1) Why are you running?
I’m working for:
• Housing available in our community for everyone
• Local food and farm connections to grow, make, share and celebrate our plenty
• Balancing protection of natural areas with public use and enjoyment
• Support for businesses and people to get to local and global markets
• Places for residents and visitors to work, gather, play and learn
I’ve lived in Kimberley since I was a child. Though I left for school and work for my 20s more or
less, I returned to Grey Highlands in 2017. I am a partner in our family business, Eko Nomos Inc.
Just as I would for Grey Highlands, we help charities, businesses, towns, schools, creating
sustainable livelihoods across Canada.
We do research, planning and evaluation – skills needed on Grey Highlands Council.
2) Are there any steps municipalities can take to help ease cost of living concerns?
Municipalities in Ontario control less than a tenth of the Canadian tax base, but are the closest level of government to most people. Grey Highlands will always need to partner with and advocate to the Province and Federal government to make any big impact on residents’housing, food or energy costs. Yet municipalities in Ontario are also uniquely positioned to inspire and invest in their local economies. To begin, I would focus on building our revenue by seeking and securing sources other than simple tax levies or user fees. Municipalities directly control less than one in every ten tax dollars in Canada (Rural Ontario Municipalities Association 2015). So my first fiscal priority will be to increase the diversity of revenue and investment sources, whether from other levels of government, the market or otherwise. In so doing I’d hope to reduce pressure on tax levies while sustaining or improving service levels in all areas.
3) What are your ideas for economic development in your municipality?
I think by focusing on residents’ quality of life we can make it easier for businesses to locate and stay here because people want to be here. Thus, I hope to invest in more diverse services and physical assets that will encourage people and businesses to move here because it is excellent, not just because it is cheaper. To do this I intend to seek out, support, and build up more Grey Highlands civic and social enterprises, including co-operatives, farmers’ markets, charities and other social purpose initiatives. Municipalities are not exactly businesses, but I think ours can play a good role in building a more
resilient, inclusive and sustainable local econoy. In sum, my priority will be to adopt a more entrepreneurial mindset as a corporation, and a community, in co-operation and partnership with local people, businesses, and organizations.
4) Do you think the municipality has a role to play in the recruitment and retention of physicians and other healthcare workers?
Yes. Again, I think more workers of all kinds are attracted here by the quality of life. This means keeping excellent roads, businesses, services, and recreation opportunities available so that rural living in Grey Highlands is considered less a sacrifice, and more a privilege. Another big part of this is the clinics, hospitals and other facilities that we can staff with health care professionals. The whole Grey Highlands community has acted so admirably to invest in our new hospital, and it will serve as a good beginning to upgrade acute and emergency care services. Yet we also need new investment in home care services to keep families together as long as possible, and long term care assets available locally. Families thrive when they can live closer together. We need services in Markdale for health care and for long term care to support our aging population and the dignity and autonomy of seniors. Thus, every effort should be made to ensure that additional investments in long term care are made to avoid families being separated to Owen Sound or other communities far distant from Grey Highlands.
5) What would you like to see for land development in Grey Highlands?
First in terms of On Farm Diversified Uses, I will uphold our existing Official Plan and C4 designation building maximums and lot minimums. In terms of affordable housing we need to lead the way using strong communications, sound evidence and public advocacy to bring housing-seekers together in the early stages of new housing development. We need to invest patiently in different options to serve the diverse housing needs of Grey Highlanders without seeking only profit for municipal or private coffers. We need to partner with other levels of government, investors and operators of housing to sustain the affordability and accessibility of as many housing units as possible.
6) What would you like to see for community safety and well-being?
I think adopting a ‘safety first’ mentality is just common sense, and we need a bit more of that in deciding how to calm traffic and reduce risk in our villages and rural routes. We are all still reeling from recent tragedies on our roads. Therefore I would take some shortterm steps to install more meaningful safety measures like signs, lights, crosswalks, reflective posts and speed limits at key intersections, and along more in-town roadways lacking sidewalks. As need demands and according to community priorities, I think Grey Highlands may consider re-assigning funds from sources like the Community Improvement Grant or Downtown / Hamlet Revitalization funds and others to get some things done faster than budget might otherwise allow.
Walkers and bikers should be clearly included in new developments, and old routes improved and made safer. This should include adequate public right-of-ways, sidewalks and traffic calming measures. Further, more attention should be paid to pedestrian and bicycling trails, paths, parks, and recreation or sport facilities so that more people can access their preferred exercise without undue risk.