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Ward 3 council candidate Tony Phekoo shares his views on taxes, debt and major projects

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 new council must take control of the operating budget and not overextend itself in unnecessary spending. I believe fiscal responsibility and managing taxpayers’ dollars will be the most concerning issue. 

The new council will need to be laser-focused on balancing operational spending against capital expenditures. 

New spending commitments will require an expanded tax base. Of major concern is the multi-million-dollar capital projects slated for the coming years that will most certainly drive up our municipal property taxes and utility bills. 

Of concern is the water treatment expansion plant in Collingwood and its impact on driving increases in local water rates. On top of that, our wastewater utility rates are rising steadily to fund major sewer lines and plant upgrades. 

Second, there are massive commitments to our recreation and community centres. Under the Recreation, Culture and Library Action Plan (RCLAP), our existing facilities face over $42 million in needed repairs. 

In Beeton, the Beeton Community Memorial Arena requires a full, costly replacement following past structural issues. And finally, we have the relocation of Banting Memorial High School. The estimated $41 million high school will require careful, deliberate financial scrutiny every step of the way.

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

Provincial mandates will drastically impact New Tecumseth and how the new council plans to deal with future settlement and expansion is crucial to its future. 

How far should council push back against aggressive provincial housing targets under OAP 5 to retain decision-making power, to protect prime farmland and to distribute residential expansion sustainably without overwhelming smaller communities? 

If growth continues as mandated, council must formulate a logical, fiscally realistic plan for the anticipated increase in population. This planned growth will come at an immense cost. 

The enormity of this expansion will be expensive, and the costs of infrastructure for water, wastewater, and road infrastructure will be massive. Who should cover this cost is yet to be determined. 

Another important element is the fact that funding gaps have widened following the indefinite interruption of Honda’s $15-billion EV expansion. Given that backdrop, the new council will have to be fiscally prudent, balancing water rate increases and increasing property taxes against high debt loads with other capital spending to avoid exceeding municipal debt capacity thresholds. 

Lastly, the growth plan must be distributed across Alliston, Beeton, and Tottenham to avoid unequal expansion while continuing to honour the community’s unique character. 

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

I believe my education and professional work experience will bring a unique and different perspective to the issues. 

In the past, I have worked in all levels of government in different capacities. Holding both an honours bachelor of arts degree in political science, with a minor in economics, and a master’s degree in education, training and development has equipped me with valuable knowledge that helps safeguard against personal biases and allows for greater objectivity.

I’ve worked in the world of banking and finance, and I am currently a self-employed mortgage broker. This combination enabled me to augment my analytical and evaluative skills when dealing with complex issues and accumulate the required proficiencies to meet the obligations of the role of councillor, taking a more holistic approach by employing both a macro and micro perspective. 

My political experience includes working on provincial political campaigns and being a member of a riding association where issues were debated, as well as attending political conventions. 

Lastly, I will bring transparency and accountability to the people. Residents will be provided with a platform to voice their opinions on important matters that come before council and have a say on these vital issues.

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