John Hirsch

South Marysburgh Ward Nine

John Hirsch moved to the County in 2014 after living and working in Ottawa, Caledon, Flamborough and Kitchener. His career ranged from Canada Customs to international trade consulting firms to the purchasing and the logistics industry. A passionate advocate for the environment and conservation, he heads the South Shore Joint Initiative, a local charity dedicated to protecting, preserving and restoring the County’s unique south shore. When not working for council or volunteering, Hirsch says he can be found gardening, renovating, travelling, taking photos or spending time with his indoor cats.

The incumbent councillor said he is running again because many initiatives were started in the last term that need to be finished and many new challenges need to be addressed. “Protecting South Marysburgh’s natural environment, heritage and way of life are my key promises,” he said.

Hirsch said the issue of affordable housing is being addressed by the Affordable Housing Corporation, but that even with some concrete results so far, that Council should create an “inclusionary zoning” bylaw. “These are used by many municipalities to force developers to include a set percentage of true affordable housing in their projects,” he said. “If we had had that in place when the big projects in Wellington came forward, we would have much more affordable housing in the pipeline.” He also said that while housing is the key to attracting young families, the County needs to provide a diversified economy with good Internet and remote working potential.

While new tourism management rules helped calm the overwhelming influx of pandemic day trippers, Hirsch feels those restrictions need to be reconsidered to meet the needs of County residents. He also pointed out that the Visit the County board, of which he is a member, is committed to promoting year-round tourism with the goal of providing employment in the industry throughout the year. “Year-round business means year-round employment,” he said.

On the issue of costly water rates, Hirsch said, “I think Council has done as well as it can representing the ratepayers of the system.” But he added that the cost of infrastructure is astounding and needs more users to spread out the payments. “The light on the horizon is the significant growth happening in our major built-up areas,” he said. “Simply put, increasing users on the system will spread out infrastructure cost and will ultimately improve the rate structure.”

Since his ward has many environmentally sensitive features, he said protection and stewardship of the environment has been his main goal on council. “I have helped ensure that environmental issues are top of mind for Council,” he said, noting that the new Official Plan contains the new concept of Natural Core Areas or NCAs, which allow only limited residential development. “This means that the vast majority of undeveloped land in South Marysburgh is prevented from undesirable large scale industrial or resort development,” he said. “Much of the County is similarly protected.”

Hirsch said he is looking forward to the next Council enacting a revised comprehensive zoning bylaw which will govern all aspects of land use on every property. “On the heritage front, Council is about to approve a Heritage Conservation District for Wellington,” he said. “I think more than adequate attention is being given to heritage.”