Do We Still Believe the System Is Working?
In 2022, voters were asked by Mayoral Candidate Ethel LaValley to trust that the system was working. A majority said yes.
As we head into the 2026 election campaign period, and the new slate of candidates remains unknown, this article asks whether that is still true.
Is the System Working for You?
When a municipal system is working, you can see how decisions are made because they follow a clear and fair process. Laws are applied consistently. You can get answers without having to push for them. Costs are in line with projections and comparators. There is very little friction, and very little need for outside oversight.
In 2022, a majority said yes, the system is working. Four years later, based on the public record and as we head into the next election, is that still true? Here’s a quick report card to test the theory.
- Taxes fall disproportionately on residential taxpayers compared to businesses
- Administrative costs have risen from from about 18% to above 20% of the budget
- The Integrity Commissioner has substantiated four complaints directed at councilors, including conflicts of interest and reprisals
- Council is currently subject to four ongoing formal Ombudsman investigations
- The volume of Freedom of Information requests has grown to the point that formal reports have been requested
- There are documented situations where residents have faced restrictions after raising concerns or asking questions
These are not isolated events. They are part of the public record.
Oversight is what people turn to when normal pathways do not provide clear, consistent answers. When that becomes the pattern, it points to a simple truth:
The more people need to step outside the system to understand it, the more broken the system is.
In South Algonquin, the same issues appear again and again: decisions left unexplained. Processes are unclear or inconsistently applied. It is costly and time-consuming to access information. And it’s hard to connect spending to outcomes.
On their own, individual issues might be manageable. Together, they shape how the system feels, and how well it works – or not.
Right now, too many people are working too hard just to understand how things work.
What a Working System Looks Like
A working system is not complicated. It is visible, consistent, predictable, and explainable.
- Decisions are explained, not just announced
- The same rules apply every time, no matter who you are
- Residents can ask questions and get answers without having to escalate
- When money is spent, results are reported clearly
- The municipality works with the people already building in the community
These are not big ideas. They are basic. We need a council in 2026 that understands this.
The Election Question: Working or Not?
This October, residents will be asked again whether they believe the system is working—for the community, for their families, and for themselves. Do we choose the same leadership, or do we choose change? Before you answer, consider a few objective measures of whether the system is working:
Do you get to vote?
In some wards, there is a real risk of acclamation. One name on the ballot. No comparison. No requirement to explain past decisions or how things could improve. No indication of how giving that person a seat will make your life measurably better.
No ballot means no choice. No choice means no test.
If the system has been hard to understand for the last four years, an uncontested election guarantees it stays that way.
After the last few years, that matters. If we’re ok with no choice now, are we also ok with asking the same question again in 2030?
Are You Better Off Than in 2022?
If the system we voted for last time is actually working, the results should show up in everyday life. Does our council and community offer you
- Stable taxes
- Services improving or expanding
- Local access to the basics
- Real options to live and stay in South Algonquin long-term?
If the answer to one or more of these questions is uncertain, or no, the system is not working.
How to Fix It
The solution is simple and within reach. It starts with choosing the people who represent us.
- Make sure every ward has more than one candidate.
In a small community, that often starts with a conversation. Someone asking, “Have you thought about running?” Not because they need to win, but because the community needs a choice.
When there is more than one candidate, something important happens. People start asking questions. Conversations take place. Candidates start explaining how they would approach decisions. Expectations become clear. Standards go up. That is how systems improve.
- You Can Support candidates who:
- see residents as part of the team, not a problem to manage
- are not afraid of difficult situations
- can work with each other and the community to improve quality of life
- look ahead and plan for what comes next
- are open to learning and adjusting course
- explain decisions clearly and answer questions
- apply the same rules every time
- focus on results, not just motion
You don’t have to like or dislike anyone to believe we can collectively do better.
Elections are simply our regular opportunity to ask for a better future. They are a chance for community builders who believe in a better future to step forward and show they can deliver.
That is how we set the goal: By 2030, the system is working the way it should.
