{"version":"https://jsonfeed.org/version/1","title":"Christine Garneau Bisaillon for County of Brant Mayor","home_page_url":"https://garneauformayor.ca","description":"Christine Garneau Bisaillon for County of Brant Mayor","author":{"name":"Christine Garneau Bisaillon for County of Brant Mayor"},"items":[{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/when-everything-happens-for-a-reason-aka-my-path-to-candidacy","html_content":"

Last night, I went back to my original posts from the ’22 campaign and reflected on what inspired my first run for Council four years ago. We were growing the farm’s nursery and visitors were having trouble finding us b...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/when-everything-happens-for-a-reason-aka-my-path-to-candidacy","title":"When everything happens for a reason aka my path to candidacy","summary":"Last night, I went back to my original posts from the ’22 campaign and reflected on what inspired my first run for Council four years ago. We were growing the farm’s nursery and visitors were having trouble finding us b...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T04:57:40Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/proper-notice-creates-better-engagement-collegial-results","html_content":"

Were you one to leave your homework to the last minute in school? Even if this isn’t your style, you certainly must embrace it when you’re interested in municipal government here in the County of Brant. But, maybe it doe...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/proper-notice-creates-better-engagement-collegial-results","title":"Proper notice creates better engagement, collegial results","summary":"Were you one to leave your homework to the last minute in school? Even if this isn’t your style, you certainly must embrace it when you’re interested in municipal government here in the County of Brant. But, maybe it doe...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T04:50:06Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/authentic-leadership-is-comfortable-the-alternative-is-not","html_content":"

When values, words, and actions align, leadership is authentic and genuine. Otherwise, the journey can be uncomfortable like walking with a rock in your shoe reminding you that something is out of balance.

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/authentic-leadership-is-comfortable-the-alternative-is-not","title":"Authentic leadership is comfortable, the alternative is not","summary":"When values, words, and actions align, leadership is authentic and genuine. Otherwise, the journey can be uncomfortable like walking with a rock in your shoe reminding you that something is out of balance.","date_modified":"2026-05-08T04:47:36Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/why-every-council-decision-informs-the-property-tax-levy","html_content":"

Council is asked to approve another property tax increase on Tuesday morning when it sits as the Administration & Operations Committee… but, wait, didn’t the budget already get approved? Council de facto approved collect...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/why-every-council-decision-informs-the-property-tax-levy","title":"Why every Council decision informs the property tax levy","summary":"Council is asked to approve another property tax increase on Tuesday morning when it sits as the Administration & Operations Committee… but, wait, didn’t the budget already get approved? Council de facto approved collect...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T04:45:23Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/why-its-never-too-late-to-get-things-right","html_content":"

It’s never too late to make things right and I must thank County staff for their work at Brant Cemetery on Colborne Street East!

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/why-its-never-too-late-to-get-things-right","title":"Why it's never too late to get things right!","summary":"It’s never too late to make things right and I must thank County staff for their work at Brant Cemetery on Colborne Street East!","date_modified":"2026-05-08T04:42:49Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/why-its-always-worth-a-closer-read-down-to-the-last-page","html_content":"

Are you one to read the “fine print”? Look to the bottom of Tuesday’s Council agenda to find the By-Laws and you’ll see that Council is authorizing phone and internet voting as the only option for the upcoming general mu...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/why-its-always-worth-a-closer-read-down-to-the-last-page","title":"Why it's always worth a closer read, down to the last page!","summary":"Are you one to read the “fine print”? Look to the bottom of Tuesday’s Council agenda to find the By-Laws and you’ll see that Council is authorizing phone and internet voting as the only option for the upcoming general mu...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T04:41:42Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/calling-it-the-silly-season-undermines-a-campaigns-importance","html_content":"

Ah, yes, the “silly season” rhetoric yet again! We see a return to the language used to deliberately downplay the significance of behaviour and comments that many would otherwise acknowledge as inappropriate. Likewise, t...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/calling-it-the-silly-season-undermines-a-campaigns-importance","title":"Calling it the \"silly season\" undermines a campaign's importance","summary":"Ah, yes, the “silly season” rhetoric yet again! We see a return to the language used to deliberately downplay the significance of behaviour and comments that many would otherwise acknowledge as inappropriate. Likewise, t...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T04:38:16Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/being-true-to-ones-self-as-a-lesson-on-leadership","html_content":"

Sundays are a time for reflection, even when they cannot be a day of rest on the farm. Growing up in Guiding, evenings ended softly singing vespers asking each girl to consider four questions that still guide me today:

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/being-true-to-ones-self-as-a-lesson-on-leadership","title":"Being true to one's self as a lesson on leadership","summary":"Sundays are a time for reflection, even when they cannot be a day of rest on the farm. Growing up in Guiding, evenings ended softly singing vespers asking each girl to consider four questions that still guide me today:","date_modified":"2026-05-08T04:35:39Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/ford-chev-or-dodge-party-politics-on-the-municipal-level","html_content":"

My dad loyally drove GMCs, then I married a Ford guy who’ll drive nothing else, but they’d both probably agree in jest that either was better than having me drive a Dodge. You see, it’s okay to find a little friendly ban...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/ford-chev-or-dodge-party-politics-on-the-municipal-level","title":"Ford, Chev, or Dodge? Party politics on the municipal level.","summary":"My dad loyally drove GMCs, then I married a Ford guy who’ll drive nothing else, but they’d both probably agree in jest that either was better than having me drive a Dodge. You see, it’s okay to find a little friendly ban...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T04:32:37Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/on-being-the-bigger-person-and-what-happens-when-you-dont","html_content":"

County Council’s fraught relationship with the provincial government is slowly drawing public attention on social media. Residents are rightly identifying this when asking whether there was an opportunity to better coord...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/on-being-the-bigger-person-and-what-happens-when-you-dont","title":"On Being the Bigger Person, and Why it's Important in Politics","summary":"County Council’s fraught relationship with the provincial government is slowly drawing public attention on social media. Residents are rightly identifying this when asking whether there was an opportunity to better coord...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T04:28:00Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/why-paris-needs-to-worry-about-a-boundary-adjustment-in-oakhill","html_content":"

Boundary adjustments continue to drive local headlines, while concurrent conversations unfold online about regional transportation and the rural-urban divide, meaning that thoughtful decisions today matter more than ever...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/why-paris-needs-to-worry-about-a-boundary-adjustment-in-oakhill","title":"Why Paris Needs to Worry about a Boundary Adjustment in Oakhill","summary":"Boundary adjustments continue to drive local headlines, while concurrent conversations unfold online about regional transportation and the rural-urban divide, meaning that thoughtful decisions today matter more than ever...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T04:25:54Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/construction-management-starts-with-procurement-practices","html_content":"

Consider this post the “Part B” to yesterday’s observations about how the Council has more control over local construction than it realizes because this authority begins in the procurement process! Let’s use the St. Geo...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/construction-management-starts-with-procurement-practices","title":"Construction management starts with procurement practices.","summary":"Consider this post the “Part B” to yesterday’s observations about how the Council has more control over local construction than it realizes because this authority begins in the procurement process! Let’s use the St. Geo...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T04:22:14Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/council-has-more-control-over-construction-than-it-realizes","html_content":"

What happens when people who’ve never worked in municipal construction try to explain municipal construction? The result is misinformation spreads, albeit likely through a lack of understanding not an intentional effort...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/council-has-more-control-over-construction-than-it-realizes","title":"Council has more control over construction than it realizes","summary":"What happens when people who’ve never worked in municipal construction try to explain municipal construction? The result is misinformation spreads, albeit likely through a lack of understanding not an intentional effort...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T04:20:10Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/the-county-doesnt-need-compassion-it-needs-leadership","html_content":"

April Fools Day may be the one time that a little misinformation is tolerated, but only when in jest and acknowledged come noon.

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/the-county-doesnt-need-compassion-it-needs-leadership","title":"The County doesn't need compassion, it needs leadership!","summary":"April Fools Day may be the one time that a little misinformation is tolerated, but only when in jest and acknowledged come noon.","date_modified":"2026-05-08T04:17:35Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/why-a-boundary-adjustment-isnt-the-solution-to-county-finances","html_content":"

What if a boundary adjustment could relieve some of the financial pressures facing the County of Brant? I expect that some will try to make this argument to soften the effects of what’s likely coming down the pipe! But, ...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/why-a-boundary-adjustment-isnt-the-solution-to-county-finances","title":"Why a boundary adjustment isn't the solution to County finances","summary":"What if a boundary adjustment could relieve some of the financial pressures facing the County of Brant? I expect that some will try to make this argument to soften the effects of what’s likely coming down the pipe! But, ...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T04:15:56Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/why-the-government-relations-committee-really-wound-down","html_content":"

Much like how the mid-cycle accountability measures do not usually prevent strategic missteps, creating a committee doesn’t always result in more effective, efficient governance. In fact, sometimes it can have the opposi...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/why-the-government-relations-committee-really-wound-down","title":"Why the Government Relations Committee Really Wound Down","summary":"Much like how the mid-cycle accountability measures do not usually prevent strategic missteps, creating a committee doesn’t always result in more effective, efficient governance. In fact, sometimes it can have the opposi...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T04:14:20Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/ai-real-writing-and-misrepresentation-in-elections","html_content":"

Norfolk County recently banned using AI during the municipal election, explained as a way of building public trust in the electoral process. By their own admission, this policy will be hard to enforce outside of municipa...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/ai-real-writing-and-misrepresentation-in-elections","title":"AI, Real Writing, and Misrepresentation in Elections and Online ","summary":"Norfolk County recently banned using AI during the municipal election, explained as a way of building public trust in the electoral process. By their own admission, this policy will be hard to enforce outside of municipa...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T04:12:30Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/to-renew-or-not-elected-office-as-contractual-employment","html_content":"

We have two cautionary tales unfolding concurrently in the County as boundary negotiations for Oakhill were imposed on us this week and so many concurrent construction projects in Paris means every turn could be a wrong ...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/to-renew-or-not-elected-office-as-contractual-employment","title":"To renew, or not? Elected office as contractual employment...","summary":"We have two cautionary tales unfolding concurrently in the County as boundary negotiations for Oakhill were imposed on us this week and so many concurrent construction projects in Paris means every turn could be a wrong ...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T04:08:48Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/where-was-the-county-when-the-city-asked-for-oakhill","html_content":"

Just like a driver approaching an intersection along our roads, municipal leaders need to be reading the warning signs and the traffic flows to know when to slow down or proceed with caution because failing to do so can ...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/where-was-the-county-when-the-city-asked-for-oakhill","title":"Where was the County when the City asked for Oakhill?","summary":"Just like a driver approaching an intersection along our roads, municipal leaders need to be reading the warning signs and the traffic flows to know when to slow down or proceed with caution because failing to do so can ...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T04:03:54Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/my-immediate-thoughts-on-the-brantford-airport-announcement","html_content":"

It looks like I’ll be interrupting the conversation I’d intended to continue today because we have breaking news from County Council that I’m disappointed, but not surprised, to be reading! Boundary negotiations are comm...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/my-immediate-thoughts-on-the-brantford-airport-announcement","title":"My Immediate Thoughts on the Brantford Airport Announcement","summary":"It looks like I’ll be interrupting the conversation I’d intended to continue today because we have breaking news from County Council that I’m disappointed, but not surprised, to be reading! Boundary negotiations are comm...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T04:02:49Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/can-we-trust-someone-easily-led-astray","html_content":"

You’ve heard that one about hitching your horse to the wrong wagon, right? As a rookie Councillor, you must learn when to lead, when to follow, and whose advice to trust as you grow into your role. Many assumed that the ...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/can-we-trust-someone-easily-led-astray","title":"Can we trust someone easily led astray?","summary":"You’ve heard that one about hitching your horse to the wrong wagon, right? As a rookie Councillor, you must learn when to lead, when to follow, and whose advice to trust as you grow into your role. Many assumed that the ...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T04:00:24Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/decisions-today-shape-the-city-county-future-tomorrow","html_content":"

Waking up to a renewed call for the County to solve the City’s West Brant traffic woes by widening County Road 18 is never a good way to open a conversation about regional cooperation. Calls for collegiality while descri...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/decisions-today-shape-the-city-county-future-tomorrow","title":"Decisions Today Shape the City-County Future Tomorrow","summary":"Waking up to a renewed call for the County to solve the City’s West Brant traffic woes by widening County Road 18 is never a good way to open a conversation about regional cooperation. Calls for collegiality while descri...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T03:58:48Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/respect-the-one-thing-were-all-asking-of-our-council","html_content":"

Just as the Grand River and its tributaries connect many of Brant County’s communities, so too does what we are asking of our municipal government. What I’ve come to realize from spending time in all corners of the Count...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/respect-the-one-thing-were-all-asking-of-our-council","title":"Respect: the one thing we're all asking of our Council!","summary":"Just as the Grand River and its tributaries connect many of Brant County’s communities, so too does what we are asking of our municipal government. What I’ve come to realize from spending time in all corners of the Count...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T03:55:51Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/why-rural-reinvestment-goes-the-distance-for-everyone","html_content":"

One of the things that continues to resonate with me about rural residents is the importance of maintaining infrastructure as a marker of equitable reinvestment in their communities, especially when it comes to permanent...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/why-rural-reinvestment-goes-the-distance-for-everyone","title":"Why Rural Reinvestment Goes the Distance for Everyone","summary":"One of the things that continues to resonate with me about rural residents is the importance of maintaining infrastructure as a marker of equitable reinvestment in their communities, especially when it comes to permanent...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T03:54:35Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/hometown-or-chosen-town-tenure-shouldnt-define-commitment","html_content":"

I’m increasingly observing that tenure in our community is being used to define commitment and concerned with this growing narrative because it builds on the divisive politics that have been used to further conflicts bet...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/hometown-or-chosen-town-tenure-shouldnt-define-commitment","title":"Hometown or Chosen Town: Tenure Shouldn't Define Commitment ","summary":"I’m increasingly observing that tenure in our community is being used to define commitment and concerned with this growing narrative because it builds on the divisive politics that have been used to further conflicts bet...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T03:53:04Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/stronger-together-creating-a-cohesive-municipal-identity","html_content":"

Hey, Paris Independent, Brant County needs a puzzle! I came across this one from our Norfolk County neighbours a few weeks ago while representing my farm at a trade show in Simcoe and loved what it symbolized.

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/stronger-together-creating-a-cohesive-municipal-identity","title":"Stronger Together: Creating a Cohesive Municipal Identity","summary":"Hey, Paris Independent, Brant County needs a puzzle! I came across this one from our Norfolk County neighbours a few weeks ago while representing my farm at a trade show in Simcoe and loved what it symbolized.","date_modified":"2026-05-08T03:51:23Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/on-getting-it-right-the-first-time-or-at-least-admitting-not","html_content":"

Were you raised to do things right the first time? Earlier today, I found myself out Highway 54 for other reasons and took a minute to visit a familiar sidewalk panel.

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/on-getting-it-right-the-first-time-or-at-least-admitting-not","title":"On Getting it Right the First Time, or at Least Admitting Not","summary":"Were you raised to do things right the first time? Earlier today, I found myself out Highway 54 for other reasons and took a minute to visit a familiar sidewalk panel.","date_modified":"2026-05-08T03:49:36Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/long-term-plans-dont-prevent-poor-decisions","html_content":"

Long-term planning is always worthwhile, but when decisions continue to be made separate from their broader context, these planning exercises often result in costly shelved reports that may not have accomplished their in...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/long-term-plans-dont-prevent-poor-decisions","title":"Long-Term Plans don't Prevent Poor Decisions","summary":"Long-term planning is always worthwhile, but when decisions continue to be made separate from their broader context, these planning exercises often result in costly shelved reports that may not have accomplished their in...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T03:47:47Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/what-i-was-really-thinking-on-international-womens-day","html_content":"

Reflecting on International Women’s Day, I’m reminded of an experience that highlights to me the need to recognize days like today but also the importance of ongoing commitments to fostering what many celebrate each year...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/what-i-was-really-thinking-on-international-womens-day","title":"What I was really thinking on International Women's Day","summary":"Reflecting on International Women’s Day, I’m reminded of an experience that highlights to me the need to recognize days like today but also the importance of ongoing commitments to fostering what many celebrate each year...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T03:44:56Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/leadership-behaviour-that-actually-undermines-public-trust","html_content":"

We have two local mayors in the hot seat this week, driving headlines and dominating conversations both here and in Hamilton.

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/leadership-behaviour-that-actually-undermines-public-trust","title":"Leadership Behaviour that Actually Undermines Public Trust","summary":"We have two local mayors in the hot seat this week, driving headlines and dominating conversations both here and in Hamilton.","date_modified":"2026-05-08T03:43:27Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/when-speaking-up-gets-rebranded-as-causing-trouble","html_content":"

When speaking up gets rebranded as causing trouble, strong voices become targets because they often trigger defensive responses from those they challenge. This school bus stop warning sign is as symbolic as the missing J...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/when-speaking-up-gets-rebranded-as-causing-trouble","title":"When Speaking Up Gets Rebranded as Causing Trouble","summary":"When speaking up gets rebranded as causing trouble, strong voices become targets because they often trigger defensive responses from those they challenge. This school bus stop warning sign is as symbolic as the missing J...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T03:42:08Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/the-rising-taxes-that-concern-farmers-most","html_content":"

Reducing farm taxes was the top policy priority for 69.94% of respondents in a recent Ontario Federation of Agriculture survey! I took a break from my own farm administration yesterday to attend a Lunch and Learn session...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/the-rising-taxes-that-concern-farmers-most","title":"The Rising Taxes that Concern Farmers Most","summary":"Reducing farm taxes was the top policy priority for 69.94% of respondents in a recent Ontario Federation of Agriculture survey! I took a break from my own farm administration yesterday to attend a Lunch and Learn session...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T03:40:43Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/on-counting-your-chickens-or-anticipated-revenues-too-soon","html_content":"

You know that saying about counting your chickens before they hatch? The takeaway speaks to not treating an outcome as certain until it is and this is an excellent cautionary statement when it comes to counting on grants...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/on-counting-your-chickens-or-anticipated-revenues-too-soon","title":"On Counting Your Chickens... or anticipated revenues too soon...","summary":"You know that saying about counting your chickens before they hatch? The takeaway speaks to not treating an outcome as certain until it is and this is an excellent cautionary statement when it comes to counting on grants...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T03:39:11Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/real-solutions-to-food-insecurity-need-farmers","html_content":"

Food insecurity affects 25% of local households according to a recent report by the Grand Erie Public Health Unit. We all understand why this is concerning for our broader community, so it’s best to focus the conversatio...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/real-solutions-to-food-insecurity-need-farmers","title":"Real Solutions to Food Insecurity need Farmers","summary":"Food insecurity affects 25% of local households according to a recent report by the Grand Erie Public Health Unit. We all understand why this is concerning for our broader community, so it’s best to focus the conversatio...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T03:37:36Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/interest-as-the-opportunity-cost-of-borrowing","html_content":"

Years ago, I was clerking a finance committee meeting in the university sector when the chair, who was also an experienced commercial banker, encouraged members to consider that interest paid on a loan was the opportunit...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/interest-as-the-opportunity-cost-of-borrowing","title":"Interest as the Opportunity Cost of Borrowing","summary":"Years ago, I was clerking a finance committee meeting in the university sector when the chair, who was also an experienced commercial banker, encouraged members to consider that interest paid on a loan was the opportunit...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T03:35:20Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/small-business-is-big-business-and-they-need-your-support","html_content":"

John and I went for a date night in Downtown Paris, Ontario recently to take advantage of the Brant Eats promotions that are intended to encourage dining out during the shoulder season when restaurants are often slower. ...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/small-business-is-big-business-and-they-need-your-support","title":"Small Business is Big Business and they need your support!","summary":"John and I went for a date night in Downtown Paris, Ontario recently to take advantage of the Brant Eats promotions that are intended to encourage dining out during the shoulder season when restaurants are often slower. ...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T03:33:21Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/creating-a-cohesive-municipal-identity-post-county-amalgamation","html_content":"

Haldimand County is celebrating its 25th anniversary as a contemporary municipality with a new commemorative logo and year-long festivities including a Silver Ticket game, youth coin-design competition, and special event...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/creating-a-cohesive-municipal-identity-post-county-amalgamation","title":"Creating a Cohesive Municipal Identity Post-County Amalgamation","summary":"Haldimand County is celebrating its 25th anniversary as a contemporary municipality with a new commemorative logo and year-long festivities including a Silver Ticket game, youth coin-design competition, and special event...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T03:29:42Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/rainy-days-without-reserves","html_content":"

Building on the County’s statement that the Long-Term Financial Plan guides the Mayor’s budget and serves as Council’s method of influence, I decided to turn my analysis there because this was the document that initially...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/rainy-days-without-reserves","title":"Rainy Days without Reserves","summary":"Building on the County’s statement that the Long-Term Financial Plan guides the Mayor’s budget and serves as Council’s method of influence, I decided to turn my analysis there because this was the document that initially...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T03:27:49Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/council-divisions-and-a-mayors-budget","html_content":"

Late yesterday, the County announced that the Mayor’s budget was finalized. What strikes me by the narrative that surrounds it is the extent to which the messaging suggests that he and Council are sensitive to how proper...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/council-divisions-and-a-mayors-budget","title":"Council Divisions and a Mayor's Budget","summary":"Late yesterday, the County announced that the Mayor’s budget was finalized. What strikes me by the narrative that surrounds it is the extent to which the messaging suggests that he and Council are sensitive to how proper...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T03:25:23Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/symbolic-leadership-and-benchmarking-budgets-with-neighbours","html_content":"

Municipalities often look to their neighbours to contextualize their decisions and benchmark outcomes, especially when it comes to questions of value including property tax increases and development charges. Being able t...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/symbolic-leadership-and-benchmarking-budgets-with-neighbours","title":"Symbolic Leadership and Benchmarking Budgets with Neighbours","summary":"Municipalities often look to their neighbours to contextualize their decisions and benchmark outcomes, especially when it comes to questions of value including property tax increases and development charges. Being able t...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T03:23:41Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/my-thoughts-on-what-really-happened-at-the-farm","html_content":"

I never set out to be newsworthy, but sometimes newsworthiness finds you. Last week, a story that’s been months in the making ran in the Hamilton Spectator. It hasn’t found it’s way to the local syndicate as I write wh...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/my-thoughts-on-what-really-happened-at-the-farm","title":"My Thoughts on What Really Happened at the Farm","summary":"I never set out to be newsworthy, but sometimes newsworthiness finds you. Last week, a story that’s been months in the making ran in the Hamilton Spectator. It hasn’t found it’s way to the local syndicate as I write wh...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T03:21:53Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/growing-up-in-guiding-for-a-lifetime-of-engaged-citizenship","html_content":"

What I love about engaging with people on the most local levels is that conversations can focus on the issues that matter to them most in the moment when we connect. As we enter what’s hopefully the home stretch of a lon...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/growing-up-in-guiding-for-a-lifetime-of-engaged-citizenship","title":"Growing up in Guiding for a Lifetime of Engaged Citizenship","summary":"What I love about engaging with people on the most local levels is that conversations can focus on the issues that matter to them most in the moment when we connect. As we enter what’s hopefully the home stretch of a lon...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T03:19:26Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/flood-risk-in-paris-does-inaction-increase-liability","html_content":"

If flooding remains a top risk in the County, why did it take nearly four years to commission next steps from an extensive study finished in May 2022? The County posted an update to Engage Brant on February 3rd, quietly ...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/flood-risk-in-paris-does-inaction-increase-liability","title":"Flood Risk in Paris: does inaction increase liability?","summary":"If flooding remains a top risk in the County, why did it take nearly four years to commission next steps from an extensive study finished in May 2022? The County posted an update to Engage Brant on February 3rd, quietly ...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T03:15:55Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/municipal-identity-communities-lost-to-history","html_content":"

When The Paris Independent inquired about reprinting one of my posts as a letter to the editor in tomorrow’s edition, I was asked which community I called home because that information is usually printed under the author...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/municipal-identity-communities-lost-to-history","title":"Municipal Identity & Communities Lost to History","summary":"When The Paris Independent inquired about reprinting one of my posts as a letter to the editor in tomorrow’s edition, I was asked which community I called home because that information is usually printed under the author...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T03:13:09Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/on-finding-our-place-as-farmers-for-cdnagday","html_content":"

#CdnAgDay is celebrating its 10th anniversary highlighting the significance of the agri-food industry’s contributions nationally. Recent data from the Ontario Federation of Agriculture indicates that Brant County is hom...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/on-finding-our-place-as-farmers-for-cdnagday","title":"On Finding Our Place as Farmers for #CdnAgDay","summary":"#CdnAgDay is celebrating its 10th anniversary highlighting the significance of the agri-food industry’s contributions nationally. Recent data from the Ontario Federation of Agriculture indicates that Brant County is hom...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T03:06:26Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/righting-municipal-wrongs-and-legal-inequities","html_content":"

How should municipalities act when they realize they’ve made a mistake? I’m not referring to differences of political opinion on policy issues, where respectful debate should be encouraged and outcomes accepted when due ...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/righting-municipal-wrongs-and-legal-inequities","title":"Righting Municipal Wrongs and Legal Inequities","summary":"How should municipalities act when they realize they’ve made a mistake? I’m not referring to differences of political opinion on policy issues, where respectful debate should be encouraged and outcomes accepted when due ...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T03:04:25Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/rural-sustainability-respect-and-reinvestment","html_content":"

Colder weather and the calm before spring on the farm has offered me time to continue reflecting on earlier observations about how the County of Brant is evolving as a municipality. While our roots will always be rural, ...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/rural-sustainability-respect-and-reinvestment","title":"Rural Sustainability, Respect, and Reinvestment","summary":"Colder weather and the calm before spring on the farm has offered me time to continue reflecting on earlier observations about how the County of Brant is evolving as a municipality. While our roots will always be rural, ...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T03:02:29Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/did-inconsistent-explanations-foreshadow-oakhills-future","html_content":"

I hope that everyone involved in last night's collision in the Colborne Street West corridor is alright! Residents and business owners have been asking for improvements for many years and for good reasons.

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/did-inconsistent-explanations-foreshadow-oakhills-future","title":"Did Inconsistent Explanations Foreshadow Oakhill's Future?","summary":"I hope that everyone involved in last night's collision in the Colborne Street West corridor is alright! Residents and business owners have been asking for improvements for many years and for good reasons.","date_modified":"2026-05-08T03:00:11Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/false-misleading-profiles-aka-my-thoughts-on-amalgamation","html_content":"

There’s an interesting commentary unfolding on one of our local newspaper outlets’ social media in recent days, arising from their decision to delete, block, and inform the public of what they described as “false and mis...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/false-misleading-profiles-aka-my-thoughts-on-amalgamation","title":"False & Misleading Profiles aka My Thoughts on Amalgamation ","summary":"There’s an interesting commentary unfolding on one of our local newspaper outlets’ social media in recent days, arising from their decision to delete, block, and inform the public of what they described as “false and mis...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T02:56:43Z"},{"id":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/municipal-cost-savings-starts-with-better-procurement-contracts","html_content":"

Landscape Ontario Congress is Canada’s premier trade show for the horticulture, landscape, and snow removal industries and it took place in Toronto last week. Even if trees are our primary business now, once a snow guy, ...

","url":"https://garneauformayor.ca/my-blog/f/municipal-cost-savings-starts-with-better-procurement-contracts","title":"Municipal Cost Savings Starts with Better Procurement Contracts","summary":"Landscape Ontario Congress is Canada’s premier trade show for the horticulture, landscape, and snow removal industries and it took place in Toronto last week. Even if trees are our primary business now, once a snow guy, ...","date_modified":"2026-05-08T02:53:52Z"}]}