The two-horse race for the city’s top political post did not generate a lot of sparks Wednesday night. In fact, incumbent Steve Clarke and his challenger, Gord Launchbury, even agreed a few times.
But some stark differences between the candidates became apparent during the tame affair at the Orillia City Centre.
One voter, for example, boiled it down to a simple question, asking if those who are in favour of selling the distribution arm of Orillia Power to Hydro One should vote for Clarke, while those who oppose should ‘Go with Gord.’
“The distribution system belongs to us, the taxpayers,” said Launchbury, comparing the Hydro One deal to the sale of a house. “If a person owns a house and comes and offers you $1 million, it makes you wonder how much it’s worth.”
He said seeking other offers or valuations is “a matter of principle.”
Clarke countered by singing the praises of the “$200-million, transformational” deal. He noted senior staff and the board of Orillia Power “unanimously supported” the sale. He also trumpeted the city’s efforts to inform people about the sale and its impact.
The candidates also seem to offer a different approach when it comes to leadership style.
Clarke said “actions speak louder than words.” He noted a mayor’s job in a municipality in Ontario is one of influence rather than power, joking his “only real power is to read proclamations.”
With that in mind, he said a mayor “needs to be inclusive, respectful, encouraging – even when someone is bringing a contrarian idea forward. And, once a decision is made, the rest of council needs to support that decision and move on.”
Launchbury noted he has chaired many meetings and says he is one who looks for decorum and consensus.
“As mayor, I’d only be willing to vote to break a tie if it was absolutely essential,” he said, adding if he could foresee a tie vote coming, he would “table the item for a few weeks … tabling a motion is my way of getting close to consensus.”
The two candidates also clashed, a bit, over transparency.
Brandishing a copy of the Ontario Municipal Act, Launchbury said he is in favour of fewer closed meetings.
He says it “sounds like there are too many (in Orillia). Maybe they’re absolutely essential, but citizens should be apprised” of what is happening, he said.
The mayor refuted the claim, noting councillors engage in “robust conversation” before going into a closed session.
“If you’re not in on those discussions, I can understand how the perception would be that way,” he said. “I can tell you someone on council went to the Integrity Commissioner in the last year with that issue and the Integrity Commissioner quickly dismissed it.”
Several people asked how the city could attract jobs and improve the economy.
Launchbury said there is too much red tape and too many outdated bylaws that are providing hurdles; he referenced an Orillia business that moved to Wasaga Beach – with its nine employees – due to frustrations with the sign bylaw. He also said the city should hire more seasonal workers that could help at the waterfront and other amenities.
Clarke noted the city had created a community improvement plan to help incentivize downtown development, has a moratorium on development charges to help the industrial sector but said the city needs to sell itself better.
“One thing we can do better (is) show off the quality of life we can offer,” said Clarke. “More and more millennials are making a decision on where to live based on quality of life even over jobs. Jobs are still important but quality of life is more important.”
There were also several questions related to affordable housing and homelessness. Both candidates vowed to do more to address the issue.
Launchbury, a lay reader at his church, a chaplain at a local retirement home and board member of St. James Court (an affordable housing project), said he would broker a meeting with key stakeholders to discuss the issue.
“As Mayor, I would invite these groups to get together and actually build on these properties.”
Clarke said it’s a complex issue, noting there is a need for emergency shelters, transitional housing and supports that help bridge the gap into permanent housing.
Twice he referenced the Upstream Project, which has roots in Australia. It’s a school-based program aimed at preventing youth homelessness. It works with students and staff to identify risks and offer support. “I strongly support that coming to Orillia and will work to champion that.”
On a lighter note, candidates were asked if their character and humanity were forged more by pleasure and success or by pain and disappointment.
Launchbury said in his life of 73 years, a blind date led to a marriage that will celebrate its 48th anniversary later this month. “Yes, there’s been pain,” he said to much laughter. “You take it one day at a time. We’re on a journey together and we’re here to help each other. My mantra from the age of five is to ask someone: ‘How may I help you?’”
Clarke said he tries to live by the golden rule and to treat others how he wishes to be treated.
“I believe we learn, often, more from our losses than our success and I think it’s OK to go through those hard times, especially if we learn from them,” said the longtime downtown restaurant owner. He said those experiences help avoid future similar problems and lead to empathy.
There was no disagreement about the potential of pot. The candidates were asked if they would exercise a one-time opportunity to opt out of hosting cannabis retail outlets.
“It is the job of the mayor to make sure our neighbourhoods are safe,” said Clarke, noting he was in favour of the original idea, nixed by the new PC government, to have the LCBO act as the retail outlet for cannabis.
Clarke said he was also surprised to learn there is no limit “on the number of retailers than can sell and where you can smoke it.”
Despite those concerns, he “would not opt out because I want to take this particular trade out of the hands of the criminal element.”
Launchbury said the mayor is “absolutely correct.”
Wednesday's mayoralty and trustee debate, like the four previous ward forums, was sponsored by the Orillia District Chamber of Commerce and the Lakelands Association of Realtors.
Advance polls begin Saturday in advance of the Oct. 22 municipal election. For more information on polls, wards and important dates, check out the stories on our election page or visit orillia.ca
