Maxville water supply dominates North Glengarry debate

The need for a drinking water supply in the town of Maxville was the main point of contention an all-candidates debate on Thursday evening, October 8 at the Maxville and District Sports Complex, where the incumbent township mayor and Maxville ward councillor went head-to-head with two first-time political challengers.

Residents of North Glengarry Township arrived in larger-than-usual numbers at the debate, which was sponsored by the Maxville and District Chamber of Commerce and saw about 125 visitors in attendance.

The evening's host presented the candidates with a series of three previously-studied questions and allowed the candidates to present their opening and closing remarks. Residents were later invited to direct questions at candidates.

The four candidates and a summary of their responses are presented below.

 

Grant Crack, North Glengarry mayor

"Four years ago, I pledged to provide the leadership necessary to move the township forward. I pledged to work with council, to bring a professional approach when conducting municipal business. I pledged to build a consensus at the council table, and I pledged to provide responsible leadership which would in turn achieve results. I believe the pledges I made in 2006 have been fulfilled. This council has created an atmosphere that is favourable to expansion and development in North Glengarry. We reduced our tax rate by 17 per cent since 2006; as a result, our commercial and industrial sectors have grown at an unprecedented rate.

On promoting North Glengarry and Maxville: "North Glengarry has recently hired a communications assistant and she has worked diligently on branding all of Glengarry County, to find an identity for all of Glengarry, including Maxville, which also identifies the francophone communities. We've undertaken studies, we've had public meetings, we are sending a report now through our consultants to come back in the near future with recommendations. [...] As far as promoting our area, businesses and residences will come and settle in our area if it's affordable; that's why this council has worked so diligently at controlling spending, the tax rate. We've invested tens of millions of dollars, in cooperation with the federal and provincial governments, to improvement our infrastructure here; we're open for business.

On the next step for addressing water issues: "The issue of Maxville water has been on the table for 10 years, and numerous studies have been undertaken over the years. We've looked at Lefaivre, Plantagenet, $27 million for that option. The people of Maxville were supportive for that, we made application and I can tell you the provincial and federal governments were not interested in a $27-million project for 800 people. So we came up with a plan to work with South Glengarry, who, along with Alexandria, has long-term needs, because we have a finite source of water. Cornwall is the best option: yes, it's expensive, yes, we need provincial funding, yes, we need federal funding, but it has to be affordable. I've made a request to the minister of infrastructure on August 25 for special circumstance funding for municipalities such as Maxville. Taxpayers, regardless of whether you are users, need to subsidize for the higher levels of governments. We all recognize it is a user-pay system, but in order to get it up and make it a reality, everyone - in the province of Ontario and all of Canada - will have to contribute.

 

Robert Proulx, Mayoral challenger

"Why have I come forth to run for mayor? I moved here three years ago and this is my retirement community, and I want to make this place better. I want to take it in a new direction, with fresh ideas, to bring forth tourism, bilingualism. The reason I'm running is this, my tax bills. I'm not complaining about what I'm paying, I'm complaining about the way the money is being used. Mr. [Grant] Crack is very proud that he stayed within budgets - he has, I have to tell you that - he has made budget adjustments every six months or so, but he has stayed within budget. How has Mr. Crack stayed within budgets? Let's look at the roads department: in 2007, the budget was $5 million; in 2008, $4.1 million; in 2009, $3.3 million; 2010, $3.6 million. Our bridges are falling down, our roads are being filled with pothole filler. [...] The water situation in Maxville has to be addressed now. Assessments, surveys have been done, but not a drop of water.

On promoting North Glengarry and Maxville: "There are two key issues to Maxville; one is water. Please settle that issue - we can say it's a nice community but for 10 years, this has been going on; it's time to put it to bed. The other thing is [...] distance is a big factor for people coming to live here. We have train tracks out here; NGPR Transit would service it. If you can give people a commuter train service that would get you downtown in 41 minutes, in Ottawa, they'll come. I believe there's enough room now for growth; the stores are empty, houses are up for sale, the growth area is already there. But settle the water, and give people a way to get there within their budget."

On the next step for addressing water issues: "The [forecasted] cost of $52 million: yes, provincial and federal with pay into it, 66 per cent is what they are telling me. That's still your tax dollars. Who's going to pay for this? In my world, it's a user pay system. I will not ask rural North Glengarry residents to pay for a Maxville and Alexandria water system they will never have access to. In 2008, we were going to The Nation to get water; in 2010, we're going to Cornwall. I was at the Alexandria water plant; they don't need water, they need sewers. Maxville needs water, and you'll have to decide whether you want it or not - not me, not council - because the money is going to come out of your pockets.

 

George Currier, Maxville ward councillor

"Once again, I'm proud to let my name stand to represent the village of Maxville for the next four years. As a retired citizen in Maxville, it gives me the time to represent the people on a full-time basis. My 30 years in municipal politics have taught me to listen and respond positively to the people I represent. Going around door-to-door in the last couple of weeks has made me aware of residents' concerns; concerns like holding the line on property taxes, which we have done; conserving essential services, such as adequate police protection, roads, sidewalks, and of course, our water, at a reasonable cost our taxpayers can afford. Over the past four years, working together we have repaired the Maxville lagoon, we have done two water studies; now, those studies are done. We've been working hard to bring water to the village of Maxville, and we will continue to do so.

On promoting North Glengarry and Maxville: "Before we can really start promoting and getting people to come to the village, we have to continue to pursue the government for water. That's the main issue here if you want to bring business into Maxville. Even right now, two wells have gone dry in the last week. We're not going to get people to come here when they hear advertising like that. To bring businesses and for families to move in here, first of all, we have to have good drinking water."

On the next step for addressing water issues: "Twenty years, seven studies, and who do I blame? The Ontario and federal governments. They are never satisfied with what we've come up. When we get the proof to them, they always come back and say there's no money. I can tell you that this council has done everything possible to bring water to the village of Maxville. Our next step is up to our two members, Pierre Lemieux and Jean-Marc Lalonde to come up with the funding we need to finish off this project. Without them, it's not going to happen. We have to continue to put pressure. We've spent enough money, we're not going to spend any more on surveys. I'm not satisfied with 66 per cent... when I'm elected, I'll be fighting for the 90 per cent like other municipalities have got.

 

Carma Williams, Maxville ward challenger

"I believe in this community. I believed in this community when we chose to move over 17 years ago and raise our family here. I'm committed to this community. Twelve years ago, I established a mobile hair salon business to provide a service to people in their homes. [...] Let's bring Main Street to life. This is not just a slogan; it says to me optimism, opportunity, and it speaks to the core of what I believe. I believe in the future of this community. Maxville has an enviable quality of life and is a wonderful place to life; this is something we need to consciously maintain and enhance over time. In order to do this, we have to be proactive and plan for the opportunities that lie ahead. I believe in an affordable water solution: we need a fresh perspective on this issue, someone with the energy to champion this issue at all decision-making levels. An affordable water solution is the first step in the process of Main Street renewal.

On promoting North Glengarry and Maxville: "Maxville is the heart of Glengarry and it's been known as the heart of Glengarry for years and years. In terms of branding, Maxville has the good fortune of already being branded, what with our Muir's Bakery, our Scottish stores, our tartan banners and the Highland Games. We are well known as a Scottish community. You need to promote that community, you need to market that community, we need to say to people outside, 'We are a wonderful place to live and we are a superb place to do business.'"

On the next step for addressing water issues: "I'm not sure the provincial and federal governments would agree the ball is in their court. I happen to believe that ensuring accountability is the next step to moving the water project forward. As a matter of fact, I think accountability has been the major stumbling block in the last twenty, thirty years with regard to this water project and the need for water here. The ball has been dropped, I don't know how many times. We, the people, need to make the politicians accountable for their decisions. Making the best business case possible for the project, I'm not sure this has happened. Accountability from staff, have applications always been timely? Have we missed on opportunities for funding, and have the applications always been the best possible applications? That's accountability. Changing priorities, every time I turn around we're changing directions; another study required. Twenty years, hundreds of thousands of dollars, and the ball keeps getting dropped. As far as I can tell, the federal and provincial governments will not fund until they know the municipality can manage the project and get the job done.