OPA 5

Thank you for asking. I appreciate the opportunity to explain my decision.

I certainly considered the consultant's recommendations and respect the work that went into it. However, those recommendations were one part of a much larger discussion about how New Tecumseth will accommodate future growth.

Something I think is important to point out is that our Town also has its own professional planning staff. These are qualified, experienced planners who reviewed and defended the planning rationale behind OPA 5. They had months to recommend changes and ultimately did not recommend a single one. I have confidence in our staff, their professional expertise and the report they brought forward.

Half of council agreed with me, and my vote was not required for the motion to pass. I used my democratic privilege to vote for OPA 5 as I'd done the entire way through the process. I never wavered, not even when it was the unpopular choice to do so and was even told by another member of council to sit down, as the Strong Mayor had his numbers – because I vote with integrity, no matter the personal cost. It's unfortunate that Strong Mayor powers need to be part of this conversation, especially my vote in particular, but it's been convenient for the oppositions stratgey.

Another significant factor in my decision was the reality that if we didn't make a decision, the Province could make one for us.

We're already seeing more decisions affecting our municipality being made outside of our Council chambers. With New Tecumseth losing a representative at County Council, the move toward an appointed rather than elected Warden, and the Province setting the direction for our long-term growth, I am increasingly concerned about how much local control municipalities are retaining.

For me, this was an opportunity to have a say in how that growth is distributed across Alliston, Beeton and Tottenham, rather than leave those decisions entirely in someone else's hands.

Recommending OPA 5 is just a start. It's a long term plan that will no doubt change and evolve over time, and we'll still need to advocate for the infrastructure required to support it, while protecting the character of our communities.

I understand that not everyone agrees with my vote, and I respect that. But I made the decision I believed was in the best long-term interest of New Tecumseth.

I also think it's important to remember that consultants are hired to provide professional advice, but ultimately, they aren't the ones who have to live with the long-term consequences of the decisions made around the Council table. We are. As someone who was born and raised in New Tecumseth and has lived here my entire life, I take that responsibility seriously. I want to see all three of our settlement areas considered in our long-term growth plans, with Alliston, Beeton and Tottenham each having the opportunity to share in the benefits of that growth, rather than concentrating it all in one area. That's something I felt strongly about throughout this process.