2026 Municipal Election
Think Before
You Vote.
If
we want Owen Sound to get different results, shouldn't we
seriously consider doing something different?
“
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and
expecting a different result.
Commonly attributed to Albert Einstein; the attribution is disputed.
The question every voter should ask
Owen Sound has had many of the same people and the same approach at City
Hall for years. During that time, important problems facing residents
have continued to demand attention.
Look at the record.
COST believes voters should look honestly at what has happened
before deciding what should happen next.
- Municipal taxes and spending remain a major concern for taxpayers.
- Homelessness, addiction and open drug use have become increasingly visible community issues.
- Affordable housing remains a serious challenge for residents.
- Residents continue to debate whether transit adequately serves people who depend on it.
- The condition and vitality of the downtown remain important concerns.
Then look at the alternatives.
Experience matters. But experience also means being able to
explain what was accomplished while in office — and why voters
should expect a different result next time.
- What would each candidate do differently?
- What would they change, stop or start?
- How would they address homelessness and addiction?
- How would they improve affordability and municipal services?
- How would they control costs while improving outcomes?
This is not about telling you how to vote.
It is about asking whether the people who have been part of Council
should automatically be given another term — or whether voters should
take a hard look at people who have never been part of Council before.
If you're satisfied with the direction Owen Sound has taken...
If you believe the City's approach has been successful...
If you are satisfied with the way Council has dealt with homelessness,
addiction and the deterioration of our downtown...
If you believe the City's tax and spending decisions represent good
value for taxpayers...
If you believe affordable housing and transit are being addressed
adequately...
If you are satisfied with the opportunities residents have to question
and challenge Council...
Then there is little reason to demand a different approach.
But if you look at Owen Sound today and believe the City should be doing
much better, this election deserves a very different kind of scrutiny.
20 new voices deserve your attention.
These are candidates who have never served on Owen Sound City Council.
They have never voted on the decisions made by previous Councils.
They have never been part of a Council responsible for the results we
see today.
That does not automatically make any of them the right
choice. But it does mean they deserve to be examined on their own
merits.
- What would they do differently?
- What specific problems would they tackle first?
- How would they pay for their proposals?
- How would they measure whether their approach is working?
- What experience, ideas and commitments do they bring to the job?
If we want a different result...
Same people
→
Same approach
→
Why expect a different result?
New candidates
→
Different ideas
→
A chance to change direction
Don't just listen to the promises. Test them.
When an experienced candidate tells you, “This time we're going to take
action,” that is a legitimate campaign promise.
It is also legitimate for voters to ask:
“Why didn't you take that action before?”
Experience can be valuable. But voters are entitled to examine what
that experience produced.
Ask every candidate the difficult questions. Don't settle for slogans.
Look for specific actions, measurable objectives, realistic costs and
clear accountability.
What would you do differently?
How would you address homelessness and addiction?
How would you improve housing affordability?
How would you improve transit for people who depend on it?
How would you control municipal costs and taxes?
How would you rebuild our downtown?
COST is doing exactly that.
We are examining the candidates, their responses and their positions on
the issues that matter to Owen Sound taxpayers.
Our purpose is simple: give voters information they can use.
We encourage residents to examine candidates for themselves, ask difficult
questions, compare their answers and decide who they believe can move
Owen Sound in a better direction.
Following our research, COST will publish the candidates we believe offer
the strongest prospect for meaningful change and explain the basis for
those endorsements.
We are not asking you to take our word for it. We are asking you to
do your homework.
COST's three objectives
1. Lower the cost of government
Municipal spending should be disciplined, transparent and focused
on value for taxpayers.
2. Improve services
Owen Sound needs accountable municipal leadership and effective,
efficient services.
3. Grow Owen Sound
We want new ideas that can increase population, investment,
businesses and the municipal tax base.
Election information: The City of Owen Sound confirms that the
2026 municipal election voting period runs from October 16 at 10:00 a.m. to
October 26 at 8:00 p.m. The City's certified candidate list is available on
its election website. COST's reference to “20 new voices” refers to COST's
own identification of candidates who have never served on Owen Sound Council;
it should not be confused with the City's total number of certified candidates.
City of Owen Sound — Certified Candidates
|
City of Owen Sound — Voter Information
