Voters meet candidates in Clifford

CLIFFORD – Arena ice, allocation of spending and a need for “new blood” were some residents’  concerns during a Sept. 28 Minto candidates meeting.

The event, held at the Clifford Community Centre, took on an open format, with each candidate at their own booth. 

“I think that it’s time that we get new council, and obviously it’s showing because this is the first time in the history of the town of Minto we’ve had that many people run,” said Clifford resident Barb Cotts.

Her main concern is a proposed roundabout in Clifford: “I want to know when we’re going to get the roundabout ... They were going to put it there before we had our 150th reunion, and now it’s got put on hold.”

Resident Phylis Huntley is concerned by the “very conflicting answers” she received regarding the lack of ice at the Clifford arena, and asked:  “What are we doing with the arena? Why don’t we have any ice in it?”

Huntley said one candidate told her “nobody wants to come to Clifford to play hockey,” while another said that “was simply not true.”

Huntley expressed concern with the lack of recreation options for seniors and youths.

“There’s an awful lot of kids on the streets doing nothing because there’s nothing to do in Clifford,” she said, adding  she and her friends are forced to drive out of town for seniors programming and recreation.

“We drive to Mildmay, Walkerton, Mount Forest and Harrison to go play cards in the afternoons and in the evenings,” said Huntley. 

“There’s nothing going on here.”

Asked if there’s candidates she prefers, Huntley said, “I want fresh blood in there. I want people with some new ideas.” 

Huntley said she believes the allocation of town spending between Clifford, Harriston and Palmerson is unbalanced. 

“They’re our taxes too. They’re being spent in Harrison and Palmerston, mostly. We don’t get any money spent here,” said Huntley.  

Eleven of 12 councillor candidates attended the event as did both deputy mayor hopefuls.