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Cathy Miller is a first term Mayor of one of Ontario’s smallest Municipalities; the Township of Pelee. She calls Pelee Island home and runs a 10 room Inn alongside husband Kevin and pouncing pup, Jody.
1) We begin all conversations by allow you to share your story – who are you, what did you do for a living, why you ran for office.
2) Where is Pelee Island, paint a picture of who lives in your community, what do they do for a living etc.. Summer vs Winter contrast.
3) How does Pelee Island fit into SW Ontario? What should someone who drives down the 401 or lives in Toronto but visits the region?
Deeper Questions
1) You have called Pelee Island a remote community – yet it is less than 100km from a city of 200,000+ people? Why is a remote community designation important?
2) Pelee Island has a permanent population of 230 people during the 2021 Census.
a. Impacts of such a small tax base, can you provide adequate services? How many staff does the township have?
b. You have one the best representative ratio in Ontario at approximately 46:1 how does that impact governance but also community. If there is a contentious issue – how does that play out in the community as the degrees of separation are so small?
3) How do you balance the interest of seasonal property owners vs permanent residents?
4) Great Lake Water levels have fluctuated wildly over the last 5 years.How does that impact the community?
5) Is the community sustainable over the local term? Financially, environmentally etc.? Why not become a part of a neighbouring Essex County community?
6) What are you looking forward to in 2024?
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