Four mayor hopefuls go head-to-head at Aurora Chamber candidate debate

Hydro funds, former Hallmark lands among topics discussed

Yorkregion.com
October 10, 2018
Teresa Latchford

Four mayoral hopefuls hit the stage to share their views on a number of issues facing Aurora.

Lined up from left to right were candidates John Abel, Chris Ballard, Geoff Dawe and Tom Mrakas at the mayoral debate hosted by the Aurora Chamber of Commerce. The ballooning cost of the Joint Operations Centre, hydro funds and the former Hallmark lands were a few of the topics discussed in between viewings of short video clips of each of the 16 councillor candidates.

When questioned about the expanding costs of the town’s new Joint Operations Centre located on Industrial Parkway that began with a $11-million price tag that increased to $30 million, Dawe was first to speak.

“We had an independent audit done at my request and it concluded there was too much siloing happening in departments,” he told the audience.

Siloing is a term used to describe different parties working independently, in this case town departments working on the same project but not keeping each other informed.

As a result of this audit, new project management teams, procedures and cross management have been implemented to stop this from reoccurring in the future.

Mrakas said it was unfortunate these policies were not in place before the JOC was constructed but vowed to ensure the Library Square project would be done on time and on budget.

Abel suggested a missed opportunity in locating the JOC in the Hallmark or Armoury building, while Ballard said the steering committee for the project failed to do its job overseeing the project.

Further in the night’s discussion was the use of the hydro funds and whether the candidates agree spending it on the Armoury renovation and Library Square project is in the community’s best interest.

“This fund is almost sacred money for infrastructure,” Ballard said. “I’m not sure the Armoury is the best use for these funds and there hasn’t been enough public consultation about using the money.”

Dawe disagreed, pointing out the Armoury is a significant town asset.

“We don’t even have access to that money yet because there is a process we must go through before it is accessed,” he said. “There will be full public consultation when the time arrives.”

Mrakas thought this is a good use for the funds since the projects will benefit the entire community but Abel felt the Armoury project should be rethought to create the originally proposed $2.3-million community hub rather than the $5-million addition Niagara College needs for its food and wine institute.

The mayoral candidates did agree on one issue, that affordable housing options need to be brought to Aurora.

“Developers need to be asked and we need to ensure there is mixed development,” Mrakas said. “Developers need to provide what the town needs, not just what developers want.”

Abel feels by creating more job opportunities in town and putting forward a policy with a strategy to denote the percentage of affordable housing --including rental units --that developers must include in their designs would boost the town’s economic development.

“I have three adult children and not one of them will be living in Aurora,” Ballard said. “We need more purpose-built housing to help keep our youth and seniors here.”

But the four split again when asked about using the former Hallmark lands for recreation land.

Abel felt it would be better suited for a high-tech medical hub to support the medical field.

Dawe disagreed, saying the town made this decision to fulfil a deficit of rec land and that there is still plenty of commercial property land near Highway 404.

Mayoral candidates participated in a rapid fire session. Armed with table tennis paddles, one side green and the other red, they could only answer yes or know.

• Do you or did you support the reduction of council from 8 to 6?

All four candidates indicated yes.

• Do you support a ward system moving forward?

All four candidates indicated yes.

• Do you think the current sign bylaws are too restrictive?

Abel: yes. Dawe, Ballard and Mrakas: no

• Do you think the agreement between Niagara College and the town is fair to other commercial hospitality businesses in Aurora?

Abel and Ballard: no. Dawe and Mrakas: yes

• Do you support the present Library Square development plans?

Abel and Ballard: no, Dawe and Mrakas: yes

• Would you support a complete update of the zoning bylaw to ensure that our neighbourhoods are protected from incompatible development?

All four candidates indicated yes.

• Would consider keeping the Hallmark sight as employment lands?

Abel and Ballard: yes, Dawe and Mrakas: no.

• Do you support the current holiday hours passed by York Region (allowing businesses to open on holidays)?

Abel, Ballard and Mrakas: no. Dawe: yes.

• Do you support the creation of a BIA in the downtown core?

All candidates indicated yes.

• Do you support the retail sale of cannabis in Aurora?

Dawe: no. Abel, Ballard Mrakas: undecided.