Ontario municipal candidates debate development and finances

Municipal candidates in Wilmot Township and North Dundas are addressing key local issues ahead of upcoming elections.

In Wilmot Township, candidates for Wards 3 and 4 participated in an all-candidates meeting focused on groundwater protection, farmland preservation, and property taxes. A primary point of contention is whether the township should declare itself an unwilling host to a proposed 770-acre industrial development on Bleams Road. Ward 3 candidate Harvir Sidhu expressed caution regarding a blanket refusal, suggesting instead that the council should demand high technical standards and transparency regarding the site selection and its long-term benefits.

In North Dundas, candidates Jordan Hodge, Matthew Uhrig, and Cory Houle identified infrastructure, responsible growth, and financial sustainability as the most pressing challenges for the council. Hodge emphasized practical and transparent leadership, while Uhrig, the sole incumbent running for re-election, highlighted the importance of community spaces and recreation facilities. Houle, with a background in business development, focused on the township's economic needs.