Thank You

I am both honoured and humbled that the people of Midland have elected me as Mayor for another four years. This was a challenging election. It presented citizens with a clear choice for their future and they chose to keep to the path that we started over four years ago. While I welcome my own victory, I am most pleased with the balance of veterans and new energetic individuals who will be making up the new Council. The next four years augur well for Midland.

While some assume that the Mayor did all of the work, this victory would not have been possible without an amazing group of volunteers, supporters, and citizens. I want to thank my wife, whose steadfast support and hard work was my foundation. I want to thank my hardworking election team, led by Burke Penny, who organized and motivated one of the best campaign teams I have ever had the privilege of knowing. My thanks to all the candidates, both successful and unsuccessful, who offered their services to the people of Midland. I want to recognize the Councillors who will not be returning in December for their four years of civic duty on behalf of the people. And finally, my thanks to the people of Midland for putting their trust in me and clearly stating where they see Midland heading in the coming years.

Time to Vote

After many weeks of knocking on doors, attending meetings, and communicating with residents both verbally and on social media, it is time to let the citizens of Midland decide who they want to be their Mayor over the next four years. I have worked hard to present a positive message for the future of our town - a future of more jobs, reasonable taxes, and a waterfront developed for all the people of Midland. At the same time, I have tried not to be distracted by stolen signs, reckless statements, and misinformation from opponents. Unfortunately, these are things that seem to have become part of election campaigning. Frankly, the people of Midland deserve better.

Before you mark your ballot on Monday, I am asking you to consider the following questions:

1. Who has the skills, experience, and leadership qualities to deal with the issues facing our town over the next four years?


2. Who do you want to be speaking on behalf of Midland in discussions with business leaders, other municipalities, and government decision-makers?

In a close election like this, every vote is important. On October 27^th, I invite you to join me in moving Midland forward.

Vote Gord McKay for Mayor of Midland.

Thanks for Your Support

Over the past weeks, I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting hundreds of people in our community at their doors, at candidates meetings, and at other events around town. I am impressed by the level of engagement of Midland citizens in this election and, if the large numbers at the advance polls are any indication, we could have a substantial increase in voter turnout over 2010.

The amount of support that I have received is truly gratifying. In addition to kind words at the door and hundreds of sign requests, some people have been more public with their support and I offer a special thanks to these people for going that extra step. It not only means a lot to me personally, but it can also have a positive effect towards the outcome that we hope to achieve. So, it is with this in mind that I offer the following as testimony to the support that I have in our community:

Jim Brown: "Gord has been so supportive of new ventures in Town like mine. His business experience and contacts are very important in developing new jobs and keeping Midland moving forward."

Glen Canning: "He understands economics, he understands finance, he understands the role of policy in municipal government, and he knows how they interact.”

Pat File: "For his integrity, steadfastness, grace under pressure, ideas, fairness - he gets the sustainability piece on all levels - environmental, economic and social justice. I believe that we are on a good track on so many fronts for the Town of Midland. I do support Gord McKay for Mayor and hope that our residents will re-elect him on October 27.

Carol (Cee) Fisher: "He's just so down to earth."

Fred Hacker: "Midland needs a strong, decisive, forward-looking Mayor. Midland needs Gord McKay!"

Hudson Leavens: "I've been very impressed by Gord's ability to apply his business skills in encouraging committees to work well and achieve results."

Stu Leggett: "For the past 8 years - first as Councillor and then as Mayor - you have worked diligently, honestly, passionately and with great integrity to improve the economic and social conditions here in Midland. Your obvious skills and proven leadership are critically needed in this complex community! I support Gordon McKay for Mayor in 2014!!!"

Patrick Murray: "I have found you to at least listen with an open mind and for that you will continue to have my support."

Carol Nichols: "He has class... he's finding solutions and that's why I want to work with him."

Colin Pape: "Gord gets the importance of innovation, and knows how to leverage technology better than anyone else running... Gord has been instrumental in helping us cut through red tape and move our company forward. We now employ 15 people in Downtown Midland, and with an experienced leader like Mayor McKay, who's already grown a company from a handful of people to hundreds, I know we can employ many more. A vote for Gord is a vote for real economic development."

Mike Ross: "He's a true leader. He's the man I want representing Midland."

Stewart Strathearn: "Under Gord's leadership we've seen a very solid foundation put in place, that in the coming four years under Gord’s leadership again... we can continue to build Midland as a wonderful place."

Leaf Pick-Up

The leaves are now falling and I know that some Midlanders are having a tough time adjusting to the County “bag your leaves” collection system.

This is the first year that we have not been allowed to use Town services to help homeowners. Last year, I personally petitioned the County to give Midland residents one more year with curbside vacuuming. The County agreed, but was clear that last year was the only extension. No other municipality in the County of Simcoe got that extra year exemption.

This year, all 16 County municipalities are bagging their leaves. The good news at the County level is that we are saving well over $2 million per year by using a standardized waste collection. Some of those savings reduce the taxes that you pay to the County.

In Midland, many private sector companies are now offering leaf vacuuming services. The Town is also helping out by reimbursing residents for the cost of leaf bags (receipt and proof of residency required).

I recognize that this is a change that residents are unhappy about. I will continue to listen and, if the County collection system continues to cause problems for Midland residents, I will work with my fellow mayors and take your issues/concerns to the County.

A Fiscal Picture of Midland

The Town of Midland is a $25 million a year “corporation” providing a variety of services to the people of Midland. And while the Town must be responsive to its citizens, it also must heed the basic financial rules that apply to all corporations.

The population of Midland, from which the Town receives its tax revenues, is characterized by two factors:

• Low average household income, and
• Flat population growth

Inflation aside, there has been almost no increase in the ability of the people of Midland to pay more taxes in almost a decade. Keeping taxes down to help low-income homeowners keep their homes is essential.

Flying in the face of that fact is that our tax bills have increased over 100% since 2000. The tax growth stems from past Councils not managing wage growth and adding new services without a financial plan. One example is the NSSRC - an excellent facility providing needed services to many in our area. Its fiscal reality is that it requires a $1.4 million annual subsidy from taxpayers for its operations and capital. Midland, like every householder, has to balance its income with its costs.

So, how do we get to a better financial place? It is first important to recognize that we have spent decades getting into this situation. It will take time to get us out. Also, Midland is not in “dire straits” - we do not need knee jerk solutions. We need to build on our reasonably healthy local economy and take advantage of the opportunities to realign municipal services to decrease our costs and taxes.

The first step (which has already started) is to implement operational changes identified in the KPMG report that will save money while preserving our service levels. 60 such items were identified that can save us $1-2 million per year. Opportunities include consolidating internal works operations or consolidated billing with MPUC. This can be done without laying off staff.

The second step (which has already started) is to grow our local economy and, with it, the tax base. We have:

• Launched the Economic Development Corporation of North Simcoe, our arms length agency devoted to building our North Simcoe economy
• Started to streamline services at our Town Hall under our new CAO, Carolyn Tripp
• Frozen Development Charges, signaling to companies and developers that we are open for business
• Maintained tax control, holding the rate of increase to less than inflation - in essence, reducing real taxes

We have started to turn the fiscal corner. There are many more opportunities ahead that, if implemented, will allow taxes to actually be reduced and services maintained. But it is not just about getting the budget right. I am committed to a balance between fiscal restraint and providing needed community services (e.g. library, recreation, affordable housing, social services) so that all citizens of Midland can enjoy being part of our great community.