As Canadians, many take democracy for granted. It’s considered a guarantee – we have elections after all.
There will be some who feel the opposite, that democracy is already dead because of our first-past-the-post system, because accusations fly for election rigging or corruption, because of misinformation – whatever it may be.
I propose a middle ground: democracy is dying by a thousand cuts.
We’ve all seen the divisiveness in Haldimand’s political landscape growing. Misinformation is rampant, spread rapidly on social media. Sides are being taken and the focus for what’s important is being lost in the power struggle. Finding a proper balance between cooperation and constructive opposition is no easy feat, but that imbalance is at least very visible – especially when politicians start bickering publicly.
What you might not be seeing, however, is the slow stranglehold of administrative bureaucracy.
As most readers know, The Haldimand Press hosts a debate ahead of every municipal, provincial, and federal election. We began this community service in 2018, giving voters another opportunity to hear directly from local candidates.
This aligned perfectly with our core mandate to keep residents informed. While later elections have had others step forward to host debates, we have continued to host our own – and expand its reach – because we know the value of an informed voter.
An informed voter can make a better choice at the ballot box, increasing the likelihood of politicians making positive changes to government policy, and ultimately bettering our community.
Our past participating candidates have always shown great appreciation for this chance to reach constituents and share their ideas for our community.
So, imagine our surprise when we contacted Haldimand County about renting one of their community halls – as we have done for several years – and were told no.
More specifically, we were told “that no Haldimand County property/buildings can be used for any election purposes, including a candidate debate.”
On request of the exact policy that prohibits such purposes, we were directed to s5.1.5 of the Use of Corporate Resources for Election Purposes Policy, which reads: “Candidates and Registered Third Parties may not rent any Haldimand County facilities for campaigning purposes, including Candidate debates.”
The facility booking person relayed from the County clerk, “As such, the policy does not permit renting any Haldimand County space for a debate, regardless of who requests the booking, as it is not always possible to determine whether an individual or group is connected to a campaign.”
I had so many concerns with this initial response that it was hard to pick where to start.
“It is not always possible to determine whether an individual or group is connected to a campaign.”
Both candidates and registered third parties must register with the clerk. Haldimand County offers a list of both on its website.
While someone could be unofficially “connected” to a campaign, the policy does not define what that means, ultimately:
The policy as written only prohibits candidates and registered third parties.
I pointed out this limitation to County Clerk Chad Curtis directly, and he responded, “I can see how the policy may leave room for interpretation, so I appreciate your feedback. We’ll take it under review for a future policy update.”
The thing is – I don’t care how the County wishes they wrote the policy.
As of right now, the policy dictates that candidates and registered third parties are prohibited – and no other. We are neither, and we are happy to sign an attestation to that fact.
The County is welcome to bring this policy back to Council for a vote on extending that prohibition carte blanche, and we would continue to strongly urge against that decision because:
This is a small cut to local democracy.
The Haldimand Press has chosen County-owned facilities for a reason. The Caledonia Lions Hall we have previously used, and the new Hagersville Active Living Centre we inquired about, have a space that is large enough to host our in-person attendees and have the technological capabilities necessary for live streaming smoothly to all those at home.
These facilities are best suited in part because they received significant public funding, allowing them to go beyond what the average church or legion may afford. Churches and non-profit halls are regularly struggling for funding and volunteers, with several closing in the past decade.
While we will continue with finding a suitable location to host our event, the removal of all County-owned facilities for this purpose will directly impact the ability of interested local organizations to offer this democratic service.
Haldimand’s rural areas will be most greatly affected, as they will have limited options outside the local County-owned hall without travelling to another community.
In our discussions, Curtis said, “The policy is not meant to hinder our local democracy in any way.”
I think that’s fair for the policy as written. Candidates and registered third parties are inherently biased, as they are formally registered in support of one candidate. Supporting their efforts directly could itself hinder democracy by promoting one voice over another.
However, for the policy as they are enacting it, it absolutely does hinder local democracy. Intent does not equal result. Again, what they wish this policy did does not change its impact.
The response from County leadership.
When it became clear we were at a stalemate with Curtis, The Press wrote a letter to formally ask the County to reconsider its position. This letter was sent to Curtis, CAO Michael Di Lullo, Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley, and Councillors Debera McKeen, John Metcalfe, Dan Lawrence, Brad Adams, Rob Shirton, and Patrick O’Neill.
Curtis responded with a formal letter of his own, acknowledging the “effort and community spirit” behind our request, but ultimately iterating that corporate facilities “must adhere to policies during an election period … to ensure neutrality, fairness, and equal access for all candidates.”
“While we have every confidence that you would approach such an event in a fair and inclusive manner, there is no practical way for us to guarantee that all potential organizers would do the same,” he continued.
Of note, at least twice in recent years County facilities were rented and the County later stated that the organizers misrepresented the nature of the event. In those cases, Haldimand’s response was to make a statement distancing themselves from those groups, not to end all rentals.
I emailed every Council member a second time, directly requesting their opinion of the policy and the clerk’s decision. Sent July 10, I have received no replies as of our publication deadline (altough O’Neill did reply to our reporter’s request for comment). I’ll leave readers to make your own conclusions on that.
The Haldimand Press will share the details of its 2026 candidate meet and greet and mayoral debate when available. As with all our previous debates in the Caledonia Lions Hall, all registered candidates will be invited to participate – of course, whether they respond or attend is up to them.
If you agree that this policy as enacted is a cut to democracy – however small – we encourage you to share your opinion with your local councillor, the mayor, the clerk, and every candidate you speak with this election cycle.
Any cut may be the last if it is left to bleed.
