Minto candidates discuss growth, supporting local, council errors

HARRISTON – Minto candidates faced voters at the Harriston Community Centre for an all-candidates event on Oct. 7.

Residents packed the hall for the event, which was moderated by Nick Pal and attended by 11 councillor candidates and two deputy mayoral hopefuls: Jean Anderson and Marté Pronk.

Councillor candidates present were:

• Paul Zimmerman;
• Shawn McDonald;
• Ron Elliott;
• Joe Park;
• Susan Thurston;
• Mike Roesch;
• Judy Dirksen;
• Jennifer Gibson;
• Patrick Raftis;
• Louise Howe; and
• Debra Dennison.

Absent was councillor candidate Joe Andrade.

The councillors were split into two groups of six and then two subgroups of three. Not all candidates received the same questions but each got to answer two.

Council errors

Pal’s first question had audience members murmuring when he asked, “what is the one thing you believe the current council has gotten wrong and what would you do differently?”

“We need to really work on our recreation … we’re not really hitting the mark for all ages,” Gibson said.

With her background in recreation, Gibson touched on vandalism occurring in Clifford and Harriston due to a lack of recreational activities for kids.

“We should be looking into things that get kids out in our community and get them off of their phones and tablets,” she added.

Dennison stated the need for more communication with residents and Howe followed by speaking about Clifford’s roads.

Candidates were asked about keeping taxes and user fees low while also addressing the desire for “better” roads, recreational facilities, park programs and other services.

Determining which requests Minto can afford and which it can not, is “kind of like having your cake and eating it too,” said Zimmerman.

“We can just carefully look at things … assess them and simply do what we can do with what money we have,” he added.

Elliott’s approach is to continue the town’s “good” relationship with its MP and MPP as they “do favour us with a bunch of grants every year and it helps us get ahead.”

“I’ve heard a lot of feedback about the roads … everybody’s complaining about them whether it’s Clifford, Harriston or Palmerston,” Park said.

He said he believes council needs to “make sure the money is being spent well and not just needlessly.”

One specific change

Asked what one thing he would change in Minto, Roesch mentioned additional recreational opportunities for all ages, specifically seniors.

If elected, Dirksen wishes to change council’s communication efforts, but “can’t figure just exactly what that looks like.”

“Most people would receive a lot of unwanted information if we send it all out … you would be buried and most of it would hit the recycling bin by noon,” she said. 

“There’s only a small amount that most people are interested in.”

Biggest challenge facing town

Both Roesch and Raftis agreed the town’s biggest issue over the next four years will be its growth.

“We’ve got a whole bunch of developments on the go and more approved … we’ve got to do that responsibly [and] make sure we have the infrastructure,” Roesch said.

“The thing about growth is that it causes people fear and I don’t think we need to fear it,” Raftis said.

Preparing the infrastructure, water systems and recreational facilities are key elements to eliminating the fear, Raftis said.

As for Dirksen, Minto’s future challenge could be in regards to wind turbines.

The possibility of wind turbine development is up in the air since Prowind, a German-based renewable energy company, pitched the idea to council in June.

“I don’t know whether it’s an issue for everyone because the area [Prowind] are looking at is north of 12th line,” Dirksen said. “That’s only a small fraction of our municipalities.”

Dirksen also expressed the need to build the “team of Minto again.”

“I’m not just talking about in the council chambers. I am talking about out in the highways and byways of Minto,” she added. “We need to get back to working together for the common cause of making Minto better.”

Attract and retain

McDonald and Thurston were asked about attracting and retaining businesses in the town.

“We are trying to create more land. That is one issue that we are facing,” McDonald said.

Another “huge issue” for McDonald is Minto’s limited affordable housing.

“I think we’re doing some creative things in the community [such as] working with the province to do additional dwelling units,” he said.

A necessity for Thurston is having “shovel-ready industry available.”

“Shovel-ready means that your business is there, you’ve got your water and sewage ready for industry or manufacturing,” she said. “That will help businesses in town.”

Two candidates, one seat

Anderson and Pronk were last to answer questions.

In regards to attracting/retaining businesses, Anderson believes her answer is “fairly well known.”

“We have opportunities available in this community that are simply not available in others,” Anderson said. “We have endless service and support for people bringing a new business to town. The support and retaining business; that’s up to you.”

“We need to shop there, we need to use the services they provide,” she said.

Pronk believes the town needs to be “careful” over the next few years with its strategic plan.

“Whatever businesses do come to us, we have to make sure that it is what we as a community want,” he said.

Before Anderson’s political career ends she hopes to see vital information posted on a card or poster, in every business and municipal building.

The information will “get somebody in need an actual voice to answer the phone and provide you with that meal you need; that place to rest your head; that safety for you and your children,” she said. “Currently, this does not exist.”

Anderson’s goal: to have every place in Minto be able to find help for someone when they need it.

As for Pronk, he’d like to see more unity among the entire community.

“I think there’s going to be trouble with volunteers in the coming years,” he said.

Pronk added younger generations must be encouraged to volunteer and help to share the “burden.”

“There’s not just one group that deserves attention,” he said.