Andreas Bolik

My involvement with County council was a natural evolution of a lifelong involvement in the many communities that I have lived in as a member of the Canadian Forces. My commitment is to serve my neighbours, just like I served Canada for almost 45 years in the Canadian Forces – by getting the job done.

I have served as a director of a Community Association where I grew up, on the shores of Georgian Bay; as vice-president of a Condominium Corporation when we lived in Ottawa; as a member of a Community Policing Committee; and leading the GoC Charitable Campaign for my workplace. 

I was elected to  council in 2018. While I was not in a position to run again in 2022, I am now retired from my other commitments and am back with new fire in my belly and the time and energy to represent the people of Ameliasburgh at the horseshoe.

When one spends a lifetime defending democracy, it gives one a deep sense of responsibility for ensuring our democracy works for all of us. Ameliasburgh has been my home for the past 17 years — though  my connection to it started in 1975 when I attended Trenton Air Cadet Camp and went gliding at Mountainview, with periodic visits to CFB Trenton until moving here in 2009.

 I don’t have a private agenda and I don’t follow any particular dogma or political creed. I do believe in getting the facts, applying common sense and critical thinking, and finding a ‘big-picture’ solution. My past as an aerospace engineer and lawyer have given me valuable skill sets to do just that, including being able to have frank and productive discussions with experts and laypeople alike.

We must use property taxes wisely, by questioning and weighing new expenditures and ensuring current expenditures are still relevant by prioritizing spending into those things that we must do, those that we should do, and those that are nice to do.

We must replace ad hoc development and tourism with actively guided growth in the County so that we grow in a measured way that does not detract from our rural roots. This would include stewardship of our environmental, rural and agricultural heritage.

We must promote the concept of the County as a community of communities. With Ameliasburgh making up almost a quarter of the County’s population, we are far more than just a backwater to Picton and Wellington – we are the Gateway to the County. As such, we should also promote efficiencies and access to services by co-operating and co-ordinating with our neighbouring municipalities.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly: roads, roads, roads. Without them nothing else matters because you need good, drivable roads to get there.

With respect to the Picton/Bloomfield/Wellington water system debacle – as above, the County needs to drive a vision of our future communities. Robust planning and realistic assumptions are required.

It is important to remember that 4 of the 6 County-run water systems are within Ward 4, and the needs and capacities of their users must not be lost in the fray.

In regard to tourism, our climate is not conducive to a four-season tourist economy. 

A good bet is to grow a service economy (which is often home-based and can reach far beyond our municipal borders) to complement our existing agricultural and tourism core. We need to stop demonizing our existing industries while still holding them to account. 

The MAT is an important source of revenue. Whether the 4 percent rate and 50/50 split remain appropriate should be examined and discussed with Queen’s Park.

Interestingly, the official plan envisions pushing development on some of the best farmland in the County – this is questionable. Residential, industrial and commercial development should be directed away from prime agricultural land while also avoiding urban sprawl. We have lost most of our Ash trees in the last few years. Replacing such a significant canopy should be a priority
and can help with climate resilience.

In the end, we should aim to maintain our rural community of communities, with plenty of greenspace connected by an efficient and serviceable traffic grid. The needs of the resident community should be at the forefront and be complemented by, not subordinated to, those of the transient masses.