Additional Questions for Wards 1 & 2

As you may know, we had a fantastic turnout for the candidates debates! This also meant that we did not have time to ask all the questions in one evening. Here are the additional answers from your wards 1 & 2 candidates: *please notes that we did not recieve responses from some candidates.

1.

FOR: W1

What is your vision for Ward 1 and how do you feel you could make a difference for our community? What do you believe is the single most important issue facing Ward 1, and what specific action would you take during your first year on Council to address it?

John Rush Ward 1: My vision is to have more affordable residences for constituents, let’s get the developments under way!!The former Lodwick yard on Thorah Conc. 5 as an example. I feel I can make a difference by constantly pursuing the levels of government that are road blocking developments. What are the hold ups for our new retail development projects, I want to find out and get things moving, let's keep our dollars in Brock. The most important issue is crime and drug use.

Beth Josephson-Ward 1: Since the beginning of my campaign in July, I have met wonderful welcoming people. We need to promote this and bring residents together for support and feature our small town appeal while creating revenue to enhance growth. My work with our team at BTHP has been doing this with great results. One of the main concerns has been affordability. The constant struggle for people to afford housing, food and utilities with little left for anything else. We have existing home owners unable to afford to stay in their homes due to rising costs, young couples earning a good wage unable to purchase a home and seniors unable to leave their home due to the cost of long term care costs and availability. We need to do better.

Claire Doble- Ward 1: I believe that the biggest concerns throughout Ward 1 continue to be affordability and police presence to reduce speeding and increase road safety. All of my conversations with residents across Ward 1, these were the two issues that arose most often. To address affordability, it’s important that we continue to scrutinize each budget line item to ensure we are getting value for the dollars we spend and we are keeping costs as low as possible while looking at alternative ways to do business while keeping costs low. We also need to continue looking at additional sources of revenue such as paid parking at the Harbour for our out of town guests- this can bring revenue to benefit the residents of Brock without costing the residents of Brock. Both of these can help keep property taxes as affordable as possible while continuing to provide the services our residents expect. To address speeding and road safety, I will continue to work with DRPS and ensure that we are getting the enforcement that we need to help discourage speeding in our small rural hamlets like Gamebridge and some of our main stretches of road like Main St. East. 

2.

FOR: PETER TEOLIS

As someone running to represent Brock Township, how do your fundraising efforts for a community outside of Brock fit with your

goal of representing Brock Township? Can you share how these roles and commitments work together?

No answer recieved.

3.

FOR: CLAIRE DOBLE

Speaking specifically about the Waterfront Area and Open Space Plan, finding efficiencies to reduce pressure on taxpayers, and supporting local businesses; what was your role, how did you help move these initiatives forward, and what outcomes have been achieved so far? Are there any other achievements you are particularly proud of?

The Waterfront and Open Spaces Plan began as a vision of mine in my first year on council, almost 8 years ago. I wanted to enhance and better utilize our waterfront spaces to be more welcoming for residents and visitors alike. The CAO recommended that we would need to invest in a Harbour Master Plan, and from here, I worked with all of council to move this initiative forward. I actively participated in the planning process and prioritized budgeting capital dollars to be placed into our Harbour reserve year over year. This allowed us to invest in the implementation of the Waterfront Area and Open Spaces Plan once it was approved. We have now worked with the Beaverton Lions to install the gazebo in the Fair Grounds and are currently replacing the Harbour Washrooms to enhance the visitor experience and allow for year round usage. 

I am also particularly proud of spearheading the community outdoor movie nights, enhancing our summer camp offerings, and always looking for ways to enhance our recreation opportunities in Brock. 

The other thing I’m particularly proud of is how I’ve contributed to the modernization within our township, improving our processes and policies to support transparency and better equality in how we support our user groups, staff and residents in the township of Brock. 

Lastly, I am consistently looking for ways to increase revenue through non-tax revenue sources within our municipality to assist with keeping our taxes as affordable as possible while ensuring improved services. One strong example of this was the extension of our ice season into April and May- in 2025, this created a profit of almost $50000. We are now expanding our ice season in all 3 arenas for the 2026 season which has the potential to create an additional $120000-130000 in profit to help offset our property taxes.

4.

FOR: JOHN RUSH

Please tell us more about you and your connection to our community. During your time in Brock, what do you feel you’ve contributed to the community?

My connection to our community is we purchased an old farm house and 2 acres on Durham 48 in 2016, I retired from the East Gwillimbury Emergency Services and  Stellantis in Brampton in 2017, in conversation with a resident, I was told that there is a shortage of school bus drivers I had a ‘“Class D licence from driving fire trucks so I applied to Stock Transportation in Sunderland, Obtained Vulnerable Sector approval from Durham Police Force, completed the upgrade to a B licence and completed the Ontario School Bus Course, I have been driving school bus now for 7 years. I am a Director with the Beaverton Thorah Eldon Historical society, as I believe to go forward you need knowledge of the past. I volunteered and sat on the committee headed by Debbie Beth Hadden against  the cannabis grow op’s, with representatives from Provincial and Federal levels.

Sat on the committee to purchase the aerial truck  for the Beaverton Fire Hall.

5.

FOR: ALL

What specific actions will you take to improve safety on municipal streets regarding the use of motorised vehicles like e‑scooters and ATVs, especially when riders—often youth—are not following helmet laws or the rules of the road?

John Rush Ward 1: there needs to be By Laws enacted governing where and when these vehicles can be used as well as an age requirement, ticketing by DRPS and Bylaw officers, and requirement for these vehicles to have the same Insurance as required by cars and trucks. There is no point in having a bylaw department if they are not going to enforce the bylaws.

Diana Vessel / Ward 2: The use of motorized transportation including e-scooters, ATVs has been a concern to many residents.  As a council we need to recognize that protecting youth requires a balanced approach including education, clear communication and proactive measures.  Through community outreach, parent engagement and accountability to ensure our youth are safely operating vehicles. We can encourage our youth to enjoy access to use recreational vehicles and ensure that safety measures are addressed.

Beth Josephson-Ward 1.  There needs to be measures in place to ensure that everyone can travel safely on our streets and roads. I feel as a council we can work together to build ways to instill safety measures. Perhaps video presentations in our schools to show students the safe ways to use recreational vehicles and the dangers that can result if they are not followed.

Claire Doble- Ward 1. Education is going to be the most effective way to ensure our youth and their parents understand the laws and rules in using electric scooters as well as ATV’s. It will be important that we work closely with our by-law department and DRPS to also ensure we are enforcing the highway traffic act and local by-laws. By increasing education and enforcement and being consistent with both, we will be able to positively impact the safety of all road users.

6.

FOR: W2

What are some of the greatest issues you see facing Ward 2 specifically, and how do you plan to tackle these if elected?

Diana Vessel / Ward 2: During my time going door to door meeting the residents of Ward 2 many concerns were raised but a common theme is the increase in illegal drug distribution.   If elected, I will support the work of Mike Jubb and current council working directly with Durham Regional Police, advocating for stronger legislative measures to directly address the local drug issues on our streets.

7.

FOR: ALL

What ideas do you have, or ideas that you’ve heard from others which you would you support, to 

encourage both day-trip and overnight tourism in the township?

John Rush Ward 1 day trips are about all that is tenable at this time, overnight tourism is restricted to the amount of accommodation that is available, if there is a surge in Air B and B’ s there will need to bylaws enacted to control excess noise and rowdy behavior. 

Diana Vessel / Ward 2: To boost tourism Beaverton needs to continue to promote our natural waterfront assets like the Beaverton “Smallmouth Bass Capital of Canada” signage.  By leveraging regional transit options and the potential for a nearby Ontario Northlander stop, this can continue to attract tourism.  But to support overnight stays the township needs to address its current accommodation shortage by supporting and expanding options beyond existing short-term rentals and Airbnb listings.

Beth Josephson-Ward 1. We need to make use of our proximity to Lake Simcoe. Brock CHC has a new program called “Together We Go” that is in the early stages, but has been very well received. Working with council and local organizations, we can bring day trips to specific events and businesses, both rural and in town. The idea of overnight tourism has work to be done as we are limited with regard to that.

Claire Doble- Ward 1. I believe agritourism is something we need to capitalize on as this is an opportunity to highlight our amazing rural communities. By expanding and highlighting our agritourism, we can create more accommodations on farms as a unique experience in Brock. We also need to continue enhancing our downtown cores and implementing the Waterfront and Open Spaces Plan to create key locations where people want to visit, shop, and spend their dollars. We also need to continue to market our revamped Community Improvement Plan which provides grant dollars for downtown businesses to improve their storefronts, elevating our downtown core. By continuing to work with our Durham Tourism partners, we can continue to highlight our communities on social media to get more people interested in visiting Brock. 

8.

FOR: PETER TEOLIS

In your platform you mentioned affordable housing for seniors and families. What are your concrete action plans to attain these goals? 

No answer received.

9.

FOR: BETH JOSEPHESON

In your platform you mentioned a long wait for seniors to get into housing. How would you shorten the timeline, and what actionable steps would you take?

Beth Josephson-Ward 1. The wait list is long. People who have applied are going back to check the wait time only to find they are no longer on the list. How does this happen? When facilities are at maximum capacity, the staff shortage does not allow them to do their job effectively. We could bridge the gap between wait time and availability with transitional housing such as a rooming house or granny flat. A program with local schools for youth to assist staff in caring for residents would be a way to achieve community hours and help youth establish relationships with seniors that they may not be exposed to otherwise. We need to be actively applying for federal and provincial grants to help as well.

10.

FOR: ALL

In recent years we have seen our climate in Durham Region change and with that an increase in extreme and unpredictable weather events (i.e ice storms, tornados, smoke and heat alert days etc). What is your stance on climate change, and what would you do if elected (or what have you already done) to steer the township towards resiliency in these events and keeping residents safe.

John Rush Ward 1 as to climate change I believe it is cyclical, and thus beyond our control.

During the ice storm in 2025 we experienced a complete loss of power for 2 weeks, there was no communication to us of services available to us until the Fire Chief came to our house 10 days into the event. We need better communication and a system that checks on people who are remote. I would implement such plans and look to see where the emergency disaster plan needs to be changed.

Diana Vessel / Ward 2: Climate change is a global issue so our local focus should be on practical community driven resilience measures like reducing our overall waste footprint.  I always advocate for promoting second hand sales, reuse and repurposing to minimize landfill impact. In April 2026 as a Beaverton Lion, I led the first annual Beaverton Lions Earth Day cleanup, donation and community BBQ.  The Lions are already actively planning the 2027 event to encourage families, residents and businesses to participate.    2026 activities included Park clean up, donations for diabetes, Scape metal collection and the Beaverton Lions gave away children and adult books and white spruce saplings.

Beth Josephson-Ward 1. Climate change can affect health, crops, housing, safety and work.  We found this out during the ice storm. We need to have emergency plans in place to react quickly and effectively to offer residents the support needed in times of crisis. I have heard from many people how they depended on the Beaverton Legion, not only for food but for social support during such a difficult time. Constant donations to the kidney clothes and diabetes drives can help to minimize waste while helping those in need.

Claire Doble- Ward 1. Rather than getting caught up in a debate over climate change, we need to focus on what directly impacts our residents; emergency preparedness and response. Severe storms and multi-day power outages affect safety and livelihoods. I would prioritize reviewing

and ensuring our municipal emergency master plan is up to date, establishing food to door or wellness-check protocols for isolated rural residents, and improving real-time municipal communications during outages. The ice storm in 2025 highlighted some gaps in our preparedness here in Brock- as a council we prioritized investing in several generators since then to ensure we have spaces where our residents can come and feel safe in the next state of emergency.  

11.

FOR: ALL

Do you have plans to help manage development fees for individuals wanting to build in Brock, including possibilities for single residences that are less than 100m2 (the current min. square footage requirement)?

John Rush Ward 1: Development fees are a necessary evil as they pay for infrastructure that may be beyond Council’s capital budget, having said that, we need to be conscious of affecting house prices and causing affordability issues. Real Estate fees and closing costs should not be driven by a percentage of the final successful bid for a property, this in itself causes increases in housing prices. Depending on the volume of smaller houses being built may put a strain on infrastructure, sewage water and roads due to increased population. The Marydel subdivision in Beaverton is experiencing the effects of overcrowding on schools, roads and sewer and water and parking as there are multitudes of accessory apartments.

Diana Vessel / Ward 2:  If elected to council, I believe we must maintain full compliance with the Ontario building code go guarantee safety and ensure we are not encouraging over-crowding but would investigate our local zoning and bylaws see if a lenience could be addressed for the current minimum size restrictions. Modernizing development changes and advocating for case by case scaled size fees could ensure that smaller builds are not financially burdened which could help with smaller more affordable homes in Brock Township in support of multi-generational use living.

Beth Josephson-Ward 1. In a world of rising housing costs and the availability of affordable housing, I would support this as long as all codes are met and regulations are set accordingly.

Claire Doble- Ward 1. I would be in support of the implementation of cutting our development charges by 50% (as approved by the province) to assist with new development in Brock as the province will reimburse the township for lost revenue. This is a way to encourage growth while ensuring that growth pays for growth through our development charges and the provincial reimbursement. 

I am open to working with our planning department to explore the feasibility of reducing minimum allowable primary dwelling sizes below the current 100m2. This can support the creation of more affordable housing options in Brock.  

12.

FOR: ALL

What is your opinion on candidates friending and/or promoting posts by fake social media accounts, with the purpose of spreading hate or misinformation on opposing candidates? Do you feel this interferes with a fair election, and if so, would you support more strict guidelines on the information candidates share or content they engage with on social media?

John Rush Ward 1 this is the dark side of social media, it is a shame that this happens, it can affect elections, I would support stricter guidelines. Even my official candidate social media page was hacked by another candidate with their own campaign advertisement.

Diana Vessel / Ward 2:  Unfortunately, this municipal election has seen unsanctioned, negative posts about candidates.  Regardless of the message, this kind of activity has no place in our electoral process.  My approach has been simple: avoid the noise, refrain from responding and focus on respectfully sharing my own positive message.  I’m fortunate that my fellow candidate running alongside me has been a pleasure to meet and converse with.   

Beth Josephson-Ward 1.  I believe municipal elections are and should be community based. That is where the importance lies. The choice  to run a campaign that feels right according to my values is what I have done and will continue to do.  There is no need for negative comments or misinformation. I trust voters will make a decision based on that.

Claire Doble- Ward 1. I believe that stricter guidelines would be beneficial in the next election moving forward. I have been very disheartened by a lot of the behaviour I’ve seen over this election, particularly on Facebook. Unfortunately this behaviour reflects poorly on the whole process in general. I don’t think candidates should friend certain accounts that are trashing candidates, especially when they are targeting specific candidates. I believe in representing myself with integrity and believe it’s important to highlight my own qualifications and experience and how I believe I can best serve the residents of Ward 1, rather than tearing other candidates down. I am grateful that all candidates for Ward 1 have also run a clean campaign and highlighted their own qualifications and skills that they can bring to the table, rather than speaking negatively about their opponents. At the end of the day, we are a small community, and everyone running for council is a neighbour and fellow volunteer. It is essential that we maintain mutual respect throughout this process, as we all share the common goal of serving the community where we live, work and volunteer together.

13.

FOR: ALL NEW COUNCIL NOMINEES

Have you watched any Council Meetings or read the minutes? Other than speaking to residents, how have you prepared yourself for this role?

John Rush Ward 1 I have attended council meetings  in Brock Township, however, when I was a Fire Prevention Officer and subsequently a District  Fire Chief and I was compelled to attend many council meetings and make presentations to Council, I possess a Certificate in Fire Service Administration, Specialty in Strategic Planning from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

This course contained components of Municipal Law and Governance, Budgeting and Human Resources, I am quite prepared for the role.

Diana Vessel / Ward 2: In addition to the door-to-door approach that I have taken to understand the true concerns in ward 2, I’ve also taken time to watch council meetings and read the minutes.  I’ve taken the time to meet with current and past council members and have engaged in meaningful conversations asking questions directly related to council roles and responsibilities.  I’ve also spent much of my time reading the Brock Township website including familiarizing myself with the municipal by-laws, zoning by-laws, the planning department and many of the resident services.  I have a genuine openness to learn and will take every opportunity to ask questions and learn as much as possible to take on the role of councillor.

Beth Josephson-Ward 1.  I have watched council meetings and read the minutes from meetings. As I mentioned in my opening remarks at the debate, I have met with several past council members and have had conversations to help me gain insight as to the depth of the responsibility of public service. I have studied the Harbour Master Plan, the Asset Management Plan, read the roads and sidewalk reports and will attend the McHattie Park meeting on Tuesday.

14.

FOR: ALL RETURNING COUNCILLORS

What do you consider to be some of your best accomplishments in your time on council?

Claire Doble- Ward 1

• Kept property tax increases as low as possible while enhancing services in Brock

• Secured approval of the Beaverton Waterfront and Open Spaces Plan and its phased implementation

• Initiated and supported the development of the Beaverton Dog Park

• Expanded ice access for our local user groups, resulting in better service for our ice users and increased revenue/profit for the township

• Modernized township operations and service delivery as well as fire department apparatus/and life saving equipment

• Advanced downtown revitalization initiatives including revising the Community Improvement Plan

• Created successful outdoor movie nights for families and residents

• Focused on fiscally responsible decision-making that benefits the entire township.

15.

FOR: ALL

What specific measures would you take to solve affordable housing for families, seniors and lessen permit times and permit costs even before building for a tiny home/accessory building?

John Rush Ward1  Permits fees are a percentage of the cost of construction, I took out 8 Building Permits at different times to improve our residence, this is in reality a tax not a fee, the purpose of permit fees is to pay for inspections, the people performing inspections are already employed by the municipality, are we paying twice for the same service? At present there is a minimum square footage residential build of 100 square metres. We inquired with the building department re: a granny flat when we first bought our property to house elderly parents, we were told that it would cost $20k just to change the zoning of our rural property to 2 unit residential.  With the housing crisis as it is, every municipality should be looking at their current building laws that aren’t provincially ensconced.

Diana Vessel / Ward 2:  As living costs rise and housing becomes out of reach for the next generation, Brock must adapt to supporting flexible housing solutions which could include case by case multi-generational homes or smaller footprint residences.  While strict permit and safety standards adhering to the 2024 Ontario Building Codes should be maintained that will have fees applied, reducing rezoning costs and developing fees is essential to keep housing affordable for our young people and seniors.

Beth Josephson-Ward 1. I mentioned in an earlier question about building garden homes, within regulations, rooms in larger residences, basement apartments and allowing single dwelling homes to become 2 family homes. We need to offer incentives for this to happen. People who have supported our community for many years must be able to continue to reside in that community among family and friends where things are familiar.

Claire Doble- Ward 1. I will continue to advocate at the Region the need for additional subsidized housing in Brock/Beaverton to ensure we are receiving any regional funding available. B

Brock should also look at an Additional Dwelling Unit (ADU) Incentive Program. Neighbouring municipalities have adopted this type of program that can be funded through the Canada Mortgage  and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Housing Accelerator Fund. This provides grants to support long-term rental housing covering up to 50% of eligible costs to upgrade or create secondary units. We can also develop a municipal library of pre-approved, standardized architectural designs for homes or accessory units and garden suites. This can save homeowners thousands in design fees and eliminate the need for lengthy architectural reviews. 

We also can highlight the opportunity for residents to utilize the provincial housing design catalogue available for residents to utilize as a downloadable technical design package to streamline the building planning process.

16.

FOR: ALL

What are specific courses of action you would take to support the work that non-profit organizations do, to advocate and secure funding that assists the community and events that they do?

John Rush Ward 1 supporting non-profit organizations can be achieved by reduced fees for use of Township buildings and open spaces. I am a Director at The Beaverton Thorah Eldon Historical, we have a lease with Brock Township on a historic building for 0$ for 10 years, and receive funding from the Mayor and Council Annual Golf Tournament, other grants are received from The Foster Hewitt Charity Fund.

Diana Vessel / Ward 2:  As an active member of the Beaverton Lions, we focus on community services, and civic improvement.  We partner directly with Brock Township utilizing shared resources and buildings.  Continued partnerships with Brock Township are important to non-profit organizations to minimize overhead costs which allow funds raised to directly benefit the community.

Beth Josephson-Ward 1. Beaverton Town Hall Players brand was established early in the 1900’s. As a long time member of this non-profit  and current President, we as a team provide quality entertainment to Brock Township and are able to make donations to local organizations on a regular basis. These connections are what make our community thrive and bring people from other municipalities to help  broaden our donation base.

Claire Doble- Ward 1. I feel strongly that all groups deserve support, both in kind and some financial support. Over the past 8 years, there have been many discussions regarding how to best support all of our community groups in a financially and fair way. We have implemented a policy to help us track our in kind support but feel this policy requires a revision to ensure that all groups receive the same opportunities, in kind support and financial support throughout the township. This will be a policy I will be requesting comes back to the council table to review our process and better support our non-profit organizations equitably.

17.

FOR: ALL

Why does Brock Township have some of the highest property tax rates in Durham Region and how would you change that?

John Rush Ward 1  the taxes in Brock Township  Are the highest in Durham Region due to services received from Durham Region, Maintenance of roads, sewer and water supply schooling and policing We should not be voting for increases in regional taxes when the money is all needed for the cities in South Durham, we get nothing more for the increases,  Those of us in rural Ward 1 have to supply our own water, we have no sewers, we live on regional roads that are plowed in winter, but it took the region 5 years to take down the dead and hazardous ash trees and then not until after the ice storm. The deep ditches along the regional roads and Brock concession roads are only cleaned out on a complaint basis which causes flooding of fields and personal property  issues in many rural areas. I feel we do not get our money’s worth from the amount of taxes we pay for regional services. We need to attract more industry and retail business to the town to help spread out the tax base. I want to find out why the retail projects slated for the Hwy 12 corridor are being held up, and lobby for more streamlined approvals. Hold a presentation to prospective businesses highlighting the benefits of building in Brock township. We have an intelligent and able workforce here in Brock Township, let’s create places for them to work close to home.

Diana Vessel / Ward 2: Brock Township has one of the highest mill rates, (mathematically generated rate based on tax distribution and municipal operation costs) but property taxes vary and are overall lower than many urban areas across Durham Region due to lower MPAC assessments.   Of every tax dollar collected, 52% goes to Durham Region for services like policing, roads, public health, waste management, and social services. Another 37% stays with Brock Township to fund local roads, snow removal, fire services, parks, recreation, libraries, and by-law enforcement, while 11% supports education.

As a member of council, I will work with council and challenge unnecessary tax increases while ensuring north Durham residents receive its fair share of regional services and investments.  I've had the opportunity to meet with many residents, including seniors at Gillespie Gardens, and have seen firsthand the need for infrastructure improvements in regional housing. I will continue to be a strong voice for our seniors and work alongside residents, Council, and regional partners to ensure those investments are secured.

In the long term, the best way to reduce tax pressure is not cutting essential services but by growing our commercial and industrial tax base.  Brock needs t

o continue to look at diversifying the tax base without compromising our farmland and natural environment.

Beth Josephson-Ward 1. There is a high percentage of tax dollars that goes to Durham Region to pay for the services they have as mentioned on the website. Homes in Brock Township are assessed lower than the much larger homes found in urban areas south of us. This lower assessment then forces the need to set a higher rate to collect the same revenue to create a balance for operating costs. To reduce taxes, as a council member I will work to broaden the tax base with economic development, applying aggressively for federal and provincial grants and work to shift the stress of tax dollars away from property taxes.

Claire Doble- Ward 1 High property taxes are a major issue in Brock as we rely primarily on residential assessment to fund our services and maintain our massive rural road network. To reduce this pressure, there are several things we can do:

Rigorous budgeting- continue to scrutinize every line item to eliminate waste and ensure we are getting good value for every dollar spent

Commercial expansion- we need to continue finding ways to grow our industrial and commercial base to diversify municipal revenue. 

Non-tax revenue growth- We need to continue capitalizing on our current municipal assets such as our 2026/27 ice expansion in all 3 arenas which is projected to yield over $100000 in net returns

Leveraging our reserve funds- utilizing high interest investment strategies to generate strong returns on our significant reserve funds

Energy efficient programs- continue to capitalize on energy efficient programs to reduce operating costs by doing LED conversions for all lighting, utilize heat pump rebate programs to update our energy efficiency and reduce operating costs.