Coun. Bill Morrison is the first and only candidate—so far—to have thrown their hat into the ring for this year’s municipal election.
Morrison’s nomination was the sole entry on the Town of Fort Frances website as of publication today for the upcoming elections on Oct. 26. But there’s still plenty of time for others to register their candidacy—the official period for nominations opened for municipal councils and school boards across Ontario on May 1, including communities throughout the Rainy River District, and the deadline to file and pay the nomination fee is Aug. 21.
Morrison said he wanted to show his dedication by getting his papers filed early.
“I wanted to get it out there right away,” he said. I wanted people to know I’m dedicated to council.”
Morrison had previously notified connections on social media of his intention to run at the end of March.
“Although Town of Fort Frances council nominations won’t officially open until May 1, I wanted to let my friends, family and supporters know that I plan to run in the 2026 municipal election,” Morrison posted on Facebook on March 31.
“I continue to hear from residents who feel stretched to the limit on property taxes—and I feel it too. While I haven’t won every battle in my first 15 months on council, I remain committed to keeping tax increases as low as possible without reducing services.”
Morrison was appointed to council via an application and interview process following the resignation of Mandi Olson in December 2024.
Further in his Facebook post, Morrison said he’s advocated for the town to save as much money as possible.
“I’ve been advocating for practical cost-saving measures, including a new procurement policy to involve more local contractors, and rust-proofing town vehicles to extend their lifespan and get the most value from every tax dollar,” he wrote.
“It’s also important that we grow and diversify our local and regional economy. A strong economy creates jobs, supports population growth, and generates the tax revenue needed to fund services and improve quality of life for everyone in our community. I’m grateful for the support I’ve received over the past 15 months, and I respectfully ask for your vote to continue representing Fort Frances for the next four years.”
Fort Frances residents will be voting to fill the town council and for a new mayor, as Andrew Hallikas has told The Times that he will not be seeking another term in office.
Hallikas, a longtime educator and three-term councillor before becoming mayor, has focused his tenure on economic revitalization, housing, reconciliation with local First Nations and improving municipal governance.
A lifelong resident of Fort Frances, Hallikas has emphasized rebuilding the town’s economy after mill closures and flooding, expanding affordable housing and strengthening relationships with Indigenous communities through an Indigenous Relations Advisory Committee.
He has also been vocal about transparency and collaborative decision-making, including publicly opposing Ontario’s “strong mayor” powers, which he and council unanimously described as unnecessary and undemocratic.
Across the province, key issues include housing affordability, infrastructure pressures and debates over provincial initiatives such as strong mayor powers.
Here, the election is expected to unfold against the backdrop of the recently concluded—and costly—Point Park litigation, which has raised questions about governance, fiscal oversight and the performance of long-serving council members.
Voters will also be weighing local priorities such as soaring property taxes, economic recovery, homelessness supports and reconciliation efforts.
