Bill Roberts

SOPHIASBURGH WARD 6

As the incumbent councillor in Sophiasburgh, Bill Roberts says he is well versed in local issues, but never loses sight of the big picture.

“Our country is at its most crucial and consequential moment in history. Our political, economic and technology sovereignty are under attack,” he says. “These aren’t normal times; serious challenges deserve serious leadership.”

Pointing to his experience in managing largebudget organizations like TVOntario and VisionTV, he says, “I’m an optimist by nature, preferring to nudge people together rather than driving them apart. … For example, within living memory, PEC had the highest social assistance percentage of all Ontario municipalities. But now our Chamber of Commerce reports that we have attracted 3,000 new businesses since 2019. In fact, the PEC unemployment rate is currently 5.5 per cent, versus Canada as a whole at 6.4 per cent. So we definitely have reason to be cautiously optimistic, especially if we engage new investment and job-creating opportunities, and focus on pulling together versus pushing apart.”

Mr. Roberts, who is seeking a fourth term on Council, wants to see a renegotiation of the municipal- provincial funding framework. “I believe that we can do this and preserve our unique County heritage and cherished rural character and do so with wise planning, fact-based foresight, and shared resolve.”

But he worries about the road ahead which is complicated by a County median age of 57 that is higher than the provincial average, and a 65- plus demographic that represents 37% of the population, about double the Ontario rate. “We are the smallest functioning single-tier municipality in Ontario, meaning we have virtually the same responsibilities as the Toronto GTA, but with microscopically fewer resources at our disposal. … So to be economically resilient, and flourish, we need to attract and retain more young/innovative families and entrepreneurs as we’ve done in Sophiasburgh with the Foster Family, Three Dog Winery, Village Auto and Wild Lot Farm Distillery.”

On the subject of getting more value from the County budget, he says: “We already have a critical Service Delivery and Organizational Review underway. It’s clear that our current financial circumstances, organizational approach and structural pressures point to a long-term unsustainable future unless we prepare and make significant changes.”

As for concerns about tax increases, he notes, “We traditionally have the lowest tax increases in the Quinte region. And every Council tries its best not to overshoot the rate of inflation. In addition, we have put in place approximately $500,000 as relief funding to assist lower income residents with their municipal tax and water bills.”

The proposed regional waterworks project deserves close examination, Mr. Roberts says, adding: “High-quality infrastructure, including clean water, is essential to the wellbeing of settlement areas. We mustn’t fear to plan and build. Prudent fiscal management means creating frameworks and definitive upfront payment agreements with developers, and securing appropriate funding from provincial and federal governments. But we still need a factual plan. If we know better, we can do better.”