Strong Roots. Clear Direction.

Over the past several weeks, I’ve had a lot of people ask me a simple question:

Why do you want to be Lord Mayor?

For me, the answer starts with Niagara-on-the-Lake.

This is where I was born and raised. It’s where Dorothy and I raised our family. It’s where I learned the value of hard work on our family farm, and it’s where I’ve had the privilege of serving our community for the past eight years on Council, including as Deputy Lord Mayor.

I know this community. I know our strengths, and I also know the challenges in front of us.

And I believe the next four years are going to require experienced leadership, strong relationships with other levels of government, and, most importantly, a clear direction for Niagara-on-the-Lake.

That is why I am running for Lord Mayor.

Where I Come From Matters

My parents came to Canada as immigrants and built a life here as tender fruit farmers.

Growing up on a farm teaches you a few things pretty quickly. You learn that hard work matters. You learn responsibility. You learn that when there is a job to do, you get it done. And you learn that your neighbours and your community matter.

Those values have stayed with me throughout my life in business, in farming and around the Council table.

They’ve also taught me that leadership isn’t about one person having all the answers.

It’s about listening. It’s about bringing the right people together. It’s about building relationships and finding a way forward.

That’s the kind of Lord Mayor I intend to be.

And none of what I have accomplished would have been possible without my family, particularly my wife Dorothy, who has stood beside me for 35 years. I’m incredibly grateful for her support as I take on this next challenge.

During this campaign, I look forward to talking about what I believe, what I would do, and how I would work with people to get things done without negativity and personal attacks.

We Have to Respect the Taxpayer

I hear it everywhere I go: things are getting expensive.

Seniors are watching every dollar. Young families are trying to build a future. Businesses are dealing with increasing costs. Farmers are facing pressures of their own.

Municipal government cannot ignore that reality.

That doesn’t mean we stop investing in our community. We have aging infrastructure that needs attention. We have growing communities that need amenities. We have roads, drainage, recreation facilities and other services that residents rely on every day.

But before we ask taxpayers for more, we have an obligation to make sure we are using what we already have responsibly.

We need to look carefully at spending, find efficiencies where we can, plan properly for the long term and make sure residents are getting value for their tax dollars.

Fiscal responsibility isn’t about saying no to everything. It’s about knowing what we need, what we can afford and what our priorities should be.

Niagara-on-the-Lake Should Make Decisions for Niagara-on-the-Lake

I want to be very clear about another issue.

I do not support amalgamation.

Niagara-on-the-Lake is not just another municipality on a map.

We have five distinct communities. We have an agricultural economy unlike most municipalities in Ontario. We have one of the most recognized tourism destinations in the country. We have heritage, rural communities, growing urban areas and challenges that are uniquely ours.

Decisions about Niagara-on-the-Lake should be made with Niagara-on-the-Lake in mind.

During this term, we worked hard to make our case to the Province when municipal restructuring was being discussed, and the Province changed direction.

That experience reinforced something I have believed throughout my time on Council: relationships matter.

You can disagree with another level of government and still have a productive relationship with them. In fact, that relationship is often how you get results.

As Lord Mayor, I will continue to make sure Niagara-on-the-Lake has a strong voice at every table.

Agriculture Is Our Foundation

Agriculture isn’t simply one part of our economy.

It is the foundation of Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Our vineyards, orchards, tender fruit lands, greenhouses, wineries and farms are part of who we are. They create jobs, support businesses, preserve our landscape and connect us to generations of history.

But protecting agriculture means more than saying we support farmers.

We have to make farming viable.

One of the accomplishments I am particularly proud of this term was helping get the Province to recognize irrigation as infrastructure eligible for provincial funding.

That work helped contribute to $41 million being announced for irrigation projects.

That’s what I mean when I talk about relationships and results.

There is still much more work to do, and agriculture will remain one of my priorities as Lord Mayor.

A Strong Community Needs a Strong Economy

We sometimes talk about business, tourism and community character as though one has to come at the expense of another.

I don’t believe that.

Our businesses employ our neighbours. They contribute to our tax base. They support community organizations and events. They create opportunities for young people and families.

Tourism is also an important part of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s economy, and we should never lose sight of that.

The challenge is managing success responsibly.

We can support local businesses and attract investment while protecting the qualities that make people want to live, work and visit here in the first place.

Those aren’t opposing goals.

Done properly, they support one another.

Development: The Question Isn’t Yes or No

Development will undoubtedly be one of the biggest conversations during this election.

I don’t think the question should simply be whether you are “for development” or “against development.”

That’s too easy.

The real question is: What kind of development is right for Niagara-on-the-Lake, and where does it belong?

We need development that respects community character and is supported by appropriate infrastructure.

The flooding we experienced recently has made the importance of infrastructure painfully clear for many residents.

We also have to recognize the planning framework municipalities operate within.

Spending millions of taxpayer dollars fighting applications at the Ontario Land Tribunal without a reasonable prospect of success doesn’t protect taxpayers or our community. That money could be going into roads, drainage, recreation facilities and other infrastructure.

Our job is to plan properly, establish clear policies, defend those policies when necessary and work toward the best possible outcomes for Niagara-on-the-Lake.

And there are some things I simply don’t believe belong here.

I do not support casinos anywhere in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Just as I have remained firm in my opposition to cannabis retail stores in our Town, I believe there are certain uses that simply do not fit the community we are trying to protect.

Every Community Matters

One of the things I want to focus on as Lord Mayor is making sure every part of Niagara-on-the-Lake receives the attention it deserves.

Our communities are different, and their needs are different.

St. Davids, for example, has experienced tremendous growth. Families there need amenities, sidewalks, trails, recreation opportunities and infrastructure that reflects the community it has become.

Virgil has different needs. Glendale has different needs. Queenston has different needs. Old Town has different needs. Our rural and agricultural areas have different needs again.

There shouldn’t be one part of Niagara-on-the-Lake that feels forgotten.

As I spend the coming months talking with residents across the Town, I want to hear directly from you about what your community needs.

Where We Go From Here

I am optimistic about Niagara-on-the-Lake.

We have challenges ahead of us, certainly. But we also have tremendous opportunities.

We can protect taxpayers while investing responsibly in infrastructure.

We can protect our agricultural lands and support the people who farm them.

We can strengthen our economy while protecting our community character.

We can manage growth thoughtfully.

We can maintain our independence and ensure decisions about Niagara-on-the-Lake continue to reflect the people who live here.

And we can make sure every one of our communities has a voice.

I don’t believe leadership is about making the loudest promise.

It’s about doing the work, building the relationships and delivering results.

I’ve spent eight years around the Council table learning what works, what doesn’t, and where Niagara-on-the-Lake needs to go next.

I’m ready to put that experience to work as your Lord Mayor.

Over the coming months, I’ll be sharing more about my priorities, but more importantly, I’ll be listening.

I want your ideas. I want your questions. And yes, I want to hear when you disagree with me too.

That’s how good decisions get made.

There is a lot of work ahead.

Let’s get to it.