Seguin mayoral candidates split on amalgamation, housing at community centre forum

SEGUIN TOWNSHIP · The two candidates for mayor of Seguin Township disagreed on municipal amalgamation and offered different approaches to the housing crisis during a recent forum. Ronald Steele and Ann MacDiarmid answered questions at a meet-and-greet event at the Bobby Orr Community Centre on Oct. 8, according to the Parry Sound North Star. On the topic of amalgamation with neighbouring municipalities, MacDiarmid said she is "totally opposed to it."

"It's going to cost us more in taxes," she said.

"I will never amalgamate with a township that brings debt, like Parry Sound," Steele said.

"I think that if you own the property, want to build several units, or want to build a house for yourself and meet the permit requirements, then I would support approving it," she said.

"Our goal is to have all units in an attainable range, and we're asking the developer that at least 60 per cent of his units will be purpose-built rental," he said.

"If you build houses and you don't have jobs, you're wasting your money. If employers can't hire people because there's nowhere for them to live, they'll move their business elsewhere," she said.

"We have to do more with less, and that is tough," Steele said, noting road repairs are a frequent request. "We have to ask ourselves, what do you want to cut, or are you prepared to go with a higher tax rate?"

"As long as prices are going up, taxes are probably going to go up, too," she said, suggesting relocating manufacturing to the area might help.

"I don't know that anybody wants to pay tax money to run a public transportation system, but there may be government funding, and it's something that you can look into," she said.

The online and phone voting period runs from 10 a.m. on Oct. 14 to 8 p.m. on election day, Oct. 26. Paper ballots can be cast on Oct. 26.