Mary Foley

On October 2, 2018 the Saugeen Shores Hub posted more coverage of the Saugeen Shores September 25, 2018 All Candidates Meeting.

Opening statements

Here is our coverage of the opening statements for the at-large candidates during the All Candidates Meeting September 25 at the Plex https://t.co/44YTQE9WXu pic.twitter.com/f5AUOjFV0v

— Saugeen Shores Hub (@thehubss) October 2, 2018

Mary Foley

Saugeen Ward candidate Mary Foley started by saying community is what brings us all together. “It’s about each and every one of us showing that respect and that responsibility to come out and make it known that you are interested in how your community develops, how it unfolds, what the future holds,” she said.

Foley said she has great leadership. She has been travelling globally for the last 25 years and did grow up in a small village, a farming community and believes that travel itself is great education. “Seeing different communities, from very remote small villages that each family helps and supports each other to big communities like this, Saugeen Shores, Ontario where I think there’s a real future here,” she said.

Foley remarked on Saugeen Shores’ “serious growth” but said at that the same time “I think we need to keep it all in perspective, we need to have a sense of humour and I always say that as serious as all this is, and that we’re here to represent you,” she said.

“It’s about you. What do you want? I’d love to be your voice. I know what I want and what I can envision but I’m here to represent you and I don’t want you to feel ever that you can’t approach me,” Foley added. “Thank you for giving me the honour and privilege to serve you,” she said.

Questions from the floor

Our coverage of the question and answer period of the All Candidates Meeting in Port Elgin September 25 https://t.co/7QQYLp8Onh pic.twitter.com/ux6QfFREOS

— Saugeen Shores Hub (@thehubss) October 2, 2018

Mary Foley

Mary Foley remarked that whether the land is owned by the Town or privately owned, “ultimately it’s up to the owner of the land to make the decision what they want to do with it.” Foley added that if a land owner chooses to sell 100 acres of farm land to a developer for something that may benefit the overall community such as senior’s retirement lodges, she doesn’t necessarily see that as a negative but believes owners and ward residents should be heard.

Closing statements

See the closing statements for from the All Candidates Meeting September 25 at the Plex https://t.co/xqyjQC1iLq pic.twitter.com/lhWneYWukv

— Saugeen Shores Hub (@thehubss) October 2, 2018

Mary Foley

Mary Foley, Saugeen Ward candidate, started her closing statement with a question. “How do we bring together rural and urban?” she asked.

“You have beautiful rural landscapes here and I get it, I live in Saugeen Ward, and if it wasn’t for those farmers parting with their land, as hard as it may be after all their work and the beautiful trees that surround us, we would be living in the woodlands right here in Saugeen Ward,” said Foley. “Not only in the subdivision I’m in but encompassing all of that Saugeen Township right down to Burgoyne,” she added.

“There is development, it’s happening, we need those tax payers, we need retirees,” said Foley. “There’s 84 homes in the woodlands, we’re taxpayers, we’re big taxpayers and in all honesty we’re giving back like you are and so I think we need to look at the housing,” she said.

“It’s a huge item, bringing in affordable housing,” said Foley.

“I think with a master housing plan at the federal level that was brought in in November 2017 that’s the strategy for Saugeen Shores, not only for the next decade but if you look closely at what they’re implementing to every province in Canada we need to get our application in now,” she said. “So I’m here to help. Reach out, approach me, read the plan and say we need that affordable housing,” Foley said.