Campaign funding, senior citizen housing discussed at East Gwillimbury all-candidates debate

Yorkregion.com
Oct. 6, 2014
By Laura Finney

If any developers were hoping to contribute to the campaign coffers of East Gwillimbury’s municipal election candidates, they’re in for a hard time.

Every candidate for the office of mayor and councillor at Sunday’s all-candidates meeting said they would not accept any campaign donations from those in the development or construction industries, when queried on the subject by a resident.

Several candidates gave a one-word response: “no.”

Incumbent Mayor Virginia Hackson said she avoids accepting financial help from any groups that could conceivably come before council seeking permissions or permits in the next term.

“I have not taken, nor will I, from anyone that is going to be in front of us,” she added.

There are development firms who own whitebelt land that isn’t scheduled to be developed until 2031 or later, Hackson said, adding that while it’s OK to work with them, she hasn’t accepted any financial donations from them.

Other council hopefuls made it clear they weren’t being supported by those in the development industry either.

Mayoral candidate and incumbent Councillor Cathy Morton said she will not accept donations from development groups or their family members.

And Tara Roy-DiClemente said she had not even been approached by any.

“I think that speaks to the quality and integrity that I’ve been representing you folks with,” she said.

Steve Woolridge hasn’t been approached by developers, although he did receive an endorsement from CUPE Local 905. They offered a contribution, he said, but he turned it down because he is funding his own campaign.

Over 60 people attended the all-candidates meeting held at the North Union Community Centre in Queensville.

The event began with introductions from all the candidates, followed by a question and answer session with residents.

One of the first questions was directed at incumbent Councillor John Eaton, but open to all the candidates. It pertained to future plans for senior citizen housing developments.

Eaton replied that he and many others would like to see more senior-friendly facilities, specifically bungalows, but developers are hesitant to proceed with them due to the cost factor. They can make more money building other types of units, he continued, but mentioned a few plans for senior housing developments such as townhouses and condominiums in the future.

Hackson echoed his statements and mentioned plans for other senior housing options, including one by a developer who builds longterm facilities that offer a range of care.

“It’s quite a ways off, but it is in place,” she said.

It’s one thing for the town to have plans, council candidate James Young said, but they need to offer incentives for developers to invest.

“We need to engage the development industry,” he said, adding senior housing needs to be a priority rather than simply putting in “tons and tons of subdivisions for everybody else.”

His comments received an applause from the audience, and agreement from fellow candidate Jack Hauseman.

Hauseman went on to say the town needs to look to other municipalities that have been successful at attracting new developments for seniors.

Woolridge told the audience he was the only candidate that talked about seniors housing in his opening introduction. He then recounted a story about a resident who waited three years to be placed in a local seniors facility before finding a spot out of town.

People who have lived here their whole lives should not have to wait for housing, he added.

The next all-candidates meeting will be hosted by the Mount Albert Village Association at the East Gwillimbury Sports Complex on Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m.