An all-candidates meeting for Douro Dummer was hosted last Thursday at the Douro Community Centre by the Lakefield Herald and Dummer News. Residents had the opportunity to hear important questions asked by local taxpayers and answered by candidates.
The night was divided into two events, one moderated discussion for all ward councilors and one event for all mayoral and deputy mayor candidates.
The entire night was moderated by Herald reporter Vanessa Stark.
Though a brief storm passed through the area right before the meeting, knocking out much of the arena’s power source, the staff were able to keep the lights on for the meeting to take place, though there were some technical difficulties that left the washrooms and elevator out of service.
In the interest of time and fairness, questions were directed at all candidates. Candidates had two minutes each to answer questions that came directly from residents who either emailed their questions to the Lakefield Herald or submitted at the door prior to the event.
The questions for councillor candidate included:
• What do you believe are the top 3 responsibilities of councillors in Douro Dummer and what will you do to ensure that remains a focus should you be elected?
• (Douro Ward Specific) Do you reside within your ward and if not, why should residents vote for you?
• What is your position on the ALTO high speed rail project and how do you plan to navigate this project should you get elected?
• What actions do you believe the Township should take to help protect lake water quality and sustain the economic and tax revenue benefits that the lakes in the Township provide?
• What do you believe are the most important issues for voters in your ward?
• If elected, what would you do to support the construction of medium density affordable housing in the Township?Questions for mayoral and deputy mayoral candidates included:
• How do you believe the Township should go about protecting the natural environment while encouraging economic development?
• What is your opinion on the joint fire hall public works building?
• What is your position on the ALTO high speed rail project and how do you plan to navigate communicating with other levels of government as well as project leads on this project should you get elected?
• What are positive steps you would support to improve the local business environment
• If elected would you support municipal investment in healthcare facilities in neighbouring townships such as Campbellford and Norwood?
• What do you believe is the biggest challenge facing Douro-Dummer residents?
The recording of the meeting is posted to the Lakefield Herald’s Facebook page. Please note that due to a lack of power sources, the recordingwas cut off before closing statements from the mayoral and deputy mayoral candidates.
There are two other all-candidates meeting scheduled for Douro Dumme including one on October 15 hosted by a local resident Sherry Hill at the Township Hall at 6 p.m. and one on October 17 at 10:30 a.m. hosted by the White Lake Association and the Upper Stoney Lake Association at the Crowes Landing Pavillion.
