A few days ago, Scott Northmore, a former Mayor of Bracebridge, died after a long, well-lived life. It brought back memories for me as Scott and I were mayors of our respective municipalities and seatmates on Muskoka District Council.
There has always been a competitive spirit between Bracebridge and Huntsville, most of the time friendly, but sometimes it gets pretty hot. Some people believe that it is all about politics, but a friend of mine with deep Muskoka roots says, “No, it all started with hockey!”
During our time as mayors, Scott and I got along well and accomplished much together, but we both stood up for our respective municipalities.
One of my favourite memories of Scott followed the erection of a sign on Highway 11 northbound that said, ‘Welcome to Bracebridge – The Heart of Muskoka.’ The next time I was with Scott, I congratulated him on the sign and told him it had inspired me to erect a similar sign as one approached Huntsville on Highway 11.
“Oh, said Scott, “What does yours say? I replied, “Our sign says. ‘Welcome to Huntsville – The Brains of Muskoka.’” Scott looked me hard in the eye for about five seconds until he saw the twinkle there, and then we both had a good laugh.
Thinking of Scott has also made me reflect on our municipalities as we approach this year’s elections. Some of my friends call it the Silly Season, as the prospect of elections at any level often results in political theatre that can overshadow attention to real issues. It can also be a period when exaggerated claims, questionable ideas, or unusual behaviour become more common. It is early days yet, but there have been signs, particularly in Huntsville.
In Bracebridge, although there are still two months for people to file, there has not been a lot of action from potential candidates. Mayor Rick Maloney has declared, and while there is potential for him to be acclaimed, there are grumblings that another candidate may come forward to protest the alleged treatment of Bracebridge regarding two new hospitals in Muskoka.
It is already apparent that there will be a race for District Council in Bracebridge. The three incumbents have filed, along with a District of Muskoka employee who has taken a leave of absence in order to run for District Council. We know at this point, too, that there will be races for mayor in both Lake of Bays and in Gravenhurst. In Gravenhurst, the two candidates who have filed are the mayor and a councillor, who, I am told, are less than fond of each other; if true, this grudge match will be interesting.
All of that is pretty much business as usual for municipal elections in Muskoka, though it is starting a little earlier than usual. But in Huntsville, it is gearing up to be a much different story. Things are heating up pretty fast, particularly in the race for mayor. There are four registered candidates for that position so far.
Mayor Nancy Alcock, who has served one term, has yet to officially announce she is not seeking a second term, but all signs point to it being unlikely, including her own acknowledgment of that. But last time around, the Mayor first said she was retiring from politics, then declared that she would run in Brunel Ward, and finally decided to run for mayor. She has also recently indicated that she might have an interest in running for District Council, and so we might not know for sure what she is really going to do until the minute nominations close.
In my view, the election in Huntsville will come down to a single issue. Do people in Huntsville, both permanent and seasonal, want real change, or are they generally satisfied with the status quo? If change is wanted, will a new mayor be enough, or will voters want more?
Of the four current candidates running for Huntsville mayor, two are incumbents, and two have not held elected municipal office. I am not too hung up on that either way. Current elected experience has its advantages, but it does mean that those candidates are harnessed to their voting records, not just since they decided to run for mayor, but over the entire four years of their term.
Not having previous council experience is only negative if there is no demonstrated knowledge of how this municipality and its governance work, or if candidates have limited real-life experience to bring fresh ideas and proven leadership capabilities to the table.
And so, at this point in time, what appear to be the primary issues that will enter into election discussions?
The first, I think, will be municipal taxes, which have cumulatively increased by at least 25% in Huntsville over the last four years, in addition to significant tax increases at the District Municipality of Muskoka. Especially in light of current economic realities, is the time coming when people simply say, ‘too much’?
Related to that, I saw a question on a recent survey from the District of Muskoka that read, “If you had to choose, what should receive greater emphasis in budget decisions, keeping taxes affordable or maintaining reliable services?
To me, that ranks up there with that old query, “Are you still beating your spouse?” It is impossible to answer. The real question in my view should be, “What municipal services are necessary to provide for the needs of our community, and how can these be delivered in an affordable manner?
Another issue, of course, will be roads. They have been an issue at election time almost since the beginning of time, and they always will be.
The issue of increased provincial control over both municipal and regional councils through the Strong Mayors Act and the political appointment of the District Chair will inevitably be a hot button during the election campaign.
We are very fortunate, in my view, to have Graydon Smith as a hardworking MPP for Parry Sound-Muskoka. He has delivered a great deal to this riding, and without him, we would very likely not have a commitment from the Ford government for two new hospitals in Muskoka.
My sense, however, is that these upcoming municipal elections in Muskoka will send a message to Graydon Smith about how serious people here are in their belief that traditional local decision-making must remain free from further provincial interference and control.
There will be other issues, of course, including progress on hospitals, local health care, the environment, housing and planning issues, as well as general affordability.
What this municipal election, particularly in Huntsville, will come down to is the degree to which voters believe many of these issues have been adequately handled by the current council, or if they are ready for real change with fresh ideas and new leadership.
There is a lot of time yet, and there will be more candidates. I know of at least two very capable individuals currently not on council who are seriously considering a run for office, and no doubt there will be others. Also, there are current councillors who have not yet stated their intentions.
All signs point to an exciting, interesting and hotly contested election in Huntsville. At least for those of us who are at heart political junkies, it will be an interesting time.
Hugh Mackenzie
Hugh Mackenzie has held elected office as a trustee on the Muskoka Board of Education, a Huntsville councillor, a District councillor, and mayor of Huntsville. He has also served as chairman of the District of Muskoka and as chief of staff to the former Premier of Ontario, Frank Miller.
Hugh has also served on a number of provincial, federal and local boards, including chair of the Ontario Health Disciplines Board, vice-chair of the Ontario Family Health Network, vice-chair of the Ontario Election Finance Commission, and board member of Roy Thomson Hall, the National Theatre School of Canada, and the Anglican Church of Canada. Locally, he has served as president of the Huntsville Rotary Club, chair of Huntsville District Memorial Hospital, chair of the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, president of Huntsville Festival of the Arts, and board member of Community Living Huntsville.
In business, Hugh Mackenzie has a background in radio and newspaper publishing. He was also a founding partner and CEO of Enterprise Canada, a national public affairs and strategic communications firm established in 1986.
Currently, Hugh is president of C3 Digital Media Inc., the parent company of Doppler Online, and he enjoys writing commentary for Huntsville Doppler.
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