Terry Shortt

Office of Mayor

Alifetime County resident, Terry Shortt was the owner of an electrical services company for 33 years. He also served as councillor for Sophiasburgh for 10 years and chaired several committees, including planning, recreation and community development. He said his business and political experience has given him an understanding of budgets and dealing with staff. “[I am] experienced finding creative solutions for problems and issues,” he said. “[And] well acquainted with County land issues.”

Among the issues he feels most strongly about are the protection of County agriculture, supporting local business, recruiting doctors and controlling spending. He would also like to see the province take fiscal responsibility for the maintenance of Highway 49, “a connecting link from the 401 to Sandbanks (a provincial attraction) used by approximately a million visitors a year.”

Because housing is market-driven, Shortt said affordable housing is a difficult issue without creating partnerships with builders and upper levels of governments to make more units available.

While advance booking of provincial parks has eased some problems, he said tourism management does need a better balance.

To address the high rates for users of the waterworks, Shortt said the County should be examining how other municipalities deal with the problem. “These need to be investigated as well as other out-ofthe- box ideas to help reduce water rates,” he said.

He is alarmed at the disappearance of farmland in the County. “Development is necessary but council’s responsibility is to make sure it conforms to standards which reflect our heritage as well as protecting our natural resources,” he said.

According to Shortt, the size of council issue has already been addressed, although he said he would entertain putting the question on the 2026 ballot if there was enough interest.