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Incumbent Mayor Richard Norcross outlines plan for growth in New Tecumseth

October 2, 2026   ·   0 Comments

Richard Norcross

1) What are the largest issues facing Town of New Tecumseth?

I think there are two issues that are very closely connected, and both will be critical for the next council: managing growth responsibly and protecting the economic foundation of our community.

The ongoing uncertainty around tariffs and our trading relationship with the United States is something I am very concerned about. New Tecumseth has a significant automotive manufacturing and supply-chain sector, and Honda and the many companies that support its operations are a major part of our local economy.

Companies like Nissin, Howa, SPS and Gibson are not just businesses in our community. They employ our residents, support other local businesses and contribute to the economic health of New Tecumseth. The automotive sector is deeply integrated across the Canada-U.S. border, so the threat of further tariffs could have consequences that reach well beyond the manufacturing floor.

If the U.S. follows through with introducing 50 per cent tariffs on Canadian auto in January, I can’t overstate the potential impact. For a community like ours, this type of disruption to the automotive sector could be an existential economic threat. The incoming council needs to be thinking not just about how we respond if something happens, but how we strengthen our economy and position ourselves to withstand that uncertainty.

That also connects to how we manage growth. The Province is asking us to accommodate population and employment growth over the coming decades. We need to ensure growth is tied to economic development and good jobs, that we continue to attract and retain businesses, and that the infrastructure we build supports a strong, diversified local economy.

I’ve spent 30 years as a business owner, and I understand that businesses need certainty, infrastructure, a skilled workforce and an environment where they can invest and grow. My work with the Simcoe Auto Mayors has also given me a broader understanding of the pressures facing the automotive sector and the importance of advocating for our communities.

So I see the next council’s job as twofold: we have to manage the growth that’s coming, but we also have to protect and strengthen the economic engine that has helped make New Tecumseth the community it is today.

2) With development being mandated by the province and causing concern among residents, how should council approach development and growth?

As someone who has spent most of my life in Beeton, I understand why residents are concerned about the pace and scale of growth. People chose to live in New Tecumseth because of the communities we have today, and they want to know that those communities will still be recognizable and livable for their children and grandchildren.

The reality is that the province has established significant growth expectations for New Tecumseth. We cannot simply ignore the requirements imposed upon us. But I also don’t believe that accepting provincial growth targets means we have to give up local control over how that growth happens.

Council needs to be very deliberate about where growth takes place, when it takes place and what infrastructure needs to be in place before development proceeds. That means roads, water and wastewater capacity, parks, recreation, transportation, schools, our hospital and other community services all need to be part of the conversation.

It also means listening to residents. Public consultation cannot just be a box we check at the end of a planning process. Residents have valuable knowledge about their communities, and their concerns need to be heard and considered throughout the process.

I also believe growth has to be balanced across our three communities. We need to make sure Alliston, Beeton and Tottenham all have opportunities to benefit from new investment, employment, infrastructure and community amenities.

Growth can bring real opportunities for New Tecumseth, including a stronger tax base, new businesses, employment and investment. But it has to be managed carefully. My approach would be to work within the provincial requirements while fighting to ensure that New Tecumseth has as much say as possible in how, where and when that growth occurs.

We should be planning complete communities, not just approving subdivisions.

3) What experience and leadership qualities do you have that make you the right choice for residents’ votes?

I think what I bring to this role is a combination of experience, perspective and a real understanding of this community.

I’ve spent decades serving New Tecumseth. I was a Ward 6 councillor for 18 years, followed by four years as deputy mayor and the past four years as your mayor. I also serve as a Simcoe County councillor.

Those years of experience have given me a wholesome understanding of our community and how municipal government works, from the issues residents bring forward to the larger regional and provincial decisions that affect our community.

I’ve also spent 30 years running a diverse number of businesses. That gives me a different perspective on the challenges facing our residents and businesses, particularly on finances, workforce, economic development and making responsible decisions with limited resources.

My community involvement has also always been a vital part of my identity. I’ve volunteered my time with the BIA, the Beeton Tottenham Chamber of Commerce, and the Beeton Rotary Club, and I’ve served as chair of the Library Board. I’m currently chair of the Simcoe Auto Mayors and chair of the Lake Simcoe Regional Airport Board, among others.

But ultimately, I think leadership is about listening. You don’t serve a community effectively by assuming you have all the answers. You have to listen to residents, understand different perspectives, make informed decisions, and sometimes make hard decisions while keeping the community’s long-term interests in mind.

I’ve had the opportunity to serve this community in a number of different capacities for more than three decades. I know where we’ve come from; I understand the challenges we’re facing today, and I want to keep working toward a New Tecumseth that is well planned, financially responsible, and a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

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