Organizers of the Innisfil all-candidates’ meeting faced a big challenge: 24 candidates were registered in the races for mayor, deputy mayor and councillors in seven wards.
The challenge was overcome through organization and timing — allowing candidates for councillor only three minutes at the microphone, deputy mayoral candidates five minutes, and candidates for mayor 10 minutes to talk about themselves and the issues, and answer questions.
Even so, the event was slated to last 103 minutes, said moderator for the evening, Deborah McGrath.
Participants and the audience got a bit of a break. Bill Van Berkel, acclaimed in Ward 2, declined to speak, leaving more time for questions. And three candidates — Paul Best, running for deputy mayor, and Matthew Kenney and Inna Shafir, candidates in Ward 4 — did not attend.
Official timer Lorraine Durnford-Hill kept things on track, shutting off the microphone as soon as a candidate hit the time limit.
The event was held at Innisfil Community Church, in two parts. During the afternoon, residents could drop in and chat with candidates at a meet and greet with the candidates, picking up campaign literature.
In the evening, the formal meeting took place in the church’s sanctuary — the only venue with a stage large enough to accommodate the full slate.
Candidates were introduced ward by ward. Here are some of the highlights:
Ward 1
Kevin Eisses, lifelong resident of Innisfil and third-generation farmer, identified “liveability,” maintaining the character of Innisfil, and making the town sustainable as the key issues. “We all see frustrating things in a town that’s growing so fast. I think it’s up to council to do that,” he said.
Linda Zanella, a wife and mother, with 17 years experience as a school board trustee, identified traffic and safety as her biggest concerns. “The one thing that keeps coming up is safety, and the speeding… Yonge Street has become a major speedway, Innisfil Beach Road is becoming a major speedway.”
Ward 2
Acclaimed candidate Bill Van Berkel declined to speak.
Ward 3
Tara Filteau, describing herself as a “local, concerned community advocate,” said she moved to Innisfil with her family “to raise our children” but was concerned by the lack of school zone signage and painted lines on roads, and access to recreation. “Our beaches are less accessible due to overcrowding on weekend,” she said.
Donna Orsatti, incumbent: “We have made changes based on your feedback, but they no longer meet the needs of residents,” she said, promising if re-elected to “meet our needs first, in a growing community, from property standards bylaws, traffic safety… stopping illegal parking and dumping in our parks.”
Ward 4
Bill McConnell promised to serve with honour, respect and strength. Issues ranged from overcrowding at Innisfil Beach Park — “We’ve lost the park on the weekend. We’ve got to take it back” — to development and hydro rates. “Bradford and Barrie partnered with PowerStream (Alectra) and saved taxpayers money… I want to make a change.”
Christian Pitcher grew up in Alcona, and has worked at Queen’s Park for 15 years. “Things are broken. Change never truly happens… Children’s safety — it still needs to be addressed. Innisfil Beach Park is being mismanaged… We need to take a good look at the town and the town staff. There is no transparency there.”
Alex Waters, retired from working for the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority at the Kortright Centre for Conservation, has been an Innisfil resident for 30 years. “Has it changed! Some of it for the good, some of it not.” Issues included sustainability, flood management, and a greenbelt between 20 and 25 Sideroad “before the developers get their claws into it… It provides green space, safety, a natural corridor. Also it stops flooding, further down.”
Candidates Inna Shafir and Matthew Kenney were not present.
Ward 5
Kenneth Fowler called for growth to be slowed, to give servicing the opportunity to catch up. He called for a walking eco-trail to Innisfil Beach Park, and more focus on youth. “By giving our children the chance to succeed we can open doors, and walk through with them.”
Jeffrey Rice, son of the founder of Sandycove Acres retirement community, said, “it’s important for me to carry on his legacy.” He called for a clean Lake Simcoe, a per-person gate fee at Innisfil Beach Park for non-residents, and “effective tag and tow policies. Enforcement is the key.” He called for more transparency regarding new development proposals. “Let’s have these new developments online and available.”
Ward 6
Carolyn Payne, incumbent and chair of the Innisfil Community Health Committee, promised to listen to residents and deal with staff, “to deal with issues in a timely manner. I will continue to be there for you, to listen to you. I will do my best to keep your taxes reasonable.”
Marc Seguin has 15 years of experience in federal, provincial and municipal governments “putting action plans in place… Now I’m moving over to the other side of the table.” He called for “innovation, innovative partnerships … A controlled budget is a priority of my platform.”
Ward 7
Rob Nicol, incumbent, noted: “We all want tax increases to be small… but what services are we going to cut?” He spoke of the “huge benefits” down the road of not selling InnPower to a larger utility — and his own efforts in rejecting the servicing of the Highway 400 Employment Lands until there is a valid business case. “The development community will have to fully fund their infrastructure.”
Don Tata, real-estate entrepreneur, focused on “our lake, our public facilities and green spaces,” and promised ‘informed decision-making… I will use my sound financial knowledge to reduce the cost of hydro power,” and make “economically-sound business decisions.”
Deputy mayor candidates
Dan Davidson, a former councillor and deputy mayor, has worked as community liaison officer for Friday Harbour Resort, “one of the most environmental, sustainable resorts in the world.” He told the crowd, “Yes, I have been watching from the sidelines, but I have been listening to you” — identifying needs that include improvements to the 20th and 25th Sideroads, widening of Innisfil Beach Road west of Alcona, and taxes. “Our reserves have been depleted. We must balance our needs with our ability to pay.”
Steven Fishman, former provincial candidate for Simcoe-Grey and a “centrist on the political spectrum,” praised initiatives like Innisfil’s Uber rideshare transit, and mobile youth centres, but he noted, “we also have the highest property taxes in Simcoe County, and highest hydro in Simcoe County.” He supported development but called for a slowdown, a stop to development in wetland areas, and a “freeze on Innisfil taxes until the finances are in order… Ensure that development is done in such a way that we don’t destroy the natural beauty of our town.”
Angela Gravelle, with more than 25 years of senior municipal experience, said: “Policies, practices and procedures… are in place to ensure the transparency and accountability of council… I know we can do better.” She would not promise a tax cut, but promised to “ensure our tax dollars are being spent wisely… Streamline and find the capacity to deliver the services we need, and perhaps at a saving… Smarter development should and must be a priority.” She concluded: “I know there’s a great deal of community passion. The key for us now is to be able to harness that energy… to move Innisfil forward.”
Henry Kooistra, farmer-turned real-estate agent, said he has regularly attended Innisfil council meetings in the last three years “as a concerned citizen” and is running “to make a difference in the quality of lives of the people of Innisfil… My campaign is about keeping taxes as low as possible, but not at the expense of services.” He promised to “stand up to developers who want to cut corners,” and strongly supported investment in the Highway 400 Employment Lands, “but not without a business plan.” As for Innisfil Beach Park — “Everyone knows Innisfil Beach Park is our jewel that is impossible to access on weekends.” He concluded: “One promise I can keep (is) to look after your tax dollars like a true Dutchman.”
Paul Best was unable to attend.
Mayoral candidates
Barb Baguely, former mayor, and member of the Innisfil Historical Society, Innisfil Arts Culture and Heritage Council, and Rotary Club, called on voters to “evaluate the past and think about the direction you want to take for the next four years… I would be a mayor that focuses on you, on Innisfil issues. I want to hear your ideas and concerns.” She said: “I understand that the money we’re spending is your money,” and called for more accessibility and transparency in council. Top issues included Innisfil Beach Park: “I believe there are solutions that come from the community (that can be) implemented in time for next summer, so we can all enjoy it.”
Stan Daurio, former Ward 4 councillor and Town of Markham finance and budget chair, promised to look at an Innpower partnership with Alectra, which he said could generate “$5 (million) to $7 million in interest and dividends, that would freeze your taxes.” He spoke of “making our infrastructure program smarter,” and a “take back the park” strategy for Innisfil Beach Park to deal with late-night racing, overcrowding on weekends, overflowing litter containers. “I work for you — you’re the only boss that I have.”
Lynn Dollin, current deputy mayor and president of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), is running for the mayoral position. Dollin called for greater two-way communication between residents and council, noting, “I don’t have all the answers; together we have the answers.” She said the town has been successful with its innovative Uber rideshare transit system, and health-care partnerships. “What we aren’t doing right is all the little things — the lines and stripes on the roads… But if we can’t empty a garbage can or change a streetlight without calling six times, we’re going to erode people’s confidence.”
All three mayoral candidates spoke for less than their allotted time, and instead answered questions — one of which was, “If elected, how would you lead with integrity?”
Baguley noted she had helped to bring in a Code of Conduct for council, adding that she was “extremely disappointed” by recent events, that resulted in a censure from the town’s integrity commissioner. “I have never accepted gifts or campaign contributions from developers,” she said, calling for revisions to the code.
Daurio’s response: “I know that our Code of Conduct needs review.”
Dollin noted that Innisfil was one of the first municipalities to introduce a Code of Conduct and retain an integrity commission. “We need to strengthen our Code of Conduct, and I am in support of that."
