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SERIES: Amid challenges, Emond hopes city can regain momentum

'Our city’s financial position is sound and I believe our future will be very positive as we emerge from the pandemic,' says Emond
ted emond talks at council
Coun. Ted Emond is in his second term as councillor for Orillia's Ward 1. File Photo

This is the second in a nine-part series in which OrilliaMatters asked city councillors to reflect on the first half of their mandate, look ahead to the second half and let citizens know if they intend to see re-election.

Today, we provide the answers from Ward 1 Councillor Ted Emond.

Question 1. What are you most proud of, personally as a councillor, that you/council have been able to accomplish in the first half of your mandate?  

Opening the Recreation Centre and closing the sale of Orillia Power Distribution to Hydro One are our most evident accomplishments. A close second would be the integration of two new Council members while maintaining Council’s open, collaborative, respectful, working relationships.

Question 2. What is your biggest disappointment as it relates to a council decision/direction or issue?

The delay in implementing our waterfront/downtown redevelopment program caused by legal challenges and COVID-19, is my biggest disappointment.

Question 3. Nobody saw the pandemic coming. Specifically, as a councillor, what is the biggest challenge the pandemic has created and how have you tried to tackle that challenge?

Two challenges from my perspective: The challenge to our business community and deciding what measures the city could introduce to help. The challenge to our residents’ socialization caused by their need to isolate without personal contact with family and friends.

The city’s Economic Recovery Task Force and the “See You on the Patio” initiative helped mitigate both of these challenges, but we continue to suffer economically and personally by the continuing pandemic.

Question 4. As a result of the pandemic, many citizens are worried about the future and think council should have halted everything (ie. waterfront plan, Centennial Drive project etc.) to save money. What do you say to those people and what is your view of the future of the municipality amid the reality of a pandemic? 

The decision of Councils over the years to invest in the Tax Stabilization Reserve meant we had put aside money to offset what became a $2.5 million 2020 pandemic operating deficit. Council’s decision to strive for a 2021 0% tax increase is a further effort to dampen the impact of the pandemic on our taxpayers.

There is no question that businesses and individuals have suffered, but generally Orillia has coped well economically during the pandemic. The recreation centre was financed from cash flows and we are following a strategy of debt-financing projects that will pay for themselves.

For example energy savings pays back, in less than six years, the $3 million borrowed for the switch to LED streetlights. Our city’s financial position is sound and I believe our future will be very positive as we emerge from the pandemic.

Question 5. The recent discussion about the waterfront plan spawned a lot of debate and, despite your efforts, many seem to think there wasn’t enough public input. Are you doing enough as a council to be transparent, to encourage public input and to listen? How so? How could that be improved during the second half of your mandate?

The waterfront plan is a good example of our dilemma: how much public input is enough? Over 400 individuals either attended the public forum or completed the waterfront survey, a large number based on the experience of our consultant. 

None of the waterfront plan recommendations received unanimous support or opposition. In all cases there was an array of agreement to disagreement. As a Councillor when I make a decision I weigh public feedback, with the advice of the experts, and my own experience and judgement. 

In the case of the waterfront plan, as with most of our plans, recommendations will come to Council for confirmation and budget approval. I’m confident there will be ample opportunity for the public to express their opinion on each waterfront plan recommendation before Council decides. 

I am committed to listening and taking all opinions into account when making my decisions. 

Question 6. What is the biggest challenge council faces in the second half of its mandate (ie. Staff retirements, promised tax freeze, capacity) and what are your top priorities?

The biggest challenge and my top priority during the remaining two years of this term is regaining the momentum begun last term of Council, and continued by this Council, to move Orillia forward into the future with initiatives like the recreation centre, the waterfront/downtown redevelopment, the sale of Orillia Power Distribution to Hydro One and the corporate strategic plan and reorganization. A momentum lost to a year of coping with the pandemic.

Question 7: Lastly, do you intend to seek re-election? Why or why not?

I’ll decide closer to the election date for a couple of reasons. One, if I announced now that I will not seek re-election in 2022 I would be viewed as a lame duck Councillor for two years. Two, I want to determine the degree to which those projects and initiatives that I’ve worked for over the past six years may require my support as a Councillor for another term.

And three, just having had a hip replaced has raised my consciousness about my personal health and wellbeing going forward. But maybe the most important criterion will be the degree to which my constituents express the opinion that my serving another term will add value to our city and their way of life.


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Dave Dawson

About the Author: Dave Dawson

Dave Dawson is community editor of OrilliaMatters.com
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