Question 1:
Removing the UN SDGs as a Policy Framework
Response:
Yes. Municipal governance should be grounded entirely in local priorities, community input, and real-world fiscal realities. If elected, I will support motions that prioritize local decision-making and require all municipal policies, master plans, and capital projects to be justified by the direct needs of Orillia residents—such as maintaining roads, upgrading stormwater infrastructure, supporting local jobs, and controlling property taxes—rather than aligning with top-down external frameworks like the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Question 2:
Audit and Disclosure of Agenda 2030 and SDG Alignment
Response:
Yes. Transparency in local government is non-negotiable. I will support directing municipal administration to prepare a comprehensive report detailing every municipal strategic plan, climate or sustainability policy, program, Key Performance Indicator (KPI), and inter-governmental partnership that incorporates Agenda 2030 or UN SDG criteria. This information should be brought forward and presented in an open, public council meeting so taxpayers can clearly see where municipal time and resources are being directed.
Question 3:
Full Disclosure of Third-Party and International Policy Networks
Response:
Yes. Residents deserve complete transparency regarding the outside organizations their tax dollars support and the policy commitments made on their behalf. I will support requiring a full public report detailing:
Memberships & Commitments: Every formal relationship with organizations such as ICLEI, FCM, or other policy networks, along with the specific pledges or targets agreed to.
Financial Costs: Annual dues, conference fees, and administrative resources spent on these memberships.
Data & KPIs: All metrics, environmental reporting, or municipal data shared with these networks.
Authorization History: Exactly when, how, and by whom participation was authorized.
Question 4:
Disclosing Conditions and Mandates on External Grants
Response:
Yes. Grant money from federal, provincial, or third-party sources rarely comes without conditions. Before voting to accept outside funding, I will insist that administration publicly outline all tied requirements—including data-sharing mandates, procurement constraints, policy commitments, or obligations to adopt specific operational frameworks. Orillia must ensure that accepting grant money does not compromise local autonomy or impose costly long-term mandates on our taxpayers.
Question 5:
Public Inventory of Smart and Connected Infrastructure
Response:
Yes. Public surveillance, automated data collection, and connected technologies impact privacy, civil liberties, and municipal budgets. I will advocate for a complete, publicly accessible inventory of all smart and connected municipal infrastructure, including:
Smart utility meters, sensors, and RFID equipment.
CCTV, traffic cameras, and automated license plate readers (ALPR).
Fiber network assets, connected streetlights, municipal databases, and AI-driven software systems.
Question 6:
Human Oversight and Accountability for AI / Automated Systems
Response:
Yes. Decisions affecting an individual’s rights, property, permits, licenses, fines, or access to municipal services must never be outsourced to automated systems or artificial intelligence.
I will introduce or support a motion requiring mandatory human review before any algorithmic or automated system can make or materially influence a municipal decision affecting a resident. Furthermore, accountability must remain with human leadership: if an automated tool errs, the relevant department director or city administrator must answer directly to Council and the affected resident.
Question 7:
Protecting Non-Digital Access and Cash Rights
Response:
Yes. Essential municipal services, facilities, transit, recreation programs, and tax payments must remain accessible to every resident, regardless of whether they choose to use digital tools or smartphones.
I will support measures guaranteeing that cash and non-digital alternatives remain fully accepted without extra fees, penalties, or service restrictions for choosing non-digital methods. Municipal government exists to serve every resident, including seniors and those who value financial privacy.
Question 8:
Local Priorities and the Declaration of Office
Response:
Local Priorities: Absolutely. My primary duty as a Ward 4 Councillor is to represent the people of Orillia, manage local taxpayer money responsibly, and ensure municipal services meet community needs first. Local infrastructure, safety, job growth, and housing priorities will always come before international agendas or third-party frameworks.
Declaration of Office: Under Ontario's Municipal Act, 2001 (O. Reg. 562/05), every elected official in Ontario is legally required to make a formal Declaration of Office before taking their seat. This statutory oath includes swearing allegiance to the Crown (as head of state) and pledging to perform the duties of the office faithfully, impartially, and to the best of one's ability for the municipality. While the legal text of the provincial declaration must be executed to hold office under Ontario law, my functional commitment and daily loyalty will strictly be to serving the residents of Ward 4 and the broader Orillia community.