Andreas Bolik

AMELIASBURGH WARD 4

A former County councillor, Andreas Bolik says his return to local politics has been motivated by a desire to serve his community with no private agenda, particular dogma or political creed.

“I do believe in getting the facts, applying common sense and critical thinking and finding a ‘big-picture’ solution, even if it is ‘outside the box’,” says Mr. Bolik, who served in the Canadian Armed Forces for almost 45 years before being elected to Council in 2018. Work and family commitments forced him to leave Council in 2022, but he points out, “I am now retired and am back with new fire in my belly and the time and energy to represent the people of Ameliasburgh at the Horseshoe.”

The former aerospace engineer and lawyer says he will offer strong and effective leadership to better the community. “This includes forming a Council that can disagree without being disagreeable so that it can perform its governance and policy-setting responsibilities, and ensuring staff is motivated, capable and accountable.”

Fiscal responsibility is a key objective, he says, with “a commitment to use property taxes wisely, by questioning and weighing new expenditures and ensuring current expenditures are still relevant by prioritizing spending into those things that we must do, those that we should do, and those that are nice to do.”

Pointing out that Ameliasburgh makes up almost a quarter of the County’s population, Mr. Bolik says, “We are far more than just a backwater to Picton and Wellington—we are the gateway to the County. As such, we should also promote efficiencies and access to services by co-operating and coordinating with our neighbouring municipalities.” He adds that he will foster a cohesive vision at Shire Hall “to promote the concept of the County as a community of communities.”

He says it is important that residential, industrial and commercial development should be directed away from prime agricultural land and adds that Council needs “to replace ad hoc development and tourism with actively guided growth in the County so that we grow in a measured way that does not detract from our rural roots. This would include stewardship of our environmental, rural and agricultural heritage.” He also points out that the County has lost most of its ash trees in the last few years. “Replacing such a significant canopy should be a priority and can help with climate resilience.”

Noting that the Picton/Bloomfield/Wellington water system has been “a debacle,” he says: “Robust planning and realistic assumptions are required. It is important to remember that four of the six County-run water systems are within Ward 4 and the needs and capacities of their users must not be lost in the fray.”

In closing, he says, “We should aim to maintain our rural community of communities with plenty of greenspace connected by an efficient and serviceable traffic grid. The needs of the resident community should be at the forefront and be complemented by, not subordinated to, those of the transient masses.”