On a beautiful fall evening, snow was on the minds of many who attended the Ward 2 all-candidates forum Wednesday night at the Orillia City Centre.
The four candidates faced a flurry of questions around snow removal – particularly at bus stops, on sidewalks and on side streets.
Incumbents Ralph Cipolla and Rob Kloostra, who both voted against spending about $46,000 last winter to clear snow from bus stops, felt the most heat.
Both say they have learned their lesson.
“I did make an error in judgment,” conceded Kloostra. He agreed with citizens who expressed concerns and said, “moving forward, we need to do more.”
Cipolla said he voted against the plan because it would have required hiring more people and would have “cost a small fortune.” He vowed to make it a priority if re-elected.
First-time candidate Tshweu Moleme was critical of the city’s snow removal and vowed to champion a better response this winter.
“I will vote for snow removal,” he said. “I don’t care how much it costs. My priority is you being safe … and if council opposes me, I will grab my shovel and come do it myself.”
Candidate Harold Dougall also said the city needs to step up its efforts. “Sidewalks should come first,” he said.
While all candidates agreed improved snow removal is needed at city bus shelters, Dougall argued more shelters are needed.
A question was also asked about the potential for creating a new bus terminal – something the current council has stalled on.
Kloostra said a centrally-located depot is on the “wish list” but said consultants would need to be engaged to move the idea forward.
Cipolla suggested the current site of the OPP detachment could become home to a new terminal once the police move their office to West Orillia. “That building and that parking lot are going to be empty and could be turned into a bus hub,” he suggested.
Job creation was also a topic that was touched on several times as audience members lined up at a microphone to ask questions.
Cipolla said the city should enlist the help of the province to improve infrastructure that would pave the way for new jobs. He also suggested the city could team up with the Orillia District Chamber of Commerce, real estate officials and local manufacturers to target job growth. “That should be one of our priorities,” he said.
Kloostra suggested existing businesses, enjoying success, could, with the city’s help, consider expansion, creating more jobs.
Moleme said now is not the time to rely on the province. He said he would like to see “less focus on big business and more focus on small business.” He said it’s up to the city to “strengthen our connection with the small business community” which is creating jobs.
Dougall didn’t offer a solution, but echoed the sentiment of many in the crowd: “We need jobs badly.”
The potential sale of the distribution arm of Orillia Power to Hydro One was brought up twice. Kloostra reiterated his opposition to the deal, while Cipolla was dubbed a “flip-flopper” by Ward 2 resident Fred Ainsworth.
Ainsworth said he was in council chambers on Nov. 15, 2016 when Cipolla voted against having another public information session. However, when a recorded vote was called on the matter, Cipolla, according to Ainsworth, changed his vote.
“Is that acceptable? Is that good behaviour?” asked Ainsworth.
Cipolla defended his change of mind, saying it was because he received “better information. I have been on council a long time and ran a business for 48 years ... if you’re asking the question on behalf of someone else that’s fine, but I’m not a flip flopper in any shape or form.”
That was the only tense moment of the evening. Cipolla was suggesting that Ainsworth was asking the question on behalf of his son, Mason, who is seeking re-election in Ward 3. At Tuesday night’s Ward 1 candidates meeting, Mason Ainsworth and other candidates asked questions during the public question period.
On Wednesday night, debate moderator Patrick Lassaline announced candidates would not be eligible to ask questions in order to allow questions from the public.
Questions were also asked about how council might encourage new-economy jobs, while concerns were raised about vacant downtown stores, the need to clean up the former Mount Slaven Public School site and to repair and improve sidewalks.
Cipolla said one message was loud and clear after the back-to-back candidate forums.
“Obviously we need to increase the budget” for snow removal, he said, noting it was also the prevailing theme at the Ward 1 meeting. “It is a serious problem and it seems to be one of the more serious concerns.”
The Ward 3 candidates meeting will take place tonight at 6:30 p.m. at the Orillia City Centre. The Ward 4 forum will be held next Tuesday, with the mayoralty debate and school board trustee debate set for the next night, Oct. 3.
The debates are organized by the Orillia District Chamber of Commerce and the Lakelands Association of Realtors.
Each candidate was given five minutes for an introductory speech. That was followed by questions from the chamber, realtors, media and audience members.
