Wasaga Council deliberatly opaque

Municipal Election October 2026!

Why keep reminding everyone about this? Well my reasons have never been a secret. I do not support most things our present Council is doing. I have dedicated much of my personal time this year to following their actions and commenting as I see fit.

That has actually resulted in several people stepping forward and asking me for advice on how to run for Council. Many have even asked if I will be on the ballot. I am leaning towards being a candidate. Right now, both my wife and I are concentrating on our business.

We need a Council that cares about ALL citizens equally and can reflect that with reasonable budgets, adequate services and community standards that apply to all.

The truth is, a good Council can still make poor decisions. But I would respect those decisions if two things were present.

Open and Transparent Government. (The list of our current councils failings in this matters is astounding)
Independant, dedicated resolve to vote appropriately AFTER contributing useful input when decisions are before Council.
(Presently- There is occasional objection by one or two members at the most, but it is mostly silent voices followed by unanimous votes.)

These two important foundations for good government have been lacking for a couple of years. Who remembers the 2014-18 term of office? These basic principals were important then as well. But TWO stood on their own beliefs while 5 followed the leader.

In the 2018-22 Council it was refreshing to hear 7 (often differing) opinions on subjects and watch as many votes were close calls.

What is different now is that Council and everyone at the top is being paid more and there are several more senior management positions to serve what I see as a Council that behaves more like a Cabal.

So, who will stand in our next election? One can assume most of the existing Council will run. They have turned the job into a nice little part-time job with pretty limited time commitment.

The nasty comments constantly leveled by a select number of Mayoral Supporters against anyone who opposes Council has had two effects;

– It causes many to say they would never willingly subject themselves to that abuse.

– Many others have committed to step up, BECAUSE they won’t tolerate the abuse.

The dismissive attitudes displayed by all seven Council members towards any public scrutiny make me confident that by September of 2026, there will be many new names on the ballot. Most will not raise their hand until the last moment to prevent the online attack team from mounting their nasty posts. But, how sad is THAT fact alone? It truly speaks volumes about the fear that has entered municipal politics.

If you want to understand the depth of the political manipulation used to win the last election do two things;

Look back at the issues that inevitably swung the vote. How many of those issues raised by the winning members have been forgotten about or swept under the rug. You believed campaign lies bolstered by those promoting the current Council. But now, they are in a position to reveal… still, no big reveal!
Look back… go to the week after the last election and see some of the sore winner posts. There was actually boasting of their techniques and many didn’t care about truth, but just focused on, “it worked”.

After thinking about today’s discussion, think about the next two years. It’s not too late to make a difference with this Council. If you try, it is evident you will pay a price, but the results of your pressures may be worth the price.

Honestly, I dont believe this Council cares what you want. If you have a critique, or an idea, they automatically consider you the enemy. They don’t even want to hear your objections. (They simply remove you from their Facebook page)

If you know someone who you feel would make community minded decisions, ask them to start paying attention. Talk to your friends and neighbours. Don’t allow politics to be taboo.

Challenge nasty rumours (this is true for ANY rumour- even ones about the current Council) but don’t blindly believe what people say, just because they say it with conviction. If you have that neighbour or a good friend you trust… ask them the best way to separate truth from fiction. Often those around you have neutral perspectives and are not blinded by previous rumours. TALK POLITICS!

I always try to provide documents to back up my opinions. You should seek the same from those who are just coming across as nasty.

The best way to win a four year mandate in the next election is to have an understanding of what’s broken, how it got broken and then lay out a plan of how to fix it.

Trust me, it can be fixed. All it takes is the ability to stand for what’s right, even if you need to stand alone. If our community can find 7 of these people, (at least 4) then we can start to take our town back.

October 26, 2026… it’s not that far away.

The big question being asked today is, “What unnecessary contracts will be signed before then to tie the hands of the incoming council?” Will this Councils frustration at FRAM walking away lead to brash, hurried decisions?

Who knows, but I will continue to try and keep the discussions alive.