Three candidates are running for mayor in the municipality of Grey Highlands.
Incumbent Paul McQueen is seeking his third term as mayor. He is being challenged by current councillor Danielle Valiquette, and Don Alp.
Grey Highlands is slightly unique this municipal election cycle, bringing a record number of candidates to the voting booth, with a three-way race for Mayor and Deputy Mayor, in addition to 17 candidates seeking one of five available council seats.
Paul McQueen was first elected as the mayor of Grey Highlands in 2014. He says council under his leadership has made great strides, but issues being brought forward by voters this election include the new hospital, Grey Gables, and the future of recreational facilities across the municipality. When it comes to Grey Gables, McQueen says [one] "idea could be to build a new facility, a new 128-bed facility, and convert the current Grey Gables into assisted living. This would add value and revenue to offset the cost of building those extra 66 beds that we don't get funding for."
McQueen doubled down on his feelings that citizens across communities within Grey Highlands should be empowered to have a say in the future of recreational facilities, saying most communities within the township have a community hub within itself, and a consultant has just recently had a look at possibly downsizing the number of these facilities, but McQueen says those citizens have said "no, we want to keep our community centres, our hubs, our arenas and our parks." McQueen also suggested possibly looking at a new setup for some minor sports, including minor hockey at the house league level, possibly utilizing these many arenas and parks to create a lower-cost option for those looking to participate in minor sports.
Danielle Valiquette says it's time for change in Grey Highlands, and time for "a new outlook, a new forward outlook and a way for leadership to behave." She says attainable housing, climate and concerns about roads and transportation are issues she's heard about while knocking on doors since she announced her candidacy.
Valiquette's plans to tackle roads and transportation stem from a report from a United Nations report that declared this decade "the decade for road safety", a report that has suggestions that she says Grey Highlands staff is currently in the process of looking at, and will provide "different options in it. We need to slow people down, for example."
Don Alp says he's running to provide a different option to McQueen or Valiquette, saying he wants to represent working class people. He says "a lot of people just want to see change in municipal government, and a lot of people are concerned about safety on the streets. Crossing guards, street signs, things of that nature."
He says his major issue is bringing representation to middle-class people, and getting them out to vote so they're heard. He also said he was intent on providing "a different path compared to what Danielle (Valiquette) is providing." When asked about this path, Alp said "I wouldn't necessarily say I'm a better option, but I'm a different option. Paul has experience, and is a career politician and people know what they're going to get with him. Danielle is also a career politician and activist, so people know what they're going to get with her."
Municipal elections in Ontario will take place on Monday, October 24.
More information on the upcoming election in Grey Highlands can be found here: https://greyhighlands.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/250166/