Meet the Candidates

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Laurie Carr has leadership experience, financial acumen and local government and community service. These qualifications enable her to lead with confidence and credibility. Laurie Carr is distinctly qualified to be Mayor.

AFFORDABILITY
Implement a Municipal Services Corporation for Economic Development.

Manage growth. GOOD developers make good allies.

COLLABORATION
Improve municipal structure. Include the police chief and library CEO in the management team.

Increase communication and consultation with government, committees, boards, and the community.

BRAND
Port Hope is an agricultural community with a robust downtown and thriving business sector.

Commit to protecting our architectural and natural heritage and preserving our land.

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• a municipal government that works for and with the community
• a vibrant and resilient economy
• an affordable place to live
• a model for sustainable development and climate action
• an inclusive and caring community 

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Foremost will be the Municipality's approach to affordable housing, potential solutions and possible barriers. Long-term care looms over us all. Where can we relocate the existing facility, in the urban community, so that it will be acceptable to the residents, the staff and the long-term care provider? Council will also have to facilitate the low-level radioactive waste cleanup, address the issue concerning the Victoria Street woodlot, work to ensure that the Port Hope High School continues to be viable and sustainable and come to terms with financially assisting the Fare Share food bank. My stance on a number of these topics can be found on my website.

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As an active resident and supporter of Port Hope, I want to give my time, skills, and experience to ensure we preserve our “small-town” look and feel while staying steps ahead of the tough challenges we’ll face from a constantly changing world.

Port Hope is a great community and I will push hard to keep it that way for our children and future generations. To reach our goals, we need to look years ahead and think differently than we have before because, “yesterday’s solutions won’t solve tomorrow’s problems”.

I have decades of experience helping large organizations succeed by listening, weighing risks, and making the best possible decisions. As Councillor, I will work hard to make sure Port Hope keeps pace with the changing world while staying true to our vision, identity, and values.

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Municipal Government is a Service Provider.

You have a right to expect levels of service that meet your needs and are not less than that for which you pay.

“Are you getting what you pay for?”

Having become a Councillor after several years of serving as Chair of the Port Hope Ratepayers’ Association,
my focus remained with providing value.

I have that same consideration today.

Given the economic climate, upcoming changes in the Official Plans, and the desire to keep Port Hope as the place we love to call home, your Council must consist of extraordinary people who have both the desire and skills to drive our future in a direction that works.

My past performance demonstrates my experience. With your support I will continue to make Port Hope better today and tomorrow.

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Claire Holloway Wadhwani, 43-year-old mother of three, consultant, community volunteer, will bring a fresh perspective to Council. After 20 years in international community development, Claire has the experience and skills for community engagement and designing impactful community programs. She is inspired by what communities do when they join forces over common goals and challenges, and recognizes the challenges facing Port Hope today such as: affordability, sustainability, an aging population, and growth management. By working together and championing transparent community-based decision-making, Claire will help build the future we all want – a future that preserves the things we all love about Port Hope, while ensuring that all Port Hope residents can live, work, and thrive, together.

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My platform is based on 3 things:
1 - Quality of Life issues like restricting urban sprawl, advancing affordable housing options, keeping seniors and disabled persons in their homes, protecting our urban tree canopy, making Port Hope pedestrian friendly and close monitoring of the PHAI (Port Hope Area Initiative) cleanup.
2 -Our community's Fiscal Health in terms of keeping taxes and fees as low as possible, rationalizing our current spending and hardening our infrastructure against the ravages of global warming and the increased frequency of severe weather events.
3 - Ethics in Public Service, respecting the public by keeping them informed, consulted and heard. I will push for zero tolerance for bullying any member of council, staff or the public. There must be no more secrecy, gag-orders or disrespect.

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FILM FRIENDLY
Film productions will bring us more opportunity for provincial grants and low impact revenue into our community!
AFFORDABLE HOUSING/ STANDARD OF LIVING
Relying only on charities are not enough! Municipal programs to keep people in housing and care for our at-risk youth.
ENVIRONMENT
My involvement in the early steps of the environmental Protection advisory working group and my background in Greenpeace solidifies my passion for the local environment!
SOCIAL JUSTICE
I was involved in achieving Port Hope's First Indigenous Acknowledgement made in our council chambers. I have a passion for updating our municipality to have gender inclusive with language, education, and LGBTQ++ community cultural awareness!
I promise to not be boring!

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I’m a life-long resident of Port Hope and proud to call this community my home. Not only have I served as a council member for the past 4 years, I’m also a 30 year business owner.
As council representative for Parks, Recreation and Culture, we were successful in the creation of a splash pad, obtaining funding for a new multi-use Seniors Centre and the reconstruction of Rose Glen Road to include sidewalks. I will continue to support amendments to our Official Plan and Zoning Bylaws to create new and affordable housing options. I will work toward strengthening and improving our Climate Action Plan to meet this ongoing crisis. I look forward to continuing to proudly represent the residents of Port Hope. I want to continue to support the growth and prosperity of the community. I respectively ask for your support.

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• There is a need to expand the Commercial and Industrial base so that there is opportunity for our youth, this will also help expand our tax base.
• Adapting our Town services and projects to be inclusive of the needs of all generations.
• Continuing the work that has been started so that we have a choice of beautiful parks and a waterfront region to be proud of in our own backyard.

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For over a decade, I have owned and operated a very successful business in Downtown Port Hope - Queenies Bake Shop.

I am running for council to help enhance the living experience for you, your family, and friends.

Strong, innovative and vital governance to enhance: Community, Environment, Commerce and Cake.

I look forward to interacting with more of the community, to learn how we can further improve where we love to live. 

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Hello to the Port Hope electorate. My name is Eric McMurray. I am running for Ward 2 Councillor. A little about me: I am a 32 year old Port Hope native. I have worked in the automotive trade, restaurant industry, as well as agricultural industry and presently I am pursuing a career as an arborist. I am running for councillor for several reasons, including but not limited to; increasing the amount of services available to our youth, as well as seniors. Exploring the issue of the gentrification in our or rural district. I also look forward to hearing from and speaking with our great community regularly as to what areas I could help with most. I hope to be given this chance to provide results and care for the town I love. I am very excited to be apart of this race and hope to serve you well. 

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For the past four years I have been privileged to represent the people of Port Hope. I've helped people from across the municipality with a diverse list of topics & concerns. It is always my priority to consider all point of views & to take the extra time & effort to thoroughly research every topic so that I am confident I am making the most objective & educated decision possible. I've worked hard to find resolutions, compromise & understanding. I am running again with a new agenda of priorities based on my experiences. My top priorities include rural & agricultural economic development, improved housing & land use planning, accessibility, a fair budget & tax levy, climate change adaptation & mitigation, asset management, communications, and heritage preservation, both cultural & natural.

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I come from a family of 3 generations that have ran businesses and called Port Hope home. I am a proud business owner in downtown Port Hope for the last 10 years. I am married and have two young children.
Over the next four years I would like to focus on ensuring responsible development in our community, investing in our green spaces and parks, working with our farms and small business, and to look at ways to bring new business to Port Hope. I know some of these seem like big ideas but I have never been one to shy away from a challenge.
I look forward to meeting & speaking with the residents of rural Port Hope and bringing your concerns to council. What is it that matters to you?
Together let’s build a stronger Port Hope that future generations will be proud of!
#RURALPORTHOPEMATTERS