MEET THE CANDIDATE | Tom Lewis, Ward 5

Fort Erie’s municipal and school board elections are taking place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on October 26. Advance voting will take place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Fort Erie Leisureplex October 4 and 7, and online voting opens at 10 a.m. on October 5.

Incumbent Tom Lewis is running for town council in Ward 5. Fort Erie Radio posed several questions to Lewis and what appears below are his unedited answers:

What is the most important issue facing Fort Erie, and how would you address it?

Fort Erie is a growing community navigating change in new housing, businesses and opportunities. This change increases pressure on roads, drainage, water and wastewater infrastructure, traffic and municipal services. I know this first hand having been on Infrastructure Services Subcommittee. I will continue working with Council colleagues to deliver responsible growth, infrastructure investment, traffic and pedestrian safety, and development that respects the unique character of Crystal Beach and Ridgeway.

Protecting essential services means continuing to advocate for urgent care services here in Fort Erie and holding Niagara Health and the Province accountable for commitments made to our community. I have been a strong advocate for holding both accountable and will continue to do so.

Municipal restructuring discussions continue, I oppose amalgamating Fort Erie into a larger regional municipality. Fort Erie deserves strong local representation and local decision-making.

The next four years needs the experienced leadership, responsible planning and strong advocacy I offer to keep Fort Erie and Ward 5 moving forward.

What should council’s approach be to taxes and municipal spending?

Responsible taxation and careful spending are the key to long-term financial sustainability. As our residents face affordability pressures, municipal government has a responsibility to ensure every tax dollar is spent wisely.

I support keeping our municipal taxes reasonable. I do not support freezing taxes simply for the sake of saying we did. Artificially holding taxes down by postponing necessary road, infrastructure and asset investments means higher future costs and a heavier affordability burden on the next generation.

Council contains costs by reviewing how services are delivered, finding efficiencies, maintaining healthy reserves and managing debt responsibly. We use residents’ taxes to make the investments necessary to maintain roads, water and wastewater systems, drainage, parks, emergency services and other infrastructure residents depend on every day. That is what I have been doing and that is what I will continue to do.

We must also continue pursuing provincial and federal funding so Fort Erie taxpayers are not carrying these costs alone. I bring the experience needed to know how to continue advocating with other levels of government.

What role should the Town play in the future of health care in Fort Erie?

Health care delivery is primarily a provincial responsibility. The Town has an important role as a strong advocate for our residents and in ensuring our community receives its fair share of Ontario’s health-care services funding and resources.

My priority is clear: Fort Erie must retain local urgent care services. Our growing community needs reliable access to urgent and primary care close to home, particularly given our geography, aging population and distance from hospital services outside Fort Erie. There was also a commitment by Niagara Health and I intend to hold them accountable.

The Province, Niagara Health and community partners must work with Fort Erie and be accountable for the previous commitments made to Fort Erie. Municipal funding or support for health care initiatives should come with clear expectations, transparency and measurable benefits for our residents. If we do not have a willing health board and funding from the Ministry of Health we will not be able to keep these services in our community.

We should also continue supporting efforts to attract and retain family physicians and other health-care professionals and explore partnerships that improve access to local services. On my watch and with this Council, we have attracted five family doctors and fostered a good relationship with the doctors’ network. Newly recruited doctors are willing to fill UCC (urgent care centre) shifts. We have supported Niagara physician’s recruitment.

Council does not operate the health-care system, but it provides a strong and united voice for our community. I will continue advocating for urgent care services ensuring Fort Erie’s health-care needs are heard.

Our residents deserve accessible health care in their own community, and I will help Fort Erie keep delivering it.

How should Fort Erie balance growth and development with infrastructure and neighbourhood concerns?

Responsible growth brings new housing, businesses, jobs and investment, and it must be balanced with the infrastructure capacity and neighbourhood character that make our community a great place to live. That is why in 2003 I advocated for the first Crystal Beach Neighbourhood Plan and in 2022 did the same to see that the Secondary Plan was implemented. These two documents are the foundation for how we as a community see it developing.

Development should occur primarily within our established urban boundaries, where services can be provided efficiently. I believe we must protect our agricultural lands, natural heritage and our waterfront by ensuring we have policies in place to do just that. Before approving significant growth, Council must understand the impacts on roads, water and wastewater capacity, drainage, traffic, emergency services and other municipal infrastructure. We need to continue advocating the Province to allow municipalities like Fort Erie to have a say in how their community develops.

I have worked with Council to ensure developers contribute their fair share toward the infrastructure and services their projects require. Existing taxpayers should not shoulder a disproportionate share of new growth costs.

Equally important is listening to residents. Development needs to respect existing neighbourhoods, neighbourhood plans built by the community and concerns about density, traffic, drainage, parking, pedestrian safety and community character during the planning process.

My approach is responsible, planned growth where possible supported by the necessary infrastructure, meaningful community input and decisions that protect what makes Ward 5 unique. I will continue to advocate for changes to provincial policy that impact development outside that Greater Toronto Area (GTA). What works in the GTA does not necessarily fit in Fort Erie

What should the Town do to address housing affordability and homelessness?

Though Niagara Region has primary responsibility for social housing and homelessness services, we have an important role to play through planning, development approvals, partnerships and advocacy. Housing affordability and homelessness are complex issues that require cooperation between all levels of government.

Fort Erie needs a greater range of housing options for people at different stages of life as well as income levels. We need to continue supporting responsible opportunities for rental housing, attainable ownership, seniors’ housing, additional dwelling units and appropriately located higher-density development where infrastructure and services can support it. That is why I advocated for the residential intensification component to remain in the Community Improvement Program (CIP) and supported the Affordable Housing CIP.

Homeowners and developers need Fort Erie to ensure the development process is efficient and predictable. Unnecessary delays add costs that ultimately affect the price of housing, but faster approvals cannot come at the expense of good planning, infrastructure capacity or meaningful public input.

Tackling homelessness means more than just building housing units. As a town we need to continue working with Niagara Region, community organizations and other levels of government to connect people with appropriate housing, mental-health, addiction and social supports while addressing community safety concerns.

There is no simple solution and our role should be to remove unnecessary barriers and red tape, encourage appropriate housing supply and advocate for more provincial and federal investment, while ensuring growth remains well-managed and responsible, with existing taxpayers not left carrying an unfair burden.

What infrastructure issues should be the highest priority over the next four years?

Our highest infrastructure priorities should be balancing investment in roads, water and wastewater systems, drainage, sidewalks and pedestrian safety, while ensuring our existing assets are properly maintained.

Residents that I speak with regularly raise concerns about road conditions, drainage, speeding, sidewalks and pedestrian connections. We need to continue investing in these areas, particularly in older neighbourhoods where infrastructure was built decades ago and requires renewal.

Water and wastewater capacity must also keep pace with responsible growth. This is something we remind the upper levels of government every time we can. New development cannot be approved without considering whether the infrastructure is available to support it, and growth must contribute its fair share toward required improvements.

I also believe we need to continue strengthening our long-term asset management planning because it’s about ensuring we are ready for tomorrow. Delaying necessary maintenance may reduce costs today, but it often results in much larger replacement costs tomorrow. Delaying is not responsible financial management, nor is it fair to pass deteriorating infrastructure and greater debt onto future generations.

I will continue to work and prioritize projects based on condition, safety and community need, aggressively pursue provincial and federal infrastructure funding, and coordinate projects wherever possible so roads, underground infrastructure, drainage and other improvements are completed efficiently and with the best value for taxpayers.

What can the Town do to strengthen Fort Erie’s economy and attract or retain jobs?

Fort Erie has tremendous economic potential due to our location, border crossings, tourism assets, available employment lands and growing population. The Town’s role should be to create the conditions that encourage businesses to invest, expand and create good local jobs. I believe we have done just that with investments like $100 million in manufacturing by Siltech and Airbus who are ramping up production to make first H135 for Canadian military and more.

We need to continue investing in infrastructure, streamline municipal processes and provide businesses and investors with a clear and predictable path through planning and development approvals. We should also continue actively marketing Fort Erie’s employment lands and strategic location along the Canada-U.S. border and QEW corridor.

Supporting existing businesses is equally important. Our BIAs, small businesses, tourism operators and entrepreneurs contribute significantly to our local economy. Programs such as Community Improvement Plans can help encourage private investment, redevelopment and revitalization in our commercial areas, including Crystal Beach and Ridgeway.

We should also continue the focus to strengthen partnerships with Niagara Region, economic development organizations, educational institutions and senior governments to attract investment and connect residents with training and employment opportunities. It’s all about partnerships and bringing people together.

Economic development is not simply about attracting the next large employer. It is also about helping existing businesses succeed and creating an environment where entrepreneurs want to invest. That is why I am proud that we have opened approximately 200 new net business in Fort Erie.

The goal a diverse, resilient local economy that provides more opportunities for Fort Erie residents to live, work and build their futures here.

What are your views on the future of municipal governance in Niagara, including possible amalgamation?

I support reviewing municipal governance to find efficiencies, reduce duplication and provide better value for taxpayers and that includes working with other area municipalities where possible. However, I do not support amalgamating Fort Erie into a larger municipality as amalgamation in the 1970s, here and elsewhere, has never led to cost savings.

Our community and the communities and neighbourhoods that make it up have their own identity, priorities and needs that is why I like a ward system. Decisions affecting our community should continue to be made locally by representatives who understand the community, are from the community and are directly accountable to its residents they represent.

I am concerned that any proposed amalgamation with other municipalities will result in Fort Erie having less representation and a weaker voice in decisions affecting our community. That’s what happened when with amalgamation in 1970 and Fort Erie lost out.

When the interests of your ward and the broader municipality differ, how would you approach that decision?

My first responsibility is, and always has been, to listen to and represent the residents of Ward 5. As a member of Council, I have a responsibility to bring Ward 5’s insight into the best interests of Fort Erie as a whole.

When local and broader interests differ, my approach is to continue to listen carefully, engage understand the facts, consider the financial/long-term impacts, and make sure Ward 5’s concerns are clearly represented. That is what I have done and that is what I will continue to do.

Good municipal leadership requires looking beyond individual neighbourhoods. Investments made elsewhere in Fort Erie can strengthen our entire community, just as investments in Crystal Beach and Ridgeway can benefit residents, businesses and from across our community.

I have been successful in getting Ward 5 its fair share of municipal investment, services and attention and yes there is more work to do. I will continue advocating strongly for our roads, drainage, sidewalks, parks, traffic safety, economic development and other local priorities just as I have in the past.

Ultimately, Council works best when Councillors can advocate for their wards while still working together as a team. I will continue approaching each decision on its merits, listen and be transparent with my decisions openly and work toward solutions that are fair, responsible and beneficial to our long term future.

What is the most pressing issue in your ward, and what would you do about it?

Those who have lived in Crystal Beach and Ridgeway for a while will remember the early 1990s and know how far our community has come from mostly empty stores, abandoned buildings and what seemed like no hope. I’m proud of what we have accomplished and to have been part of its revitalization.

Along with infrastructure renewal, we need to keep our recreational facilities modern to ensure they meet today’s demands and provide activities and opportunities for residents of all ages. What worked in the past may not be serving the communities needs and we need to ensure we are keeping pace. I’m proud of the changes we have made in this area and excited to see where we go.

Access to health care was the number one issue in my first term on council in 2003 and with continued failed commitments from Niagara Health it still is today. I will continue working to maintain urgent care services in Fort Erie; support continued physician recruitment; and improve access to primary care.

These commitments mean working with our Business Improvement Areas and local businesses to promote Crystal Beach beyond the summer season and strengthen our year-round economy.

Delivering progress requires fair and responsible taxation: finding efficiencies; making necessary investments; and maintaining healthy reserves. That is what I have done this term, and that is what I will continue to do. Deferring responsibilities and passing a greater financial and infrastructure burden onto the next generation is irresponsible.

Meeting Ward 5’s needs require experienced leadership during the next four years. I understand how government works, how decisions are made and how to speak for Fort Erie as a strong voice. I am asking for a fresh mandate to keep working for Ward 5.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: This candidate profile was created as part of a paid advertising campaign. Fort Erie Radio extended the same questions to all candidates who were eligible for a “Meet the Candidate” feature and allowed each candidate to answer as many or as few of the questions as they desired. Answers appear exactly as submitted to Fort Erie Radio.

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