This is the seventh in a 2018 series of commentaries from municipal politicians which allows them to tell you, in their own words, what is important to them, what bugs them and what makes them tick. Each week will feature a member of either the Huntsville or Lake of Bays Council. As we enter an election year, this is your opportunity to get a better picture of your elected politicians. This week: Huntsville Councillor Brian Thompson.
Thanks to Huntsville Doppler for this opportunity and especially for the format allowing for a more personal approach to the wrap-up to 2017.
For me, I leave 2017 behind with mixed feelings.
From a family perspective, I’ve watched my children and their families prosper and achieve, with my oldest granddaughter finishing college and starting her architectural career with a local firm. Another granddaughter is now in her second year at the University of Ottawa and doing well. My youngest grandchildren are also doing well academically and in their chosen sports venues.
And this year we all managed to be together for Christmas and after Christmas for the first time in a few years so that made for the best holiday in years.
On a personal note I managed to get in a bit of travelling this year… a visit to see my brother in British Columbia. But one of the highlights for me was our annual fishing trip with my sons-in-law and grandson to a fishing camp in Northern Ontario. One of these years we’re going to catch more of the elusive pickerel.
I don’t think more needs to be said about Pipe Man and final decisions are needed in the coming months with the sale of the Waterloo Building. I’m really excited about the potential for affordable housing in the Shay-West Road area in the coming year and hopefully getting started on the new home for Fairvern. All the new housing starts have kept Planning and Building departments going at warp speed this year and that looks like it will continue in the immediate future. Council’s commitment to increasing capital for roads is having an impact. Budget deliberations have always been tough and lengthy but always done balancing the community’s needs and ability to pay.
I can’t pass the opportunity to comment on the editorial by Hugh Mackenzie regarding the decision to increase District Council stipend. To set the record straight, this council did not give itself a raise, but voted the increase for the next council. I have never been on any council that voted itself a raise. Secondly, the idea that District Councillors only put in 15 hours a month is laughable and downright misleading. Mackenzie should find another source for his information. I know he never asked me and I’m not aware of any others. Missing from his editorial was information that Muskoka District Councillors, along with all members of councils in the country, are losing a benefit due to changes from the Canada Revenue Agency. Any increase as approved will likely keep the increase for the next council on par with the income of the present council. And Muskoka District Councillor’s pay is well below that of councilors from similar two-tier municipalities. I am curious though as to how Hugh Mackenzie would have voted had he been successful in 2014 in his bid for Mayor of Huntsville and then Chair to the District of Muskoka. I guess we’ll never know.
As for Council this year, for the most part it’s been great. Working with our present Mayor and Councillors in Huntsville is gratifying as all members are anxious to participate and be there for the right reasons. We’ve had our share of contentious issues for sure and differences as well, but at the end of the day there is respect for others’ opinions and decisions, even when they are different from our own. And staff at both the Huntsville and District level, as always, has been great and helpful without exception.
And this makes my decision to run again in 2018 rather difficult on a couple of fronts.
I have reached a milestone in life and spent several months this past year pondering my future and my bucket list. But then being on council is once again fulfilling and, as always, I look forward to dealing with constituents as I have confidence that I will be able to provide the right answers and help with problems they have.
I’ve always promised myself that if the passion wasn’t there and/or I didn’t feel I was capable of doing the job I would quit.
However, I am loving being on council and feel more than capable of doing the job, and as Hugh Mackenzie pointed out in his predictions for 2018, I likely will run as I won’t be able to help myself, but time will tell.
Wishing everyone a fabulous year in 2018.
To read more in this 2018 series of commentaries from municipal politicians, click here.
Brian Thompson has lived in Huntsville for most of his life, other than the years when his careers in broadcasting and lacrosse took him to other cities in North America. He is a father of two daughters and grandfather of three granddaughters and one grandson.
Brian has always been a strong advocate for Huntsville and Muskoka and says he always will be. Brian has sat on different boards in Huntsville, most recently on Muskoka Seniors for 18 years.
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Hugh Mackenzie says
Hi Brian: In relation to your comments about the article I wrote, if you read past the headline, you will see that I said: “To be fair the increases will not take place until the next term of Council in December of this year and they will be phased in over the four year term.” I also said that most of the Councillors who voted for these increases will be at the front of the line for re-election next time around. As well I did mention that part of the increases voted for, were to make up for loss of revenue due to government legislation that stopped municipal Councillors from receiving one third of their salary tax free.