Last updated: October 21, 2022
There are five candidates in the running to represent Otonabee Ward. Read through who they are and what they’re promising in our round-up below. The Peterborough Currents team has prepared a short profile of each candidate and a list of all their campaign promises to-date.
Candidates are listed below alphabetically by last name.
All promises are drawn from candidates’ public comments and campaign material.
We’ll be updating this page up until the October 24 election when new material becomes available. Is there something we’ve missed? Let us know. Email [email protected]
Kevin Duguay
Profile: Kevin Duguay is a development and land-use planning consultant. He was a planner for the City of Peterborough from 1989 to 2005, after which time he opened a planning and consulting business that focuses on accessible design and strategic planning. Duguay’s campaign website states that his four priorities if elected are: effective representation for residents and businesses, good governance through collaboration, addressing housing supply, and improving safety downtown.
Promises:
- If elected, Duguay’s top priority would be to “effectively represent the ward while also acting in the best interests of the entire city.”
Source: Peterborough Examiner - Duguay would improve the supply of housing.
Source: Peterborough Examiner - Duguay pledged that he will collaborate closely with upper levels of government as well as neighbouring townships and with local agencies.
Source: Peterborough Examiner - If elected, Duguay would “ensure the downtown is a safe and enjoyable place for all,” by helping people living with addictions and experiencing homelessness, as well as supporting businesses through the pandemic.
Source: Peterborough Examiner - Duguay supports the creation of 484 new rent-geared-to-income supportive housing units by 2029.
Source: United Way Peterborough candidate questionnaire - Duguay supports the eviction of tent encampments. He said he supports the existing bylaw banning park encampments.
Source: United Way Peterborough candidate questionnaire - If elected, Duguay would not support continued funding for 24-hour service at the overflow shelter.
Source: United Way Peterborough candidate questionnaire - Duguay believes city council should take a leading role to motivate the community, business leaders and agencies to address climate change.
Source: For Our Grandchildren candidate survey - Duguay sees a key role for the City to “contribute to…wise watershed management and climate adaptation,” as well as getting property owners on-side for climate mitigation projects.
Source: For Our Grandchildren candidate survey - Duguay would push for protecting and enhancing “natural infrastructure” like wetlands and the tree canopy “to enhance their climate mitigation benefits.”
Source: For Our Grandchildren candidate survey - Duguay supports the draft of the new official plan, which was approved by city council in November 2021 and is now awaiting provincial approval.
Source: Chamber of Commerce Q&A - If elected, Duguay would push for improving the “timing and delivery of [the] land use and development approval process.”
Source: Chamber of Commerce Q&A - Duguay would fast-track housing development, especially projects that include affordable units.
Source: Chamber of Commerce Q&A - Duguay would support a regional agreement with adjacent townships to address the shortage of employment land within city boundaries. He suggests working with townships and the county “to create a shared Peterborough Region Employment area supported by full municipal services, transit, roads and related facilities.”
Source: Chamber of Commerce Q&A - Duguay would maintain the City’s current policy for engaging with First Nations communities around planning and development.
Source: Chamber of Commerce Q&A - To address climate change, Duguay would support GreenUP’s programs, making loans or grants available, and creating a “compact-complete community that is transit supportive!”
Source: Chamber of Commerce Q&A - He would also “actively promote… programs that address carbon reduction and related matters for both business and residents.”
Source: Chamber of Commerce Q&A - Duguay promises that “[his] support for the Arts would remain firmly in place as a City Council member.” He did not make specific commitments regarding the city’s artist grant program.
Source: ArtsVote Peterborough - When surveyed by Peterborough Bicycle Advisory Committee (P-BAC), Duguay expressed support for mixed-use developments and increasing density; the city’s current sidewalk policy, which mandates sidewalks on both sides of all streets; improving winter maintenance of walkways; and installing bike racks on buses. He does not support spending $1.5 million per year on implementing the city’s planned cycling network.
Source: P-BAC survey - He also agreed to pursue gold designation from the Ontario Share the Road Cycling Coalition in the next five years. He endorses increased funding for local organizations that deliver cycling education programs.
Source: P-BAC survey - Duguay supports the implementation of the “Complete Streets” design framework, which provisions infrastructure for cyclists, pedestrians, transit riders and motorists, on all city roads, including planned reconstructions on sections of Brealey Drive and Sherbrooke Street, but he does not support reconstruction of a section on Parkhill Road.
Source: P-BAC survey - Duguay promises support for road projects that aim to eliminate serious injuries, including support for traffic calming infrastructure and public engagement. He does not support making 30 km/h the default speed limit on residential roads.
Source: P-BAC survey
Lesley Parnell
Profile: Having served 12 years on city council, Lesley Parnell is seeking re-election in Otonabee Ward. She has served on many city advisory committees during this tenure; most recently she was chair of the Arenas, Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. According to her campaign website, Parnell would bring her positive attitude, an education in business, and government work experience to city hall. Her priorities, should she be re-elected, are to bring a balanced approach to council and “be an ambassador for Peterborough.”
Promises:
- On her campaign website, Parnell pledges to bring a “balanced approach philosophy” to each decision by considering the costs of proceeding and not proceeding, and what are the benefits. She also promises to “listen to multiple sides of each issue.”
Source: Parnell’s campaign website - Parnell promises to meet with constituents who contact her. She writes, “I pledge to be accessible to you as an Otonabee Ward resident and to work to resolve your issue.”
Source: Parnell’s campaign website - Parnell promises to attend “as many local events… as possible,” and to “meet with as many people in the ward as possible.” She also promises to return calls and emails from constituents.
Source: Parnell’s campaign website - Parnell wants to promote Peterborough as a great place to invest, live, work, attend school, raise a family, or retire.
Source: Parnell’s campaign website - Parnell writes that “we need to preserve Peterborough, keep it affordable for all our citizens… [and] plan for a prosperous, healthy and safe future.”
Source: Parnell’s campaign website - Parnell supports using a “climate effects… lens” to assess every project as a way to minimize the effects of climate change.
Source: For Our Grandchildren candidate survey
Nathan Russell-Meharry
Profile: Nathan Russell-Meharry owns and operates a small automotive repair business, according to the Peterborough Examiner. He’s a newcomer to politics, and writes on his campaign website that he is frustrated by a lack of transparency from politicians at all levels. Russell-Meharry’s campaign platform highlights the need for action on the opioid crisis, city-owned solutions to housing and homelessness, road repairs, action on climate change, and the need to annex land from neighbouring townships.
Promises:
- If elected, Russell-Meharry would declare an opioid crisis.
Source: Russell-Meharry’s campaign website. - On his website, he promises to collaborate with other levels of government to get a rehabilitation facility built locally.
Source: Russell-Meharry’s campaign website. - Russell-Meharry pledges to create more shelter beds and provide more addictions counselling resources.
Source: Russell-Meharry’s campaign website. - He suggests providing police with “the tools to clean up the drugs and gun violence in the streets.”
Source: Chamber of Commerce Q&A - Russell-Meharry aims to develop more city-run housing projects and “stop waiting for the private sector.”
Source: Russell-Meharry’s campaign website and Chamber of Commerce Q&A - If elected, Russell-Meharry would prioritize road repairs on “main traveled roads first,” such as Lansdowne, Park, George and Charlotte Streets.
Source: Russell-Meharry’s campaign website. - Russell-Meharry’s pledges to annex land and/or negotiate with neighbouring municipalities to access land for housing, employment and recreational spaces. He said the city needs to “work on growing the boundaries of Peterborough.”
Source: Russell-Meharry’s campaign website and Chamber of Commerce Q&A - Russell-Meharry plans to ensure traffic lights are synchronized for peak hours.
Source: Chamber of Commerce Q&A - He would adjust public transit routes and schedules to “better align with the needs of the community.”
Source: Chamber of Commerce Q&A - He supports creating underground parking lots to more creatively and productively use city space.
Source: Chamber of Commerce Q&A - Russell-Meharry hopes to modernize the public transit system by adopting electric vehicles. He supports electrification of all municipal vehicles, including public works vehicles, police vehicles and electric buses.
Sources: Russell-Meharry’s campaign website and For Our Grandchildren candidate survey - He would support local businesses in purchasing electric vehicle charging stations.
Source: Chamber of Commerce Q&A - Russell-Meharry has committed to building 484 units of affordable housing by 2029.
Source: United Way Peterborough candidate questionnaire - He supports municipal funding for 24-hour service at the overflow shelter.
Source: United Way Peterborough candidate questionnaire - Russell-Meharry does not support evicting tenters from public parks.
Source: United Way Peterborough candidate questionnaire - He supports continued funding for “temporary” solutions to the housing crisis, like shelter space and tiny house projects, as well as working on “permanent” solutions like building affordable housing units.
Source: United Way Peterborough candidate questionnaire and Chamber of Commerce Q&A - If elected, Russell-Meharry pledges to build more rent-geared-to-income housing. “I have a plan/idea that would see the old Canoe Museum be used for housing.”
Source: United Way Peterborough candidate questionnaire - When surveyed by P-BAC, Russell-Meharry expressed support for mixed-use developments and increasing density; spending $1.5 million per year on implementing the city’s planned cycling network; improving winter maintenance of walkways; and installing bike racks on buses. He does not support implementing the city’s sidewalk policy that calls for sidewalks on both sides of all streets.
Source: P-BAC survey - He also agreed to pursue gold designation from the Ontario Share the Road Cycling Coalition in the next five years. He endorses increased funding for local organizations that deliver cycling education programs.
Source: P-BAC survey - Russell-Meharry supports the implementation of the “Complete Streets” design framework, which provisions infrastructure for cyclists, pedestrians, transit riders and motorists, on all city roads, including planned reconstructions on sections of Brealey Drive, Sherbrooke Street and Parkhill Road.
Source: P-BAC survey - He promises support for projects that aim to eliminate serious injuries on city roads, like public engagement projects. He does not support making 30 km/h the default speed limit on residential roads, nor does he support building traffic calming infrastructure.
Source: P-BAC survey
Eleanor Underwood
Profile: Eleanor Underwood is a small business owner and piano teacher. Underwood’s top priority for her campaign is bringing fiscal responsibility to city hall. Better finance management will free up money for transportation, food banks, affordable housing and substance abuse programs, she told the Peterborough Examiner. Her other campaign priorities include addressing crime, mental health and addiction, food insecurity, climate change, waste management, affordable housing and road infrastructure.
Promises:
- Underwood’s platform commits to “fiscal responsibility,” by eliminating “wasteful spending.” She highlighted the need to prevent projects from going over-budget.
Source: Peterborough Examiner - Underwood pledges to focus funding on transportation, food banks, affordable housing, and substance abuse programs over “funding multimillion dollar infrastructure projects.”
Source: Peterborough Examiner - Underwood’s wants to address homelessness, unaffordable housing, and food insecurity, alongside climate change, transportation, waste management, mental health and addiction and crime.
Source: Underwood’s campaign website - If elected, Underwood would support developing 484 new rent-geared-to-income apartments by 2029. She stated this is an under-estimation of need.
Source: United Way Peterborough candidate questionnaire - Underwood would “remove obstacles” to building tiny house communities and rent-geared-to-income projects.
Source: United Way Peterborough candidate questionnaire - Underwood wants to see a homelessness strategy that supports “a number appropriate to our population.”
Source: United Way Peterborough candidate questionnaire - If elected, Underwood would not support the current location of the overflow shelter on Wolfe Street.
Source: United Way Peterborough candidate questionnaire - Underwood does not support building a new arena at Morrow Park, instead she says the money should be spent on housing and/or mitigating emergency weather events.
Source: United Way Peterborough candidate questionnaire and For Our Grandchildren candidate survey - Underwood lists active transportation as high on her priority list. She suggests that “clean[ing] up the city” will encourage people to walk, and reducing and enforcing speed limits will improve safety for cyclists.
Source: For Our Grandchildren candidate survey - Underwood would push for the following policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions: anti-idling bylaws, “changing traffic patterns” to reduce time spent commuting, planting more trees, immediately diverting organic waste from the landfill, improving public transportation, and “creat[ing] a parks department.” It is unclear how this would differ from the City’s current recreation department.
Source: For Our Grandchildren candidate survey - If elected, Underwood would support initiatives to keep Trent University and Fleming College graduates in the city.
Source: Chamber of Commerce Q&A - Underwood supports “rehabilitating” vacant industrial land for use in “environmentally clean industries.”
Source: Chamber of Commerce Q&A - Underwood supports “boost[ing] up” the police. It is unclear whether she means increasing funding.
Source: Chamber of Commerce Q&A - When surveyed by EC3, Underwood expressed support for making the city’s artist grant program permanent and adding an arms-length peer-review to the grant process. She also supports creating programs to curb gentrification.
Source: ArtsVote Peterborough - Furthermore, Underwood promises “serious” funding of the arts for both artists and arts organizations.
Source: ArtsVote Peterborough
Chanté White
Profile: Chanté White is an advocate for racial justice and climate action. She is a recent graduate of Trent University and a second-generation Canadian. She ran for the Green Party in last year’s federal election. Her top campaign priorities are action on climate change, building affordable housing, supporting tiny homes and accessory dwelling units, creating walkable communities, supporting entrepreneurs, providing rehabilitation services for people with addictions, supporting the safe consumption site, stopping drug use stigma, and supporting “inclusive communities.”
Promises:
- On her campaign website, White pledges to create an “effective climate crisis mitigation policy,” that incorporates provincial and federal policy, as well as finalizing the City’s climate plan. She said, “Where appropriate, climate change mitigation will be included in every decision I make as a councillor.”
Source: White’s campaign website and For Our Grandchildren candidate survey - White promises to work with “our local agricultural, industrial, small businesses and our indigenous community on mitigation best practices.”
Source: For Our Grandchildren candidate survey - If elected, White promises to join the Climate Caucus, a national group of elected officials who commit to working on international climate goals.
Source: For Our Grandchildren candidate survey - White wants to dedicate more spending towards affordable housing and improving neighbourhoods in the city.
Source: United Way Peterborough candidate questionnaire - On her website, White promises to expand “community spaces and activities.”
Source: White’s campaign website - White supports walkable neighbourhoods that have access to parks and cycling paths.
Source: White’s campaign website - White pledges to support accessory dwelling units and tiny houses.
Source: White’s campaign website - If elected, White would support developing 484 new rent-geared-to-income apartments by 2029.
Source: United Way Peterborough candidate questionnaire - White does not support evicting tenters from public parks.
Source: United Way Peterborough candidate questionnaire - She supports municipal funding for 24-hour service at the overflow shelter.
Source: United Way Peterborough candidate questionnaire - If elected, White aims to tackle Peterborough’s opioid crisis through a harm-reduction approach. This will include rehabilitory services and safe consumption spaces, and a strategy for the poisoned drug supply.
Source: White’s campaign website - White promises to “address tax issues” and push projects that reinvest city money in the local economy.
Source: White’s campaign website - White supports making the city’s artist grant program permanent and adding an arms-length peer-review to the grant process. She also supports creating programs to curb gentrification.
Source: ArtsVote Peterborough - Furthermore, White promised that she would support arts funding specifically for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ artists.
Source: ArtsVote Peterborough - When surveyed by P-BAC, White expressed support for mixed-use developments and increasing density; spending $1.5 million per year on implementing the cycling network; the city’s current sidewalk policy, which mandates sidewalks on both sides of all streets; improving winter maintenance of walkways; and installing bike racks on buses.
Source: P-BAC survey - She also agreed to pursue gold designation from the Ontario Share the Road Cycling Coalition in the next five years. She endorses increased funding for local organizations that deliver cycling education programs.
Source: P-BAC survey - She supports the implementation of the “Complete Streets” design framework, which provisions infrastructure for cyclists, pedestrians, transit riders and motorists, on all city roads, including planned reconstructions on sections of Brealey Drive, Sherbrooke Street and Parkhill Road.
Source: P-BAC survey - White promises support for road projects that aim to eliminate serious injuries, including support for traffic calming infrastructure and public engagement. She does not support making 30 km/h the default speed limit on residential roads.
Source: P-BAC survey
This article is part of Peterborough Currents’ coverage of the 2022 municipal election. We will update this tracker a few times ahead of election day on October 24. Is there something we’ve missed? Let us know. Email [email protected]
