Comments get pointed in final Centre Wellington debate before election

ABOYNE – Those who were hoping for one finally got a sense of debate in the race for mayor of Centre Wellington.

The gloves didn’t exactly come off at the Conversation with the Candidates event organized by the Centre Wellington Black Committee, held at Central Church the evening of Oct. 15.

But it got pointed, there were rebuttals, a few digs at each other’s platforms, and moderator Kerry Lee Crawford called the exchanges “fiery and inspiring” at the close of the meeting.

After opening statements, the mayoral candidates – Kelly Linton, Bronwynne Wilton, Stephen Kitras, Shawn Watters and Neil Dunsmore – were asked questions posed by the moderator and generated from the organizing committee’s call for questions from the community.

All the candidates have served on council before.

Linton was a Centre Wellington councillor from 2010 to 2014, was mayor from 2014 to 2022, Wellington County warden from 2018 to 2022, and didn’t run again in 2022.

Wilton has served one term as Ward 5 councillor. She also ran as the local Green Party candidate in the last provincial and federal elections.

Kitras was Ward 5 councillor from 2014 to 2022. He ran in the federal and provincial elections for the New Blue Party.

Watters was a county councillor from 2010 to 2018 and was elected Centre Wellington mayor in 2022.

Dunsmore was Ward 4 councillor from 2018 to 2022, when he stepped away from his council seat to run for mayor. That race was subsequently won by Watters.

Some questions in the evening were for everyone; others were directed at one candidate, in which case others could offer rebuttal if they raised their hand first.

The format led to some direct back-and-forth exchanges between candidates. For the last public event before election day, it proved to be an opportunity to see the candidates think on their feet.

Questions for all candidates

The moderator said many black residents of Centre Wellington are still experiencing discrimination and asked how would you ensure equitable employment?

Dunsmore noted the diversity, equity and inclusion committee (DEI) could offer an opinion, but in general terms, he would find the barriers and work to remove them.

Watters said the solution “involves all of us.” That means engagement with the DEI committee and also with residents, he said.

“I have a hard time understanding discrimination,” Kitras said. “We need to get back to a welcoming committee and building connections … One-on-one is the best way to empower people.”

Wilton said the DEI committee has done a great job running almost every proposal through the DEI lens. She noted staff also holds a newcomer event and said the new economic development and tourism municipal service corporation could run workshops to understand discrimination in the workplace.

Linton said the only way to address the struggle is to identify the barriers. He said the township can review its own hiring practices and broaden the way it appoints members of the advisory committees as a way to set an example for other businesses.

The Centre Wellington Black Committee wants to relocate Richard Pierpoint’s log cabin, that was removed from Pierpoint Park many years ago. How would you champion returning the cabin to its original site?

Kitras said the matter should go to the heritage committee and would require funding, “But I would support something like that.”

Watters said he has seen the original cabin, and it is in bad shape, making it difficult to bring it back. “But I would support some facility on the site,” he said, adding he thinks the community would support a fundraising effort.

Dunsmore said the Canadian government has funding for heritage projects and he thought the community would support it as well. “We should be able to raise the money really quickly,” he said.

Linton said he didn’t learn anything about Richard Pierpoint as a kid in school and he’s excited to see the community learning and caring about this import piece of history. He saw a role for the township, for business and for volunteers and thought it could “galvanize” the community.

Wilton said she appreciates the history of Pierpoint Park and the fly-fishing reserve and brought forward a motion in her term on council to protect the space by removing it as an option for a Highway 6 bypass in the county’s transportation plan. She also said the land was donated and there were covenants that no structures could be built on the land. 

“So it’s a little more complicated than these gentlemen have said.” 

How will you ensure the multi-ethnicity of the population is reflected in local decisions?

Linton said he would get the thoughts from residents before decisions are made and that starts with a strategic action plan conceived with input from the mayor, council and residents.

“We will set priorities based on the priorities you tell us,” he said. “I will make sure engagement is absolutely meaningful.”

Wilton said she has “excellent skills at engagement,” proven by her work at the University of Guelph. She would set the stage so people “feel they are welcome and able to speak.”

Kitras said he’s all for democratic reform and listening to the people’s voices. He proposed each ward holding open houses and from that get a list of what citizens think should be in the strategic plan.

Watters said he’s conducted townhall meetings in every community and highlighted the success in Belwood, which now has its own committee to offer guidance on projects there.

Dunsmore said a strategic plan would begin with thoughts from council and from township staff and then work to develop a strategic plan for this term of council.

What would be your first action as mayor and how would you report on it?

Linton said his first act would be establishing priorities that are realistic to achieve in four years. Then council and staff would develop an action plan, “and then we deliver,” he said.

“I don’t often agree with Kelly,” Wilton said, adding developing a strategic plan would be her first action, too. That would require input from staff, from council and from the community, she said.

Kitras pointed to his detailed platform, adding if he wins, he sees it as a mandate for the CAO to develop a budget with a zero per cent tax increase for residents. He also sees value in having a finance advisory committee and an integrated growth plan.

Watters said the previous council defined the urban boundary and has a plan for the Fergus South lands. He said council is a continuum that will have to digest where the township is now and decide what to do next. 

“The horse is out of the barn,” he said. “We’re moving” and there’s no turning back.

Dunsmore said community engagement will be vital in developing a strategic plan to guide and direct staff and council for the coming four years. “We need your voice to set the goals,” he said.

To Dunsmore: The moderator said there is a shortage of before- and after-school childcare and claimed municipal employees get priority. How would you increase childcare spots and make the wait list transparent?

Dunsmore said childcare is a county responsibility and the county needs to provide more funding for it. “I would need to clarify if municipal employees get priority as well,” he said.

In her rebuttal, Wilton noted growth is to pay for growth through development charges and that only two per cent of the county’s development charges go to childcare.

Dunsmore replied the township has to work with the county to push for changes to the development charges act. “It’s time to start pushing back against Mr. Ford and his government,” he said.

To Kitras: How will you ensure growth is balanced, farmland is protected and the small-town character of the township remains?

Kitras said the township needs a comprehensive growth plan that includes things like daycare centres and employment. He said developers tend to work outside the township’s boundaries and then go to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) and get what they want.

Dunsmore, in his rebuttal, said that’s why he would establish a community planning permit system, that would set height and density requirements. This would require extensive community input but would forever after streamline the planning system and keep development off farmland.

“Ninety per cent of OLT decisions goes with the developer,” Kitras countered. “We need to (promote) farming as a livelihood so selling to developers is not the only retirement option.”

To Linton: How would you improve mobility across Fergus and Elora?

Linton acknowledged it’s “tough to get around,” especially in Elora, with tourism. He said a Highway 6 bypass is essential and he would set up a working group with the township, county and residents to determine where it should be located. “We have to get trucks away from downtown Fergus,” he said. “There’s no simple solution, but we have to start.”

Wilton in her rebuttal agreed on the need for a bypass, “but you were mayor for eight years and county warden,” she said. “Why was it not started in those eight years?”

Linton said they did move ahead with the transportation master plan and realized early on that the Pierpoint Park solution “wasn’t going to fly.” He said community consultation is needed “right off the bat.”

To Watters: The moderator claimed that Habitat for Humanity homes in Garafraxa Village are almost as expensive as for-market homes. How will you address affordability?

Watters said he couldn’t comment on the workings of Habitat for Humanity and while housing is not a municipal responsibility, the township purchased land in Fergus for affordable housing. He said the more homes are built in infill sites, the lower the cost can be for purchasers.

In his rebuttal, Kitras said to Watters: “You’ve made affordable housing a priority, but nothing got done. You bought the land but don’t have a builder. You built a $40-million operations centre but no affordable housing.”

“It took three years to get the money from Wellington County,” Watters responded. “We know it’s an issue.”

To Wilton: There have been many power outages that seem connected to growth and new development. How would you ensure we have enough electricity?

Wilton said Centre Wellington Hydro is a good outfit that provides steady, reliable electricity for much of the township. But Hydro One services beyond Centre Wellington Hydro’s border and doesn’t provide the same service. “Hydro One won’t give up the space,” she said.

In his rebuttal, Dunsmore said former Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott had lobbied the province on behalf of the township, “but it’s a provincial issue, and they’re not budging.”

To Kitras: How will you work with Centre Wellington District High School to address racism in schools?

Kitras said he would meet with school board trustees to devise a plan. He would also work with the DEI committee for solutions.

To Dunsmore: How would you support local businesses and cultural tourism?

Dunsmore said the proposed municipal accommodation tax (MAT), which is a tax paid by people to stay in local hotels, motels, B&Bs, and AirBNBs, is supposed to pay for infrastructure like parking and garbage removal. Similarly paid parking in downtown Elora is supposed to cover tourism-related costs as well. 

“We need tourism to pay for tourism,” he said. “Tourism is a great success, but it comes with issues.”

In his rebuttal, Linton said tourism needs to be managed better. He noted the in-house parking bylaw enforcement that’s coming will be expensive. “The next council can have a say,” he said.

To Wilton: Rural residents have a lack of access to recreation facilities. How will you make it more equitable?

“The honest truth is there’s not much of a work-around,” she said, adding rural residents can use the county’s RideWell transit system to get into Fergus and Elora and an in-town bus system is being contemplated. She said the updated Parks and Recreation Master Plan showed “huge deficiencies” in recreation programs and facilities.

In his rebuttal, Watters noted the major upgrade happening at Belwood Hall that will offer some recreational programming when the project is complete.

Wilton agreed it will improve access to recreation programs. “I’m super excited,” she said. “It was only to be accessible washrooms.”

To Linton: How will you deliver better value, employment?

Linton said he’s running again because, “I feel a need for different leadership.” He said he’s “not thrilled” that 50 more full-time staff will be added and that the operations centre has risen to $40 million. He said lowering operating costs will allow for more money to go to infrastructure renewal.

“You can’t cherry pick your numbers,” Watters countered in his rebuttal, noting there were nine new hires in Linton’s first term as mayor and 23 in his second. 

“And in your last two years you took asset management out of the budget so taxes would look great. We have $1.2 billion in assets.”

Linton retorted that “Watters is doing his own cherry picking,” and noted the 2% levy (for bridges and culverts) was to be removed when the reserve fund hit $2.8 million.

To Watters: How will you provide financial stewardship on spending?

Watters said the township is in a hard place because municipalities are required to have balanced budgets and they are trying to manage decreasing development charges. 

“It’s not easy with more responsibility placed on us by the province,” he said.

In his rebuttal, Kitras said the township needs a finance committee consisting of regular citizens.

The four-hour meeting also included introductions and questions put to council and county council candidates. There are 17 candidates running for positions in six wards in the township and two vying for one spot on county council.

Voting in Centre Wellington is by phone or internet. Residents should have already received their unique voting identification information in the mail.  Voting closes on Oct. 26. Visit the township website for more information.