Dan Caswell

Candidate for Mayor

In their own words

caswellformayor.ca — Dan Caswell’s campaign website, opens in a new tab Facebook — Dan Caswell on Facebook, verified, opens in a new tab Instagram — Dan Caswell on Instagram, verified, 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?

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

Priorities: responsible spending, health-care readiness, better infrastructure, strong core services, a stronger Huntsville voice at the District; real value for every tax dollar.

Responsible spending, health care readiness, better infrastructure, strong core services.
A stronger voice for Huntsville at the District.
Taxpayers should see real value for every dollar spent.

“My priorities are responsible spending, health care readiness, better infrastructure, strong core services, and stronger voice for Huntsville at district. I will listen to residents, plan responsibly for future generations, and make decisions that protect what makes Huntsville home while ensuring taxpayers see real value for every dollar spent.”

(reported remarks)

Source: What mayoral candidates in Muskoka's three largest towns say they want to change (MuskokaRegion) · September 28, 2026

Responsible spending means setting priorities and showing residents the value.

Reduce waste, find efficiencies, set clear priorities.
Argues major expenses should not catch the Town off guard.

“Every tax dollar comes from someone’s hard work. That should matter every time a decision is made.”

(several paragraphs)

Source: Dan Caswell campaign website — My Priorities · September 13, 2026

Every tax dollar comes from someone's hard work; responsible spending means clear priorities, less waste, efficiencies, and visible value for money.

Every tax dollar comes from someone's hard work.
Responsible spending: clear priorities, reduced waste, efficiencies.
Residents should see real value from the money they contribute.

“Every tax dollar comes from someone's hard work. That should matter every time a decision is made... Responsible spending means setting clear priorities, reducing waste, looking for efficiencies, and making sure residents can see real value from the money they contribute.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Dan Caswell campaign website — priorities · October 1, 2026

Think we’ve got this wrong?

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.

Roads-first plan: 10 initial roads with published dates and costs; work with the province on two idle dams (Big East River, West Harry Lake).

Establish 10 roads to begin with, with published start dates, completion dates and costs.
Tackle flooding upstream: two non-operational dams (Big East River, West Harry Lake, idle since 2006).
Says the dams are provincial and need provincial cooperation.

“One thing that I wanna come up with is the roads first approach. We're gonna establish 10 roads to begin with and with those 10 roads, we'll tell you when we're gonna start the work, when it's gonna be completed and how much it's gonna cost. There are two dams that are very critical for our area that are not in operation. One is the distress dam that's on the Big East River and the other one's at West Harry Lake. These are provincial things that we need to start working with the province. They've been not in operation since 2006. When the water's coming out of the Algonquin Park, there's nothing stopping it. There's nothing managing it. That's where we need to start.”

(several paragraphs)

Source: Sept 17, 2026 mayoral debate, Algonquin Theatre — candidate's own remarks (0:22:41, 1:23:07) · September 17, 2026

Treats roads, sidewalks, trails and facilities as daily life, not line items.

Maintain what exists before adding new.
Practical improvements residents can see and feel.

“Residents deserve roads, trails, parks, sidewalks, facilities, and services they can count on.”

(several paragraphs)

Source: Dan Caswell campaign website — My Priorities · September 13, 2026

Maintain what the Town already owns before starting anything new.

Frames maintenance of existing assets as the priority over new projects.
Raised alongside respecting taxpayers and healthcare readiness at the Chamber event.

“We want to invest in some of the items that we already have before we look at new stuff”

(reported remarks)

Source: Huntsville Doppler — Mayoral candidates make their pitch at Chamber meet and greet (event 9 Sep 2026) · September 11, 2026

Respect the taxpayer and healthcare readiness; invest in maintaining existing infrastructure before looking at new items.

Names respect of the taxpayer and healthcare readiness as priorities.
Wants to maintain the infrastructure the town already has.
Says to invest in existing items before looking at new ones.

“Some of the things that are very important to me is respect of the taxpayer healthc care readiness and you know maintaining the infrastructure we have. We want to invest in some of the items that we already have before we look at new stuff”

(a few sentences)

Source: Sept 9, 2026 mayoral meet-and-greet (YourTV Muskoka) — candidate's own remarks (2:24) · September 11, 2026

Brendale Square flooding: two inoperative Big East River dams (since 2006) are a provincial matter needing action; flooding will continue regardless of land-level work.

Brendale Square has been a flood zone for over 100 years.
Two Big East River dams inoperative since 2006 are a provincial matter needing action.
Flooding will continue regardless of what is done to the land.

“These are provincial things that we need to start working with … they've been not in operation since 2006, and we had a huge event in 2009, we had another huge event 2013, another huge event. This is going to continue to happen, it doesn't matter what we do to the land.”

(reported remarks)

Source: Huntsville mayoral debate: strong-mayor powers, flooding, welcoming community (Huntsville Forester) · September 18, 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.

Huntsville should lead important conversations, not react after decisions are already made.

Lead important conversations rather than reacting after decisions are made.

“I believe Huntsville should be leading important conversations, not reacting after decisions are already made.”

(one sentence)

Source: Dan Caswell campaign website — priorities · October 1, 2026

Lead through collaboration: meet successful councillors on their goals, align with the CAO, avoid strong-mayor powers.

Would immediately meet the successful councillors to learn their one-year and four-year goals.
Would sit down with the CAO to align council and staff.
Prefers collaboration over strong-mayor powers.

“I look at it as it being collaboration. If successful as your next mayor, I would instantly call the other successful candidates and we would sit down. I want to know exactly what their goals are in the next year, in the next four years. I would take that even further and with our CAO, I'd sit down, talk to her as well.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Sept 17, 2026 mayoral debate, Algonquin Theatre — candidate's own remarks (0:54:32) · September 17, 2026

Says good leadership starts with listening, including to people who disagree.

Wants to hear from residents who see things differently.
Residents should feel heard before decisions are made, not after.

“Residents deserve to feel heard before decisions are made, not after.”

(several paragraphs)

Source: Dan Caswell campaign website — My Priorities · September 13, 2026

Wants Huntsville to have a bigger voice with the district and work in harmony with the provincially appointed district chair.

Wants Huntsville to have a bigger voice with the district.
Notes the district chair is appointed from the province.
Wants to work alongside that chair so town and district work in harmony.

“having a bigger voice with the district. Right now the the district is having their chair appointed from the province and I want to have a big voice work along with that chair so we Huntsville and uh the district work in harmony.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Sept 9, 2026 mayoral meet-and-greet (YourTV Muskoka) — candidate's own remarks (2:35) · September 11, 2026

Think we’ve got this wrong?

Growth, development and community character

How much should Huntsville grow, and where?

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

Pressing for clarity on the Florence Street development — unit counts, height, fees, studies — and correcting his own timeline error.

Asks what is proposed vs. approved vs. changed on the Muskoka Community Land Trust Florence Street development.
Presses for unit counts, height, fees and studies.
Publicly corrected a timeline error in his own video.

“I believe residents should be able to understand what is being proposed, what has been approved and what has changed along the way. I believe accountability starts with being willing to correct the record when something is wrong.”

(several paragraphs)

Source: Dan Caswell campaign website — Florence Street · September 15, 2026

Stricter facade and vegetation-buffer rules for major developments and corporate stores to protect small-town charm.

Small-town charm starts with stricter facade rules.
Strict vegetation barrier rules for major developments.
Cites Walmart as a missed opportunity to require a more Muskoka-like look.

“I think small-town charm starts with stricter facade rules. I think small-town charm starts with strict vegetation barrier rules. You have a place like Walmart which is great for our community but then why wouldn't we push back when it came in to have it look more of a Muskoka like or why wouldn't we have a nice vegetation barrier going around it so it's not just this big gray store.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Sept 17, 2026 mayoral debate, Algonquin Theatre — candidate's own remarks (1:28:36) · September 17, 2026

Frames decisions in terms of what the next generation inherits.

Responsible growth and long-term planning.
Protecting Huntsville’s character while making room for growth.

“Planning for future generations means protecting what makes Huntsville feel like home while making room for responsible growth.”

(several paragraphs)

Source: Dan Caswell campaign website — My Priorities · September 13, 2026

Think we’ve got this wrong?

Housing and affordability

Can people who work here afford to live here?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Healthcare and the new hospital

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

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

Proposes "office-ready" doctor recruitment: spend the incentive on office space and infrastructure, remove setup burdens.

Instead of a cash incentive, fund office space and infrastructure.
Remove the setup burdens so doctors start treating patients immediately.

“Office ready means that rather than pay the $80,000 to come into Huntsville, we're gonna take that money and we're gonna find the office space. We're gonna take away all the burdens for them and then they can come in and start working and treating patients all at once.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Sept 17, 2026 mayoral debate, Algonquin Theatre — candidate's own remarks (0:22:17) · September 17, 2026

Support a dedicated Huntsville Community Hospital Fund for the $10 million local share — be ready before the province moves.

A dedicated Huntsville Community Hospital Fund for the $10 million local share.
Be ready with the local share when the province moves forward — don't scramble after.

“My focus is to support a dedicated Huntsville Community Hospital Fund, focused on preparing for the required $10 million local share. When the province is ready to move forward with the new hospital, Huntsville needs to be ready with its local share. We cannot wait until that moment arrives and then scramble to find the money.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Dan Caswell for Mayor of Huntsville | 2026 Municipal Election · October 3, 2026

Wants a dedicated fund built now for Huntsville’s $10 million hospital share.

Proposes a dedicated Huntsville Community Hospital Fund.
Targets the $10 million local share he says will be required.
Wants milestones published so residents can see how prepared the Town is.
Says the money should come from efficiencies rather than from roads and trails budgets.

“My focus is to support a dedicated Huntsville Community Hospital Fund, focused on preparing for the required $10 million local share.”

(a page or more)

Source: Dan Caswell campaign website — My Priorities · September 13, 2026

Think we’ve got this wrong?

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?

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

Wants Huntsville leading at the District table rather than reacting.

Better communication, less duplication, stronger representation.
Argues overlapping services and slow decisions cost residents money.

“Huntsville should not be reacting from the sidelines. We should be leading the conversation.”

(several paragraphs)

Source: Dan Caswell campaign website — My Priorities · September 13, 2026

Wants a stronger Huntsville voice alongside a District chair now appointed by the Province.

Notes the District chair is appointed rather than elected.
Frames the goal as Huntsville and the District working in harmony rather than in conflict.

“Right now the District is having their chair appointed from the province, and I want to have a big voice, work along with that chair, so we, Huntsville and the District, work in harmony.”

(reported remarks)

Source: Huntsville Doppler — Mayoral candidates make their pitch at Chamber meet and greet (event 9 Sep 2026) · September 11, 2026

Think we’ve got this wrong?

Local economy, jobs and downtown

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

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

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?

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

Fire protection, emergency services, roads, winter maintenance, public safety, infrastructure and community services are the foundation of daily life — not extras.

Core services are the foundation of daily life, not extras.
Fire protection, emergency services, roads, winter maintenance, public safety, infrastructure, community services.

“Fire protection, emergency services, roads, winter maintenance, public safety, infrastructure, and community services are not extras. They are the foundation of daily life in Huntsville.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Dan Caswell campaign website — priorities · October 1, 2026

Fire protection, emergency services, roads, winter maintenance and public safety are the foundation, not extras.

Lists fire protection, emergency services, roads, winter maintenance and public safety as the foundation of daily life.
Frames the basics as non-negotiable, not extras.

“Residents need confidence that the basics are being looked after. Fire protection, emergency services, roads, winter maintenance, public safety, infrastructure, and community services are not extras. They are the foundation of daily life in Huntsville.”

(several paragraphs)

Source: Dan Caswell campaign website — My Priorities

Think we’ve got this wrong?

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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