WHITEWATER REGION — Dave Mackay wants another term to serve the residents of Whitewater Region township.
“I’m not done yet,” he said. “There are things this council still wants to do.”
While the current council “has come a long way,” in bettering the municipality, Mr. Mackay believes there’s still some work to do.
“I hope most of the council is elected back so we can continue progress in the township. We can continue with our progress on roads and community building.”
While there are issues that need to be addressed, such as working on more roads and ensuring the amalgamation of the recreation department continues, Mr. Mackay believes “making Whitewater Region a better place to live” should be a priority.
The revitalization of Cobden Beach is underway, while the beautification of Little Lakes in Beachburg has been completed.
It’s important the development of the area continues, especially growing the younger population in Cobden, so that schools will remain open.
Mr. Mackay admits that one failure of this council was not being successful in convincing the Renfrew County District School Board to keep Westmeath Public School open.
“We worked hard at trying to keep it open,” he said. “I went to every meeting. Council campaigned. We rebuked the school board for its decision.
“Even at the final meeting, all of council was there. We showed the people we were behind them in wanting to keep the school open.
“But,” Mr. Mackay added, “We weren’t successful.”
While there have been personnel changes at the township, he said staff remains very helpful in ensuring council members have the information required for whatever needs to be discussed.
“It’s interesting to find out about the laws you didn’t know about,” he said. “We have excellent staff. They are willing to help you. People believe government and civil servants are plotting to take over the world. That’s just not true. They help council get the job done most efficiently.”
Mr. Mackay said council is team work and it’s not all glory.
“We fight, cry, punch and don’t always agree, but, in the end, we make things happen,” he said.
And he wants to remain part of the group.
He recalled that he campaigned on two things – to bring at least 10 full-time jobs to the area and ensure good, agricultural land remains in the farming community.
“I’ve met those goals,” he said.
“My job on council is to protect farmland,” Mr. Mackay added. “I’ve had to fight for it, but I won.”
He attended the Ontario Farmland Trust conference and found out that in Ontario, 175 acres of farmland are lost each day.
“We aren’t creating more farmland,” he said.
There were more than 10 full-time jobs created with the expansion of the Whitewater Brewery and the soon-to-be opened Glasshouse Botanics. Mr. Mackay also noted that tourism has picked up in the area because the municipality is better advertised because the people who live, work and play in Whitewater Region are happy and talk about the township.
Mr. Mackay is happy to see 13 people vying for the five councillor positions. However, when it’s time to vote, he said if there are people who talk about cutting back, shutting down, or anything else negative, then they are against growth.
“You can’t cut everything and hunker down,” he said.
Mr. Mackay said Cobden needs growth, especially considering that Beachburg has now passed it in population.
A strong believer in the municipality, he said, “Whitewater Region is the best place to live in Renfrew County.”
A sheep farmer near Beachburg, he and wife Margaret have four children and five grandchildren.
