We believe you should elect
ANDRÉ CLAIRE
as Deputy Mayor
For the last eight years, André Claire has been a stalwart member of Tiny’s Council. He has received positive ratings from constituents for his prompt response to their concerns. He does more than his fair share of committee work, currently serving on the Huronia Airport Commission, the Economic Development Corporation of North Simcoe, the Champlain Commemorations Steering Committee, the Heritage Advisory Committee, and the committee working on a Nottawasaga River Improvement Plan. A team player, he works co-operatively with others to reach responsible decisions. He is fully bilingual and has played an active role in the preservation and celebration of Tiny’s rich francophone history and heritage.
His career as a professional engineer has given him analytical skills and technical knowledge. He consistently demonstrates a keen understanding of municipal issues and applies a logical approach to their solutions. A Tiny property owner since 1983, he and his wife, Ingrid chose to make Tiny their retirement home in 2001.
Two of his second term committees have been particularly important for Tiny’s understanding of its history. As vice chair of the Champlain Commemorations Steering Committee, a group plagued by “politics” and with many demanding subcommittees, he has had to exercise tact and patience. Finding grant money has not been easy: major funding has been promised by the Province if the Federal Government will also contribute, a commitment that has not been forthcoming so far. Nonetheless a number of events are planned for 2015, the 400tth anniversary of Champlain’s arrival in Tiny Township. Champlain will be the theme of next year’s Festival du Loup, there is to be an “Order of Good Cheer” in the spring (a feast like the one Champlain himself arranged in mid winter to cheer up those who had helped him), moveable murals are to be created, and an outlook point is to be established on the Concession 8 West hill from which the site of the village of Ossossane that Champlain visited, the trail he traversed, and the Collingwood area where he overwintered can be seen.
The Heritage Advisory Committee, of which he is an active member, has overseen the revision of the Township’s official history – Recollections: Township of Tiny. At André’s insistence, it will appear in French as well as in English books and also in digital versions.
According to André, Council’s accomplishments in the last four years are to have
• brought township accounting up to the standard set by Ontario’s Public Sector Accounting Board,
• produced a parking policy that takes safety, road width, the presence or absence of ditches and the like into account,
• given Council deliberations greater transparency and accessibility by supplying better descriptions of the reasons for in-camera sessions, and by making audio tapes of each meeting of Council available.
If he becomes Deputy Mayor he wants to
• set strategic objectives early in the next term,
• implement an environmentally and fiscally responsible solution to the disposal of septage,
• put the parking policy in place in planned stages, making sure that there is ample permit parking for township residents and limited paid parking for day trippers,
• consider the resources of all township-owned buildings when deciding whether new administrative offices are necessary.
André has proven that he listens, understands, and evaluates fairly the many interests of the residents of Tiny. He stands for responsible stewardship of our township.
He can be reached at andrepclaire@gmail.com
