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Laurie Mortimer

Candidate for Councillor Ward 3

[email protected] 705-440-7789
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Bio

Laurie Mortimer is a lifelong New Tecumseth resident with deep roots in both Beeton and Alliston. A graduate of Banting Memorial High School, she studied Parks & Recreation Management at Seneca College and has worked in municipal recreation, conservation, manufacturing and healthcare. Since 2001, Laurie has built a career as a local Real Estate Broker, helping families navigate some of their most important decisions. Laurie and her husband Scott raised their three daughters in the community and are now proud grandparents of four. Her decades of living, working and raising a family here have given her a practical understanding of how decisions at Town Hall affect residents. Laurie is running for Ward 3 Councillor to bring thoughtful, accountable representation to Council. Her priorities include responsible growth, careful management of taxpayer dollars, infrastructure that keeps pace with development, strong local services and transparent decision making. She believes residents deserve a councillor who will listen, do the homework, ask questions and put the community first.

Platform

I’m running for Ward 3 because I believe residents deserve representation that is thoughtful, accessible and accountable. New Tecumseth is facing significant growth and important financial decisions, and we need to ensure that growth is responsible, infrastructure keeps pace and taxpayers receive value for their money. My priorities are responsible spending, well planned growth, maintaining our roads and infrastructure, protecting the services and community spaces residents rely on, supporting local businesses and attracting good-paying jobs. I believe good municipal government starts with listening. I will approach decisions with an open mind, ask difficult questions when necessary, consider the facts and long term financial impacts, and always remember who Council is there to serve.

Questions

AllAnsweredAwaiting answer
New Tecumseth is growing quickly. What does "smart growth" mean to you in pract…

Asked by Felix Kaechele · 2 months ago

New Tecumseth is growing quickly. What does "smart growth" mean to you in practice - more density, more sprawl, or something else?
Housing Growth & Development
0

Answer

To me, smart growth isn’t simply density versus sprawl. It means putting growth where it can be supported by roads, water and wastewater capacity, schools, recreation, parks, healthcare and other services—and ensuring infrastructure keeps pace with development. It also means offering a reasonable mix of housing while protecting established neighbourhoods, agricultural land and the character of our communities. New Tecumseth has three distinct communities, and I believe growth decisions should consider the capacity and character of all three rather than disproportionately burdening one area. Growth is coming; our responsibility is to manage it carefully so today’s residents aren’t left paying for poor planning tomorrow.
Answered 2 months ago
0
What is your position on data centres in New Tecumseth ?

Asked by Anonymous · 2 months ago

Infrastructure Environment Economic Development
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Answer

I'm not a supporter of Data centres. I've also done research on this exact question and formed my opinion from a Real Estate perspective and my concern of our natural resources. New Tecumseth is not an ideal location either from my personal perspective.
Answered 2 months ago
0
New Tecumseth has large growth plans as many of us saw proposed earlier in the…

Asked by Anonymous · 2 months ago

New Tecumseth has large growth plans as many of us saw proposed earlier in the year. How can new jobs be created that pay New Tec residents properly, so that we do not need to travel south for higher paying employment?
Transit & Transportation Economic Development Growth & Development
0

Answer

As our population grows significantly, our employment base needs to grow with it. We should be actively attracting a broader mix of employers in manufacturing, skilled trades, technology, professional services and other sectors that provide sustainable, well-paying jobs. That means having employment lands ready, competitive development processes and the infrastructure businesses need, while working with employers, educational institutions and other levels of government. I also believe we need to support the businesses already here. Growth shouldn’t simply mean adding thousands of homes and sending more residents down Highway 400 every morning. A stronger New Tecumseth means creating more opportunities for people to live and work here.
Answered 2 months ago
0
All candidates that haven't served on council, how many town meetings have you…

Asked by Anonymous · 2 months ago

All candidates that haven't served on council, how many town meetings have you attended to understand how council works and what concerns are recurring in this community -
Governance & Accountability
0

Answer

I haven't attended in person to many meetings but I have watched on YouTube most evenings. There are several current councillors who can attest to that as I've asked follow up questions and shared my different positions with them. So I don’t want to give a number that may be inaccurate. My preparation has included watching meetings, reviewing Council agendas, staff reports, budgets, minutes and recorded meetings, and speaking directly with residents about the issues affecting them. Since deciding to run, I have spent considerable time researching the decisions facing New Tecumseth and understanding how they were reached. I don’t believe simply occupying a seat in the gallery demonstrates preparedness. What matters is doing the homework, asking questions, listening to residents and understanding the information Council will be expected to consider.
Answered 2 months ago
0
High School Construction Delay: Council Accountability

Asked by Melissa Marshall · 2 months ago

Funding for our new high school has been available since 2021, yet we are still years from breaking ground, while Ontario communities funded after us are already under construction. The Province did not create that delay, council vote did.

For the record: A 2023 closed-session decision delayed the project, with individual votes not readily available. In December 2024, the vote to advance the school was

YES: Norcross, Gabrek, Masters, Jacks and Foster;
NO: MacLellan, Cox and Harrison McIntyre.
Biss and Rapin recused.

Question:

  1. If you were on Council or the Board when these decisions were made, how did you vote, and why?

  2. That delay cost this community roughly two years. What did we gain that justified it? What materially changed about the site, plan or agreement between the 2023 decision and the eventual approval?

  3. If elected, what specific steps will you take to move this project forward now?

Infrastructure Governance & Accountability Education
0

Answer

I was not a member of Council when these decisions were made, so I cannot say how I would have voted without having had access to the same information Council had at the time, particularly information discussed in closed session. I also don’t think it would be responsible to speculate about what was gained or lost without reviewing the complete record. What I can say is that our growing community needs this school, and delays in major infrastructure have real consequences for families. If elected, I would support working constructively with the school board, Town staff, the Province and other partners to resolve outstanding municipal issues as quickly as possible and keep the project moving. Once a sound decision has been made, Council needs to focus on delivering it.
Answered 2 months ago
0
Feasibility Study for a New Tecumseth Skilled-Trades Centre

Asked by Melissa Marshall · 2 months ago

The 2026 Approved Budget directs Growth and Innovation to undertake a feasibility study for a post-secondary skilled-trades centre in New Tecumseth. It appears as a single line, with no supporting rationale, cost estimate or business case. (Page 79)

Relevant context:

  1. Ontario colleges have cut approximately 600 programs amid $1.8B in losses since the 2024 international student visa cap.

  2. New Tecumseth is within Georgian College’s catchment area. Georgian closed its Orillia and Muskoka campuses in August 2026, consolidating programming in Barrie, and has reduced its full-time workforce by approximately 22% with projected losses of 45M and 15-25M next fiscal.

  3. Honda’s $15B Alliston EV expansion is permanently suspended, removing a major source of projected local skilled-trades demand.

  4. Meanwhile, The Province’s Regional Technology Development Site for Simcoe County, Barrie and Orillia is already funded and includes Georgian College, Lakehead University and Honda. New Tecumseth is not currently part of that initiative.

For each candidate:

  1. Do you support proceeding with this feasibility study? Why or why not?

  2. Why pursue a separate facility rather than seek a role in the regional initiative already underway? As home to the region’s anchor automotive employer, should New Tecumseth be pursuing a seat in the existing RTDS network instead, and would you support that approach?

Taxes & Budget Economic Development Education
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Answer

I support exploring opportunities for skilled-trades education in New Tecumseth, particularly given our manufacturing base, but a feasibility study should examine all reasonable options rather than begin with the assumption that we need a stand-alone facility. That should include discussions with Georgian College, Lakehead University, Honda, the Province and the existing regional initiative. I would want to understand demand, partnerships, costs and potential funding before committing municipal dollars. If joining or partnering with an existing regional initiative provides better opportunities for our residents at less cost, that option absolutely deserves consideration. A feasibility study should help us determine the best approach
Answered 2 months ago
0
What is your position on flock cameras and other automatic liscene plate reader…

Asked by Anonymous · 2 months ago

What is your position on flock cameras and other automatic liscene plate readers in New Tecumseth ?
Public Safety Governance & Accountability
0

Answer

I support using technology that can help police prevent and investigate serious crime, including auto theft, provided there are strong safeguards around privacy and the use of residents’ information. Before supporting Flock cameras or another licence-plate reader system in New Tecumseth, I would want to understand the cost, effectiveness, who owns and can access the data, how long it is retained, and what oversight is in place. Public safety matters, but so do privacy and accountability. Any decision should demonstrate a clear public benefit and appropriate protection of residents’ information.
Answered 2 months ago
0
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