Candidate Name: Brandon Forder
Position Sought: Councillor
Email: bforder@gmail.com
Phone: 905-464-0563
Bio:
Brandon Forder is a local business owner, father of three, and current Councillor for the Municipality of Meaford.
Brandon moved to Meaford with his family in 2017 and quickly became involved in the community. He has more than 30 years of experience in the pet industry, and currently owns Harbour Hound Pet Supplies located in Meaford. He is also owner of SideQuest Events, which organizes a number of large events including YetiCon and the Meaford Pet Expo.
Before being elected to Meaford Council in 2022, Brandon served as Director for the Meaford Chamber of Commerce. During his first term on council, he served on a number of municipal committees and boards, including Chair of the Heritage Advisory Committee, Co-Chair of the Ensuring Sustainability Committee, and Director for the Meaford Public Library.
Brandon believes residents deserve an independent voice at the council table, with an approach consisting of doing his homework, listening to residents, asking difficult questions, and making decisions that serve the best interests of the community.
He is seeking a second term to continue working toward a strong, sustainable, and affordable future for Meaford.
Explain your primary reasons for your decision to seek election to Meaford council:
Four years ago, I ran for Council because I wanted to make a positive contribution to the community my family and I call home. That reason has not changed.
My first term has given me a much deeper understanding of how municipal government works, what Council can realistically accomplish, and where I believe we can do better. This role comes with a significant learning curve, and I believe the experience I have gained over the past four years puts me in a stronger position to further contribute during a second term.
My passion for serving my community remains the same as it was four years ago. I enjoy putting in the work, speaking with residents, challenging assumptions when necessary, and working through complex issues.
Over the next four years, Meaford will face some serious challenges regarding infrastructure, growth, affordability, and municipal services. I am seeking re-election because I want to put my experience to work and continue providing residents with a strong, independent voice at the Council table.
In your view, what should be the top priorities for the council that is elected on October 26?
Infrastructure needs to be one of Council’s highest priorities. Meaford has 400+km of roads, dozens of bridges, aging facilities, and significant wastewater needs. We need realistic long-term plans that address these challenges without placing an unreasonable burden on taxpayers.
Responsible development is also important. Growth can help expand our tax base, add new uses to our water and wastewater systems, support local businesses, and more – but development needs to make financial sense and compliment the community. I support making better use of existing infrastructure by focusing growth in areas where services already exist.
Affordability should also be a major part of every decision Council makes. Many residents are struggling with the rising cost of living, and the municipality needs to carefully separate must-haves from nice-to-haves, explore all potential efficiencies, and avoid short-term decisions that cost taxpayers more in the long run.
Another top priority for this upcoming term of Council has to be continued improvement in customer service – particularly in planning and building. We need clearer processes, better communication, and a stronger focus on helping residents and businesses navigate municipal requirements. The approach needs to be “how can we get this done” and not “why this can’t happen”.
Explain the role of councillor as you understand it:
A councillor’s job is to represent the entire municipality and make decisions that are in the best interests of the community as a whole.
This starts with listening and making yourself available. Residents need to know they can contact their councillors, ask questions and raise concerns, and have their views taken seriously. At the same time, councillors have a responsibility to consider the financial, legal, and long-term impacts of the decisions Council makes.
In this role, a councillor must be prepared. Reports must be read thoroughly and understood completely. Councillors must do additional research, ask questions, and challenge recommendations when necessary.
It is also important that Council respects the difference between governance and administration. Council sets policy, approves budgets and establishes priorities, whereas municipal staff are responsible for the day-to-day operations and implementing Council’s direction.
The role of a councillor is about listening to all sides, asking intelligent questions, using sound judgement, and standing behind your decisions.
