WHITEWATER REGION — Hal Johnson wants your support again as he runs for the top spot in the Township of Whitewater Region.
“I want to go forward with all the things we have made happen for the betterment of the township,” he said.
It’s been an exciting four years, especially with economic development, and he wants to see that continue.
“It’s a benefit to the people here if we can attract more people,” Mr. Johnson said. “I don’t remember a time before where taxes went down because our economic development started to work.”
While economic development did begin shortly after the 2014 municipal election, he said, “It’s taken time to reap the benefits. We are just now starting to see the benefits of what we were promoting.”
Some of the accomplishments with him at the helm of a “great team,” include the construction of Whitewater Brewing Company in Cobden. He said the owners were gong to build outside of the township, but with encouragement from Whitewater Region council, decided not to do that.
“They believed in us,” Mr. Johnson said. “They built here in Cobden,” providing more than 100 jobs.
“That was our very first success story,” he said.
Other successes include the expansion of Haleconia in Beachburg and the selling of the final 10 parcels of land in the industrial park at Greenwood.
“For 30 years there was not a sale and within three years we sold the remaining lots,” Mr. Johnson said. “We are looking in excess of 200 jobs being created.
“That will benefit Whitewater Region and the surrounding areas.”
He also noted there has been much growth in Westmeath, Beachburg and Cobden.
“I want the township to continue moving forward and help it grow,” he said.
The wastewater treatment plant in Cobden is now online following a three-year struggle, he said.
There has also been “a changed attitude of staff from glum to happy in the workplace,” Mr. Johnson said. “That’s a great achievement.”
He credits Chief Administrative Officer Robert Tremblay and Councillor Cathy Regier, who is chair of Corporate Services Committee, which includes the human resources portfolio. He also believes Ms. Regier will represent the township very well if elected to the reeve’s position. (Ms. Regier is running for the reeve’s position in this year’s municipal election.)
Looking to the next four years if elected, Mr. Johnson would like to continue fighting against the downloading from the provincial government, which also includes forcing the government to take back some of the services downloaded, such as policing.
“It’s almost pathetic what’s been happening,” he said. “In ’96 they downloaded policing. We have over a million dollar policing cost for 7,000 people. That’s pathetic.”
The OPP is the most expensive police force in the world, he said.
“We didn’t get to vote on the downloading on policing,” Mr. Johnson said.
Even for other services that have been, or may be downloaded, he said municipal councils get to make comments but not vote.
“I’m not giving up,” he said.
He would also like to continue fighting to get Highway 17 double-laned.
The health and wellness of the residents of the township is also important to council, Mr. Johnson said. Little Lakes Park at Beachburg is a jewel in this township and plans are underway to upgrade the beach at Muskrat Lake in Cobden, he said.
He also wants to help the farming community and believes this can be accomplished by bringing in natural gas. He explained that when farmers dry corn in the fall, they can use as much as a small village, which is a benefit to the gas companies as well as the farmers.
There are also farmers who produce methane and that can be put back into the natural gas line, another benefit for the farmers and gas company.
Cell services also needs to be improved, Mr. Johnson said.
“The cell service between Cobden and Ottawa is ridiculous,” he said, recalling he lost service seven times between those two areas.
Mr. Johnson said he wants to “fight every day for the people of Whitewater Region.
“When I first ran for mayor, I had it in the back of my mind we were in the middle of nowhere,” he said. “Now, we are the centre of the universe.
“People are coming to us.
“I want to be part of council to ensure that growth continues.”
The first term was rewarding, and he believes the next four years will also be rewarding and great things can happen for the township. He wants to be a part of it.
“I’ve proven myself to be honest, caring and have a desire to benefit the people of Whitewater Region,” he said.
Mr. Johnson and wife Wendy celebrated their 42nd wedding anniversary on May 22. They have two adult children, Kelly, is married to Rev. Paul Millar and they have three children and Nathan, who’s not yet married.
