Our community has done great things.

We’ve stopped school closures, high speed rail, and a landfill. We’ve built splash pads, 100% renewable energy buildings that cost us all less, and an 88 space childcare. 7 of 8 budgets below inflation (2018 Zorra budget was 0.1% above inflation).

We need to do more of these things that will define our own community for all of us.

Many of these things will be very challenging, and none of them will be quick. But hard things are hard, and our communities have never shied away from that.

So we need a plan to get them done.

Below you can read what would have been my campaign platform for you to see and ask me about. These will be the Strategic Plan items and policy changes I will be bringing to the next term of Zorra and Oxford Councils.

In order to deal with the challenges and opportunities we face I propose we implement a “triple bottom line” approach of evaluating the financial, environmental, and social impacts of all issues.

Each of us will weigh these differently on each issue, but these are the things to consider.

Financial will not only be property tax impact, but economic development impact (long term property tax impact).

Environmental will be short term and local like trees and green spaces, but also long term and broad like climate change impacts.

Social will be be ensuring that we strive to include everyone, and not just reactively, we need to encourage everyone’s participation. Without as much participation in our communities as possible, we cannot put forward our best effort to to overcome challenges and realize opportunities. Everyone should be able to do their part.

The challenges and opportunities we need to tackle are:

– Housing, we need more quantity, variety, and affordability

– Continue the 100% renewable energy plan

– Childcare – Thamesford will have a licensed space in 2023, we need one in Embro now

– We need to implement a “total life cycle cost model” for all assets and services to best manage our finances and keep tax increases low

– Examine the possibility of more aggressive rebuilding of gravel roads to remove 1/2 load

– Continue to work with other levels of government to bring true high speed internet to every residence

– Continue to protect farmland and green spaces by reducing sprawl and increasing density in serviced villages

– Continue to work the the Thames Valley District School Board and the Ontario Ministry of Education to preserve and enhance the role of our schools in our communities

Again, all these challenges and opportunities should be assessed using a “triple bottom line” approach of evaluating the financial, environmental, and social impacts of each.

The Zorra Township policies I propose to pursue to address these challenges and opportunities:

– Zorra needs more than 800 new houses by 2031 for the growth that is inevitably coming, we need policies to get that done

– Secondary Plans to encourage the type of development we want, rather than only reacting to development proposals from developers. A variety of housing where we want it, while minimizing sprawl

– Implement the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan to help include more people, address homelessness and crime

– Total life cycle cost models to better assess the true costs of assets and services

– Implement a robust Asset Management Plan to accurately forecast the maintenance and replacement costs of all assets (buildings and equipment) and plan finances accordingly

– Develop a plan to secure the future contribution of our schools to our communities

Again, all these policies should be assessed using a “triple bottom line” approach of evaluating the financial, environmental, and social impacts of each.

The Oxford County policies I propose to address these challenges and opportunities:

– Oxford needs more than 12,100 new houses by 2031, we need policies to get that done

– We need minimum density targets for all fully serviced villages to make the most efficient use of services, encourage variety in housing, and reduce sprawl into green spaces and farmland

– Increase our investment in affordable housing

– Expand the number of long term care beds and extend at home care into the community

– Implement the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan to help include more people, and address homelessness and crime

– Total life cycle cost models to better assess the true costs of assets and services

– Implement a robust Asset Management Plan to accurately forecast the maintenance and replacement costs of all assets (buildings and equipment) and plan finances accordingly

– Explore a decentralized or distributed service model to deliver more county services in smaller communities by partnering with Oxford County Library and area municipalities and schools

– We said no to a private landfill, and we need to follow through with waste reduction policies to reduce our own contribution to landfilling

Again, all these policies should be assessed using a “triple bottom line” approach of evaluating the financial, environmental, and social impacts of each.

There are some challenges and opportunities we need to advocate and lobby the Ontario government to address:

– Fairer taxation, and improved regulation, of aggregate sites

– Rural communities shouldn’t bear the costs of protecting Prime Agricultural Land on their own. The Provincial Government needs to understand that there are consequences to rural Ontario for rightly protecting Prime Agricultural Land on behalf of all Ontarians. Rural communities should not have to bear the costs (reduced growth resulting in reduced services such as schools, hospitals, infrastructure) on their own. The Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF) should be increased to previous levels to address this unfairness.

– Our schools are integral parts of our small rural communities. The Province needs to recognize this in changed funding formulas and policies.

– Oxford County residents can only do so much to reduce our waste by recycling. The Provincial and Federal governments need to play a role in reducing waste, which will reduce the cost to Oxford County residents to dispose of it, and reduce the environmental impact.

– Housing and homelessness cannot be addressed by Oxford alone. Even if we “fix” our problems we will then only (understandably) attract people from other communities looking to solve theirs. The Provincial and Federal governments need to help fix this larger problem.

I started by highlighting the great things our community has done. We got those things done by hard work, and a plan.

So we need to continue with the same effort if we want to continue to get results for our communities: we need a plan that can actually deliver results.

I’ve posted that plan over the last week. Please feel free to comment and ask questions. It’s not a perfect plan, no plan is, it can get better with your input.

I’m really happy to have received endorsements from people I’ve worked with both in, and outside, Zorra.

I hope you’ll at least skim through them to see if there’s one relevant to you and your issues.

Some of them are friends, some are neighbours, some are local politicians, some are from around the Province that I’ve worked with lobbying the Province on issues important to Zorra, some are local agriculture people I’ve worked with, and some are local business people I’ve worked with.

They all have one thing in common: I thank them for their support!

Dirk Boogerd

Zorra township farmer                                             

I confidently recommend Marcus Ryan for the position of mayor for the township of Zorra. I truly admire the passion Marcus Ryan has put into our township as a councillor. Even though Mr. Ryan is not a farmer himself, he has put great effort into speaking and working for our agriculture community here in Zorra.

His position on the high speed rail proposal falls right in line with OFA’s opposition, as well as the county of Oxford. In speaking to Marcus at length about this proposal he agrees to look high performance rail alternative and a integrated regional transportation strategy. The half load season is another item in which he has indicated to explore to reduce.

As our rural township has many farmers in all industries of agriculture, there are farmers that do farm gate sales and farmers markets. Marcus has initiated the Oxford fresh farm gate signs , promoting local producers. In doing work like this he has gained respect from public and farmers around the township.

Marcus Ryan is honest, reliable and willing to work hard for every one in our township, and this includes farmers.
I believe Marcus Ryan is the person best qualified for the mayor of Zorra

Dirk Boogerd
Zorra township farmer

Josh Morgan

Councillor, City of London

I’ve come to know Marcus Ryan as a leader capable of seeing the big picture. He is an effective advocate for the residents of Zorra because he has the knowledge and skills needed to work with other communities and governments for our common benefit.

Josh Morgan

Councillor, City of London

Kelly Elliot

Councillor and candidate for Deputy Mayor, Thames Centre 

Kelly Elliot

Councillor and candidate for Deputy Mayor, Thames Centre

Brian Petrie

Councillor, Town of Ingersoll

Residents of Zorra
I would like to give my full endorsement to Marcus Ryan for the office of mayor of Zorra. You as ratepayers will be well served with Marcus at that post.
While serving as a councillor in the neighbouring community of Ingersoll during the last four years I’ve had the opportunity to work with Marcus on a number of occasions and issues. He has always been open, honest and knowledgable. All things that will make him a great mayor of Zorra and county councillor. He has shown the same abilities on the Upper Thames conservation authority board, where we share the role of directors, his preparation along with a true caring for the issues are always welcomed there as they will be with him in the mayors chair.

Brian Petrie Councillor,
Town of Ingersoll

Jim Maudsley

Mayor of Thames Centre, Former Warden of Middlesex County 

I worked with Marcus for several years on issues important to Thames Centre, Zorra, and region. I was impressed when Marcus spoke as a representative for the Communities School’s Alliance at the Ontario Small Urban Conference earlier this year.

He has always been able to communicate Zorra’s interests in a way that gets the support of neighbouring communities and provincial politicians and advances those interests towards a solution. He will offer a leadership vision for Zorra, more importantly, will work hard to collaborate with Municipal and Provincial counterparts to achieve that vision.

Jim Maudsley

Mayor of Thames Centre, Former Warden of Middlesex County 

Gerry Marshall

former Mayor of the Town of Penetanguishene and Warden of Simcoe County, former Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus Vice Chair and former Chair of South Western Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT)

I’ve worked with Marcus for several years on the Executive of the Community Schools Alliance asking the Ministry of Education for a stronger voice for Municipalities in where our schools are, and how they are opened and closed.

Marcus has always been a strong voice for his community on this issue, and on many occasions offered help to other communities that found themselves faced with similar challenges.

He has been the voice of the Community Schools Alliance and all communities concerned about their schools by making several direct delegations to the Minister of Education to explain the policy issues and the needed changes. His efforts assisted in putting a moratorium on schools closure thereby reducing the incentive for school boards to consider the closure of rural and northern schools.
It has been a true pleasure to work with Marcus on big issues such as this that affect multiple Municipalities. When Municipalities join together they can have a stronger voice with the Province, and Marcus should be one of those voices.

Gerry Marshall

former Mayor of the Town of Penetanguishene and Warden of Simcoe County, former Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus Vice Chair and former Chair of South Western Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT)

Jim Collard
Councillor, Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake
Charter Member Community Schools Alliance

Over the past four years I’ve worked with Marcus to strengthen the Community Schools Alliance into an effective voice for small town and rural education in Ontario.
Marcus has been a positive advocate for Zorra on this issue, and for other communities in similar situations.
The Community Schools Alliance has achieved a provincial moratorium on school closures, and funding for Rural and Northern Education to help reduce the incentive for school boards to consider the closure of rural and northern schools.

One of the key aspects of achieving these results are the meetings Marcus had with the Minister of Education working successfully for change.

More importantly, is the working relationship he developed with the Education Minister’s staff. Marcus’s positive attitude has allowed him to find success with Ministry personnel and make a difference that has benefitted all.

Marcus understands the possibilities and knows that by working together communities can have a more effective voice, one that finds the changes their residents need.

Marcus will be an excellent mayor for the Township of Zorra. He is definitely ready.

Kindest regards
Jim Collard
Councillor, Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake
Charter Member Community Schools Alliance

Tanya Park, City of London Councillor, and candidate for Mayor:
Marcus has always demonstrated his tenacity and capabilities to bring real solutions to the table. The regional advocacy that he was a part of brought the high speed rail conversation to a much broader, and necessary audience.
As mayor, Marcus will represent Zorra township with professionalism and focus.
Tanya Park, City of London Councillor, and candidate for Mayor

Tanya Park, City of London Councillor, and candidate for Mayor

Don Weir and Kathleen Schaper-Weir, Zorra Residents, Zorra Recreation Advisory Committee, Water and Wheels Committee Chair:

Dear Marcus,

Upon learning that you had declared your candidacy for the position of Mayor of Zorra Township, Kathleen and I were absolutely delighted.  As you know, I have a background in municipal work and Kathleen has a long history of serving as an elected official, both at the municipal and the county levels.  We have worked with and for politicians who were exemplary in their fields as well as for some who seemed only to be there to take up a seat and collect a pay cheque.  You belong in the former group.

We understand that your involvement in politics began to take form when you helped to save A.J. Baker school in Kintore from being closed.  Subsequent to your being elected as a Councillor in Zorra Township you gave of your time and expertise to help the parent groups of Elgin County in their attempts to save four of their schools.  More recently you have been very active in researching and addressing your constituents’ concerns regarding the proposed dump in Oxford County, High Speed Rail and issues with the Ministry of Education such as the flawed funding formula.

At Council level we have observed a bright, well-informed member who researches every agenda item and strives to make decisions based upon fact and fiscal responsibility.  We recognize you to be a ward councillor who works equally hard for every resident of the township.

With Mayor Lupton’s retirement at the end of this council term, we can think of nobody else who would make a better Mayor for our community and representative for Zorra Township at County Council.  We wish you the best of luck in the upcoming election.

Don Weir and Kathleen Schaper-Weir

Rebecca Wallace, Thamesford Resident, Zorra Recreation Advisory Committee:

Rebecca Wallace, Thamesford Resident, Zorra Recreation Advisory Committee

Proposed 2019-22 Strategic Plan Action Items – Marcus Ryan

I’ve listened to you guys for the last few years about what your issues are. I think when you’re running for Mayor, part of that is to offer a plan of how you’re going to get things done. Here’s a link to my platform, these are the things that I think you want done. Take a look at them, let’s talk about them. Because I can promise you, if elected, I’ll be working hard to get them done for you.