Economic Development

I wish I had the solution to this issue. I wish anyone had the answer to this issue.

I don't believe there is one single solution to homelessness. The best approach is to prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place and, when that isn't possible help them get into stable housing as quickly as possible.

The County of Simcoe is responsible for social services and homelessness programs, but the Town still has an important role. We make decisions about housing and planning, we can advocate for services and funding, and we can make sure the agencies working directly with vulnerable residents have a voice when municipal decisions affect them.

As a member of Council, I have supported the Town's collaboration with the County and our local service providers.

As Chair of the New Tecumseth Public Library Board, I also recognize the increasingly important role our libraries play as accessible community spaces where people can connect with information and services. I would like to see stronger coordination between the Town, County, Library and local agencies so people aren't left trying to navigate a complicated system on their own.

Going forward, I would also like New Tecumseth to have a more regular conversation with the organizations doing this work locally. They know where the gaps are because they see them every day.

This is a painful subject.

Having grown up in a Third World country, this is an issue that is difficult to reconcile for an evolved society. We need to do better.

The reality however is that so many people are struggling to make ends meet and could easily land in the same predicament. The changes to eviction laws and the increased cost of living have the potential to make the situation much worse.

In a previous lifetime living in a housing co-operative provided a great deal of support for my family and enabled us to afford a high quality of life and dignity. My personal experience inspires me to leverage our collective potential and find pathways to success and hope for so many who struggle throughout Simcoe County.

Working on the causes has to be part of the plan. But with the cold upon us we also have to provide immediate assistance without any prejudice.

The best way to reduce homelessness is affordable housing, plus transportation so people can get to and from work. I'm advocating for affordable housing.

I have supported SHIFT through volunteering, advocacy and delivering support through council. I believe we have the means to care and help our most vulnerable while also keeping our downtowns safe for everyone including those without a place to sleep.

Homelessness is a growing issue across rhe country and the solution lies in the collaboration and pooling of resources from all levels of government. With the province defunding many of the services through DC reduction, our town needs to make an strong effort to lobby the province for funding.

I sit on the affordable housing committee at the County where I have advocated we need more transitional housing. I plan to continue those efforts as Mayor.

Homelessness is made up of so many things. Many of us attribute it to one thing. However, the genetic makeup of how a person gets to that stage can differ greatly from others. So painting with one brush will not solve it. When we try to do that it ends up making even more problems. A step in the right direction is affordable housing. Another is through support and accessibility to services. I was keenly interested in the Peterborough approach of a Sea Can settlement. I'd love to look at it closer and see if it has applications here in New Tecumseth. I'm currently a member of a couple different organizations/committees that are looking at root causes and possible solutions. We should be willing to learn from other municipalities that further ahead then us.

I believe the best way to reduce homelessness is to work on both sides of the problem , helping people who are already experiencing homelessness, while doing everything reasonably possible to prevent people from losing their housing in the first place.

There isn’t one cause of homelessness, and there isn’t going to be one solution. The cost and availability of housing are certainly part of it, but people can also find themselves without housing because of job loss, family breakdown, mental health or addiction challenges, disability, domestic violence or simply an unexpected financial crisis.

That means our response has to be equally broad.

We need more attainable and affordable housing options, including different types and sizes of housing. We need to support programs that help people remain housed when they experience a temporary crisis. And for those already experiencing homelessness, emergency shelter is important, but ultimately the goal has to be moving people toward safe, stable, permanent housing with the appropriate supports.

New Tecumseth is fortunate to have organizations such as S.H.I.F.T. and CONTACT Community Services doing this work locally, and I believe the municipality should continue working cooperatively with these organizations and the County of Simcoe.

The County has primary responsibility for social housing and homelessness services, but I don’t believe that means our local Council has no role. Municipal decisions about planning, housing supply, development, available land and partnerships can all contribute to solutions. Council can also advocate strongly to the County and provincial and federal governments when resources are needed.

As for what I’m personally doing right now, I want to be transparent: I am not currently involved directly with a specific homelessness program, so I wouldn’t want to suggest otherwise.

What I am doing is trying to better understand the issue, the services already available in our community and where the gaps remain. If elected, I would want to hear directly from the organizations doing this work and, equally importantly, from people with lived experience of homelessness or housing insecurity before deciding what role the Town can most effectively play.

For me, success isn’t simply finding someone a bed for one night. It’s helping prevent that person from needing the bed in the first place and, when they do need it, creating a realistic path back to stable housing.

I am cautious about data centres as I do not fully understand the impact they can have on a community. I would need to see the details of any proposal before supporting one in New Tecumseth.

We need to attract new investment and diversify our employment base, and data centres could potentially be part of that. But I don't believe we should give up valuable employment lands or water capacity simply because a development represents a large investment.

I would want to understand how many permanent local jobs would actually be created, what the economic benefit to New Tecumseth would be, and what demands the facility would place on electricity, water and wastewater infrastructure. Noise, heat, environmental impacts, location and compatibility with surrounding properties would also need to be considered.

If a data centre brings meaningful investment, jobs and assessment growth without placing an unreasonable burden on our infrastructure, environment or residents, then I would consider it. If the costs and impacts outweigh the local benefits, I would not support it.

Data centers are becoming an area of contention for many communities. We have a number of issues to consider. We also have to differentiate between "large A.I. computational data centers and stand alone data centers used to amalgamate information. Each will use large volumes of electricity, but they use water differently. Here is a good link: https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/data-centers-and-water-consumption

Many jurisdictions, rightly or wrongly, consider the creation of Data centers as "near existential importance", citing that loosing ground to China, which is quickly building out their data center infrastructure, may weaken the ability to counteract A.I. supported interests (industry, technology, military). This is more of an American-centric idea as it seems to be difficult to find information which is Canadian-centric. Unfortunately, the bandwagon will fill up quickly if other jurisdictions adapt such concerns. There is still much opacity regarding how A.I works.

In the Ohio model, municipal laws were essentially rewritten to favor data center construction. In the Ohio model, laws were written to encourage "public-private" partnerships, essentially allowing Data Centre corporations (the owners) to use public pension dollars to fund construction. The question: "If the data center looses money, will those public funds be returned to the pension fund?" has not been answered. I am not suggesting that a Canadian center would try to use similar financing models as American centers, but the move towards using public fund as "an investment pool" in data centers which will be controlled by a handful of corporations is concerning.

This is an excerpt "Public concern spiked globally and locally following statements from financial executives (including BlackRock's CEO) indicating that ordinary citizens' long-term retirement accounts and public pensions would serve as the foundational capital to build out the massive power infrastructure required for AI data centers. [1] (Citation-Yahoo finance)

The centers also use a considerable amount of water, raising concerns about rising water supply costs for the public, available, pollution. However, most systems are closed-loop so the concern over water usage is still questionable. Over the last decade (or more), there have been increasing concerns over the privatization of water supplies, with interested parties citing the "need to protect and conserve water supplies". The concern is that once water supplies are privatized and managed, public rights to water will deteriorate, as a corporation lawful obligation is to the shareholder. THIS IS AN OPINION, but you can research "Ohio data centers", "privatization of water supplies".

If the water usage is a critical issue, to mitigate water needs, it would be economical for data center interests to consider building water desalinization plants on each of the coasts (U.S. in this example). Much of the Middle east draws its water from desalinization plants. This is unlikely as corporate interests will always feed off of the closest and easiest to reach food source.

In short, no. I would consider a data center mostly beneficial due to the employment it will bring, but if we are already struggling with infrastructure costs and water supply, how would it even be possible?

I do love progress, but value the environment more. Until the environmental challenges related to water use and other effects, It is difficult to support the idea at the moment.

The supply restrictions of the necessary hardware make it very unlikely that we need to worry about one anytime soon. However that presents us with an opportunity to pivot into a growth industry. Can we find talent to go high tech?

I agree — we don't have the water or electrical grid resources to support data centres in New Tecumseth.

They are a bad idea as they use lots of water (which we don't have) and give very little back to the community.

I really don't think this is a possibility here due to our water situation. If the water situation was solved then we would also need to create an energy source here for them rather than pull off the grid. Solar farms (do we have the space?), wind mills (do we have the space?).

Yes, I support proceeding with the feasibility study. That's exactly what a feasibility study is for to determine whether there is a need, what that need looks like, what partnerships are available, what it would cost and whether it makes sense to proceed.

I believe New Tecumseth would benefit from having greater access to post-secondary education and skilled-trades training closer to home. That could make a significant difference for a single parent who needs in-class instruction but can't easily travel to Barrie, a young person who isn't ready or financially able to move away for school, someone changing careers later in life, or an apprentice who is already working and needs access to additional training.

And I don't think we should base a long-term workforce strategy around one employer or one proposed investment. Part of attracting new employers is demonstrating that we have the workforce, training opportunities and infrastructure they will need.

I also don't see this as an either/or decision when it comes to regional partnerships. If there is an opportunity for New Tecumseth to participate in an existing regional technology or training initiative, I absolutely think we should pursue it. In fact, partnerships with Simcoe County, post-secondary institutions and industry are already part of the model being explored.

What I would not support is deciding today that the Town should build and operate a stand-alone college campus regardless of cost or demand. Let the feasibility study answer those questions.

If the study shows that the better solution is a smaller training centre, shared programming, satellite classrooms, partnerships with existing colleges, or participation in a broader regional initiative, then that's the direction we should consider.

The goal shouldn't be to build a building. The goal should be to bring education, training and opportunity closer to the people who live here and to build the skilled workforce New Tecumseth will need in the future.

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

Ontario colleges have cut a number of programs, not just skilled trades programs.

1. 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.

The campuses closed offered a varied curriculum, not one solely based on skilled trades.

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

Permanent suspension is not permanently cancelled. It was a business decision, and if trade issues are solved, and with newer battery technology, Honda may consider reestablishment of an EV facility if a business model can be made.

1. 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?

Considering the curriculum which was offered at the closed campuses, we have to ask if there is growth in the skilled trades sector, and if there is, a feasibility study to address accessible education options for New Tecumseth students should be considered. Prior to requesting a study, we can survey employers and existing education facilities. If employers indicate a need for more skilled trades employees, and if the education facilities have a healthy enrolment, we will be ab le to reasonably come to a conclusion, an then determine if a more comprehensive study id required.

1. 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?

Perhaps, but we also have to look at the ability of our students to travel to training facilities out of our area. In many cases, that is not an option for many students who are attempting to seek continuing education on severely restricted budgets.

Pecuniary Intrest Disclosure: I have been a student at Georgian College and others.

In my unqualified opinion the plan is flawed unless the institution also evolves. The training delivery was geared more towards the easy money from international students. If we're to make any meaningful progress then what we teach has to be relevant to the jobs and skills needed tomorrow. Any existing trades should already be taught in high school.

Our automotive sector is the anchor today, but the leaders are trying to keep it afloat until they can retire. It is a similar reality with some of the senior lecturers in college.

As someone in Industrial Automation it is clear to me that we need urgent innovation. The POWER OF DREAMS has to be restored. New ideas are imperative.

I support the skilled trades and I think our young people would benefit from a local place to train for local jobs, instead of travelling to Barrie or Hamilton. I support the study because that's what it's for — to show the demand, the costs, and whether we should build something here or join the regional program that's already running with Georgian, Lakehead, and Honda. I'd look at both. But I won't commit tax dollars to a town-built facility no matter the cost. The study has to prove the need first.

I would like to see post secondary education as an opportunity in our community. In whatever form, preferably cost effective of course. I'm aware of many students going to Mohawk in Hamilton and coming to Honda for placement. Having a site nearby would be fantastic. I've asked EcDev to look at this for the past four years, they haven't reported back to me.

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.

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.