Not the time

Dear Mike:
Some of the comments I have both read and heard regarding the upcoming municipal election have prompted me to put a pen to paper and dash off a letter to the editor.
While hoping to clarify some of the things said to me, I also want to give my opinion and knowledge about certain matters.
Malcolm Douglas wrote a letter to the editor last week, and very succinctly and accurately explained the Huffman subdivision and Sunny Cove Camp. Now we have those facts (thanks, Malcolm).
Andrew Hallikas and Dan Onichuk also are seeking the mayor’s chair. Andy is ready to make “change” his priority but interestingly, he has voted in favour of most, if not all, past budgets and his comments in the Fort Frances Times do not indicate much of a change to the plan Mayor Avis put forward.
Dan is running on bringing a “new perspective” to council yet his proposal doesn’t bring much difference from that of either Avis or Hallikas.
Dan mentioned that when last elected, he arrived to a huge mess left by the prior council (of which I was a member) and I do not believe we did such a bad job.
We completed a new arena/sportsplex, waterfront development, and quite a few other projects.
Unfortunately, we were caught up in the provincial downloading, which now eats up 52 percent of all tax revenues and gives the town little say in the operation of the DSSAB, the OPP, Rainycrest, and the Northwestern Health Unit.
It has been said to me that Roy Avis is only in this race, and currently sits in the mayor’s chair, to benefit himself. I take great exception to this comment as I firmly believe Roy Avis to be a man of conviction, principle, and honesty, and one with well-honed business skills.
I served with Roy for two three-year council terms starting back in 1998. I always was impressed by how well he handled himself with all the different issues council had to deal with.
Believe me, he is a true leader. I have great faith in Roy Avis to build a hard-working council as its mayor.
I also am pleased that the current mayor and council have kept taxes, water and sewer rates, hydro rates, and user fees at reasonable increases.
In closing, I would offer that now is not the time for wholesale change. I feel that Roy Avis is the right person to lead the town in negotiations with the province over our mill’s wood supply.
I only wish that our MPP, Sarah Campbell, and the premier, Kathleen Wynne, were as motivated to bring back jobs to Fort Frances.
Thank you,
David M. Bourgeault
Fort Frances, Ont.