Watch the Mayoral Debate, Owen Sound 2026
Compare the Mayoral Candidates
This first edition uses the ranked resident concerns as provisional headings. It compares explicit public positions located by September 27, 2026. The actual meeting questions may change the headings; verified debate answers can be added to the online page.
Each issue is broken into resident benefit, implementation, and cost or evidence. The summaries describe published positions rather than an overall score or endorsement. A grey field means that the relevant position or implementation detail was not located. “No public cost estimate located” records an information gap rather than a zero cost.
1Homelessness, drug addiction, and downtown conditions
| Candidate | Policy proposal | Resident benefit | Implementation | Cost / evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ray Botten | Policy proposalAddress the drug issue and consider a drug drop box. | Resident benefitAddress the drug issue and help people affected by it. | ImplementationUse a drug drop box as the stated practical measure; further response details are not specified in the reviewed material. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Jodi King | Policy proposalTransitional housing on suitable empty lots with crisis support. | Resident benefitProvide transitional housing and crisis support for people who need a stable step forward. | ImplementationUse suitable empty lots for transitional housing with crisis support; the full provider, staffing, and outcome model is unspecified. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Carol Merton | Policy proposalHousing First, wraparound supports, recovery resources, and downtown response. | Resident benefitConnect people with housing, wraparound support, recovery resources, and a safer downtown. | ImplementationUse Housing First as the entry point, connect people with wraparound and recovery providers, and coordinate the City response to downtown issues. The public material does not specify lead agencies, staffing, or outcome measures. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Mike Seiler | Policy proposalDowntown revitalization and a public-safety scorecard; treatment details are limited. | Resident benefitImprove downtown conditions and make public safety easier to measure. | ImplementationUse downtown revitalization and a public-safety scorecard; treatment, housing, and responder details are limited. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Richard Thomas | Policy proposalCoordinate providers, police, County, and community groups with service standards. | Resident benefitCoordinate services so people receive more consistent help and residents see clearer standards. | ImplementationBring providers, police, Grey County, and community groups together; use service-facility standards and stronger enforcement where unlawful activity occurs. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Andrii Zvorygin | Policy proposalUse vacant-home-tax proceeds to fund mobile meals and a civilian crisis-response pilot, while returning empty homes to use and easing housing pressure. Use a Golden Broom award to encourage shared stewardship of downtown, keep people housed, and offer voluntary recovery. | Resident benefitKeep people housed, reduce unsheltered homelessness, and ease the concentration of support activity downtown. | ImplementationUse four phases: mobile meals and support near the outskirts, housing-loss prevention, affordable homes including ARC, and voluntary recovery. Add a 12-week civilian crisis-response pilot with a public outcome scorecard and a Golden Broom award to encourage shared stewardship of downtown. | Cost / evidenceThe mobile-meal and civilian crisis-response pilots are planned to use vacant-home-tax proceeds. The same tax can return empty homes to the urban housing supply and ease housing pressure. Golden Broom awards and shared cleanup equipment are fully costed in the working budget. |
2Property taxes and household affordability
| Candidate | Policy proposal | Resident benefit | Implementation | Cost / evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ray Botten | Policy proposalReduce property taxes; a detailed budget method is not published. | Resident benefitReduce property taxes. | ImplementationReclaim strong-mayor authority; the detailed budget method and service choices are not published. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Jodi King | Policy proposalNo explicit position located in reviewed sources. | Resident benefitNo explicit resident benefit located in the reviewed sources. | ImplementationNo implementation method located in the reviewed sources. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Carol Merton | Policy proposalReview operating and capital budgets while protecting core services. | Resident benefitProtect core services while improving the value residents receive from tax dollars. | ImplementationReview operating and capital budgets against critical and core services and facilities, identify smaller operational changes, and report the resulting savings and service effects to Council. | Cost / evidenceHer flyer reports more than $1 million in operational savings during her City Services Review work; no new savings target or implementation cost is published. |
| Mike Seiler | Policy proposalKeep tax growth below the baseline through measured savings and public arithmetic. | Resident benefitKeep tax growth below the current baseline through measured savings. | ImplementationReview costs, non-salary spending, grants, fleet, and regional cost recovery, then publish quarterly public arithmetic and scorecards. | Cost / evidenceNo public dollar savings target located; the proposal is measured through the baseline and scorecards. |
| Richard Thomas | Policy proposalOpen budgeting, service review, and administrative efficiency proposals. | Resident benefitImprove services and administrative efficiency while explaining the tax choices. | ImplementationUse open budgeting, service review, and administrative-efficiency proposals; the detailed savings baseline is unspecified. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Andrii Zvorygin | Policy proposalThe 2027 draft budget is more than a quarter million below 2026. Software is one of its largest identified savings areas, with about one-quarter of current maintenance spending targeted for recurring reduction. Local procurement and import replacement can keep more spending and jobs here. | Resident benefitLower the 2027 property-tax burden while maintaining services, finding software savings, and helping local households through more local work and production. | ImplementationStart with the 2027 draft budget and publish service-level records. Use modern software to review recurring licences, maintenance, duplicated systems, and process costs, then apply the open-source transition allocation and track verified savings. Publish City purchasing and repair needs so local businesses can build alternatives and import replacement can keep spending and jobs here. | Cost / evidenceThe working 2027 draft is more than a quarter million below the 2026 budget. Software is targeted for a recurring reduction of about one-quarter of its current maintenance line, with transition work funded separately. The exact results will be published after adoption and verified through the Savings Ledger. |
3Housing availability and security
| Candidate | Policy proposal | Resident benefit | Implementation | Cost / evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ray Botten | Policy proposalNo explicit Ray Botten position located in the reviewed sources. | Resident benefitNo explicit resident benefit located in the reviewed sources. | ImplementationNo implementation method located in the reviewed sources. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Jodi King | Policy proposalReserve 10-20% of future developments for low-income families. | Resident benefitReserve more new housing for low-income families. | ImplementationReserve 10–20% of future developments for low-income families; the approval and funding mechanism is unspecified. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Carol Merton | Policy proposalAffordable and non-profit housing through a working group and financing tools. | Resident benefitIncrease affordable and non-profit housing options. | ImplementationCreate an Affordable Housing Action Working Group for employment and non-profit housing, identify financing tools and mixed-model projects, and consider municipal support such as fee relief for qualifying developments. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Mike Seiler | Policy proposalHomes in every neighbourhood through suites and gentle density. | Resident benefitCreate more attainable homes in every neighbourhood. | ImplementationAllow suites and gentle density in more neighbourhoods; the full affordability and implementation model is unspecified. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Richard Thomas | Policy proposalHousing partnerships, development-charge tools, and affordable housing incentives. | Resident benefitIncrease affordable housing through partnerships and lower development barriers. | ImplementationUse housing partnerships, development-charge tools, incentives, fee reductions, and planning or density tools. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Andrii Zvorygin | Policy proposalUse a vacant-home tax to return empty homes to the urban housing supply, alongside attainable homes and County Affordable Rural Communities. A warm resident-owned family home with productive land is planned at about $700/month. | Resident benefitGive more residents stable homes with room for family life, work, health, and belonging. | ImplementationUse a vacant-home tax to return empty homes to the urban housing supply, provide tenant information, support lower-cost urban construction, review stalled projects, and advance a County ARC framework for resident-owned family homes on securely leased productive land. | Cost / evidenceCurrent ARC planning uses about $700 per month for a warm resident-owned family home and productive land; this is a planning estimate. |
4Neighbourhood safety and follow-through
| Candidate | Policy proposal | Resident benefit | Implementation | Cost / evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ray Botten | Policy proposalDrug issue is a stated priority; response details are limited. | Resident benefitAddress the drug issue affecting community safety. | ImplementationThe priority is stated, while the responder, enforcement, and measurement approach remains unspecified. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Jodi King | Policy proposalSupports security, police involvement, and behavioural expectations around housing. | Resident benefitSupport safety and clear expectations around transitional housing. | ImplementationCombine security, police involvement, and behavioural expectations around housing; responder roles and measures are unspecified. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Carol Merton | Policy proposalSafe neighbourhoods, downtown cleanliness, rapid response, and public-safety coordination. | Resident benefitProvide safer, cleaner neighbourhoods and a faster response to public-space concerns. | ImplementationSet regular downtown garbage pickup, assign a rapid-response process for reported issues and incidents, and coordinate City staff with businesses, service agencies, and non-profit organizations. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Mike Seiler | Policy proposalSafer streets and a public-safety scorecard; policing review is proposed. | Resident benefitMake streets safer and show residents whether public-safety work is producing results. | ImplementationPublish a public-safety scorecard and consider a policing review; the detailed response model is unspecified. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Richard Thomas | Policy proposalCoordinated safety and order policy with enforcement and measurable results. | Resident benefitImprove safety and order through coordinated services and measurable results. | ImplementationCoordinate service providers, police, Grey County, and community organizations, with enforcement for criminal activity and bylaw violations. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Andrii Zvorygin | Policy proposalAnnual gatherings and Local Representatives help neighbours meet and give each Local Area a direct connection to its Ward Councillor for watches, cleanups, traffic calming, and follow-through. The 70-area plan is fully costed in the working budget. | Resident benefitHelp neighbours know one another, organize local safety work, and bring concerns directly to their Ward Councillor while keeping police focused on crime, violence, investigations, drug trafficking, and emergencies. | ImplementationOrganize seven Wards with Local Representatives in smaller Local Areas. Annual gatherings help neighbours meet, then the direct Local Area-to-Ward Councillor connection supports neighbourhood watches, cleanups, traffic calming, and follow-through. Publish local safety results with police accountability. | Cost / evidenceThe 70-area Local Representative plan is fully costed in the working budget. The civilian crisis-response pilot is costed separately in the homelessness plan. |
5Roads, maintenance, water, and wastewater
| Candidate | Policy proposal | Resident benefit | Implementation | Cost / evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ray Botten | Policy proposalNo explicit position located in reviewed sources. | Resident benefitNo explicit resident benefit located in the reviewed sources. | ImplementationNo implementation method located in the reviewed sources. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Jodi King | Policy proposalNo explicit position located in reviewed sources. | Resident benefitNo explicit resident benefit located in the reviewed sources. | ImplementationNo implementation method located in the reviewed sources. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Carol Merton | Policy proposalAsset condition, service costs, and infrastructure decisions should be publicly reviewed. | Resident benefitHelp residents understand infrastructure needs, service costs, and long-term choices. | ImplementationReview asset condition and service costs through operating and capital budget work, then publish the evidence and rationale behind infrastructure decisions. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Mike Seiler | Policy proposalPothole response, route studies, public numbers, and City-County coordination. | Resident benefitImprove pothole response, route decisions, and public understanding of infrastructure work. | ImplementationUse pothole response, route studies, public numbers, and City–Grey County coordination on roads and infrastructure. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Richard Thomas | Policy proposalInfrastructure planning, service-cost allocation, and water-rate explanations. | Resident benefitGive residents clearer infrastructure and water-rate choices. | ImplementationUse infrastructure planning, service-cost allocation, and public explanations for water and wastewater rates. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Andrii Zvorygin | Policy proposalShow residents what drives infrastructure costs: publish service costs and repair priorities, trace wastewater contamination to find sources before damage spreads, and compare capital, rate, and levy effects before approval so Council can choose reliable, affordable work. | Resident benefitImprove daily reliability on roads, water, and wastewater while reducing avoidable costs for ratepayers. | ImplementationPublish service costs, repair priorities, asset condition, and funding effects so Council can sequence work around resident needs. Trace wastewater contamination and reduce inflow and infiltration at the source, then compare capital options and rate or levy impacts before approving projects. | Cost / evidenceNo single new infrastructure cost is claimed. Each project should publish its cost, alternatives, service result, rate or levy effect, and funding source before approval. |
6Reliable transit and mobility
| Candidate | Policy proposal | Resident benefit | Implementation | Cost / evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ray Botten | Policy proposalMobility and senior challenges are mentioned; service details are limited. | Resident benefitImprove mobility for seniors and residents facing mobility barriers. | ImplementationMobility and senior challenges are mentioned, without a published route, service, or accessibility plan. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Jodi King | Policy proposalNo explicit position located in reviewed sources. | Resident benefitNo explicit resident benefit located in the reviewed sources. | ImplementationNo implementation method located in the reviewed sources. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Carol Merton | Policy proposalNo explicit position located in reviewed sources. | Resident benefitNo explicit resident benefit located in the reviewed sources. | ImplementationNo implementation method located in the reviewed sources. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Mike Seiler | Policy proposalRoute demonstrations, public route ideas, and a crossing and routing study. | Resident benefitTest transit changes against resident route needs and actual use. | ImplementationDemonstrate routes, invite public route ideas, and study crossings and routing before deciding on changes. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Richard Thomas | Policy proposalTransit is included in the municipal infrastructure and service platform. | Resident benefitInclude transit in broader infrastructure and service planning. | ImplementationAddress transit through the municipal infrastructure and service platform; detailed route, schedule, and cost steps are unspecified. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Andrii Zvorygin | Policy proposalStabilize current routes and Mobility Transit by auditing vehicles, publishing reliability results, and preserving service through the 2027 contract decision. Prepare City-owned, locally maintained accessible buses, then add evening service to 10 p.m. and Sunday service from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. when verified recurring funding covers it; the first year adds no property-tax cost. | Resident benefitMake existing transit dependable first, then expand evening and Sunday access when recurring funding is available. | ImplementationAudit fleet reliability, missed service, Mobility Transit capacity, and contract performance, then publish quarterly results while preserving routes through the 2027 contract decision. Prepare City-owned, locally maintained accessible buses and compare bridge and local-maintenance options. Expand evening service to 10 p.m. and Sunday service from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. when published affordability, performance, and recurring-funding gates are met. | Cost / evidenceThe later evening expansion planning range is about $300,000–$375,000 gross and $267,000–$350,000 net after fares. Phase 0 is planned within existing resources and does not add to the property-tax levy. |
7City Hall transparency and accountability
| Candidate | Policy proposal | Resident benefit | Implementation | Cost / evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ray Botten | Policy proposalStrong-mayor authority is a stated priority; disclosure details are limited. | Resident benefitGive the Mayor stronger authority to act on City priorities. | ImplementationUse strong-mayor authority; the public record does not specify a disclosure or accountability system. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Jodi King | Policy proposalMore open governance and an end to closed-door political meetings. | Resident benefitMake local government more open to residents. | ImplementationEnd closed-door political meetings and move toward more open governance; publication details are unspecified. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Carol Merton | Policy proposalCouncil highlights, reasons for decisions, shared costs, and tender information. | Resident benefitGive residents clearer reasons for decisions and information about public costs. | ImplementationIssue post-meeting Council highlights that list each decision, its expected impact, the next action, the supporting rationale, shared costs, and tender information. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Mike Seiler | Policy proposalQuarterly scorecards, working documents, public arithmetic, and data stewardship. | Resident benefitLet residents see progress, spending arithmetic, and missed commitments. | ImplementationPublish quarterly scorecards, working documents, public arithmetic, and data-stewardship information. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Richard Thomas | Policy proposalOpen budgeting, an Ask the Mayor portal, and a Council Digest. | Resident benefitMake major decisions and Council follow-through easier to understand. | ImplementationUse open budgeting, an Ask the Mayor portal, and a Council Digest after meetings with links to reports. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Andrii Zvorygin | Policy proposalAndrii created HelpOS.ca to make Owen Sound agendas, transcripts, meeting results, and local articles easier to access. As Mayor, he would bring that public-facing clarity to City Hall, while residents would have Local Representatives to turn to with questions, local concerns, and ideas, with follow-through to their City Councillor. | Resident benefitLet residents see what City Hall is doing, what services cost, and whether Council directions were completed. | ImplementationBuild on the civic information work already done through HelpOS.ca, which Andrii created to make Owen Sound agendas, transcripts, meeting results, local articles, and public discussion easier to access. As Mayor, publish service costs, contracts, debt, reserves, decisions, goals, and results in accessible forms; use open written Council discussion between meetings and invite resident savings ideas. Residents would have a Local Representative to answer questions in plain language, listen to local concerns and ideas, and follow up with the City Councillor responsible for their part of Owen Sound. Simpler staff-organization designs would clarify responsibility. | Cost / evidenceThe plan assigns the records and public forum work to existing municipal responsibilities and the planned software transition. No separate public operating cost is claimed. |
8Local jobs, enterprise, and economic opportunity
| Candidate | Policy proposal | Resident benefit | Implementation | Cost / evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ray Botten | Policy proposalNo explicit position located in reviewed sources. | Resident benefitNo explicit resident benefit located in the reviewed sources. | ImplementationNo implementation method located in the reviewed sources. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Jodi King | Policy proposalNo explicit position located in reviewed sources. | Resident benefitNo explicit resident benefit located in the reviewed sources. | ImplementationNo implementation method located in the reviewed sources. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Carol Merton | Policy proposalAffordable employment, business attraction, retention, arts, and tourism. | Resident benefitSupport affordable employment, local businesses, and a stronger visitor economy. | ImplementationMarket Owen Sound to businesses and entrepreneurs, support arts and tourism activity, pursue business attraction and retention, and promote affordable employment opportunities. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Mike Seiler | Policy proposalSupport downtown businesses, new founders, events, and local buying groups. | Resident benefitSupport downtown businesses, new founders, and local enterprise. | ImplementationSupport downtown businesses, new founders, events, venues, and local buying groups. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Richard Thomas | Policy proposalTourism, advanced manufacturing, local business, and development incentives. | Resident benefitSupport tourism, advanced manufacturing, local businesses, and development. | ImplementationUse tourism, advanced manufacturing, local business support, and development incentives; public-value measures for incentives remain unspecified. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Andrii Zvorygin | Policy proposalUse a local economic revitalization plan: publish City purchasing and repair needs, build local production and repair for import replacement, buy locally where competitive, then help successful businesses create jobs and reach export markets. | Resident benefitCreate new local jobs and keep more household and City spending circulating in Owen Sound and Grey-Bruce. | ImplementationPublish City purchasing and repair needs, connect businesses, makers, farms, trades, and training, and test local production and repair capacity. Use competitive local procurement to replace imports first, then help proven local capacity grow into new jobs and export markets. | Cost / evidenceNo single programme cost is claimed. Each opportunity receives a capability, time, and cost review before the City commits funds. |
9Food affordability and regional resilience
| Candidate | Policy proposal | Resident benefit | Implementation | Cost / evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ray Botten | Policy proposalNo explicit position located in reviewed sources. | Resident benefitNo explicit resident benefit located in the reviewed sources. | ImplementationNo implementation method located in the reviewed sources. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Jodi King | Policy proposalNo explicit position located in reviewed sources. | Resident benefitNo explicit resident benefit located in the reviewed sources. | ImplementationNo implementation method located in the reviewed sources. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Carol Merton | Policy proposalNo explicit position located in reviewed sources. | Resident benefitNo explicit resident benefit located in the reviewed sources. | ImplementationNo implementation method located in the reviewed sources. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Mike Seiler | Policy proposalAgriHome Canada is a stated priority; broader food policy is limited. | Resident benefitSupport local food production and agricultural enterprise. | ImplementationAgriHome Canada is a stated priority; the broader food policy and cost are unspecified. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Richard Thomas | Policy proposalNo explicit position located in reviewed sources. | Resident benefitNo explicit resident benefit located in the reviewed sources. | ImplementationNo implementation method located in the reviewed sources. | Cost / evidenceNo public cost estimate located. |
| Andrii Zvorygin | Policy proposalSupport regional food production, gardens, processing, and local purchasing. ARC pairs a warm resident-owned family home with sufficient productive land for household food, firewood, and a perennial food forest, at about $700/month under current planning. | Resident benefitImprove food affordability and regional resilience by helping households and communities produce, preserve, and process more food locally. | ImplementationSupport gardens, food production, preservation, processing, local purchasing, and regional coordination. Advance ARC as warm resident-owned family homes paired with sufficient productive land for household food, firewood, and perennial food forests alongside resident participation. | Cost / evidenceARC planning uses about $700 per month for a warm resident-owned family home and productive land. Other food initiatives are developed through existing resources, partnerships, and costed pilots. |
Source correction for Ray Botten: The reviewed May 22 interview identifies the drug issue and a drug drop box as Ray Botten's stated priorities.
Andrii Zvorygin rowNo explicit position or implementation detail located