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Ward 3 council candidate Laurie Mortimer shares her perspective on key issues facing New Tecumseth

October 8, 2026   ·   0 Comments

With the upcoming municipal election on Oct. 26, we invited each candidate to respond to the same four questions about their reason for running, priorities and vision for the municipality, qualifications, and contact information. Their responses are published below as submitted, subject only to length and standard copy editing for style, grammar and clarity.

Candidates were asked to keep their responses focused on their own qualifications, priorities and vision for the municipality.

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

I believe the most pressing concern will be managing the financial pressures facing our town while continuing to provide the services residents rely on.

Families, seniors and businesses are already dealing with higher costs, and the town is facing many of those same pressures. At the same time, we have significant decisions ahead regarding infrastructure, recreation, roads, water and wastewater, and the demands that will come with future growth.

The next council will need to establish clear priorities and distinguish between what we need, what we would like, and what we can reasonably afford right now.

I believe residents expect their tax dollars to be treated with the same care they give their own household budgets. That doesn’t mean we stop investing in our community. It means making thoughtful decisions, planning for the long term and ensuring that today’s decisions don’t create an unreasonable financial burden for tomorrow’s residents.

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

Growth is coming to New Tecumseth, but I believe council needs to approach it thoughtfully and with some caution.

A great deal has changed economically over the past year and a half, affecting housing, affordability and the pace of development. At the same time, we know how quickly those conditions can change again. Long-term growth decisions need to recognize that reality and be regularly reassessed rather than assuming today’s conditions will continue indefinitely.

I believe growth should be reasonably distributed among Alliston, Beeton and Tottenham, taking into consideration infrastructure capacity, good planning and what each community can realistically accommodate.

Most importantly, growth needs to be supported by the roads, water and wastewater capacity, recreation, parks and services residents need. Infrastructure shouldn’t continually be playing catch-up.

We may not control the growth targets set by the province, but council does have a responsibility to advocate for our residents, listen to their concerns and make careful decisions about how and where that growth happens.

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

New Tecumseth isn’t simply where I live; it has been part of my life for decades. I was raised in Beeton, attended Banting Memorial High School and studied Parks and Recreation Management at Seneca College. 

My early career included working in recreation and conservation before eventually building a career in real estate, where I have worked as a real estate broker since 2001.

Those experiences have given me different perspectives on our community—from recreation and public spaces to housing, development, property ownership and the concerns families face when making one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives.

I also bring the perspective of someone who has raised a family here and watched our communities change and grow.

My leadership style is practical and approachable. I will listen, ask questions, do my homework and be prepared to explain my decisions.

I’m not asking residents to agree with me on every issue. I’m asking them to trust that I will listen to them, represent them honestly and always remember who I work for.

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