New deputy mayor sees three priorities for his role in 2024
The new deputy mayor of Kawartha Lakes, Ward 7 Councillor Charlie McDonald, has an ambitious agenda for 2024.
McDonald will be the point-person for the International Plowing Match that will be hosted at multiple locations in his ward this October. As well, McDonald will be doing all he can to ensure the rollout of the city’s new short-term rental policy is effective and that landlords get registered before they open their doors for business this summer. McDonald also hopes to continue the work begun by former deputy mayor Tracy Richardson in improving city customer service.
In an interview with the Advocate, he said the International Plowing Match could bring as many as 80,000 people to Kawartha Lakes next fall, and “is a real chance to show off the city and promote the community and the downtown.”
McDonald said he is already working hard with the Lindsay + District Chamber of Commerce and the Lindsay Downtown Business Improvement Association to ready the city for the expected flood of visitors who are typical of this event. The new deputy mayor said that several important concerns like parking and the use of buses to bring people to and from the event will be the kind of issues he and the event organizers will be working on over the next eight to 10 months.
He is also looking forward to seeing full compliance with the short-term rental bylaw the city passed early in this council’s term.
“Now is time for the (formal) roll out, and I really want to see this done right,” McDonald said. “Everybody who operates a short-term rental has been sent a letter reminding them if they want to continue to operate, they need to register. Many people have already stepped up and paid for their license.”
McDonald said the city bylaw department has added two additional staff members to assist with this program. Aaron Sloan, manager of bylaw for the city, will be making a report to council early in the new year showing how far the city still must go to get full compliance with the mandates for renters laid out in the short-term rental bylaw.
The councillor agrees with former deputy mayor Richardson that improving customer service must continue to be a goal for the city, and he wants to piggy-back off her work of the last year to see that it happens.
“The city is full of real people with real problems,” McDonald said. “Folks need to be listened to. We need to phone people back. People just want their concerns to be heard.”
McDonald is also prepared for the responsibilities that may come filling in for Mayor Doug Elmslie when he isn’t available.
“The mayor is so busy,” McDonald said. “He can’t be everywhere. I will be covering for the mayor, assisting the mayor at meetings, and filling in for him if he is sick or on holidays.”
When asked if he was ready for all the invitations he might have to prioritize, particularly during the busy summer season, McDonald said that as a private citizen and business owner he was attending many of these events before and that he would be honoured to attend them again in his new capacity.
At this stage, the deputy mayor made it clear he does not see himself using this new position as a springboard to the mayor’s chair in 2026.
“At this point, I can’t see myself running,” McDonald said. “I hope that being deputy mayor will largely be an educational experience. I haven’t thought about (my future) long term. Time will tell. I enjoy my job as councillor. I find it rewarding. There is a lot of positive feedback from constituents.”
Word on the street is that McDonald has been planning a bid for the mayor’s seat from the beginning but as Winter says, time will tell. It may be too soon for the City’s power hopeful to show their hand … or is it? Some political strategists say it is never too soon.
The City’s Strategic Plan says it will “improve the customer experience by leveraging digital
transformation”. Developing policies to program and bylaws to regulate the AI customer service experience and consulting with experts in the field should be top of mind for the deputy mayor. Residents continue to be frustrated by the current online service but going backwards is not an option in the fourth industrial revolution.
I am not saying old is a negative , ( I am also old- der) except for new counsellor Eric Smeaton most of councill has been there a long time . We moved from Thornhill to The City of the Kawartha Lakes a couple of years ago . My research prior to moving here alterated me that I was moving to a alt right community as the Provincial and Federal Party’s were firmly seated here and the majority on council is right of center . I understand that former counscillor Mr. Dunn , also a candidate for mayor in the previous election , and that Mr. Dunn was also co- founder of the Canadian Reform Alliance Party (CRAP ) with Stockwall Day. We like it here , believe it or not , except for housing , and it is catching up with GTA prices , it is more expensive here than the GTA . OH , we still dont have a family doctor which means we have to go to Toronto for some treatments . Thanks , to the Politicians at all three levels for rushing to bring more people to the City without providing adequate infrastructure like medical care and my water bills are higher than my heating and electrial costs . Go figure .
In addition to Councillor Smeaton, Councillor Joyce, Councillor McDonald and Councillor Perry are all new to City of Kawartha Lakes Council and Councillor Warren has just returned after a four-year hiatus.
City councillors do not run on any party platform. Their job is not to promote partisan interests but to represent the interests of the city and ward constituents. I am not sure where you think the centre is, but to characterize this council as “mostly right of centre” would surprise most on Council.
Pat Dunn was an exceptional city councillor. He promptly returned phone calls and responded to email messages and he did not let his personal biases prejudice him against constituents, regardless of personal or political differences. He devoted a lot of his time outside of council to the interests of community mental health and he continues to be well respected in the community.