2026 Oxford County Municipal Election
Zorra Township — Mayor
We asked. Mrs. Lori McDonald 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?
Hi! My name is Mrs. Lori McDonald. I am running to be the next Mayor of Zorra Township. I was born and raised in Ingersoll, then moved to Woodstock for public and high school. I have been employed and served, as a volunteer in Oxford County, since my teenage years. My full Bio and Platform can be viewed at MrsMcDonald4Mayor.ca
I moved to Zorra Township in 2018 with my husband and am continuing to be an active member of the community here.
I decided to run for Municipal office to give our residents a choice and a voice. I believe in upholding Canada’s foundational principles and laws. The same. moral values that my great grandparents passed along to me.
After talking with many Zorra neighbours, I discovered that we are all concerned with the increases of property, and business, taxes we are burdened with.
I plan to implement a 0% tax increase, for the next 4 years.
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.
I believe municipalities should have a strong say as to what happens in our area. I have noticed that the Provincial government has been demanding more control over municipal authority, during the past two decades. As an example, Municipalities should stand up against farmland expropriation and wind turbines, both of which negatively affects residents and wildlife.
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?
Keeping open communication with constituents is a must for maintaining trust and accountability. As Mayor, I will be given an email address that I am personally responsible, for maintaining contact with residents. Through that I can arrange meetings in person, when needed. I would also love to chat at local coffee shops and restaurants on a regular basis, to keep up with what’s happening in the neighbourhoods.
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?
I believe the decisions of Municipal staff and Elected Council should be discussed thoroughly, for full comprehension, with the final decision being that of the Elected Council. Municipal Staff are a valuable resource and support for Council.
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?
Social media can be a useful tool for communicating upcoming events. More often, I find it is being used to replace valuable, face to face conversations. I have not deleted any social media accounts, for constituents should know who they are voting for.
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 we are more than capable of maintaining a 0% tax increase for the next four years, by staying within our budget, getting back to basics and focusing on Municipal responsibilities first. Needs before wants.
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.
Most definitely, Oxford County / Municipalities must control future development to ensure farmland stays farmland. As one farmer told me, the soil in Oxford County is second to none! Without farmers and farmland we have NO FOOD. Any growth developments must meet the needs of local, growing families first.
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 will not support industrial solar or wind developments on our precious farmland. Farmland must be protected to provide food only. We have no land to spare for anything other than food.
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.
I will not support Data centers. I’ve seen the studies and there are very little, to no benefits to our residents, wildlife and our natural resources of water and land.
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.
Private property should remain private use, as long as property owner is not negatively affecting neighbours and environment.
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.
My research shows Carbon dioxide emissions in Canada have maintained a fairly healthy balance, due to our vast amount of trees and intentional good use of resources. I do not believe Municipalities need any more of our tax dollars to fund Climate Changing agendas.
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.
DEI training should not be mandatory or even offered. Employment should be offered to the most qualified. Hiring needs to be merit based to ensure the most effective and efficient services offered to our resident’s needs.
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 believe the United Nation’s policies hold a small place in Municipal decisions. Municipal governments have a responsibility to protect local needs first. Transparency is always a must, so if any policies are presented to Council, we must inform local residents and explain our reasons why we support or not support their ideas.
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.
I do not support the use of camera based surveillance systems of the public, for they can greatly infringe upon the privacy of citizens.
I believe Council and local Police are capable of collaborating an effective solution to concerns of the safety of citizens. Local Neighbourhood Watch programs have been quite successful for a number of years. Let’s continue to be neighbourly and watch out for one another.
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.
Public Health Emergency Powers of Elected Council members are limited to our role, which is to inform residents with the most up-to-date, qualified information, to allow them to make informed decisions for their personal situation.
Questionnaire sent: September 8, 2026
Response received: September 24, 2026
← Back to the 2026 Oxford County Municipal Election
Leave a Reply