Mayoral Candidate Caryn Colman

Q1: Meaford is experiencing dynamic growth. How do you see ratepayers’ involvement in that growth? What role do you see the community playing in establishing the common direction and longer-term priorities?

Ratepayers (people who pay taxes and utilities) have an opportunity to create a cohesive community for newcomers. We can welcome new residents through outreach, sharing each other’s spirituality, providing guided experiences to our forests, heritage tours, farm tours, promoting festivals, to name a few options. I’d like to see the Municipality support these initiatives too. Essentially, we can share our experience of what it means to be Canadian, especially in the winter! 

Q2: Would you support the development of an active community-based Advisory Committee for planning and development?

Of course. It is essential and can take some of the workload off staff. But Council must take these committees seriously. Otherwise, advisory committees are just smoke and mirrors. Another reason to have robust advisory committees is that it gives the people the inspiration they need to be politically active in our community. That’s democracy.

Q3: Currently, Meaford Council has just two Advisory Committees: Heritage and Accessibility. Prior to this current Council, there were seven advisory committees. Given that advisory committees facilitate public input into important matters, would you reinstate other advisory committees? And how would you ensure they are used effectively in the next term of Council?

Advisory Committees, populated by community volunteers (and two Council members) are essential for a democratic government. All seven advisory committees should be reinstated, as well as a new one: the Climate Action Advisory Committee.  Currently, the Municipality does not have a staff position for climate change. This is a travesty. 

Q4: What is the role of Council and the Municipality in supporting the development of downtown Meaford? In rural areas? Please provide examples.

Decline to answer.

Q5: What role does Meaford’s “Official Plan” have in guiding development?

The Official Plan is a document of planning principals, with goals, objectives and policies. Meaford’s OP is implemented through by-laws to control how land is used; sizes and types of buildings, densities, parking, green spaces, etc.  Unfortunately, developers like SkyDev and Gates of Meaford have disrespected the Official Plan for their own gain. They’ve jumped over Meaford Council, appealed by-laws with the Ontario Land Tribunal, and won. So, to answer this question specifically, I’d say unless Meaford toughens up land-use by laws with words like must, instead of should, and gets Grey County’s approval for these amendments, we’re lost. 

Q6: If a development project does not appear to meet Official Plan requirements (like the SkyDev proposal), what should Council do to ensure the project is in the best interest of Meaford and its citizens?

My answer is unconventional and I’m certain the CAO would advise against. But as a community group strategy, has Imagine Meaford considered investigating the various Skyline entities to find the best fit to make a shareholder resolution against SkyDev?

As for the Municipality, Council needs to be pre-emptive with binding by-laws and penalty clauses. However, the Ford government has slapped us with Bill 23, Build Better Homes Faster. The Ontario Land Tribunal favours developers, and an uncompliant Municipality pays penalties. This is my understanding of Council’s inaction.

Q7: Should Council members or municipal staff meet with developers prior to a development application being submitted? What is your understanding of them role in such meetings? Can you give us an example of what you would do in that position?

Absolutely yes. Staff’s role is to guide a developer to meet the standards in the OP.  For example, building height, road setbacks, parking spaces per household, green space, etc. In the case of a heritage area, building facings and style.

I would insist that a developer adhere to its approved plan; with Skydev that means adhering to its height, underground parking, outdoor recreation facilities, and proposed green space, all of which they reneged on.

With Loon Call, I will cite many examples that challenged by-laws: retaining the original stone building as a heritage feature, mulching slash instead of burning it, and curbing the escalation of unit density which replaced green space with cars and trucks.

I’d establish a Municipal procurement policy to attract new developers that respect our OP. We can expand our tax base this way, instead of taking whoever comes a-knocking.

Q8: There are many issues that need to be addressed in the coming four-year term, including the TCE pumped energy project, affordable housing, job creation, the downtown heritage district, business development, climate change, tourism, and a host of infrastructure needs supporting agriculture, bridges, roads, water and sewer and urban green spaces. What, in your opinion, are the most urgent issues to address?

For years I’ve approached each Council member asking about the project’s cost-benefit analysis in the context of protecting Meaford. But TCEnergy keeps waiving the money under everyone’s noses (the curling club, Xmas on the Bay, Knights Hockey team, the Cenotaph, TCEnergy’s $1500 sponsorship funding to replace Xmas tree lights in downtown Meaford, the Predevelopment Agreement, and the looming Community Benefits Agreement). 

Georgian Bay is our Blue Gold. It’s Meaford’s unique selling proposition, worth billions and as time goes by, even more. Georgian Bay is our collateral for investment funds and green bonds.

As for job creation, workers won’t lose jobs to green technology. Rather, our older labour force already has many skills required, i.e., working with large machines, trouble shooting, mechanical issues, etc.  I’m super excited about moving our Municipality towards a net-zero status, project by project. Starting with our Municipal water and sewer infrastructure, a redesign ready for heat recovery technology.  And there are lots of grants to get us there faster.

My website (www.caryncolman4mayor.com) lists many green energy solutions like solar panels, retrofits, heat pumps, biomass heat recovery, and district energy systems. Our neighbouring municipalities are already rolling these out for farms, businesses, homeowners, and lower-income people. Meaford can too.

Green space expansion is not keeping up with development, another by-law infringement. Where will all the new residents go to enjoy nature? And how will the existing parks and shorelines be impacted? People need green and blue spaces for their health and wellness as prescribed by PaRx medical doctors.

One of the things I enjoy the most through my campaign is speaking to people about affordable housing. New developments (despite the Provincial Policy Statement saying 30% for affordable) are not the solution.  Affordability could be reachable by increasing urban density, renovating existing homes into multiunit dwellings, designing with solar, avoiding gas utilities. This model has added benefits, creating micro communities, sharing utilities, expenses, maintenance jobs, cars and tools, growing food, pet sitting roles, etc.

 Co-op housing is a proven affordable, long-term model. Garden suites (as described in Meaford’s Official Plan, pg. 40) offers country living on an already existing farm.

Q9: The TCE Pumped Storage Proposal will be decided by the federal government. What is your position on the project, and what role do you think the Meaford Council has as the project moves through approvals?

Council may be powerless to stop the project. But they can still make noise and publicly defend the hundreds of us who object. Instead, Council is silent, and the optics are Meaford is in favour.  Personally, I think TCEnergy has a gag-order on Council, and it’s tied-up with the Community Benefits Agreement. Further, I fear Council will accept the IAAC decision without hiring their own third-party review.  

As a mayoral candidate, I’ve created a pop-up ART SHOW: GEORGIAN BAY AND CLIMATE ACTION. Although my campaign office is part of this show, the space gives people a chance express their voice about the Pumped Storage Project. Visitors can leave a private message on the PRAYER WALL, navigate marine charts in the SWIRL OF WATER RIBBONS, study the aquarium in the BIODIVERSITY ROOM, sit down with the cartoon character MAX GREEN, dip into the POETRY APOTHECARY, and admire the work of at least 10 LOCAL ARTISTS. It’s at 4 Sykes Street and the hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 11 am – 4 pm.

Q10: As a member of Council, how will you work with local and county/regional partners and Meaford's CAO and staff to move the Municipality forward on the issues listed in Q8? Can you provide any examples?

Our Official Plan is Meaford’s guiding light for responsible growth and heritage preservation. I’d welcome working with local partners like Imagine Meaford, advisory committees, and staff experts to draft resolutions that better enforce the guiding principles we’ve worked hard to write in the OP.

Since Municipal by-laws are meant to comply with the County’s, and then with the Provincial Policy Statement, I’d work at the County level for binding amendments that protect our OP.  I’ve already given examples above in the context of developers.