2026 Oxford County Municipal Election
Blandford-Blenheim — Mayor
We asked. Clayton Haight 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’m running for mayor to provide residents with an option of someone who is fiscally responsible and accountable to the public for the decisions that they make. With my background in finance I feel I bring a strong voice to advocate at Township but also County decisions. I believe the next 4 years are critical in keeping our costs down as many people are at a breaking point in terms of property tax increases. I am concerned with how many people will be forced to leave their homes due to our increased taxes.
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 think that municipalities are having their abilities to make localised decisions stripped away so that is in more alignment with an overall provincial goal. The problem with that is what happens in Toronto doesn’t mean it should happen in Blandford-Blenheim. An example of that is our housing mandate from the province for higher density and more homes. Specifically in Blandford-Blenheim, communities are forced to expand outward taking up very precious farmland and is not in alignment with what our small towns are looking for. This is why local municipalities should have the final say of how their communities operate.
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?
My phone is always on, I am happy to meet people and further discuss their concerns. I think that transparency and accountability for every decision and vote that you do is paramount to the public. Conversation is the best tool for disagreements. This is the way we can grow together as a community.
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?
Staff is to execute the instruction of council. Operations are handled by staff. This is defined in the Municipal Act 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?
No. I have no reason or desire to change social media. What you see is what you get with me.
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.
Given the increases over the last 10 years and the economic situation we are currently in I think our tax increases should be 0%. The focus should be on finding efficiencies and doing more with the existing. By having a mindset of a 0% increase this forces the conversation of if we want to add what are we comfortable with taking away. This is what Canadians are dealing with every single day, our municipal government should be no different. New tax levies should be the growth supporters and allow for new initiatives.
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.
I touched on this earlier, but we have some of the best farmland in the entire country. Land that we cannot get back once housing and industry has taken over. Higher density makes more sense inside urban centres where they can have more local resources. Where growth happens should be up to municipalities and the County to work together at their own pace so that growth can be done properly.
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 am not in support of large Wind or Solar projects that would take up more land. Adding solar to existing buildings I think is a way to be more efficient with the land we are using.
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 am not familiar enough with data centres to make a full decision/opinion at this time. I would need to see the resources a project like that would require as well as any environmental impacts.
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.
Every person should have private property rights. There are by-laws/laws in place to uphold the rules of the land that we all follow together. We have processes in place (i.e. zoning changes, amendments to official plans), those get community input. If your community is supportive common sense should say that we proceed with changes a private property owner wants to make.
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.
Climate is handled by the federal and provincial government. Adding more position at a municipal level is not an efficient use of taxpayer’s dollars.
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.
Common sense would dedicate that whoever is the most qualified/experienced for the job should get the job.
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.
Council should be focused on what residents say they need. They know best what the municipality needs.
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.
No response provided.
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.
No response provided.
Response received: September 30, 2026
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