Matheson residents optimistic as by-election to replace ousted council approaches

An important vote is coming for a small Northern Ontario town, east of Timmins.

Some residents of the Township of Black River-Matheson, Ont., say they're hoping an Aug. 12 by-election brings change to the town. It comes after the provincial government declared its mayor and council seats vacant back in April because council was unable to meet for more than 60 days.

The move followed a string of controversies, including a 34.2 per cent tax increase that prompted a petition to Queen's Park and a strike by 14 public works employees. 

One woman whose family has farmed in the town for four generations said Matheson is a great town, but it needs a clean-up.

"Lately, to have the council sort of rashly raise the taxes by 33 per cent so that some of us could hardly afford to stay on the older properties, and just the backbiting and distrust – it's just a bit heartbreaking," said Sharon Nascimento.

"I'm glad there's an election, and I'm glad that there's some really solid citizens stepping up. So I think it's getting better, and I think people are happy."

Dolly-Anne Martin, who has lived in the town since 1972, doesn't go near the town office because "I don't like any of them up there," she said.

"There's a couple I do like, but I certainly don't like the people that's running it."

Martin said she can't afford the increased taxes, and she wants to know where all the extra money's going.

"We need our streets and that all fixed up. They're all just bump bump bump," she said.

"I just want them to fix the township so we can have something half decent in this town."

Martin particularly lamented the lack of shops and activities for seniors, a concern echoed by resident Carole Gravel.

"There's nothing in town. There's nothing," she said. 

"There's no Tim Horton's. There's no motels…My cousin came down from down South, and there's nothing. There's no place for them to stay."

But Gravel said she is optimistic about the election, believing it to be a fresh start for the municipality.  

Resident Gordon Longstreet expressed a similar sentiment. 

"When I hear people talk...they want change. So hopefully this election creates that change," he said. 

"I'm hoping that they listen to the population and, you know, pay attention to what people are telling them. Right now...they figure they're on their own up there, and they do what they want to do. They don't listen to the public as far as I'm concerned."

Morale has been low in Matheson, due to a lack of industry and employment opportunities, Patrick Harrington said. 

"It's been pretty hard times," he said.

"But they're still managing to survive." 

The frustration being felt by residents has inspired many people to run in the by-election, with candidates saying they hope they can change things and be better than the last council.

Calls for better management of finances, more accountability from council and administration, and more transparency between town officials and residents are some of the biggest changes residents want to see. And candidates are promising to deliver.

Black River-Matheson chief administrative officer Chris Wray disagrees with residents' claims that there is a lack of transparency and accountability. He said rumours and misinformation circulating in the township have led to that belief.

"Frankly, I have to disagree with the lack of accountability and transparency because the township itself has a legislative required policy on transparency and accountability and the township has been following that to a tee," Wray explained. 

Wray added it will be a 'steep' learning curve for an entirely new council to come in and take up matters leftover from the previous council. That includes having to finalize the budget for 2024, which still has not been passed. 

"It would be an extremely difficult process and there would have to be, I'm going to say, an awful lot of trust in the administration from the council. So we'll see."

With 19 people running for six council seats and seven people running for mayor, Wray said this is the most candidates the town has had for a by-election in many years, since most candidates were acclaimed in previous elections.

"We're expecting a pretty good turnout."

Electronic polls open on August 1 and will close on August 12.

The new mayor and council members will be sworn into their new roles in September and, barring any future turmoil, will run Black River-Matheson until the next province-wide municipal elections in fall 2026.