There seems to be a theme running throughout Orillia’s all-candidates meetings.
The five people vying for the two seats available in Ward 3 were greeted Thursday night by an audience looking for solutions to one issue more than any other: snow removal.
The candidates meeting was sponsored by the local chamber of commerce and the Lakelands Association of Realtors.
“I’m starting to think that Caterpillar snow plowing is sponsoring the event as well,” candidate Jay Fallis quipped.
Some candidates seemed prepared and, in their opening remarks, vowed to improve snow clearing in the city.
When asked what the candidates felt they could accomplish for their ward in a four-year term, Betsy Gross zeroed in on winter control.
“If we could solve that, that would be great for everybody,” she said.
Incumbent Mason Ainsworth also had winter on his mind, saying the city should create a hub somewhere in the ward, similar to what exists on James Street, which he feels could speed up snow removal.
Fior Tucci wants to curb speeding vehicles in parts of Ward 3.
“We could work with staff to try to find solutions to that issue,” such as traffic-calming measures, he said.
Fallis said he would address the water woes in the west end.
“The water is so hard that it’s not usable and it’s destroying some appliances,” he said, adding he would look for water-softening solutions.
Community gardens on the west end would be ideal, according to Jodie Wilson.
“That would benefit an awful lot of people.”
The candidates were also asked to wade into the conversation about cannabis legalization. The new council will have little time to opt out of allowing retail cannabis stores in town, and Paul Tremblay wanted to know where they stood on the matter. All five candidates said they want to consult with the community, but it was Fallis who touted the potential benefits of welcoming the stores. He felt it would deter people from supporting the black market.
“We could turn this into a good situation,” he said.
Wilson, too, said she was “not opposed, personally,” to retail cannabis stores, while Tucci wants to see more education about it in the community and in schools.
“We have to keep it away from our children,” he said.
A familiar face when it comes to Orillia Transit took to the microphone to ask if the candidates would try to bring bus stops back to areas of Esther Anne Drive, Karen Crescent and Sandra Drive. Tom Phillips, who has been trying to get the stops returned for years, noted there are many seniors in the area who cannot get to the nearest stops easily.
“I want to have an Uber car come right to your house,” Ainsworth told Phillips. “If we have alternative forms of transit in the city … we have lots of options.”
Wilson wants the city to revisit the bus routes, while Fallis said the city should listen to residents to find out where routes should be.
Gross acknowledged the route in question needs to be “fixed.”
Tucci made a commitment to Phillips: “On your behalf, I would advocate for that. I don’t think it’s a hard fix.”
Another issue that has come up at each meeting is the potential sale of the Orillia Power Distribution Corporation to Hydro One. Frank Kehoe, an intervener in the process, who is opposed to the sale, asked where the candidates stood on the issue.
“I trust the people on the (Orillia Power) board of directors, and they seem to think it’s a good deal,” Gross said.
That doesn’t mean she’s in favour of selling it, she added, saying she is not yet convinced Hydro One would be good for the city.
“I’m tending to lean against the deal,” Fallis said, noting there is less transparency with a private company like Hydro One. “I do recognize the economic benefits.”
Ainsworth reminded the audience he “proudly” voted against the deal, while Wilson said most residents with whom she has spoken are not in favour of the sale.
Tucci was the only one of the five candidates to express his support for the deal.
“I do support the sale if it does bring jobs to Orillia,” he said. “I agree that the information provided to the residents was not done in a clear and concise manner.”
There were “naysayers” when Walmart came to town and when the OPP wanted to open its headquarters here, Tucci said, “and look at us today.”
The candidates were asked about health care, including where they would like to see the hospital located as part of its ongoing redevelopment. Options presented so far include building on the current site near the downtown or building on a new site, which would likely mean moving it to west Orillia.
“Having the hospital located in a central place that is accessible to the whole community is very important to me,” Wilson said, adding she supports the current site.
Fallis, Gross and Tucci acknowledged the benefits of the current location, while Ainsworth said it isn’t about what he wants.
They were also asked what they would do to improve health-care access for those without family doctors, since that is what’s needed in order to access the walk-in clinic.
Gross lamented the loss of the after-hours clinic.
“If there were more doctors, we might have that clinic back,” she said.
Fallis and Wilson said they would look to further support the local physician recruitment and retention committee.
Ainsworth used the opportunity to point out city council turned down a request from the committee for $1,500, while Tucci told the audience member who asked the question, “It should be a natural that you have that accessible to you.”
The Ward 4 candidates meeting will take place Tuesday, while the mayoralty hopefuls and school board trustee candidates will meet Wednesday. Both meetings will happen at the Orillia City Centre starting at 6:30 p.m.
