Transparency & Open Government

The Real Situation

Too many decisions in North Frontenac feel made before the public meeting even starts. Residents arrive to hear a presentation on something that's already been discussed privately, and the 'public consultation' is often a checkbox rather than a genuine conversation.

Council meetings can be confusing to follow. Important items get bundled together. There's rarely a clear opportunity for residents to ask questions and get real answers before a vote. And when things go sideways as they sometimes do there's no clear accountability mechanism.

This isn't unique to North Frontenac. But it's fixable.

My Position

Open government means that residents know what decisions are coming before they're made, have a genuine opportunity to weigh in, and can hold council accountable afterward. That's not radical it's basic democratic practice.

I will push to require 30-day public input periods on anything over $25,000 or any significant policy change. I'll advocate for annual ethics training for all council members, a public integrity board with resident participation, and a simple online tool that lets residents track decisions, submit concerns, and follow up.

Specific Commitments

• 1Mandate a minimum 30-day public consultation period for any expenditure over $25,000 or significant policy change before the vote, not after.
• 2Launch a simple resident portal or extension to the current website for polling, alerts, petitions, and decision tracking.
• 3Require annual ethics training for all council members and staff in public-facing roles.
• 4Establish a public integrity board with resident participation to review complaints and provide independent oversight.
• 5Hold annual community summits where residents can engage directly with council on the Township's direction and priorities.
• 6Explore responsible AI tools for Township operations with full resident oversight and transparency about how they are used.