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04Issues & decisionsBlandford-Blenheim

Growth & planning

Where should Oxford grow—and at what cost?

The County is preparing a new Official Plan, a framework that will influence where homes, employment and other development can occur.

A County decision affecting Blandford-Blenheim. County-wide record
About this decision

The County is preparing a new Official Plan, a framework that will influence where homes, employment and other development can occur. This is where broad promises about growth meet agricultural land, servicing capacity, transportation and the costs of expansion. The project’s September 27 update explicitly says the survey closed September 25, even though older invitation wording remains lower on the page. That survey is no longer an open action. Residents can still follow the project’s stated future stages and official contact routes. A useful public comparison asks representatives which growth pattern they support, its infrastructure implications and what evidence would change their position.

Open public question

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Answers & question historyCandidate or official? Explain your position →

Follow the decision
1Sep 25, 2026Implementation
2Sep 27, 2026Recorded statement

Project page updated with closure

Explicit closure supersedes stale invitation text elsewhere on the same page.

New Oxford County Official Plan
Public question and answers

Who has explained their position?

Compare in depth
Compare the candidates →Open question →
What land and infrastructure choices should shape growth across all eight municipalities?
Person / officePublic record on this issueQuestion statusNext step
Marcus RyanMarcus RyanMayor · ZorraNo public answer foundOn this issue: Supports more growth inside existing built-up areas and a clearer account of who pays.No contact recordedRead evidence
Answer or clarify
Brian PetrieBrian PetrieMayor · IngersollNo public answer foundNo contact recordedOpen question
Answer or clarify
Jerry AcchioneJerry AcchioneMayor · WoodstockNo public answer foundNo contact recordedOpen question
Answer or clarify
Deb GilvesyDeb GilvesyMayor · TillsonburgNo public answer foundNo contact recordedOpen question
Answer or clarify
Deb TaitDeb TaitDeputy Mayor-County Councillor · WoodstockNo public answer foundNo contact recordedOpen question
Answer or clarify
Bernia MartinBernia MartinDeputy Mayor-County Councillor · WoodstockNo public answer foundOn this issue: Would require a documented business and infrastructure case before supporting a data centre.No contact recordedRead evidence
Answer or clarify
David MayberryDavid MayberryMayor · South-West OxfordNo public answer foundNo contact recordedOpen question
Answer or clarify
Jim PalmerJim PalmerMayor · NorwichNo public answer foundNo contact recordedOpen question
Answer or clarify
Mark PetersonMark PetersonMayor · Blandford-BlenheimNo public answer foundNo contact recordedOpen question
Answer or clarify
Philip SchaeferPhilip SchaeferMayor · East Zorra-TavistockNo public answer foundOn this issue: Supports infill, additional residential units and greater density to protect farmland.No contact recordedRead evidence
Answer or clarify
Adrian CouwenbergAdrian CouwenbergMayor · NorwichNo public answer foundNo contact recordedOpen question
Answer or clarify
Clayton HaightClayton HaightMayor · Blandford-BlenheimNo public answer foundOn this issue: Prefers urban density and protection of farmland.No contact recordedRead evidence
Answer or clarify
Don EdmistonDon EdmistonMayor · East Zorra-TavistockNo public answer foundNo contact recordedOpen question
Answer or clarify
Craig GillisCraig GillisMayor · South-West OxfordNo public answer foundNo contact recordedOpen question
Answer or clarify
Crystal FinchCrystal FinchMayor · ZorraNo public answer foundNo contact recordedOpen question
Answer or clarify
Katie GriggKatie GriggMayor · ZorraNo public answer foundOn this issue: Wants to participate in the new County Official Plan.No contact recordedRead evidence
Answer or clarify
Mrs. Lori McDonaldMrs. Lori McDonaldMayor · ZorraNo public answer foundOn this issue: Wants farmland protected for food production and opposes government expropriation.No contact recordedRead evidence
Answer or clarify
Aaron GorlickAaron GorlickMayor · WoodstockNo public answer foundNo contact recordedOpen question
Answer or clarify
Asjad HussainAsjad HussainMayor · WoodstockNo public answer foundNo contact recordedOpen question
Answer or clarify
Anthony ScalisiAnthony ScalisiMayor · WoodstockNo public answer foundNo contact recordedOpen question
Answer or clarify
Jarrod ErbJarrod ErbDeputy Mayor-County Councillor · WoodstockNo public answer foundNo contact recordedOpen question
Answer or clarify
Kelly GilsonKelly GilsonCity-County Councillor · WoodstockNo public answer foundOn this issue: Supports density and efficient use of existing infrastructure while protecting prime farmland.No contact recordedRead evidence
Answer or clarify
Mark SchadenbergMark SchadenbergCity-County Councillor · WoodstockNo public answer foundOn this issue: Wants a northern shopping destination and a modest boundary adjustment.No contact recordedRead evidence
Answer or clarify
Tim LobzunTim LobzunMayor · IngersollNo public answer foundNo contact recordedOpen question
Answer or clarify
Kelly SpencerKelly SpencerMayor · TillsonburgNo public answer foundNo contact recordedOpen question
Answer or clarify

What the evidence establishes

The choices on the table

These are editorial alternatives to test, not attributed candidate promises.

Prioritize serviced infill and intensification

Editorial proposal: may reduce extension needs but still requires capacity, appropriate design and viable projects; no assertion that all infill is inexpensive.

Sequence expansion against funded servicing

Editorial proposal: tie phased growth to demonstrated water, wastewater and road capacity; may limit short-term supply where infrastructure is not ready.

How we got here

  1. Implementation

    Official Plan survey closed

    Closure of this survey does not mean the full statutory planning process is finished.

    New Oxford County Official Plan
  2. Recorded statement

    Project page updated with closure

    Explicit closure supersedes stale invitation text elsewhere on the same page.

    New Oxford County Official Plan

Questions that still deserve an explanation

  • Where should growth be concentrated, and what agricultural or settlement trade-offs follow?
  • What servicing costs should existing ratepayers carry, and what should growth pay?
  • Which evidence would justify a boundary expansion rather than development inside existing settlements?
  • How will each municipality see the costs and benefits of County-level growth choices?
Read and support the public questionCandidate or official? Answer it
Sources and corrections

Reviewed Oct 1, 2026. Original records may describe earlier events.

Submit a correction or newer source

Follow this issue into the money

The money connected to this issue

Separate records and funding scopes; amounts are not added together.

Project and budget details (3)

County · Water, drainage & wastewater

Thamesford wastewater plant upgrade

New two-storey headworks, aeration-roof removal, generator and process equipment.

Zorra

Multi-year construction planned May/June 2026–May 2028
2026 allocation
$6,000,000
Next target
2028-05 · Expected completion
Latest update
2026-03-11 · Multi-year award recommended

County · Water, drainage & wastewater

Mount Elgin wastewater capacity expansion

Increase wastewater treatment capacity for Mount Elgin.

South-West Oxford

Funding approved · delivery unconfirmed
2026 allocation
$4,500,000
Next target
No next date listed
Latest update
2025-12-10 · 2026 Business Plan and Budget approval
Who’s actually in charge?
01

Blandford-Blenheim council

Municipal services, local roads, recreation, zoning and the local budget.

Explore this level →
02

Oxford County

County roads, water and wastewater, housing services, paramedics and County planning.

Explore this level →

Meet your representatives