STRATFORD CITIZEN GROUP ORGANIZES FOR 2022 MUNICIPAL ELECTION

Good Governance Stratford supports candidates who will work for open, collaborative, and accountable municipal government

STRATFORD, September 13, 2022

The Good Governance Group grew out of 2021 consultations led by Loreena McKennitt, responding to citizen dissatisfaction with the closed atmosphere of City Hall. The group is now endorsing candidates who have pledged to support open, transparent and accountable city government. Long criticized for its misuse of in-camera meetings, Stratford City Council earned Toronto Metropolitan University’s 2021 Code of Silence Award for “outstanding achievement in government secrecy,” which carries with it the dubious distinction of being the most secretive city council in all of Canada.

Some of the issues that concern new candidates are the secretive and possibly illegal actions taken by Council from 2018 to 2020 to establish a polluting glass factory on 175 acres of farmland to the south of the city, Council’s disregard of the City’s own Official Plan in 2021 to permit a huge Mississauga-style apartment complex at the entrance to the Festival Theatre, and Council’s alarming lack of interest in ensuring renters had information about voting and getting on the voter’s list.

Council has also faced criticism for failure to consult businesses about the 4% accommodation tax and the Short Term Rental Licencing by-law. In a recent letter, Jennifer Birmingham, owner of The Bruce Hotel, has harsh words about the lack of consultation at City Hall: “By barrelling forward with this tax they have shown how little regard they have for my business or its contributions to the city, and I am now grappling with questions about the past and future in this city that no investor should ever have to.”

In response to these and other problems, the Good Governance Search Committee interviewed candidates and conducted extensive research, resulting in the endorsement of the following eight candidates for city council: 


Taylor Briscoe – Works on housing issues for the Salvation Army, and has a long resume of international activism, including working for the UN
Tom Drake – Is a long time Stratford Dentist who believes it is time to change things at City Hall.
Tim Forster – Brings a lifetime of community service with municipal experience. He is against secret closed meetings and is committed to open and honest communication. He is an Insurance Broker who also works for the Festival.
Alan Kasperski – Is a municipal political activist, who, together with the people of Stratford, will discuss, decide, and deliver what we know is needed in our community.
Ian Morton – Has been an elementary teacher for 22 years, Stratford resident for 12. Board of Director experience with Stratford Sabrecats and St. Marys Curling. Past union executive member-at-large.
Jobyna Powath – Is a Quality Inspector and employee representative at Schaeffler. She wants to become a voice for the people of Stratford and bring transparency and accountability to the council.
Don Robinson – Is married with three kids and was born and raised in the City of Stratford. He owns multiple taxi companies and has been in management positions for 35 years.
Robb Williamson – Has lived in Stratford for 8 years. Is a former volunteer firefighter and trained as a paramedic. Has worked with the American Youth Foundation.

The Good Governance Group (3G) of Stratford is composed of citizens who believe that municipal government must be defined by openness, accountability, and close public collaboration between the people of Stratford and municipal councillors whenever important decisions about the city are to be made. 

The Good Governance Group will hold its second public information session on June 22, at 7:30 pm, via Zoom. To register for the meeting, please use the RSVP form on our home page.

The meeting will reveal the creation of a charter for the group, a method for evaluating potential candidates for city council, and how those candidates will be supported in the future.

We will also answer the questions raised at the first meeting.

Updates will also be provided on the various legal challenges outstanding concerning Freedom of Information requests and Closed Meeting Investigations.

All are welcome.