Need for Change

The challenges facing Owen Sound today are somewhat different from those we were confronting in 2014 and in many cases much more serious. We believe that reversing two decades of stagnation requires a much broader and more integrated strategy. That means creating an environment where businesses want to locate and invest, ensuring that employers can access a reliable workforce, providing meaningful transportation options, and creating a downtown that residents and visitors feel comfortable and want to spend time in. And yes, that means confronting the very real challenges of homelessness, addiction and public disorder that are affecting downtown businesses and residents. Our objective this time is therefore not simply to identify candidates who agree with a particular COST position. We are looking for candidates who recognize that the status quo is not working, have their own ideas for change, and have the leadership ability and courage to help implement those ideas in a collaborative environment.

Many residents believe we have reached a point where meaningful change is required to reverse the direction in which the City has been heading for too many years. Owen Sound has a median after-tax household income of approximately $57,500, while our transit system continues to fall short of providing many residents with meaningful transportation options. At the same time, there is growing concern about municipal leadership and the need for greater accountability and transparency in spending and decision-making.

Perhaps nowhere is the need for change more evident than in our downtown, where conditions have deteriorated to the point that after-hours access to some banking machines has been eliminated, while some businesses are locking their doors and hiring security. These circumstances demand stronger enforcement, more effective municipal leadership and a renewed partnership between the City, County and community to restore safety, confidence and vitality to our downtown.