It appears that this will be a significant municipal election in 2026 following the first of the All-Candidates meetings held in Southampton (Saugeen Shores) on August 31st.
Some 200 attended the in-person meeting hosted by the Southampton Residents’ Association (SRA) and held at Bevan Hall (St. Paul’s Anglican Church) with an additional 100 waiting on-line to ask questions of the candidates.
The meeting opened with each candidate giving a two-minute explanation of his/her background and qualifications for why they decided to run for the various offices.
There are three candidates for Mayor, two for Deputy Mayor, two for Vice-Deputy Mayor, five for Southampton Ward Councillors and three for Saugeen Township (Port Elgin Ward candidates to attend a later all-candidates meeting).
Following introductions the meeting opened to a question and answer period for the audience in attendance and those on-line.
The questions were many including:
- Affordable housing
- Public transportation
- Relationship with Saugeen First Nation
- Development charges
- Vice-deputy office
- CPPS (Community Planning Permit System)
- Heritage, culture and the arts
- Gobles Grove parking
- Many more …
Unfortunately, given the timetable established due to the number of candidates, most answers were limited to either one minute for a specific candidate or 30 seconds each for all to answer which conveyed little of the messages that the candidates wanted to get across.
One of the questions for instance centred around the title of Saugeen Shores’ Vice-Deputy Mayor and why Saugeen Shores was the only municipality to have the position. Incumbent Bud Halpin explained that it was only a title and that other municipalities simply called it ‘Councillor at Large’ and that it was there to create a tie-breaking vote in the instance that a Council arrived at a tie vote. Incumbent Southampton ward Councillor, John Divinski, also pointed out that the Municipality of Kincardine called its tie-breaking position Councillor at Large. “It doesn’t matter the title, the responsibility is the same.”
When it came to First Nations relationships, all candidates agreed progress would be continued. Incumbent mayor Luke Charbonneau said that Council had recently signed a Friendship Accord agreement with Saugeen First Nation along with a joint Tourism Agreement. “We have established a great solid relationship with our neighbours that I consider one of the great experiences of my life,” he said. Councillor Cheryl Grace also said that Saugeen Shores was only one of eight municipalities in Canada to receive a Federal grant to develop an Economic Development partnership with the First Nations.
Incumbent Bud Halpin also explained that the recently developed Saugeen Shores Sparks Centre for trades training had signed two partnership agreements with Saugeen First Nation and Nawash Cape Croker First Nation. “Education is everything,” said Halpin.
The recently deferred CPPS was explained by incumbent Southampton Ward Councillor, Cheryl Grace, who explained that the CPPS actually gives municipalities, “… the opportunity to circumvent provincial control for more planning freedom as the province is taking away more local control from municipalities.”
When it comes to affordable and attainable housing and development charges (DCs), it appears that Saugeen Shores is ahead of the provincial curve. Municipal DCs were reduced for developers to encourage them to build purpose-built housing. In addition, a rental supplement has been initiated to help families with rents and a co-operative housing development has been introduced. “The province is now pushing all this,” said incumbent mayor Charbonneau. “It is offering grants to make up the difference with the reduction of DCs and we have to take advantage of grants being offered. We need a whole range of housing … and we are working with Habitat for Humanity. Housing is also now being driven by the province and Prime Minister Carney. We need to do this and follow their lead for affordable housing.”
Mayoral candidate Brian Putman said that he disagreed. “Developers should have to provide an explanation of the cost of the DCs that are not being charged. I would want to see the value of those DCs.”
Incumbent Deputy Mayor added that she is constructing a ‘tiny home’ of 700 sq. ft. and, without the DC reduction her development charges would have been $55,000, the same as a 7,000 sq. ft. home. “This is the time for anyone wanting to build a small home to do it now – this is an on-going adjustment.”
When it came to the issue of the proposed battery storage facility (NEOEN), all candidates voiced opposition against it, citing a variety of concerns, including location, environmental impact, fire response time if needed and others.
At the end of the meeting, each candidate then had the opportunity to briefly present a synopsis of his/her platform if elected.
The first all-candidates meeting in Southampton (Saugeen Shores) was an indication of residents’ concerns as the election approaches in October. To hear more from those running for office, the next all-candidates meeting will be held on October 5th at Southampton Town Hall hosted by the Port Elgin and Southampton BIAs (Business Improvement Associations).
