By Keith Dempsey, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Brockville Recorder and Times

How should a township balance financial pressures and infrastructure needs with residents’ demands for a greater voice in local government?

That question sits at the heart of the mayoral race in the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands, where incumbent Corinna Smith-Gatcke and challenger Jason Page are offering voters two different approaches to the municipality’s future.

Smith-Gatcke is seeking to continue the work she says has strengthened the township’s finances, infrastructure and approach to governance during her nearly eight years as mayor.

Page, a retired Canadian Armed Forces captain, is campaigning on greater financial oversight, more opportunities for residents to influence council decisions and a more transparent approach to municipal government.

Both candidates have spoken about the importance of infrastructure investment, responsible spending and using strong mayor powers only when necessary.

But their campaigns differ in their emphasis: Smith-Gatcke is asking voters to judge her record and support continuity, while Page argues the township needs stronger mechanisms for public accountability and participation.

The candidates discussed their priorities during a recent all-candidates night at the Lansdowne Community Building, as Monday’s municipal election approaches.

Smith-Gatcke makes the case for continuity

After nearly eight years in the mayor’s chair, Smith-Gatcke said she remains proud of the progress made by the township despite the financial and operational pressures facing municipalities.

She pointed to infrastructure projects, improvements to asset management, budgeting challenges, team building and the loss of both council members and staff as defining features of her time in office.

“But the thing I am most proud of is the progress we have made,” said Smith-Gatcke.

The incumbent has highlighted the township’s property tax rate as a particular achievement, saying Leeds and the Thousand Islands continues to have the second-lowest municipal tax rate in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville.

Smith-Gatcke said the township has continued investing in roads, municipal buildings and emergency services while responding to increasing service demands within the fire department.

For the incumbent, the challenge is maintaining that progress as municipalities contend with rising fuel and insurance costs, infrastructure requirements and pressure on operating budgets.

Her campaign emphasizes stability and a respectful working environment at the council table, even when elected officials disagree.

“In a world filled with political uncertainty, I believe calm and steady governance matters,” Smith-Gatcke said. “We will not always agree on every issue, but we can agree to conduct ourselves in a respectful and consistent manner.”

Smith-Gatcke has described the current council as one that has navigated difficult discussions while continuing to get work done, despite changes in its membership.

Her position is that progress does not require agreement on every issue, but rather a willingness to have difficult conversations and work toward decisions.

She has also reminded residents that municipalities operate within provincial and federal legislative frameworks, limiting the decisions council can make independently.

While council can change municipal bylaws within its authority, other responsibilities and requirements are governed by legislation and policies established by higher levels of government.

Smith-Gatcke currently serves as warden of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, giving her experience in both township and upper-tier municipal government.

Page calls for greater accountability and public involvement

Page is offering a different vision, arguing that residents should have more opportunities to participate in decisions and greater access to information about how their tax dollars are spent.

A 19-year veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces, Page retired in 2015 as a captain after serving in roles including battery commander, adjutant, and operations and training officer.

He said his military career involved managing budgets, overseeing complex logistics, training personnel and maintaining accountability in demanding operational environments.

Page holds a bachelor of arts degree from Brock University, a human resources diploma from St. Lawrence College and a certificate in disaster management from The Chang School at Toronto Metropolitan University.

Since leaving the military, he has focused on family and community involvement, including supporting the Rockport Winter Carnival, fundraising through the Rotary Club of Gananoque for children’s food programs in the township and assisting civilians affected by the war in Ukraine.

Page said he wants to bring that background in public service and financial management to the mayor’s office.

His platform places particular emphasis on reviewing municipal spending, improving transparency and giving residents more opportunities to influence decisions before council votes.

Among his proposals are independent financial oversight, budget reviews to identify wasteful spending and greater scrutiny of major infrastructure projects.

Page has identified three projects, the Ivy Lea Wharf, the Seeley’s Bay Fire Hall Station No. 2 and the Lyndhurst observation deck, as examples of spending that warrant closer examination.

He is proposing more rigorous financial reviews and public consultations on major capital projects, along with online financial dashboards that would allow residents to follow project spending.

Page argues that better oversight would help residents understand how decisions are made and why costs change.

His proposals also include more regular town hall meetings across the township’s wards, citizen advisory panels on major development plans and digital polling tools to gather public feedback before key council votes.

He wants to review how residents currently provide input and expand opportunities for direct public access to council meetings.

Page has also called for stronger support for community groups, arguing that local organizations should have more opportunities to communicate their needs and participate in shaping the township’s future.

His broader message is that residents should have a meaningful role in decisions affecting their communities, rather than being consulted only after major choices have been made.

Economic development and the cost of growth

Page has also identified economic development as an area where he believes the township could do more.

His platform calls for re-establishing the Economic Development Committee to encourage sustainable local growth and bring business owners into closer collaboration with council.

He wants the township to reduce unnecessary barriers for startups, encourage home-based and storefront businesses, and develop marketing initiatives to attract employment and tourism while supporting existing businesses.

Page has also proposed youth mentorship programs intended to encourage entrepreneurship and help young people build their futures in the township.

He argues that a stronger local economy can generate revenue over time, reducing pressure to rely on property tax increases alone.

His platform further calls for mandatory community consultations before changes to the township’s governance model, as well as greater transparency around council decisions.

Page has criticized the way council vacancies have been filled during the current term, arguing that residents should have more say when an elected representative leaves office.

He has proposed a process that would first offer a vacancy to the runner-up from the previous election, with a byelection or another public nomination process used in circumstances where that candidate is unavailable.

His proposal would need to be assessed against the applicable legislative requirements governing municipal vacancies.

The broader issue, Page said, is ensuring that residents have a meaningful opportunity to influence who represents them and how the municipality is governed.

Smith-Gatcke, meanwhile, has emphasized the work already undertaken by the township and the importance of making decisions within its legislative responsibilities and financial limits.

Her approach focuses on continuing infrastructure investment, maintaining a comparatively low tax rate and ensuring the municipality can meet its obligations as costs rise.

Strong mayor powers and the role of council

The candidates have also discussed strong mayor powers, which have expanded the authority available to mayors in Ontario municipalities under provincial legislation.

Both candidates have indicated that the powers should be used only when necessary.

The issue raises a broader question about the balance between a mayor’s ability to advance priorities and the role of council in collective decision-making.

For Page, the emphasis on transparency and public involvement forms part of his wider argument that municipal government should be more accessible and responsive to residents.

His calls for town halls, citizen advisory panels and greater access to council meetings reflect his belief that public input should play a more substantial role in shaping decisions.

Smith-Gatcke, meanwhile, has emphasized respectful governance and the ability of elected officials to disagree while continuing to work together.

She has argued that council must operate within the responsibilities and limitations established by provincial legislation, while making use of the authority it has to serve the township.

Both candidates have therefore acknowledged the need for restraint in exercising strong-mayor powers, even as they offer different approaches to improving municipal governance.

Keith Dempsey is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Brockville Recorder and Times. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada

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