Bio
I have 12 years' experience serving as a councillor with the Twon. I owned a business in Tottenham for 7 years and served as a board member on the Chamber of Commerce. I am currently the Executive Director at Next Step Literacy, a charity that offers free adult tutoring. I have been a resident for 25 years and understand the workings of municipal government and how to get things done. I also understand the economic challenges of running both a business and a household. I also understand that for many residents, road safety and good road conditions is a priority. I have a strong appreciation for the small town and rural nature of our community and I have been working hard to preserve it.
Platform
Ensure new developments contribute to our community rather than being a burden to existing residents. Prioritize core services municipalities are mandated to deliver, like roads, libraries, parks, recreation, fire and OPP. Continue to push for repairs and improvements to roads in Ward 6.
Questions
Asked by Anonymous · a month ago
Accessibility issues. Our town is not accessible to get around- our town has several people in the comunity who need accessibility and don't get it. There are only 3 accessible buses in all of Simcoe County. Linx transit buses do not accommodate people who use mobility scooters. Linx transit stops are limited and Tottenham is completely inaccessible. This has been brought up to council members in the past and only one has taken the opportunity to take the time to respond. I would like to hear from all candidates, as it is not just the elderly who face these issues but families, children and parents. How can we connect New Tecumseth and make it so that EVERYONE can access resources and spaces?
Answer
Even before the LINX system was put in place, I was requesting that Tottenham be included in the system. We recently heard back that the additional 10 minutes having the bus go to Tottenham is too much time. I have heard from many people that they would like some type of transit system connecting the town. We should be looking at how we can start with a small system and scale it up when ridership increases.
Asked by Anonymous · a month ago
Do you think it was the right description to build an ice rink over a pool, even though the town desperately needed a pool?
Answer
The plan for the pool was brought forward at the end of the term of council, not during the budget process. This was not right. I wanted the opportunity to speak to the 2400 residents I was going to be meeting at the door to see if they want a pool (which will most likely be located in Alliston) and do they want the tax increase that will come with it? We need to get some help with a project like this and partner with other municipalities, the province or developers. Adjala-Tos hasn't given us any money for Parks & Recreation and yet their residents use our facilities. Other municipalities, like King, get money from businesses for their facilities. We need to look for other sources of money to help pay for a project of this magnitude as the tax payer can't shoulder the burden.
Asked by Felix Kaechele · 2 months ago
Answer
Smart growth looks like building communities rather than building the town one subdivision at a time with no over-arching plan for the movement of people and goods. There are some many examples out there on how not to build a city and we need to learn from their mistakes and avoid making the same errors. We need a mix of housing options to accommodate people at all stages of their lives.
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:
If you were on Council or the Board when these decisions were made, how did you vote, and why?
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?
If elected, what specific steps will you take to move this project forward now?
Answer
The school board delayed the project, not council. They came to council with one option for a site to build the school and wouldn't share why no other spot in the entire municipality was an appropriate spot to put a school. They already knew that the Banting Homestead was not the preferred site for some of council as it was gifted to the town as a memorial to Banting. The school board was not co-operative or transparent in their process. That being said, a deal was struck months ago and yet nothing has been done on the site. The responsibility for moving the project forward at this point sits squarely in the lap of the school board and does not rest with council.
Asked by Anonymous · 2 months ago
Answer
They are a bad idea as they use lots of water (which we don't have) and give very little back to the community.
Asked by Anonymous · 13 days ago
Would you support a bylaw to freeze municipal taxes at 2025 rates for 5 yrs to help seniors stay in and maintain there homes. Given today’s economic climate
Answer
OverdueAsked by Anonymous · 17 days ago
Will you support renewed efforts to achieve train-whistle cessation at the 3rd Line crossing near Casserley Crescent?
Will you advocate for the necessary crossing safety upgrades and a formal feasibility study?
What concrete steps would you take during your term to address overnight train noise?
Answer
OverdueAsked by Anonymous · 19 days ago
What are the council doing to prevent young riders of e-bikes and scooters. There have been at least 2 accidents in my subdivision involving pre teens/young teens riding e-bikes hitting small children. Are parents being charged for allowing this underage use? Are licenses required to use motorized bikes and scooters in New Tecumseth?
Answer
OverdueAsked by Anonymous · 20 days ago
Why is our water and wastewater bills are higher than other municipalities?
Answer
OverdueAsked by Anonymous · 21 days ago
Reviewed the routes , do you support additional routes connecting Tottenham to Beeton to Alliston?
Answer
OverdueQuestions go through a quick review before appearing publicly.