Council Candidate

CARDER, Joe

Responses to the questions posed by Concerned Owen Sound Taxpayers (COST).

1. Municipal leadership and management

Owen Sound's population has stagnated for more than two decades, while the size and cost of the municipal management structure have increased significantly. What changes would you make to ensure that the City's senior management structure is lean, accountable and focused on results rather than simply administering the status quo? Would you support recruiting a City Manager with a demonstrated record of organizational transformation, cost reduction and successful change management? Would you also support establishing fixed-term, renewable contracts for senior management positions, with a significant portion of compensation tied to measurable performance objectives established by Council?.

Candidate response

Yes, I would support recruiting a City Manager with a demonstrated ability to lead change, manage costs and deliver results. Council should set clear priorities and evaluate the City Manager against them. I would also support reviewing the senior management structure to see whether responsibilities overlap and whether residents are getting value for the money spent.

I am open to fixed-term, renewable contracts for senior management and performance-based compensation, provided the measures are clear and fair. Those measures should include service quality, project delivery, financial management and communication with residents.

2. Controlling property tax increases

Owen Sound taxpayers have experienced property-tax increases that, in our view, have exceeded what can reasonably be justified by inflation and population growth. Would you support a policy limiting annual property-tax increases to the rate of inflation unless Council can demonstrate a compelling reason to exceed it? If you would support exceeding inflation, what circumstances would justify doing so?

Candidate response

I would support using inflation as a starting point and requiring a clear public explanation whenever a proposed tax increase exceeds it. I would not promise an absolute cap without seeing the full budget. Essential infrastructure work, emergency services, contractual obligations or a significant cost outside the City�s control could justify an increase above inflation. In that case, Council should show residents what alternatives it considered, what the extra money will accomplish and what happens if the work is deferred.

3. Reducing the cost of government

Owen Sound's population today is smaller than it was in 2011, yet municipal spending and staffing have continued to grow. Would you support requiring every municipal department to identify 5–10% in potential savings, including staff cuts, as part of the budget process? Would you support using the City's 2011 budget, adjusted for inflation, as a benchmark for determining whether today's spending levels are justified? If not, what alternative approach would you use to identify and eliminate unnecessary spending?

Candidate response

Yes, I would ask every department to identify potential savings during the budget process, including what a 5-10% reduction would mean in practice. That would give Council real options to consider. It should not mean cutting every department by that amount regardless of the effect on services or safety. Staffing must be part of the review, but I would want to understand what work each position does before supporting a cut.

I would use an inflation-adjusted 2011 budget as one point of comparison, alongside changes in service responsibilities, infrastructure needs and service levels since then. I would also review vacancies, overtime, contracts, purchasing, shared services and programs that have continued without a clear measure of success. If spending is no longer delivering value, we should change it.

4. Council accountability and relationship with taxpayers

Many residents believe there is an increasing disconnect between City Hall and the taxpayers it serves. What would you do to make City Council more transparent, accessible and accountable to residents? Would you support greater public disclosure of the rationale behind major spending decisions, staffing increases, consultant contracts and significant policy decisions? More importantly, what would you do to ensure that residents are treated as stakeholders in municipal government rather than as an obstacle to it?

Candidate response

Residents should be able to understand a major decision without having to search through hundreds of pages of reports. I would support plain-language summaries showing the cost, the options considered, the reason for the recommendation and how the result will be measured. That applies to significant spending, staffing increases, consultant contracts and policy changes, while respecting privacy and employment rules.

I intend to be approachable and available after the election, including when someone disagrees with me. I will bring residents' concerns forward, ask questions in public meetings and explain my votes. People deserve a meaningful chance to be heard before a decision is made.

5. Homelessness, addiction and the downtown

Owen Sound's downtown is facing increasingly visible homelessness, addiction and public disorder. What specific actions would you take to address these problems? Would you support a coordinated approach with the County that combines: increased access to addiction treatment and mental-health services; meaningful pathways into appropriate housing; stronger enforcement of existing laws and bylaws when public safety is affected; and clear expectations for individuals receiving publicly funded support? What would you do differently from the current approach, and how would you measure whether your strategy is working?

Candidate response

Yes, I support a coordinated approach with Grey County and local service providers that improves access to treatment and mental-health care, creates pathways to appropriate housing, and addresses behaviour that threatens public safety. Compassion and accountability both matter. Expectations attached to publicly funded supports should be realistic, appropriate to the person's circumstances and developed with the agencies delivering those supports.

I would push for a shared plan with clear responsibilities instead of separate organizations working around one another. Downtown businesses, residents and people experiencing homelessness should all have a voice in that work. I would want regular public reporting on measures such as access to shelter and treatment, movement into stable housing, public safety concerns and whether people feel comfortable visiting downtown. If an approach is not working, Council should be willing to change it.

6. Development charges and economic growth

Owen Sound needs more residential and commercial development if it is going to reverse decades of population stagnation. Would you support reviewing the City's development-charge structure with the objective of making Owen Sound more attractive to developers and encouraging new housing construction? Would you support targeted incentives or a temporary reduction or moratorium on development charges where appropriate, particularly where developers commit to including affordable or geared-to-income housing? More broadly, what specific steps would you take to make Owen Sound a more attractive place to invest, build businesses and raise a family?

Candidate response

Yes, I would support reviewing development charges and their effect on building in Owen Sound. I am open to targeted incentives or temporary reductions, especially for projects that deliver housing residents can afford. Before approving one, I would want the City to show the expected benefit, the cost to taxpayers or ratepayers, and how any promise of affordable housing would be enforced.

Growth also depends on reliable infrastructure, clear development rules and timely decisions. I would work to make the City more predictable for people who want to build or invest here, support existing local businesses and seek opportunities for local hiring, including for young people. We need growth that adds to the tax base and works for the neighbourhoods and services around it.

7. The true cost of municipal services

We believe taxpayers should be able to see the full cost of every municipal service, including the costs of administration, HR, payroll, facilities, information technology and other shared services. Would you support fully allocating these costs to each municipal department, agency or shared-service arrangement so Council and taxpayers can see the true cost of each service? Would you also support using this information when negotiating cost-sharing arrangements with organizations such as the Library and other agencies?

Candidate response

Yes. Council and residents should be able to see the full cost of a service, including a reasonable allocation of administration, facilities, technology and other shared costs. The method should be consistent and explained publicly so the numbers can be compared fairly.

That information would help Council evaluate services and negotiate cost-sharing arrangements, including with the Library and other agencies. Cost is an important part of those discussions, alongside the value of the service and who benefits from it.

8. Water and wastewater costs

Water and wastewater charges have increased significantly, yet these costs are sometimes treated separately from the City's broader budget decisions. Would you support requiring the Water Department to present Council with a complete explanation and justification for proposed rate increases as part of the annual budget process? Would you also support requiring the Water Department to participate in the same cost-reduction and efficiency reviews expected of other municipal departments? Ultimately, do you believe Council-not municipal staff-should be fully accountable to taxpayers for increases in water and wastewater charges?

Candidate response

Yes. Proposed water and wastewater rate increases should come to Council with a clear explanation of operating costs, capital work, reserves, debt and the effect on a typical household. These services should also be included in regular efficiency reviews. Savings should never come at the expense of safe water or the long-term maintenance of the system.

Council votes on the rates and must be accountable for those decisions. Staff should provide the evidence and recommendations; elected representatives must ask the questions, make the decision and explain it to residents.

Across all eight topics, my approach is to ask tough questions, make the costs and trade-offs visible, listen to residents and measure whether decisions actually improve Owen Sound.

I will always share what I think and why, but I am asking to represent the people of Owen Sound, not just my own opinions. I will listen to residents and let what Owen Sounders want guide my vote. There may be times when their views outweigh my personal preference. When I cast a vote, I will explain how I reached that decision.

My campaign promise is to remain approachable, available, honest and transparent, even when the subject is difficult.

9. Judgment and Proportionality

We are now asking candidates to consider one additional issue that raises important questions about municipal governance, accountability, judgment, and the responsible use of taxpayer dollars. Please read the attached opinion paper, “A Failure of Judgment at Owen Sound City Hall,” which examines the City's prosecution of a Georgian College nursing student over an Amazon box found in a municipal garbage receptacle. We are not asking you to prejudge the outcome of the court proceedings. Rather, we believe this case raises broader questions about how municipal enforcement decisions are made, who is responsible for reviewing the strength and proportionality of those decisions, how legal services are procured and overseen, and how Council ensures that taxpayer resources are being used responsibly. As we noted in our previous correspondence, COST believes that significant change in the way City Hall operates is essential if Owen Sound is to move forward. With that in mind, we would like to ask you one additional question: "If elected to Owen Sound City Council, what specific steps would you take to ensure that a situation like this does not happen again—where a municipal prosecution involving questionable evidence proceeds through multiple court appearances at significant cost to taxpayers?"

Candidate response

Response pending.

COST will update this page when a candidate response is received. Candidate responses are presented for voter information and are not necessarily the views of COST.