THE INTEGRITY COMMISSIONER

WHAT DOES CONFLICT COST US?

There is a line in municipal government that I think we should all pay a little more attention to:

Integrity Commissioner.

An Integrity Commissioner is an important safeguard. Councillors are human, disagreements happen, and there needs to be a process for dealing with serious concerns about conduct. I look at it as the Human Resources department for elected officials.

But there is another question we should ask:

How much are taxpayers spending when elected officials can't resolve their differences themselves?

Over the years, the Town of Wasaga Beach – collected from taxpayers - has spent money on Integrity Commissioner. Some of those costs are necessary. But some raise a bigger question about how we conduct ourselves as elected representatives.

Because every dollar spent dealing with avoidable conflict is a dollar that can't be spent somewhere else.

And this isn't about pointing fingers.

It's not about “he did this” or “she said that.”

It's about something much more important:

Respecting taxpayer dollars.

Respecting our municipal staff.

Respecting our fellow Councillors.

And respecting the office we have been elected to hold.

MY COMMITMENT

If I've earned your trust and your vote, I will make you a promise:

I will conduct myself as a member of Council in such a way that I will do everything within my control to ensure taxpayers never have to spend a penny on an Integrity Commissioner investigation into my conduct.

That doesn't mean I'll never disagree with another Councillor.

I will.

It doesn't mean I'll always agree with the Mayor or municipal staff.

I won't.

But disagreement does not have to become disrespect.

I can debate strongly without making things personal.

I can ask difficult questions without attacking the person asking them.

I can admit when I'm wrong.

I can listen.

I can talk.

And sometimes, I can simply agree to disagree and get on with the work.

I believe politics can be an honourable profession.

For me, public service means putting the interests of the community ahead of personal disagreements, treating people with respect, and remembering that every decision I make involves someone else's tax dollars.

That is the standard I intend to hold myself to.

Thanks for listening!

September 6th, 2026