Questions

My priority for the first year would be getting the new Council organized, informed and focused on what needs to be accomplished over the next four years.

Following inauguration and Council training, one of our first major responsibilities will be the 2027 Budget. That will include some significant decisions about recreation, including the proposed sports dome, indoor pool and the future of the Beeton arena. These are major investments, and we need to look carefully at need, timing, affordability and the impact each would have on taxpayers.

I would also like the new Council to receive a comprehensive status update on the major projects and commitments already approved or underway including the Collingwood water treatment and transmission projects, Fire Station 4, wastewater capacity, roads and bridges, and our other major capital projects.

From there, I believe Council should establish a clear list of priorities for the term, identify realistic timelines and funding requirements, and create a framework that allows us and the public to track our progress. There will always be new ideas and new requests, but before adding more to the list, we need to understand what is already on it, what it will cost and what we realistically have the capacity to complete.

For me, the first year is about setting the new Council up for success: get informed, establish our priorities & committee commitments, make responsible financial decisions and then get to work delivering them.

Too ambiguous a question, in light of ongoing economic uncertainty. Areas we need to focus on are:

-Careful expenditure of increasingly difficult to obtain tax revenue (difficult in that the rate payers are finding it hard to balance their household books, as are many area business interests).

-Balancing the creation of recreational activities and structures against the cost to ensure we are getting the best use-to-cost ratio possible. Many recreational facilities operate on a negative capital return, but the benefit to the community is high. This requires a careful balance. -New Tecumseth must also work harder to attract more industry to our area. These interests provide good-paying opportunities to our local workforce. Typically, retail and service providers in bedroom communities tend to suffer during economic slowdowns. which is why the infusion of new industry and commercial interests are a benefit. These will also provide opportunities for our youth to work and live in the community, reducing the need for long, and increasingly costly commutes.

There are other issues, but the ongoing flux in our economic fabric will make for a shifting target.

My first priority as head of council will be to get all members of the council to join in serving all our residents.

The current split in council will need to be rectified in order to make the best decisions for NewTecumseth.

The second priority has to be a resolution to the issues that divide our town. We are not the people of Alliston or the people of Beeton and the people of Tottenham. All of us are NewTecumseth and the unification has to start with unbiased leadership and a stronger vision for tomorrow.

Basically we need to attract higher paying industries , advanced manufacturing technology, specialized trades and less low wage service sectors to raise the overall economy wage average

My priority for New Tecumseth in the coming year would be managing growth responsibly while protecting affordability, accountability and the quality of life of residents who already live here.

I recognize that there are several important priorities facing our community, and it is difficult to identify just one. However, financial affordability is a serious concern for me. Many households are already struggling with the rising cost of groceries, housing, utilities and just about everything else. I have real concerns about continually increasing the burden on property taxpayers at a time when families, seniors and businesses are already feeling stretched.

The Town has responsibilities and infrastructure needs that can’t simply be ignored, but I believe every significant expenditure needs to be looked at carefully. What do we need? What can wait? Are there alternatives? Are we getting good value for taxpayers’ money? And what will today’s decision cost residents five or ten years from now?

Growth also needs to pay an appropriate share of the infrastructure and services it requires. We shouldn’t approve growth and then leave existing taxpayers continually trying to catch up with the infrastructure demands it creates.

At the same time, we need to address the everyday issues residents are raising roads, traffic and pedestrian safety, parking, accessibility, recreation and maintaining the infrastructure we already have.

The goal isn’t to stop change. It’s to manage it responsibly and make choices we can actually afford.

New Tecumseth should remain a community where people can afford to live, raise their families, retire and enjoy the community they call home. To me, protecting that affordability has to be part of every major decision Council makes.

The growth of New Tecumseth means that we are facing many challenges in the coming year. With water supply increasing our ability to service new homes and businesses also increases. We will need steadfast leadership and management to ensure the coming growth benefits both new residents and current residents. With that increase in population, we also need a strong focus on jobs and the local economy. Teens especially are competing for fewer jobs. My goal is to change that and overhaul our economic development efforts to produce more results rather than accept the stagnation of the last few years. Lastly the town will need a concerted effort to keep the character of our town centres. This means only accepting growth that adds to the community rather than just adding more homes.

As a council we will need to determine our priorities together in a cohesive fashion. Split votes down the middle haven't benefited our residents in the least. Now with a council of 9 that shouldn't be happening. Hopefully, during the campaigning, councillors have determined the focus of their ward and are ready to represent it moving forward. Big issues on the horizon are growth, maintenance of existing infrastructure, the health/wealth of our community, and the establishment of new recreation opportunities.

New Tecumseth needs a variety of businesses that provide employment opportunities for people at every age and stage of life. That could be a student looking for a part-time job after school, a parent looking for flexible or evening work to supplement their household income, a skilled tradesperson looking to build a career close to home, or a senior who wants to continue working part-time for the income, social connection and sense of purpose.

But we also need to think bigger. As our population grows, we need to actively attract larger employers and a more diverse range of industries that bring professional, technical, administrative and corporate positions with them. People shouldn't necessarily have to commute south to find those opportunities.

That means making sure we have employment lands available and serviced, creating an environment where businesses want to invest, and supporting the businesses that are already here so they can grow and create more jobs.

Education and training are part of that as well. I support efforts to bring skilled trades and technology training closer to home and to build partnerships between employers and educational institutions so residents can train for good careers without having to leave the community.

If we're going to grow substantially, we shouldn't just be planning where people will live. We should be equally focused on where they will work.

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New jobs require new ideas or established business willing to invest. Investor confidence is something that we have to work on. When the town complains about growing and wants to keeping the identity of the three separate areas, then other places stand a better chance of getting the edge.

With the wealth of skills and knowledge in New Tecumseth we can turn things around and build industries that thrive now and for generations to come. Dream Big and choose your path.

Basically we need to attract higher paying industries , advanced manufacturing technology, specialized trades and less low wage service sectors to raise the overall economy wage average

Growth should strengthen our community so people can live, work and raise their families here, it shouldn't outpace our core services.

We need to support the local businesses already operating here and help them connect with residents while attracting new businees.

To me, smart growth isn't simply a choice between density and sprawl. It's about putting growth where it makes sense and making sure the infrastructure and services are there to support it (and so that everyone gets to share in the benefits of growth).

New Tecumseth is going to grow, so our job on Council is to manage that growth responsibly. That means planning for roads, water and wastewater, parks, recreation, emergency services, schools and traffic alongside new development, not after it. It also means providing a range of housing. We need homes that allow people to age in place, options that are attainable for different incomes and stages of life, and opportunities for our own children to find a home in the community where they grew up.

Density can be part of that, but design matters. Higher-density neighbourhoods need adequate parking, storage and green space so they continue to function and look good as they mature. Where appropriate, rear parking accessed by laneways could help preserve streetscapes while providing space for vehicles and garbage and recycling storage.

I would also like to see new development better reflect the individual character of our three communities rather than creating subdivisions that could be anywhere. That could mean blue tones and references to the pond, natural amphitheatre and railway history in Tottenham; yellows, pollinator-friendly landscapes and nods to Beeton's agricultural and hockey heritage; and earth tones, farming, the Banting Homestead and historic downtown in Alliston.

Smart growth isn't about stopping growth or accepting it at any cost. It's about building complete, attractive communities that work for the people who live in them today and will still work (and look good) decades from now.

Smart growth means being selective in where the growth occurs and taking a reasonable, balanced approach to planning. Alliston is unique insofar as it is partly, residential, agricultural and commercial. We must balance all these interests and not just open it up to urban sprawl. We must learn for our neighbours to the south. It means securing and protecting our green spaces and building neighbourhoods whereby everyone can enjoy and we must be able to provide affordable housing for everyone i.e homeowners and tenants alike. We must do so in a manner consistent with keeping taxes and costs within reasonable limits and not overburden the taxpayer.

Thanks

Tony Phekoo

"Smart growth" essentially means NO uncontrolled sprawl, sprawl with poorly thought out transportation routes, or sprawl which does not balance the need for obtainable housing options, job-creating opportunities (manufacturing, services and professional services), recreational and tourism activities and attractions. Smart growth also balances the need for commercial services and retail frontage, but not endless strip malls which may be difficult to fill. Empty retail corridors are not beneficial. Smart growth also balances types of obtainable housing options, rather than focusing on the creation of a single option.

Smart growth for me is not just about homes. We have to consider the community and environment as a whole. A balance of some density produces economies of scale for some services but is not ideal in every environment. Having proper infrastructure to connect the growth makes for a society where people can choose the open spaces or elevated spaces according to their needs and budgets.

Lifestyle choices change and we should be able to accommodate young workers, small families, empty nesters' and those who need additional care. Each category has different values and needs to balance.

Employment, Schooling , Higher Education, Healthcare and Recreation all form part of what make us NewTecumseth.

Smart growth…

We let builders add a few more units if they include affordable ones. We use Town land we already own. We allow basement apartments and smaller homes. And we use federal and provincial grants , not your property taxes. More housing for our kids and seniors, without costing you more.

Smart growth is not as simple as adding more density or building larger subdivisions. It means responsible, well planned growth that directs new housing and businesses to areas where roads, wastewater systems, schools and emergency services can support them.

Growth is coming and we must plan accordingly. One of the main reasons I decided to run as a candidate for Ward 2, was watching a few of the current councillors voting to allow the use of Strong Mayor Powers to push though changes that otherwise would not have received the majority support. In my view, this side stepped the democratic decision making process of Council on an issue that will shape the future of our community. Somthing that I would not allow to happen again.

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.

Kind. Innovative. Exciting. Inviting.

Council meetings are a formality. If you look closely the patterns indicate that the conversions take place beforehand. Your chosen candidates will need to work together to accomplish anything meaningful. At the same time we do need diverse opinions for meaningful discussions.

The current council seems to be split into two camps, the head of council will need to build bridges if any incumbents are reelected. Head of Council = Mayor will heal or hurt the unity depending on the composition of the new 2026 council.

We all need to examine recurring issues, are we asking the right questions?

I've attended 2 town meetings.

I have attended several meetings in person since i began to consider running for council, and I have watched every meeting on the Town's YouTube channel. This have given me a good understanding of how our current Council operates and how decisions aare made.

A recurring concern I have is the lack of teamwork around the council table. Disageements are important, but somtimes it can appear driven by individual positions or personal agendas. Residents derserve a Council that debates respectfully and keeps the community's best interests at the forefront.

It's is common practice in all the municipalities I have lived in to see road improvements at election time. Sometimes it works to show effort.

The quality of the work surprises me still to this day. With all the equipment available the progress leaves me with a lot of questions about the value we are getting.

This is not I subject that I can comment on with any authority, so I will have to investigate it a lot deeper. If I receive the mandate to lead the council of NewTecumseth then I will be able to get better answers for us all.

Democracy and the principle that every vote matters are what separates us from authoritarian governments. Like any tool, Strong Mayor Powers can be misused. Currently I don't know of anything that might make them the best choice. Should the new council be fragmented and form unproductive alliances, then it is something that might cause them to reconcile and override the issue. Either way we should not be held hostage to the personality conflicts and I don't have any problem with motivating dialogue.

The saying goes "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink", so if needed feed it some salt. My objective is to do what is best for all of NewTecumseth and that may be salty on occasion for some.

Communication is the key to good effective government. The strong mayor powers are a planning tool given by the province to circumvent municipalities' aversion to unsustainable growth. In New Tecumseth it was used when Council voted down a growth plan. As Mayor I will not ignore my fellow councillors and their constituents. Debate and consensus are not easy but real leadership means bringing the critics and the supporters into conversation to find common ground. I aim to be a Mayor for all and that means not using Strong Mayor powers to unilaterally decided how we grow. 

The local chambers of commerce and Businesses Improvement Associations advocate well for local businesses. Unity will have a greater impact. A greater vision is needed to be able to harness the magnitude of talent and skills available locally and within Simcoe County. If we become more competitive we can do more than just keep local money but provide a viable option for all Canadians to buy our products and services.

Too much of our projects are going to suppliers elsewhere. Purchasing decisions are often made by people who don't live here, so they don't share our concerns. With visionary leadership we can anchor future projects in NewTecumseth and Simcoe County.