An All Candidates Meeting for Highlands East drew quite the crowd.
The Lloyd Watson Centre was at capacity Thursday when the candidates gathered to answer questions from the voters from Wilberforce and beyond. All told, there were 10 candidates in attendance, competing for votes. They’re vying to fill the mayor’s chair or the councillor seats for Wards One, Two, and Four.
Seeking re-election is incumbent Mayor Dave Burton. Burton says that his goals for the next term in office are to bring a doctor to the area, improved internet and cell service in the area and wanting Highlands East to get a bank. Cheryl Ellis who is also running for mayor says that although she does not have political experience, she says that “new blood” could be a good thing.
The candidates for Ward One’s councillor are Steve Kaufeldt and Cam Mckenzie. McKenzie, a former Army Reservist, detailed his past work experience before becoming the councillor. McKenzie says that he had a career with the Ministry of Resources and Forestry, spent 37 years as a volunteer firefighter and is the chair of a food bank. Kaufeldt, also a volunteer firefighter, says that he was born and raised in Bancroft but now calls Cardiff home. He was involved in council in the past.
Ward Two’s candidates are Suzanne Partridge and Jane Russell. Partridge has been the Ward Two councillor for 17 years, and as of last year was appointed to the County Warden position. Partridge says that she has lived here in the area for 46 years and would like to see a county-wide transportation system. Russell admitted that she has not lived here long, but believes her enthusiasm, if elected, will help her oversee improvements to things like the roads, schools and environmental issues.
Ward Four is highly contested with four possible candidates running: James Deterling, Peter Fredricks, Bradley Keller and Ruth Strong. Deterling says that he has 10 years on council. Fredricks sits on the board for the Haliburton County Development Corporation, as well as being involved with housing committees. Keller, an employee of the county, admits that he does not have any political experience but says that he wants to see changes, adding that he is willing to get totally involved. Strong says that she served on council in the 90s and says that she is confident in her ability to deal with problems and talk to large groups.
After the introductions, the floor was opened for the community to ask the candidates questions. A large number of the night’s questions were asked of Burton and Ellis.
One topic that all of the candidates weighed in on was short-term rentals. Candidates were asked if they would enforce the by-laws already in place to deal with short-term rentals. McKenzie felt that the tax-payer should not have to bear the cost of policing the rentals or have to pay for maintenance that comes with it. Burton says that the municipality has embraced the idea of allowing short-term rentals but was worried about the environmental impact and the safety concerns that go with short-term rentals. Ellis felt that the by-law should be enforced even if it means eating into more of the budget.
One person outright asked the candidates if they support short-term rentals and the new by-law related to them. Several of the candidates were torn on the issue, some saying that they are for the rentals but not the new by-law. McKenzie says “if it was a simple question, there would be a simple answer.” Both Burton and Strong felt that there are definite concerns like issues of noise complaints and the overtaxing of septic systems.
Tina Jackson, with the Haliburton County Transportation Taskforce, was the driving force behind getting the candidates talking about the ongoing transportation issues in the county. She asked what the candidates felt was the role of the municipality in making transportation possible. Ellis said that there is potential funding from the federal government coming down the pipeline to make that happen. Burton says that the current administration is looking into how to make it happen but urged that anything they do needs to bring people into Highlands East and not just take people out of the area.
Improving cell and internet service was something on everyone’s mind throughout the night after a resident pointed out that Rogers and Bell do not service the area for the most part. Partridge acknowledged how problematic the internet service in the area is by admitting that she does not have internet at home. Partridge went on to say that the Eastern Ontario Warden’s Caucus is working on it. Burton chimed in to say that he has been trying for 10 years to get the service in the area improved, adding that he feels it will happen in the next four years.
The issue of housing came up when a woman pointed out that there are no assisted living facilities in the area. She asked if housing is an important issue to the candidates. All 10 agreed that it is, in fact, an issue. Fredricks believes that the minimum size for homes needs to be reduced to make it easier to build. Deterling suggested that if the Ministry of Education would add a focus on trades that it would create more trades-people and by proxy more jobs and eventually housing. Burton explained that as mayor his hands are tied and that before new housing can be built, sewer and water infrastructure need to be in place.
“Do we have the money to complete the septic re-inspection program?” is what one woman asked Burton as he is the sitting mayor. Burton explained that yes they have that budgeted to be done to completion, adding he hopes that it will be done in five years.
After a series of questions going to Burton and Ellis, a question was directed to the candidates for Ward Four. “What are your plans to keep kids here?” Deterling suggested that trades jobs would keep children living and working in the area. Fredricks felt that the children would stay if there were training and activities geared to them. Keller answered by saying that he was not sure what there was for kids to do in the area.
My Haliburton Now asked a question to the mayoral candidates, asking if elected would they opt-in to allow the sale and distribution of marijuana in the municipality. Burton pointed out that the feds are giving funding to help regulate pot sales but felt that more money and time is needed. Ellis explained that she had spoken to a Bancroft doctor that told her the “stuff being bought on the street” is being laced with crystal meth. She added that she is for a dispensary if it means usage of pot will be safer.
With winter on its way, the topic of conducting ice rescues came up. A local firefighter asked Ellis and Burton their thoughts on training firefighters to be certified in ice rescues. She added that firefighters if not certified are not allowed to go onto the ice to try and rescue anyone that has fallen in.
Ellis pointed out that there is training that can be done for a cost and supports the idea of firefighters getting it. Burton pointed out to the crowd and his opponent that there are regulations and steps that need to be taken to make that happen, adding that he was surprised that Ellis did not know that.
As the night drew on and there were suggestions made and heard, a concerned citizen asked where the money for things like the transit issue and training firefighters is going to come from. Burton explained that those kinds of expenses come from the taxpayer.
The landfill and recycling was the focus of several questions as well. One person asked why they don’t take soft plastics, another asking why there isn’t a re-use store at the landfill and finally what are people supposed to do with empty alcohol containers.
Partridge was quick to answer that the landfills do take soft plastics and the person asking was misinformed for an unknown reason. The idea of a re-use store sounded good to Deterling who said he would support that. Burton said he would have to dig into how to get approval for something like that.
The next all-candidates meeting will be for Minden Hills at the Minden Community Centre, Thursday the 27th at 7:00pm.