Two Immediate Issues for Council in the Next Four Years

…..Housing and a New Hospital

Business Development Also on His Radar

Article & Image by John Campbell

Trent Hills - Tues., Oct. 25, 2022 -“I’m glad it’s over,” Mike Metcalf said Monday night, minutes after the election results had been posted showing his campaign to continue as deputy mayor of Trent Hills had been successful. “It’s a process and it’s important but I’m glad we can get back to work.”

The Hastings restaurant owner became the first deputy mayor of Trent Hills to be elected by voters rather than by fellow members of council. He won his race by finishing 763 votes ahead of Bill Reid with an unofficial tally of 2,345.

Metcalf said there are two “immediate” issues the new council will need to address next term: housing and a new hospital.
“Those aren’t things that the municipality can just change overnight,” he said. “It’s about partnerships with other governments.”

Making “strong partnerships and getting out there and advocating is going to be an important step” for the next council, “especially since we now have the footprint for where the new hospital’s going” — a 48-acre property on County Road 30 just west of Campbellford.

“Another important thing for me is business development … making sure that the businesses we have are successful,” and that new businesses are given the opportunity “to come in.”

Metcalf will have three new colleagues on the seven-member council – Daniel Giddings, Dennis Savery and Rob Pope.
“Change is great,” he said, because, as in business, it can generate “fresh ideas” and a new outlook on things, Metcalf said.

However, the low voter turnout was “disappointing” — just 32.2 per cent of the municipality’s 12,510 eligible voters performed their civic duty. The turnout was 37.16 per cent in 2018.

“We could probably talk and argue about this all day” why fewer people voted, Metcalf said. It could be they “were happy with the way things have been and and didn’t feel the need” to cast a ballot.

“A lot of times (it’s) when people are angry or there’s something something exciting … (that they) get riled up and get out (to vote).”

Bill Reid

Reid said the “biggest disappointment” for him was not losing but “the lack of turnout, the lack of engagement” in the municipal election. To have a mere 32 per cent take part is “pretty sad,” he said.

Either “people don’t believe that anyone makes a difference or it’s just apathy, they just can’t be bothered.”
Reid took his defeat in stride.

“I would have liked to see a different result, obviously, but having never done this before, I think it came up pretty well,” he said. “I tried my hardest and I’m proud of myself (and) my family’s proud of me.”
“It was quite an experience and … an interesting ride,” Reid continued. “I’ve got nothing but good things to say about it.”