2026 Oxford County Municipal Election
Town of Tillsonburg — Mayor
We asked. Deb Gilvesy answered. You decide.
Answers are published as submitted.
I. Candidate & Municipal Governance
1. Candidate Introduction
Please introduce yourself to the residents of Oxford County. Briefly tell us why you are running for municipal office, what principles or values would guide you as an elected official, and what you believe is the most important issue facing the municipality you are seeking to represent. What would you do about it?
I am running for office because I want to continue serving our community and bring fiscal responsibility, common sense and accountability to the table. I believe my voting record on key issues demonstrates these principles. As an elected official, I believe the taxpayers must always be front of mind when making decisions.
Raised on a local farm, I learned from a young age the importance of hard work, problem-solving, decision-making and, most importantly, working as a team.
There are many important issues facing our community, but safety must always be job number one. That means continuing to work with police and advocating to senior levels of government for the tools and legislation needed to make our streets safer.
Responsible growth and infrastructure are also critical. Growth is necessary for a healthy economy, but it must be sustainable. My focus remains on industrial growth that creates jobs and strengthens our tax base, while ensuring taxpayers receive value for every dollar spent.
2. Local vs. Provincial Authority
Municipalities are increasingly affected by decisions, policies and requirements established by the provincial government. What degree of local discretion do you believe municipalities should have when provincial direction affects decisions within municipal jurisdiction? When, if ever, should a municipality challenge or oppose provincial direction? Please explain.
The Province governs all 444 municipalities in Ontario, and in recent years we have seen significant provincial changes that have reduced local decision-making, particularly in planning. I believe municipalities should have meaningful local discretion to make decisions that reflect the unique needs of their communities. In my view, planning decisions are best made at the local level by those who understand their community.
I do challenge provincial direction when I believe it does not serve our residents well. I have raised these concerns directly with Ministers and will continue to do so. However, advocacy must be respectful and constructive, recognizing the Province’s role while ensuring the local perspective is heard.
When municipalities are asked for input, we have a responsibility to provide informed, meaningful feedback. Strong local government means working with the Province, but also respectfully standing up for our community when necessary.
3. Accountability & Access
Once elected, how will you maintain open communication and accountability with your constituents? What level of access should residents have to you, and what responsibility do you have to explain and defend your decisions and votes, particularly when constituents disagree with them?
I always maintain open lines of communication. I answer phone calls in the evening, weekends and even while I have been on holidays. I consider this to be part of being in public office. I maintain a very high level of access to citizens at all times.
I firmly believe that as an elected official you have a responsibility to explain why you voted as you did. Criticism is constructive and helpful and only drives me to work harder.
4. Staff vs. Elected Council
What do you believe is the proper division of responsibility between municipal staff and elected council? What decisions should be made by staff, what decisions should be made by council, and what responsibility should elected officials retain for decisions recommended or implemented by staff?
The roles of Council and Staff are defined in the Provincial Municipal Act. Council sets policies and staff delivers on the direction of Council. Under the Municipal Act Council is not to be involved in operational matters. These roles are set out by the Province and not under the control of elected officials at the local level.
5. Candidate Social-Media History
Have you ever deleted, hidden or substantially altered past social-media posts or other publicly available online content because you believed it might affect how voters viewed you or your candidacy? If so, what did you change and why?
Absolutely not. I have been called names and let those posts stand. I have never blocked anyone or altered a post. As I previously said criticism only drives me to do a better job. Also as an elected official you have to realize that not everyone likes you. It is not a popularity contest, residents elect you to be their voice. Staying true to my values and morals helps guide me through difficult decisions.
II. Taxes, Growth & Development
6. Taxes & Services
What annual municipal property-tax increase do you consider reasonable over the next four years? If maintaining existing services would require an increase above that level, what principles would you use to determine which services or expenditures should be reduced, delayed or eliminated instead? Please explain.
I believe in providing value for every tax dollar and keeping annual property-tax increases as low as reasonably possible. Ideally, I would target an increase of less than inflation annually, recognizing that circumstances such as inflation, fuel costs, infrastructure needs and provincial requirements can affect each budget.
We also have to recognize that residents are facing increasing costs for almost everything, and if the economy continues to slow, affordability becomes even more important.
I have not supported three of the last four County budgets, and I have also voted against a Town budget. I believe elected officials must be willing to make difficult choices rather than simply increasing taxes to maintain every existing service.
If reductions are necessary, I would prioritize essential services, public safety, infrastructure and legislated responsibilities. Non-essential programs, discretionary spending, new initiatives and projects that can be delayed should be reviewed first.
Fiscal responsibility means making choices, not simply asking taxpayers for more.
7. Population Growth & Agricultural Land
Oxford County’s current planning projections anticipate substantial population growth over the coming decades, creating increasing pressure on agricultural land. Should Oxford plan to accommodate the projected level of growth, or should the County and its municipalities seek to influence the rate and/or location of future growth? When development competes with agricultural and food-production uses, should agricultural land and food production receive priority? What principles should guide these decisions? Please explain.
As a former farmer I understand the need to preserve farmland however I also believe in property rights and the right to farm. The Oxford Official Plan already encourages the preservation of farmland. The Province of Ontario has also recognized the need for preserving farmland. I believe the protections in place already are encouraging. This obviously translates to building up vs out. Development should not affect or interfere with farm practices and farming should always receive priority over development. Farmers feed cities!
III. Energy & Major Development
8. Wind & Utility-Scale Solar
What is your position on industrial wind turbine and utility-scale solar developments in Oxford County? If your municipality were asked to determine whether it should be a willing or unwilling host for a large-scale wind or solar project, how would you vote, and what factors would guide your decision? Please explain.
I would “not” support to be a willing host for a large scale wind or solar project. These projects waste farmland.
9. Data Centres
What is your position on approving data centres in Oxford County? Under what circumstances, if any, would you support one? How should council weigh its potential economic benefits against demands on electricity, water, land and other municipal infrastructure? Please explain.
Tillsonburg currently does not have the water allocation or sufficient hydro capacity to support a data centre, and based on those infrastructure limitations, I could not support one in our community at this time.
I have never reviewed a data-centre application, so I would not want to prejudge an application without understanding the specific proposal, its economic benefits and its demands on our infrastructure. However, data centres can have significant requirements for electricity, water, land and other municipal services, and those impacts would be a major consideration in any decision.
I strongly support diversifying our industrial base and attracting investment and good jobs to Oxford County. However, economic development must be sustainable and cannot come at the expense of the community, our existing taxpayers or our ability to provide essential services.
Any proposal would need to demonstrate that the infrastructure is available, that the costs are appropriately addressed, and that the long-term benefits to our community outweigh the demands placed upon it.
IV. Property Rights, Environment & Climate
10. Property Rights & Environmental Regulation
What principles should determine the balance between private property rights and municipal environmental regulation? What limits, if any, should municipalities place on environmental restrictions affecting the use of privately owned rural land? Please explain.
I don’t believe this is the role of local government. The Federal and Provincial governments are responsible for creating rules regarding chemical applications, manure disposal etc.
11. Climate Change & CO₂
What role, if any, do you believe carbon dioxide emissions play in climate change? What responsibility, if any, should municipal government have for addressing climate-related issues, and should municipal taxpayers fund those efforts? Please explain.
I believe our climate has always changed and will continue to change. We are seeing more severe storms and changing weather patterns, and municipalities have a responsibility to ensure our planning, infrastructure and emergency preparedness are designed to withstand these events.
I believe the primary responsibility for regulating carbon emissions rests with the federal and provincial governments, rather than municipalities. Local governments have limited ability to influence emissions on a broader scale, and I do not believe municipal taxpayers should be burdened with costly initiatives that fall outside our jurisdiction.
That said, I absolutely believe we have a responsibility to be good stewards of our environment and to look for practical, cost-effective solutions. For example, converting municipal lighting to LED can reduce energy consumption and operating costs while benefiting the environment.
For me, the focus should be on responsible environmental stewardship, practical solutions, and measurable value for taxpayers.
V. Municipal Policy & Public Institutions
12. DEI, Hiring & Public Services
When municipal government makes decisions about hiring employees or providing services, what role, if any, should a person’s race, ethnicity, sex, disability, newcomer status or other demographic characteristics play? Do you support mandatory diversity, equity and inclusion training for municipal employees, and should municipal taxpayers fund it? Please explain.
I believe in hiring based on merit, qualifications, experience and the ability to do the job. A person’s race, ethnicity, sex, disability, newcomer status or other demographic characteristics should not determine whether they are hired or promoted. We should hire the best person for the position.
As County Councillors, we have a responsibility for the services we provide, including safe drinking water, and that means I need to have complete confidence that we have the best-qualified people doing those jobs. Tillsonburg has an incredible team, and I believe we should continue to attract and retain highly capable employees.
I do believe all employees, including Council members, should receive appropriate workplace training. Everyone deserves to feel safe, respected and free from harassment or discrimination. I support training that is practical, respectful and focused on creating a positive workplace, but I also believe taxpayers should expect that training to provide meaningful value rather than simply becoming a compliance exercise.
13. International Policy Frameworks
What role, if any, should international policy frameworks such as the United Nations’ Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals play in municipal decision-making? If municipal policies are influenced by such frameworks, what responsibility does council have to ensure that those decisions remain transparent and accountable to local residents? Please explain.
I don’t believe this is the role of local municipalities or even regional governments. As I stated earlier these decisions are at the Federal and Provincial level.
VI. Public Safety, Privacy & Emergency Powers
14. Flock Cameras & Surveillance
What is your position on the use of Flock cameras and other automated licence-plate recognition (ALPR) or camera-based surveillance systems by municipalities for public safety? What limits, if any, should apply to their use, and how should council balance public safety with residents’ privacy? Please explain.
Firstly local councils do not make decisions with regards to the implementation or use of Flock cameras.
I would support the responsible use of Flock cameras and other automated licence-plate recognition systems when they assist police with public safety, crime prevention and investigations. These technologies can be valuable tools for police and may also improve officer safety.
At the same time, their use must have clear limits. Information should only be collected, accessed and retained for legitimate public safety and law enforcement purposes, with appropriate safeguards to protect residents’ privacy. Public safety and privacy are not mutually exclusive. With appropriate oversight and safeguards, I believe these technologies can be used responsibly to help keep our community safe.
15. Public-Health Emergency Powers
If another public-health emergency occurred, what restrictions, if any, should a municipality be able to impose on access to municipal buildings, facilities, programs or community activities? What role should elected council have in approving or overseeing such restrictions, and what limits should apply to municipal authority during an emergency? Please explain.
I don’t believe as an elected official I have the knowledge to determine what coarse of action may be required in a public health emergency and don’t believe this to be a municipal role.
Questionnaire sent: September 9, 2026
Response received: September 10, 2026
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