Here are some things I'd like to improve/change/bring forward if I'm elected for Ward 4 (these are not in any order of priority!):

Administrative

SIMPLIFY COUNCIL REPORTS

Simplify council reports so that they are easy to read for the tax payers, simplify language, and avoid jargon.  I'd like to work with staff to reduce the length, put things into simpler terms, have a section added that clearly outlines potential impacts on residents.

REPORTS SEEKING PUBLIC INPUT AND FEEDBACK & TIMING

Work with staff to schedule items that ask for residents feedback in the evening and not during the day as it currently is set up. There are times where I've attended council meetings the items are on the agenda, however most often the timing of when that report is going to come up is just a guess based on the flow of the meeting, discussions etc.  People have jobs and are unable to take time off during the day to attend a council meeting to provide feedback. If the council wants true feedback from the community council needs to make it convenient for the community to actually attend.

APPROVED DEVELOPMENTS IN HALDIMAND

Have you tried to look up to see what has already been approved for residential/commercial /industrial development in our county, but perhaps not yet built? I have, and the process is time consuming and difficult, going through past council reports seeing what the outcomes were, what the status is etc. The county should be transparent about what has been brought forward for development. Whether it was an information report (no decisions made), what has been approved or pending (if the developer was asked for more info etc), and the current status. This should be laid out plain and simply, but it isn't. If elected I would like to request that the county create a section for the website that outlines all the proposed, approved, pending, denied development in our county. It doesn't have to be complex, just outlining the location, developer name, proposed unit type and quantity, current zoning, proposed zoning change (if applicable), a link to the council report, and status.

ONTARIO LAND TRIBUNAL & PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT UNDERMINING MUNICIPAL DECISION MAKING

At the August 31, 2026 council meeting a letter from Town of Whitby was shared, which outlines their concerns with OLT's overreach, and undermining of the municipal government decision making and authority. Similarly Oxford County has also pushed back on the provincial government, stating "There is a fundamental erosion of the respect of municipal government by the province in this province. It’s disgraceful" (link to the article, November 2025)

OLT is disregarding the local governments decisions,  the decisions of elected officials who are the voices of their constituents. It is a prime example of erosion of the democratic processes that are in place. OLT ultimately decides what's best for our communities, not the people who live in them. 

Haldimand County needs to join other municipalities in standing up against the OLT's overreach and push back just like other municipalities have done so. We need to unite and stand together with other municipalities to question and demand answers from the provincial government and their role in OLT's agenda and decision making process. As an elected councillor, I would put forward a similar resolution just as Town of Whitby has done so. If there is enough noise from municipalities, maybe someone will finally start listening.

Community

BACKYARD CHICKENS

As an agricultural, rural community we seem to be the only ones that do not allow backyard hens in residential areas, but we did at one time!

Norfolk, Brantford, Brant, West Lincoln all allow backyard chickens yet Haldimand does not. Brantford allows up to 10 including one rooster and is the most generous with their rules.

I believe that backyard hens should be allowed and here's my reasoning:

• They eat ticks, there's been an increase in tick population, and as such tick borne diseases.

• They consume food scraps that make their way to the garbage, therefore reducing the garbage output (Several towns and cities in Belgium and France introduced backyard hen programs to reduce organic waste and landfill trash)

• you get fresh eggs to consume for your family

• Chicken poop and smell: I had a 150lb mastiff, the size of his poops were massive! Chicken poop compared to a giant dog, or even a medium sized dog is incomparable to the small poops from hens.

I'd like to bring forward a by-law that would allow backyard hens in residential areas (with no roosters). This does not mean that every residential home will now go out and get hens, and the town is going to be swarmed with chickens, just drive in Norfolk residential areas, and Brantford, and see for yourself, chicken's arent taking over the world! 

DOG PARK

Haldimand County doesn't have a designated dog park. Years back when I lived in a residential neighborhood I wanted to take my dog (the said mastiff) to the dog park to run around, and I went to Waterford because unfortunately Haldimand doesn't have one. I spoke today to a lady that mentioned this to me, and I agree. A dog park doesn't cost much at all. The liability is fully on the users and the dog owners, other municipalities have them, they are not costly, there is no reason why we shouldn't have one as well. A chain linked fence doesn't cost much to install for a dog park on an existing parkland. 

HAGERSVILLE ARENA

I've read the feedback from the community about summer ice, not enough ice availability during the season, the lack of space in change rooms, the heaters in the sitting area (thank you for all that shared your experiences). I'm NOT promising a new arena. But I do however want to look into the financial viability for the existing building (if and what can be done for improvement) and a new one, what that equates to in terms of property tax increases, and conduct a community survey based on the information from the staff.