straightforward: Owen Sound’s water and infrastructure should serve our community first. We should put people over profit.

I believe I have the experience gained through my terms as a municipal councillor, to be able to view issues with a level of experience gained through previous terms in the municipal world.

Councillor, Town of Hanover
County Councillor, Grey County
Councillor, Township of Esquimalt, Vancouver Island, BC
Director, Greater Victoria Harbour Authority.
Board Member Greater Victoria Public Library.
Past President, Commissionaires Union of British Columbia
Board member, St John Ambulance Branch, Victoria BC

I have had many years reviewing and voting on municipal interests. Many interest are very similar regardless of the local jurisdiction

Review spending, review service delivery, ensure that provincial or federal grants that the city can apply for are done in a timely manner

Currently it meets the needs of the community, but going forward the spending must be carefully evaluated before future spending is required.

Lack of new commercial and small to medium sized industries, to help offset residential taxes

I am not sure a regional system will work without a private sector provider. Remember regardless of the approach taken costs will always go up due to ie., fuel costs.
How will a funding formula be developed – by population, distance covered, who will control the system? It should be remembered this is not the first time this has been discussed and how have the other proposals worked out?

You may have to look at all the services provided by the city. Can the services be conducted in a different way?

Decrease development fees so developers have the ability to lower the cost of a new building

My experience with talking directly to the unhoused is that they would like to see more single occupancy rooms (formerly boarding houses) as most of the unhoused are single.

Ensure that we have the electrical energy available to support an AI center.

I am running because I want change in the city council so that Owen Sound becomes a leader. I have seen the council sit and wait for things to happen instead of pushing to make them happen.

I have watched the Holland township council and the Owen Sound city council but I have never held a council seat. I have lots of experience with citizen organizations such as the Council of Canadians, 350.org, Climate action Team Owen Sound, OCIA International (Organic Crop Improvement Association), Eat Local Grey Bruce (as president) and the Saugeen Trading Community (on the steering committee). I have been involved in a lot of meetings in various capacities. I was on the board of directors of OCIA International that certified organic farms and processors all over North America and some in South America. The Head office in Lincoln Nebraska had 26 employees.

I believe that effective decision making involves listening to all perspectives and having all of the pertinent information before making any decisions.

The City has no control over a lot of costs to the residents. Efficiencies can maybe be found that will help to lower the budget so that tax increases and water rates are kept as low as possible. I believe that we should keep public services public because whenever a public service is privatized the costs go up because that company has to make a profit but the city only has to cover costs. For that reason , I think that Owen Sound should own and run the city buses.

I know that the current tax rate is high as compared to similar sized towns. The city is only covering its costs and no one wants the water to stop coming in their taps or the snowplow to stop clearing the streets and that costs money. I don’t know if we are too top heavy with salaries at city hall but I have heard that argument so that would require some investigation.

Mental health, drug addiction and homelessness.

I haven’t studied this so I won’t give a “BS” answer. I think that regional transit is a good idea but the public would need to use it frequently and that would require some attitudinal changes because we are too accustomed to getting in the car to go wherever. It would definitely help anyone that doesn’t have a car.

We have to maintain services and infrastructure because not maintaining things ends up costing a lot more. I don’t see that we can bring taxes down partly because of world events that are totally out of our control that affect fuel prices etc. We can look for efficiencies to help reduce costs so that we can hold the line on increases.

The city doesn’t have financial resources to build homes but Grey County does have those resources. The city has some vacant properties where Grey County could build affordable housing. The city needs to force developers to build a percentage of affordable units and get it in writing when they get their permits.

I think that it needs to be a coordinated effort with Grey county and this is already happening. I believe in a Universal basic Income and this has been tested and found to be effective and also at a lower cost than other programs. The federal or provincial governments would have to fund this type of program. In the end these are only “band aid solutions” when we need to address the root cause of the problem which I believe is the underfunding of education, health care and mental health care. Fixing this underfunding won’t help anyone that is homeless today so we still need to do the “band aids”.

I will fight to stop AI centers from being located here.In my opinion we do not need AI. We can make the condition for their approvals so onerous that they will not come to Owen Sound. Some will say that I am turning away lots of tax revenue for the city but we also need to look at what it will cost. Your individual hydro bills will go up and they will be a very large water user. Probably they would want to situate on the bay and draw water in and discharge back to the bay. This will have a large ecological footprint which in my opinion is not acceptable.