Gilvesy files paper to run for mayor

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

Tillsonburg Mayor Deb Gilvesy filed her papers last week to run again as mayor.

Completing her first term as mayor, Gilvesy has several projects she wants to see to completion. She reflected that projects don’t always move as quickly as she would like, and she has learned there are processes, timelines and circumstances beyond council’s control.

Talking about the decision to run again, Gilvesy said, “I did not make this decision lightly. The past four years have not always been easy, but I never expected they would be. The position of mayor requires dedication, resilience, and, at times, a great deal of patience, something I continue to work on every day.”

Tillsonburg has seen record industrial growth over the past two years, and Gilvesy wants to continue that momentum. She explained industrial land is taxed at a higher rate than residential, which will impact future residential tax ratios positively. She advocated with the province for economic development funding to assist with this growth.

Noting health care is a provincial responsibility, Gilvesy has still been a strong advocate for improved local health care. One big win announced recently was provincial funding for the Ingersoll Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic, which was announced in Tillsonburg.

“This new clinic will provide primary care to many residents who currently do not have a healthcare provider,” she said. “We must continue supporting efforts to attract and retain healthcare professionals in our community. We are on the verge of implementing some new and exciting recruitment tools, and I would like the opportunity to see them through.”

The issue facing town council that has generated a lot of input from the public is building a new town hall.

“For seven years, I opposed building a new town hall because I believed there was a more fiscally responsible option. The solution council ultimately selected reflects that commitment,” Gilvesy said, explaining financing costs for the new town hall will be less than the rent costs the town was paying the mall, and will not result in a tax increase.

One large change that will have future implications is the pending partnership between Tillsonburg Hydro Inc. and Erth. Both council and the THI board unanimously approved the partnership, which is currently before the Ontario Energy Board.

“While I recognize this is a topic that generates strong opinions, the reality is that Tillsonburg Hydro has faced significant challenges for more than a decade without a viable long term solution,” Gilvesy said. “Those challenges must be addressed, as failing to do so could result in substantially higher costs for consumers, potentially leading to a doubling of rates.”

Another big change for the mayor’s role in this term was the province naming Tillsonburg as a community which has Strong Mayor powers. The biggest change on this front was to the budget process, which the mayor led with staff.

Gilvesy is proud of the transformation of the airport from an entity requiring tax pay dollars to one generating an operational surplus in 2025.

The mayor is the town’s representative at county council, and Gilvesy said she advocated for fiscal responsibility from her county seat.

“I opposed increases to bag tag fees, and voted against some county budgets because I believed they did not adequately respect taxpayers and included expenditures that were not essential,” she said.

Speaking to the future, Gilvesy said she will push for changes in Oxford County’s governance model to better reflect Tillsonburg’s growing population, seek efficiencies while ensuring the taxpayer is respected, address the town’s aging infrastructure, attract industrial development, and follow through on a motion she introduced recently that will see the town receive a portion of the airport taxes from the Township of South-West Oxford and Oxford County to pay for infrastructure improvements.

“I also believe it is time to undertake a comprehensive review of municipal operations, supported by public engagement, to identify efficiencies, modernize service delivery where appropriate, and ensure residents continue to receive the best possible value for every tax dollar spent,” Gilvesy added. “Responsible growth must be matched by responsible government.”

Asked about a boundary adjust, which is something the town’s economic development committee called for but no decision has been made on, Gilvesy answered, “Any successful boundary adjustment will require a clear plan, strong evidence, and respectful negotiations with neighbouring municipalities. At this stage, it would be premature and potentially counterproductive to publicly discuss every aspect of a future n

Homelessness is an issue that has generated much discussion amongst residents, and will continue to be an issue for the next council. To this end, Gilvesy said she recently signed a letter, which will be coming to council shortly, asking the province for legislative changes to deal with this problem.

“For example, current legislation does not provide the same authority for police to intervene when an individual is publicly impaired by drugs as it does for public intoxication involving alcohol,” she explained. “This is a gap that requires provincial attention.”

Oxford County is responsible for delivering social services to help homelessness, and Gilvesy pointed to two in-progress initiatives: a 24-hour low-barrier support center in Woodstock to service the entire county and the provincially-funded HART Hub. The HART Hub model includes crisis beds, recovery beds, transitional housing supports, and pathways to permanent housing.

The town implemented a parks bylaw to prohibit overnight camping and close parks overnight. The Police Detachment Board is also recommending the creation of a nuisance bylaw for the downtown core that will come forward to a future council meeting.

“I believe positive change is on the horizon,” Gilvesy said. “For the first time, there is a coordinated plan that brings together housing, healthcare, mental health supports, addiction services, outreach programs, and legislative advocacy. As these initiatives become fully operational, I am confident they will make a meaningful difference.”

Gilvesy was elected as mayor in 2022 after serving one term on council. Prior to that, she was a director and vice-chair of the former Ontario Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers’ Marketing Board. She was a business owner, and worked for CJDL for 10 years. Gilvesy spent 20 years as a volunteer basketball coach.