Bob Rogers

Athol Ward Five

Every summer, East Lake resident Bob Rogers sees the impact that the traffic has on residents when it flows through Ward Five to Sandbanks Provincial Park. Athol bears the brunt of most of the traffic to and from the park. According to Rogers, the increasing traffic congestion and kilometre-long traffic jams have had a huge impact on farmers trying to move their goods and equipment. Not to mention the businesses in the area of the park that have already voiced concern. Cycling traffic is also heavy in Ward Five and contributes to traffic congestion and safety concerns. Rogers believes that the time is now to work with the province to address the negative impacts that Sandbanks Provincial Park has had on the local community. Rogers is joining a Ward Five business owner and a farmer to meet with MPP Todd Smith and seek provincial funding to improve access and egress to the park.

“Ward Five voters, like all County voters, are concerned about the condition of our roads and other infrastructure as well as our ability to maintain them. Our small population and tax base just doesn’t provide the necessary funds to support our infrastructure needs. The gateway to our community is Highway 49 and it is the fourth worst road in Ontario,” says Rogers.

The lack of affordable housing is a major concern for Rogers, as is the declining infrastructure. The problems with Sandbanks Provincial Park, although amplified lately, have been happening for years. Rogers claims that every year, these issues do nothing but worsen. Some tiny progress has been made, but the victories have been too few and far between, and he believes the community has lost faith. Rogers is convinced that bolder steps need to be taken. Some of Rogers’ ideas regarding affordable housing were to encourage new severances of marginal land, which would ease the pressure on the existing house stock. Rogers also believes they should be permitting alternative types of housing on the market, such as small, eco-friendly modular homes on smaller individual lots, and repurposing abandoned school buildings. Affordable housing and a housing strategy in general are at the top of Rogers’ priorities.

“The very people who service our very successful tourism industry, and others on fixed and low incomes have been priced out of the market. Our success should benefit all residents, not just the tourism operators. I will champion a housing strategy that works, not only to provide more and alternative forms of housing stock, but to stimulate the economy, provide jobs and most importantly, tax revenue,” says Rogers.

Business and innovation are also on Rogers’ mind if he is successful with his bid for a seat at the horseshoe. His thought is that the County should provide industrial lands tax-free for five years to businesses that build and hire ten people or more at at least $25 an hour. Also, recognizing the importance of tourism to the County’s economy, and finding ways to mitigate its negative impacts on residents is important for Rogers. A Municipal Accommodation Tax, where tourists pay, not the tourist operators, would bring in additional revenue, that could be re-routed to help finance infrastructure.

According to Rogers, other concerns for Ward Five residents are transit and health care. Although waterworks rates may not be affecting the rural areas directly right now, the resource still needs to be managed efficiently, and that is a concern. Rogers would also like to see the next council pass a by-law banning election signs for 2022. He reluctantly put up four signs at the entrances to his ward, but he refuses to further litter the roadways of our beautiful community.

”I would like to see us utilize our assets to develop a long-term sustainable economy. We need to make some big moves to increase our tax base, provide housing for all residents, and generate jobs. We should move quickly to develop a new relationship with the new provincial government. We also need to demand more from our staff and council to find creative solutions to our problems,” says Rogers.

Rogers has lived in the County for 45 years. He completed his apprenticeship in Picton and in addition to being a self-employed mechanic and the service manager for a farm equipment dealer, he has farmed land in the County for 35 years. His two children still live and work in the County, one in hospitality, and one in viticulture.