Ward 6 candidate platforming on public input and sustainable growth

Janet Eleanore Barnard said if she gets elected to council in October, she’ll make sure Ward 6 constituents are fairly represented around the table. 

The Dunsford resident said she wants to emulate Jack Layton. “He let us (constituents) vote on almost every topic” through his town halls. He sent pamphlets (in the) mail with voting rights on each issue. He held regular telephone town council meetings with professionals highlighting the pros and cons of each topic.” 

She said it’s important for residents to have a say in the issues being voted on. 

Barnard has worked for the ministry of education, owned laundromats in Toronto until COVID, and volunteers with the HOST program to help new citizens learn English and offers them guidance on education, health, and legal issues. 

These various roles, Barnard said, would help her as councillor. “I have lots of background in helping people…I can calm them down and get out a reasonable plan of action.” 

Barnard also studied to become a certified general accountant at Centennial College and said that education would her be able to carefully look through the budget to ensure every dollar is accounted for. “(In school) we had to comb through accounting entries looking for discrepancies as small as a penny.” 

If elected, Barnard would look at bringing offerings from the Circular Cities Innovations Challenge to Kawartha Lakes. “This is a challenge to make our municipality self-sufficient and reduce our debt practices internally.” 

The program helps cities test new ideas, reduce waste, and build a sustainable economy. For example, in Germany a digital platform was made that tracks building materials to enable the reuse and recycling of construction waste. 

Barnard noted that this election will see at least four new faces around the council table, as well as a new mayor. “This means team building will have to occur before work can proceed.” Her hope is that the newly elected council will take the time to participate in team building activities, to help everyone be able to work together. 

Barnard said she wants to ensure Ward 6 residents feel heard and their concerns are raised at council. She said it comes down to three key things for council to run smoothly and have Kawartha Lakes be the best place it can be. “Going forward, we need efficiencies of budget, reliable income statistics, and departmental teamwork to identify and innovate hope.” 

Kawartha Lakes Weekly is reaching out to all candidates running in the October 26 municipal election to give readers a broader view of the people seeking a seat on council. Additional candidate profiles will be published as interviews are completed.