Get to Know Dave

I grew up in Waterdown, a small Georgian-era town, in the 1980s and 1990s.

I played in forests that would be demolished year after year, annoyed that I had to build a new tree fort every year as the woods got smaller. I fished for crayfish and stickleback minnows in the creeks before they were dredged to accept stormwater runoff. I remember discussions about a northern bypass that never appeared, while traffic through town became increasingly gridlocked.

I remember watching my small town change through unchecked development.

When I was 13, I became curious about how local government worked, so I volunteered as a council page. The following year, I went door-to-door campaigning for a local businessman who would go on to become a long-serving public servant and now serves as an MP.

I have always encouraged everyone to vote – no matter who you vote for. I believe voting is both a civic duty and one of the responsibilities we share as citizens of a democracy.

Paris is regarded as “The Prettiest Town in Ontario.” While there is surely no stopping development, we can ensure that growth follows the development of infrastructure. The road construction and traffic challenges we’ve experienced over the last few years should be a red flag when considering further development in downtown Paris. Our downtown simply cannot handle significantly more traffic without a plan to address it.

Plans are in place to explore a northern bypass. I believe this work needs to be advanced rather than waiting for the 2043 assessment announced this year.

Hundreds of new residential units are being built along the Rest Acres Road corridor, while new commercial developments are already under construction. A reliable transit connection between Paris and Brantford is imperative, connecting County of Brant residents with jobs, services and opportunities created by this growth.

I am also strongly opposed to the development of data centres in the County of Brant.

Most importantly, I’m interested in your vision for Ward 3. I want to hear what matters to you, what concerns you, and what you want our community to become.

We’re in this together.