The city council chamber at times seemed more like an echo chamber Tuesday night during Orillia’s first municipal all-candidates meeting.
Ward 1 hopefuls Ken Abbott, David Campbell and incumbent Ted Emond took questions from media and members of the public at the Orillia City Centre. Snow removal was clearly on the minds of many who lined up at the microphone to question the candidates.
Coun. Mason Ainsworth, who is seeking re-election in Ward 3, got the snowball rolling when he kicked off the public question period with a query about the candidates’ plans for Orillia Transit.
Abbott said he was “100 per cent for clearing every bus stop” of snow, while Campbell noted, “In order to use the bus stops, they have to be clear.” Emond suggested transit riders should go to the nearest clear driveway if a bus stop is snowed in.
That brought another candidate from a different ward to the mic.
“You do not put a person in front of a driveway,” said Harold Dougall, a Ward 2 candidate who made a comment but didn’t ask a question, adding it is a dangerous suggestion.
The next question was about snow removal at condominiums. A condo resident took issue with a lack of city snow clearing at condos when those residents pay the same amount as others in town for those services.
“If you pay tax in Orillia, you should have the same services,” Abbott said.
Emond noted he lives in a condo, too.
“When we bought the condo, we researched what we would be paying for and what we wouldn’t be paying for,” he said. “That is something we tolerate in the community we’re living in.”
Another resident asked Emond about the future of Tudhope Park. The time limit for asking and answering expired, so the man made his way to the back of the line a few more times to continue his fact-finding mission about the park’s master plan – to the point even Emond’s challengers were deferring to him to explain, forgoing their chance to weigh in.
Also on the minds of many in the audience was where the candidates stood on the potential sale of the Orillia Power Distribution Corporation to Hydro One.
“I do hope it comes to fruition because I think it’s only going to accelerate the new economy,” Emond said.
Abbott took a different stance.
“Unlike Ted, I am so against the sale,” he said.
Campbell noted he was against the sale when he first heard about it, but indicated he is open to learning more about the benefits.
Abbott then had to answer to Mike McMurter.
“You have provided an emotional response,” McMurter said of Abbott’s position on the sale. “I would like a logical response.”
“I’m not just emotional about it. I’m passionate. (The Orillia Power Distribution Corporation) is ours,” he replied.
“We should hold onto it as long as we can.”
While most of the questions focused on city-wide matters, the candidates were asked what Ward 1 issues they felt they could tackle and make progress on in the next four years.
Abbott took aim at some of the unsightly and unkempt ditches in the ward.
“It’s making our area look like a trash can,” he said, also listing road paving and line painting as areas in need of improvement.
Campbell said he wants to solve the dispute among residents of Grape Island and those in the Victoria Crescent/Forest Avenue area regarding commercial barging off Forest Avenue.
“If we can get both sides back at the table, we could come up with a resolution,” he said.
In his response to the question, Emond referenced the Community Index of Wellbeing survey that was issued to some local residents, noting the results, expected during the next term of council, “will help us to make decisions that will improve” the city in many areas.
Decorum was maintained throughout Tuesday’s meeting – the only somewhat tense moment being between Abbott and moderator Fay McFarlane. Abbott expressed his frustration at being cut off during an answer when his time ran out, when Emond was allowed to exceed his limit on a couple of occasions. McFarlane then invited Abbott to finish his comment, but he declined.
The only other emotional moment of the night came when Campbell was responding to a question about how candidates would deal with cuts to services, such as health care, should they come down the pipe.
Campbell choked up in mid-response and handed it over to Emond to explain that a member of Campbell’s family was “in medical crisis” at that moment at the hospital.
On a lighter note, a woman in the audience asked the candidates how they relax after a tough day.
Abbott: “Sitting in a hot tub with a great cigar.”
Campbell: “I go home and play the drums.”
Emond: “When I retired, I had a lot of time to relax.”
The third and final question Ainsworth posed to the candidates was whether they are in favour of ride-sharing service Uber coming to town and if they support getting rid of the requirement of a vulnerable-sector check for its drivers. Uber has stated it is against that requirement, which was supported by the majority of council.
Abbott and Campbell said the check is redundant, as the drivers already need to have criminal background checks. Emond stood by his position that vulnerable-sector checks should be required.
The Ward 2 candidates meeting will take place Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Orillia City Centre.
