I am a retired police officer, serving first with Peel Regional Police for sixteen years and the transferring to Ontario Provincial Police for seventeen years. I believe my past police experience will be beneficial for solving problems and resolving conflicts. My policing career gave me many opportunities to work on conflict resolutions. I am able to look at both sides of an issue and understand both points of view and then work towards creating positive solutions based on fairness and integrity.

I have worked 20 years with The Good Shepherd in Hamilton, which is a charitable organization helping with food banks and many other services. I saw a community need and I utilized my police resources and organizational skills to recruit a large volunteer force to assist with food and toy drives during the Christmas season at major supermarkets. Over 20 years my food and toy drives have raised over $1.7 million dollars in donations.

  TOP PRIORITIES 

Ontario Provincial Police Contract

The Ontario Provincial Police contract is the Township’s largest budget expenditure, and it deserves careful review to ensure that residents are receiving the best possible value for their tax dollars. My years of experience in law enforcement will assist with this process. I understand how policing contracts work and know the right questions to ask about service levels, costs, and accountability. Residents throughout Tiny tell me they want better speed enforcement and safer roads. They also need better response to calls for service. I will work to ensure that our policing resources are being used effectively to address the community’s priorities.

Bylaws Review

Township bylaws should have a clear purpose and be practical to enforce. The bylaws need to reflect the needs of Tiny’s community. I will support a comprehensive review of our bylaws by asking: Are they relevant and still needed? Are they enforceable? Do they achieve their intended purpose? I believe that not every problem requires a new bylaw, fee, or regulation.

The Shoreline Bylaw is a divisive issue in Tiny Township and needs extensive review with input from every beach association in Tiny. The challenge is finding the right balance between environmental protection and respecting the rights of property owners and public beaches. We need to understand the facts, the science, the legal requirements, and explore all options. This can be resolved with good communication and mediation before spending more taxpayer dollars on lengthy legal proceedings.

Septage Management

Septage management is a critical issue for Tiny Township because it directly affects the environment, our water quality, and the long term sustainability of our community. Tiny currently has a contract with the Town of Midland for septage disposal. The Town of Penetanguisshene is currently operating at 35 percent capacity and perhaps that would be an option for Tiny. As Councillor, I will ask the questions, review the facts and options to ensure a long term plan for Tiny. We need a Septage plan that provides the best protection for residents, our lakes, groundwater, for future generations.

Here are other issues that are important to Tiny residents that I take seriously: 

• If elected, I will work to improve communication between Council and residents with more updates, reintroducing town hall meetings and taxpayer input on budget surveys. Deputations will be extended to ten minutes. I will strike a committee for each town and beach association in Tiny for better communication for each area.

• Drainage is becoming an increasingly critical issue across Tiny Township. Tiny needs a long term strategy as part of its overall infrastructure plan. We need to assess problem areas and maintain current drainage systems. I want to understand the engineering, the costs, environmental impacts and residential priorities.

• Parking Strategy review is necessary and is a complex issue. As Councillor, we need to find a balance that respects residents. My decisions would be based on accurate information, including demand, traffic impacts, environmental concerns, and the ability to safely manage use.

• The Goesmann Reserve is another issue where residents deserve clear information, transparency and accountability.  This issue has been addressed by previous Councils, and residents deserve to know why previous proceedings were discontinued. We must understand the history and the legal implications involved to ensure decisions are made in the best interests of Tiny Township and taxpayers.

• Residential Taxes in Tiny have increased 36% in the last four years. I will work to reduce the tax burden by freezing rates at or below the inflation rate. I will work with budget committees  to look at all levels of spending for possible savings for the taxpayers.

  Get in touch with David Directly:
  Email: Sparrock4council@gmail.com ‍