William Tkach

Ameliasburgh Ward Four

After numerous visits over the years, William Tkach and his wife, Sharon, moved to the County in 2013 when they planted the vineyard that now supplies grapes to local wineries. He said his experience as a sales executive will bring “a new and challenging insight to Council” and being retired will give him the time to work on council matters. “What I may lack in political experience is made up with my ‘get things done’ attitude,” he said. “I may not have all the answers, but I will make sure I know the people who do.”

When asked about affordable housing, Tkach replied, “I don’t think it’s a ‘wave of the wand and make it all right’ type answer.” He said while Council can’t control escalating house prices, it should work with developers to include affordable housing in new projects.

He said Council has been doing a fair job on tourism management, but must ensure that the growth of that sector benefits both long-term and new residents of the County. “Council needs to be proactive, not reactive,” he said.

Tkach sympathized with those paying expensive bills to be on the waterworks system, but added, “How can you ask a farmer relying on wells and septic to share in those costs?” He said population growth in new developments will reduce bills in the future.

When asked about heritage, environmental sustainability, stewardship and protection in the County, he said one of the main reasons he and his wife moved here was the “small town” feeling of a place where many don’t lock their doors and people look out for their neighbours. But he warned, “I think we’re jumping on the development bus too quickly, leaving the things that made the County great at the station.”

Because he has not been on Council, Tkach said it is difficult for him to make a definitive choice about the size of Council. “You can ask me again in four years,” he said.