WHITEWATER REGION (Beachburg) — Seventeen candidates are vying for seven council spots on Whitewater Region council.
It was a quiet, all-candidates meeting held Monday evening in the Heritage Hall in Beachburg hosted by the Westmeath and District Recreation Association.
While the hall was filled to capacity, moderators Cindy Jamieson and Daniel James ran a smooth meeting. Each of the 17 candidates were allowed a three-minute opening speech.
The candidates are: Mayor: Hal Johnson (incumbent) and Mike Moore; Reeve: Joe Kowalski, Cathy Regier; Councillor (five to be elected): Donna Burns, Ron Laronde, Daryl McLaughlin (incumbent), Don Rathwell, Dave Mackay (incumbent), Nell Rooney, Charlene Jackson (incumbent), Jim Butterworth, John (Kyle) Dupuis, Allan Lance, John Felix Cull, Neil Nicholson and Chris Olmstead (incumbent).
Also present was Dave Shields, who was acclaimed trustee for Whitewater Region/Admaston Bromley townships for the Renfrew County District School Board.
Many of them read from prepared statements. It would seem from the statements some are hoping to get onto council because of their family histories, such as being born and raised in the area, or having family going back generations in the area. Others want to ensure council is operating the township in a fiscally-responsible manner while others want to ensure we are well represented at the county table.
Those attending had an opportunity to ask questions or raise issues, with no answers coming from the candidates until all had been asked. Ms. Jamieson said no questions or issues were to be addressed to any specific candidate and no personal questions were to be asked.
“It gives everyone running an idea, platforms, so they think about them while campaigning, questions they can address throughout their campaign trail,” Ms. Jamieson said.
The questions/issues raised were: how to get better cell service; why did council waste $20,000 on a $4 dog tag law suit; the wastewater treatment plant is over-budget, is the consulting firm being held accountable for this; provide access for kayakers and canoers to the Ottawa River; has the lawsuit filed by Hal Johnson several years ago been settled; better ambulance service; extension of Hwy. 17.
To close the meeting, each of the candidates had one minute to make a closing remark or respond to any of the questions or issues.
Mr. Shields said the cell phone issue is a huge concern. He said he can be in an underground shopping mall in Toronto and get cell service, yet shopping at Wal-Mart in Pembroke, there is no service.
“I was told, it’s in the works, we’re working on it,” he said. “Well, they’re not doing a good job.”
There are 17 municipalities, four school boards and county council – they should all be able to work together to improve the cell service, Mr. Shields said.
“We need this service,” he said.
Two top jobs
Mayor Johnson noted the lawsuit has been settled, but due to confidentiality is not allowed to say how much he received.
“I got way less than anybody else who was in the same position would have got,” he said. “That’s all I can tell you.”
He, along with Councillor Chris Olmstead met with Transportation Minister John Yakabuski this past August to discuss Hwy. 17 – it is going ahead.
As for Ottawa River access, he said that has been addressed in the recently completed Master Rec Plan for the township.
Mr. Moore spoke about river access as well. “Our greatest commodity in Renfrew County right now, besides farming, is our river,” he said.
“We need access to the river, we need people to serve us here with populace that comes with the background of the kayaking industry and the whitewater region rafting industry,” Mr. Moore said.
The majority of people in some of the hamlets are younger and most travel with a kayak tied to the top of their vehicle, he said.
“They are here because of the river and if we don’t continue to give them access, they’re not going to come back, and they are our future for the tax base,” Mr. Moore said.
Ms. Regier read aloud a statement that has been going around facebook about the three types of people running for council.
“I work, live and play in Whitewater Region and my only agenda is to somehow make some small contribution that makes our municipality a great place to live so we can all continue to thrive and grow together,” she said.
Mr. Kowalski said the biggest issue is jobs, growth and development, “and that’s what I’ve been doing for the last 43 years.
“To have growth and development you have to break out of the status quo, and I can assure you that the provincial policies and the plans of Renfrew County are thwarting our growth and development opportunities and we have to fight against them.
“That is why I’m running for reeve. I want to make sure we break out of the status quo. If things are just the same, we are not going to have that growth and development,” Mr. Kowalski continued. “I truly believe, like everyone else, we are on the cusp of greatness and we can achieve everything that we want to and become the business, residential and tourism capital of, not only the Ottawa Valley, but all of Ontario.”
While someone did shout from the crowd, “What about river access,” it wasn’t an issue he opted to address.
Council Candidates
Mr. Olmstead attempted to respond to each question/concern. Before using up his one-minute allotted time, he said, municipal land should be provided for towers; get rid of dog tags and go to user fees; sewer plant, six delegations to AMO to seek more government funding; growth and economic development help with budget and improved services; access to Ottawa River is part of rec master plan, which is available on the township’s website, committed to opening road allowance; met with Mr. Yakabuski regarding Hwy. 17, getting more details, as they are not aligned with full development on where it’s going.
Mr. Nicholson said thanks for the input.
“Running for a position like this, you need input,” he said. “There’s just so many issues out there that you are just not aware of.”
One issue Mr. Nicholson added is keeping schools open. Two have closed and he is fearful for the survival of the other three in the township.
“The school board’s responsibility is to teach the kids, the municipality has a role to make sure we have kids to put in those schools,” he said. “I, as a councillor if elected, will work towards making sure our schools stay in our rural communities.”
Mr. Cull said the community survives because of its volunteers.
“If we don’t have community volunteers, our community will dwindle and die,” he said. “So, yes, we need seniors. (Ambulance) wait times are a problem. Youth jobs is a problem. River access is a problem, all water access is an issue.”
He believes the issues can be resolved if people work together and look at the future the way “we want it to be.”
Pointing to Mr. Cull sitting beside him, Mr. Lancen said, “I think Mr. Cull here said it pretty good. There are deals that can be made, things that can be discussed. It’s all things we need to be willing to move forward on and work together.
“There’s a lot of issues right now and the world is a scary place, but it doesn’t have to be. We can all work together and help keep each other upright.
“There’s a lot of good people in this area and I don’t think there’s a limit to what we can accomplish if we work together,” Mr. Lance ended.
Mr. Dupuis said there were many good questions, but they all deal with one similar issue.
“Infrastructure for all things we make better is an expensive item and taxes are already, as everybody will probably agree, are pretty well cut-throat,” he said.
He believes it’s imperative council needs to be more transparent, so everyone knows what’s going on and understands where the money is going.
Mr. Butterworth, who had continuously mentioned his name throughout his opening, brought laughter from the audience as he pointed to himself and repeated his name again.
“The best customer is the one we already have,” he said. “When we think about tourism, we think about the people who come, say hi to us and leave. Our goal for tourism from now on is you’re here to come and you are going to want to stay.
“Our goal with tourism is it’s just one of the stepping stones to hanging out here with us in Whitewater Region,” Mr. Butterworth continued.
As for internet and cell service, he contacted NRTCO and spoke about the challenge. He tried to contact Bell Canada, and he will continue to try and reach them.
Ending, he said, “Think big, think different, think Jim Butterworth.”
Ms. Jackson said everyone is aware there are infrastructure needs in the township. Services, long-term and to be sustainable, means abiding by the asset management plan legislated by the provincial government, she said. This plan addresses all the service needs, such as what is it, when do you rehab a road, when do you rehab a building, when do you replace it, when to reconstruct a road, all need to be addressed.
She’s hopeful the township will be ready on July 1, 2019 with its asset management plan and that she will be there to help the township prepare for it, as she is certified in the plan.
“Vote for Charlene Jackson to be your voice, calm, cool, and I know my stuff,” Ms. Jackson said.
Ms. Rooney read aloud a prepared statement about herself, including family, business and volunteer work.
“It would be an honour to represent you on council,” she said.
Mr. Mackay said there is currently a great council that works well together.
Mr. Rathwell, also reading from a prepared statement, spoke about looking to the future for business and residential growth. By doing that, schools remain open and businesses remain vital, he said.
“I would ask for your support, and in turn, I will work the best I can for all residents,” Mr. Rathwell said. “I’ve done that for many years before and I’ll do it again and be proud to represent you at the council table.”
Mr. McLaughlin said growth and development will help ensure schools remain open.
“More people mean more children, more children bring more people to the schools and the schools say open,” he said.
As for ambulance service, Mr. McLaughlin noted he has been on council for 15 years and this discussion has taken place, with the ambulance staff at the table numerous times.
“It’s not that it’s going in deaf ears,” he said.
In closing, Mr. McLaughlin said, “On October the 22nd, vote for experience, accountability and a common-sense approach.”
Mr. Laronde said with the Progressive Conservatives in power, there’s a good chance the cell phone and highway questions and concerns can be addressed. It’s imperative a delegation of residents, business people and council get together and go talk to the powers-that-be in Toronto, he suggested
“Growth in the community is needed to save our rinks, to save our schools,” Mr. Laronde said. “Our Cobden rink had a tough time this year, there were a lot of mistakes, and hopefully, one thing I know is sports, I can work with that.”
Ms. Burns said how council spends township money should be a priority to provide essential services to keep the people here in the township.
“Get our priorities straight on what is essential and what is fluff,” she said. “We have to focus on that to keep our people. Without our people we have no municipality.”
Closing out the evening to allow those in attendance to talk individually with the candidates, Ms. Jamieson said, “It’s extremely heart-warming to see so many people who care about our region who have put their names forward to run to represent us.”
There are people who complain and think they know the answer to everything, but when suggested they run for council, they’re not to be seen, she added.
Ms. Jamieson said it’s imperative everyone ensure they are on the voting list and can do this by going online or calling the township office.
