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"Krysta-Lee cares deeply about our community and comes to council meetings prepared and ready to do the work.
She listens, asks thoughtful questions, and bring a strong commitment to making Stone Mills a better place for everyone"
Mayor John Wise
Local democracy
When I joined Stone Mills council, our meeting came off Youtube in 24 hours. That didn't sit right with me. At the time I was told the minutes are the official record, and while that's true, I thought our residents should know how decisions are being made, what questions are being asked, and how they're being represented.
When major issues like ALTO come before council, people have the right to know what's being said. In a time where trust is low in government, rightfully so, we have a responsibility to be more transparent, open, and accountable about how decisions are being made.
Some changes I brought:
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Council meeting stay online: Meetings staying up on Youtube.
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Agenda's coming out a day earlier, so there is more time for the public to respond
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I pushed back on a policy that could have unnecessarily restricted peoples access to council meetings.
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I launched Council Recap: to highlight decisions at council. The township now posts a council recap after every meeting.
Democracy doesn't just happen on election day.
Residents should have a meaningful opportunity to understand and participate in local government.
Strong rural communities:
Protect what matters
Strong rural communities start by protecting the things that make this place home - while making sure rural people have a real voice in decisions about our future.
I have been a consistent advocate for rural voices in policy decisions to build a strong rural future. We know too often policy is built for people in cities. It doesn't recognize our unique way of life, our challenges, or our strengths. It's important to have strong voices ready to push back on one-size-fits-all policies.
Protecting what matters isn't always simple. That work requires listening, local knowledge, and a willingness to work through disagreement.
Some values I have brought:
Conservation & Local Stewardship:
I represent Stone Mills on the Quinte Conservation board, taking over for former chair Mayor Wise.
During my term I have:
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I pushed back against the elimination of the Endangered Species Act in Ontario.
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Opposed proposals that would weaken local representation and democratic control of conservation authorities.
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Advocated for strong, locally informed stewardship of our land and water.
Food, Family, & Community:
Agriculture and local food are an important part of Stone Mills past, present, and future.
I have worked with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and The National Farmers Union on questions around farmland and the future of agriculture in our community.
I've also:
- Founded Seedy Saturday in Stone Mills Township to share local seeds, knowledge, and build connection.
- Worked in food sovereignty, as an urban farmer in Kingston growing fresh food for those in need
- Volunteered building and maintaing free food community gardens
- Encouraged the Community Garden in Tamworth be approved as the organizers wished: in their own community. I would support more community gardens across the many hamlets in Stone Mills.
I believe we need to protect what matters, and build what we need for the future.
Getting things done, together
I listen. Do the homework. Bring people together. And get things done.
In my heart, I'm an organizer. An organizer doesn't mean you think you have all the answers, or that you yell from from the front of the room. It means you reach out and talk to people, you listen, you ask questions, and you look for common ground to find a path forward together.
I know everything worth doing, is worth doing with other people.
Everyone has their own perspective and we all carry our own gaps in what we know and understand. We don't have to agree on everything to listen to one another, find common ground, and accomplish something together.
These are the values I bring to the decisions of council.
The next term of council: Let's build that plan together.
I will push for an updated Strategic Plan in year one. A plan not made quietly in council chambers and then have people tell us what they think about it - but a shared project to direct our future together.
Let's hold town halls across our hamlets. Let's create ways for people to participate both in-person and online. Let's hear from farmers, businesses, families, seniors, young people, community organizations — and people who don't normally show up at Council meetings.
Let's ask: What do we want to protect? What needs to change? What are we missing? And what kind of Stone Mills do we want to build together?
Then let's turn what we hear into clear priorities, timelines and goals that residents can use to hold Council accountable throughout the term.