A Crossroads Election in The Blue Mountains
As residents in the Town of the Blue Mountains prepare to cast their ballots this October, the municipal election landscape looks markedly different from four years ago.
The 2026 municipal election is shaping up to be one of the most competitive local contests in recent memory, with a larger field of candidates and a wider range of critical issues before voters.
This newsletter looks at three questions facing voters: how the candidate field has changed, which issues are likely to define the campaign, and what residents may want to ask before voting in October.
A More Competitive Election
In 2022, local democracy in The Blue Mountains was marked by quiet predictability. Deputy Mayor Peter Bordignon was acclaimed, and overall, voter engagement struggled against a thin slate of contenders.
Fast forward to 2026, and candidate participation has surged as nomination activity has turned what began as a quiet pre-election period into a much broader contest.
Recent reporting shows how quickly the field has grown. By mid-July, CollingwoodToday reported 11 declared candidates, including two mayoral candidates, one deputy mayoral candidate and eight council candidates. Since then, the local conversation has continued to intensify, with additional names entering the race and community groups organizing candidate events focused on taxes, infrastructure, growth and accountability.
At the time of writing, the 2026 ballot features 14 contenders, including incumbent candidates and community newcomers. The self-prepared profiles of each candidate are available on the commonsensecollective.ca website.
The mayor’s chair is now a three-way race between incumbent Deputy Mayor Peter Bordignon, Marni Moreau, and Paul Reale.
Meanwhile, long-time councillor Gail Ardiel is seeking the Deputy Mayor seat, and ten candidates are running for five councillor positions. The expanded field points to stronger public interest in debate over the town’s direction.
Key Issues Facing the Next Council
The larger field of candidates reflects growing attention to the practical issues facing the town, especially infrastructure costs, servicing capacity, affordability, and local governance.
Growth and sustainability were already part of the 2022 debate, but the upcoming term brings sharper fiscal and infrastructure pressures. The 2026 budget process has underscored the challenge: the approved municipal levy increase was 4.34 percent, including a contribution to the Asset Management Reserve, while staff identified the need to prepare for long-term infrastructure funding demands.
Sewage project estimates for the Craigleith lift station, Mill Street pumping station, and Bay and Grey streets also rose from roughly $34.79 million to $53.56 million, adding urgency to decisions about how future upgrades will be funded.
Financial headwinds and infrastructure:
Rising capital project costs and aging infrastructure have tightened municipal finances, leaving the incoming council to balance essential water, wastewater, road and reserve needs with pressure to keep property tax and user-fee increases manageable for residents.
Growth, water capacity, and development pressure:
Growth remains one of the defining questions for the next council, with candidates and current councillors pointing to water allocation, wastewater capacity, attainable housing, and coordination with county and regional partners as priorities.
Affordable housing and senior care:
Housing affordability and long-term care remain important community concerns, as essential workers and young families face high housing costs while older residents need more local options to age in place safely and comfortably.
Governance, transparency, and value for money:
Community briefings and candidate forums have focused on operating costs, capital commitments, voter turnout, and long-term obligations for local households, making clear communication about trade-offs a central test for the next council.
Looking Ahead
The shift from 2022 to 2026 reflects a town at a crossroads. A larger candidate field gives voters more choice and invites closer scrutiny. Residents will be looking for clear answers on infrastructure financing, water and wastewater capacity, housing affordability, growth management, taxation, and senior care. With voting open for ten days in October, the campaign allows the community to ask for specifics and help shape the next chapter for The Blue Mountains.
