In the weeks leading up to this year’s municipal election, Huntsville Doppler will be posting a commentary from each of the local candidates. The order of appearance is completely random. To read commentary from other candidates, click here.
Meet Brian Thompson, a candidate for election to Huntsville and District Council
Brian Thompson
There are several issues facing the next Huntsville Council but I will address those that I feel are most important to our future.
The future of Health Care and keeping an Acute Care Hospital in Huntsville has a much more positive outlook with developments this summer. The recommendation of the MAHC Board for two Acute Care Hospitals in Muskoka and the support of this decision from various levels of government, including the Ontario Minister of Health and Premier Ford bode well for Huntsville and the Almaguin Highlands. In my opinion the grass root support from Huntsville area residents, the North Muskoka Medical Community and the actions taken by the Councils of Huntsville and most municipalities in the Almaguin Highlands had a major role in the MAHC Board decision. However, there remains a significant level of mistrust with the MAHC Board by some in the general population and the medical community. There are still multiple steps involved before a final decision is made and so any shifts in opinion from the decision makers must be monitored closely. And although we’ve had assurances from Minister Elliott and Premier Ford, the latest revelations on the Ontario budget deficit just might have an impact on future spending on health care in Ontario. Vigilance is essential going forward.
I have talked briefly in this campaign about the creation of a health hub here in Huntsville. In a short conversation with a local doctor, 12 areas of specialization were identified as potentials users. A successful business hub model already exists in Huntsville. This application could also be used for a health hub. Already a well-known specialist has expressed interest in spending one day a week here in Huntsville.
Four years ago all nine members of your present council came to office with the same message and concerns from their constituents. The condition of our roads. It was decided early in this term that to tackle the problem a minimum increase of $400,000 a year needed to be added to the public works’ budget. The increase has helped in getting closer to the targets identified in our Roads Needs Study. But just repaving and new high float applications are not enough. To re-build roads in a sustainable method, it’s essential that proper ditching and culvert replacement be part of the solution. Now that we are experiencing severe weather events more frequently, we are installing larger culverts to handle the run-off.
Replacing our aging bridges is extremely costly. Public works has created a 10 year program to replace older one lane bridges with box culverts that allow for two lane traffic at a huge savings to Huntsville taxpayers. This program must be continued by a new council.
As for sidewalks, the only major artery from the downtown core without a sidewalk is Muskoka Road 3 North. My goal as a member of council is have a sidewalk built from Frank Miller Drive to the Devonleigh Homes development.
It seems very likely there will be a major push to remodel governance in Muskoka. If Muskoka District Council doesn’t take the steps to reduce the number of councilors and possibly the size of some departments as well, it’s very likely the move will come from Queen’s Park. In that case in my opinion it’s imperative that any changes be driven by the lower-tier municipalities. And a new governance model reducing the number of District Councillors could impact the composition of municipal councils. Huntsville’s next council must be ready to confront this possibility and be ready to provide options that work best for our town. A top down model could and would likely leave the municipalities out of the decision-making process.
The One-Muskoka Model that has been touted for several years would see a reduction in the number on Muskoka Council but would also see decisions and authority taken away from the municipal level and go to a single upper tier council in Bracebridge.
In my opinion an alternative and more responsible model would see the departments that have a huge financial, environmental and social impact on the taxpayers such as Water and Sewer and Community Services continue to be administered by the District. These areas impact everyone in the District and so should also be the fiscal responsibility of the population at large and shared by all six municipalities. Having public works and planning at the municipal level would reduce duplication in planning and public works. Dealing with concerns about potholes, ditching, planning and zoning do not need approvals from two levels and are best dealt with here in Huntsville.
Affordable housing has been and continues to be a challenge here in Huntsville. Three levels of government are involved in the affordable housing process. This term council has taken steps to help by making an inventory of surplus lands and accelerating development by making some of these properties available to developers who are willing to take on this challenge. So far, a couple of major players have taken up the challenge with the knowledge that conditions are attached. Those conditions include, but are not restricted to, that developments be of a mixed nature so that affordable housing is combined with market value, multi-residential components as well as single family units. And landscaping and park-like settings have to be part of the deal. These conditions will reduce the stigmatization often associated with affordable housing as we see elsewhere. Even so it’s a slow process but we will see more affordable housing in the near future.
In conclusion, over the next few weeks you will be receiving my platform either on your door handle or in your mail and you will see the words “Trusted, Proven Leadership since 2000”. I would be honoured to serve you for another four years and grateful for your support on October 22nd.
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