Leland Maw

Candidate for District and Town Councillor

In their own words

lelandmawforcouncil.ca — Leland Maw’s campaign website, opens in a new tab

Where they stand

Every candidate in this race is shown against the same 12 issues, in the same order, whether or not we’ve found something for each one. Why we do it this way.

Taxes, spending and value for money

What happens to my tax bill, and where does the money go?

Would look hard at current spending for waste before asking residents for more.

Frames it as residents needing to see real value for money rather than as a target percentage.
Written after hearing from residents at the 9 September meet and greet.

Show their words & source (a few sentences)

“I will push for a close look at our current spending to find ways to cut waste and make sure your tax dollars are used wisely, without adding more stress to our community.”

Source: Leland Maw campaign website — Meet & Greet · September 11, 2026

Roads, infrastructure and the basics

Will the things I use every day actually get fixed?

This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source.

Wants a repair plan that fixes the worst roads first and publishes a timeline for the rest.

Calls the state of the roads a safety issue that has been ignored too long.
Written after the 9 September meet and greet, summarising what residents raised with him.

“I am committing to push for a faster repair plan that fixes the worst spots first and gives everyone a clear timeline for when other roads will be redone.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Leland Maw campaign website — Meet & Greet · September 11, 2026

Focuses on sidewalk safety, traffic calming and neighbourhood maintenance.

Advocating for a fair share of local infrastructure funding.
Ensuring streets are safe for kids and seniors.

“Well-maintained roads, safe sidewalks, and reliable local infrastructure are the foundation of a strong community.”

(several paragraphs)

Source: Leland Maw campaign website — Campaign Priorities · September 13, 2026

Think we’ve got this wrong?

How council works

How would this person actually govern?

This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source.

Wants local government to be understandable, not confusing.

Says trust is built when neighbours are genuinely informed and involved.
Wants everyday neighbourhood concerns acted on, not lost.

“Local government should be accessible, clear, and easy to understand—not confusing.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Leland Maw campaign website — Campaign Priorities · September 13, 2026

Regular community meetings, plain-language project updates, and input sought before decisions rather than after.

Says the strongest feedback at the 9 September meet and greet was that residents want more openness from leadership.
Emphasises consultation happening before final decisions, not after.

“I will work to set up regular community meetings, post easy-to-read updates on big projects, and make sure we ask for your input before final decisions are made, not after.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Leland Maw campaign website — Meet & Greet · September 11, 2026

Think we’ve got this wrong?

Growth, development and community character

How much should Huntsville grow, and where?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Housing and affordability

Can people who work here afford to live here?

This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source.

Protect the affordable units that already exist, and build mixed-income in the right places.

Would oppose converting or eliminating existing low-income and geared-to-income housing without workable alternatives in place first.
Supports mixed-income developments, where market-rate and affordable units sit side by side, in appropriate areas with proper infrastructure.
Would push for District and provincial funding, and for co-operative and non-profit housing.
Names seniors on fixed incomes, young adults on local wages, families in unstable housing and workers commuting long distances as who he is hearing from.

“Muskoka only truly works when the people who live and work here can afford to stay.”

(a page or more)

Source: Leland Maw campaign website — Keeping Muskoka Viable for Everyone · September 1, 2026

Frames housing as keeping local workers, young families and seniors in town.

Supports dignified, attainable and low-income housing choices.
Says rising costs are driving out the local workforce.

“Our community thrives when the people who build it, work in it, and care for it can actually afford to live here.”

(several paragraphs)

Source: Leland Maw campaign website — Campaign Priorities · September 13, 2026

Opposes district-built factory homes as government competing with the private sector; build smaller homes and require 10% low-income housing in new subdivisions to keep neighbourhoods mixed.

Opposes the district building factory homes — government should not compete with the private sector.
Favours smaller homes and bungalows.
Proposes requiring 10% low-income housing in new subdivisions so neighbourhoods stay mixed.

“the idea of district building homes in a factory uh I'm not totally agreeing with. I I don't think that uh the government any government should be involved in a private against the private sector in a private business. we can build smaller homes, we can build 1,200 foot long bungs [bungalows?], but I think we need to do it in a little different in that if if we can do it with our development and our development fees and do it with the developer themselves. we can go into if a developer is putting 50 homes in a subdivision, why can we not say 10% have to be low-inccome [low-income] housing? And that way we can uh uh ensure that there's a mix of people.”

(several paragraphs)

Source: Sept 9, 2026 councillor meet-and-greet (YourTV Muskoka, re-uploaded Sept 25) — candidate's own remarks (2:10) · September 25, 2026

Think we’ve got this wrong?

Healthcare and the new hospital

Can I see a doctor, and how will we pay for the new hospital?

"Our Hospitals": keep critical services local, back local doctors, demand transparency on the $225M local share.

Keep Critical Services Local — no sacrificing maternal care or settling for an unfair bed share.
Back Our Local Doctors — listen when physicians warn a care model endangers patients or drives doctors away.
Demand Total Transparency — taxpayers deserve to know how every dollar of the $225M local share is spent.

Show their words & source (several paragraphs)

“Keep Critical Services Local: We shouldn't have to sacrifice maternal care or settle for an unfair share of beds just to get modern buildings. Both Huntsville and Bracebridge must remain fully functional, safe, and balanced acute care hospitals. Back Our Local Doctors: Our physicians are on the front lines saving lives. If they say a care model is going to force patients into dangerous winter drives or drive doctors out of our area, we must listen to them. Demand Total Transparency for Our Money: The province expects our community to pitch in $225 million as our "local share." If taxpayers are putting up millions of dollars of their own hard-earned money, we deserve to know exactly how every single dollar is spent.”

Source: Our Hospitals — Leland Maw · September 30, 2026

Environment, lakes and dark skies

Who is protecting the lakes and the night sky?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Huntsville's place at the District table

Is the two-tier system working for Huntsville, or costing us?

Wants to bridge taxpayers and residents with regional governance.

Says residents’ voices get lost in bureaucracy.

Show their words & source (one sentence)

“I am committed to bridging the gap between taxpayers, local residents, and regional governance, ensuring your voice is never lost in bureaucracy.”

Source: Leland Maw campaign website — Campaign Priorities · September 13, 2026

Local economy, jobs and downtown

Will there be decent work here, and a downtown worth walking to?

This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source.

Says the local jobs problem is seasonal, part-time and low-paying work.

Argues Muskoka needs younger people and families but lacks year-round work.
Links an influx of outside wealth to rising local costs.

“Right now, the big issue is that most of our jobs are seasonal, part-time, and low-paying.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Leland Maw campaign website — Campaign Priorities · September 13, 2026

Wants a task force to recruit clean manufacturing so the economy is not built on seasonal work.

Says most local jobs are seasonal, part-time and low-paying, and that a large part of the workforce only works part of the year.
Says an influx of outside wealth has driven up costs without that money reaching local workers.
Cites a median Muskoka wage of $36,730 to $43,200 against a need for at least $22.20 an hour to afford basics, and says over half of residents cannot meet the cost of living. These are his figures; SmarterVote has not independently verified them.
Argues year-round manufacturing jobs would also reduce demand on subsidised housing, because workers could afford their own homes.

“We cannot just be a summer playground for the rich. We need permanent, year-round jobs, not seasonal band-aids.”

(several paragraphs)

Source: Leland Maw campaign website — Investing in Our Future · September 8, 2026

Think we’ve got this wrong?

Parks, trails and active transportation

Can you get around safely without a car, and are the parks and trails looked after?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Police, fire, emergency services and community safety

Who shows up when you call 911, and do they have what they need?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Transit and getting around without a car

Can you get where you need to go if you do not drive?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Think we got something wrong?

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