iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

And that’s it for the debate! Thanks for following along. It would be no fun without you…. Gotta go now, my phone is dying

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Ah I see I had some autocorrect typos in my coverage tonight folks… my apologies (happens with my phone).

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Riel: “Ptbo already has a serious climate plan. I voted for it. As mayor I will implement it.”

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Methot: “AI data centres are a big no for me… and when a Trent professor says council should say no, maybe we should take that seriously.”

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Schillemat: “I support adding a climate lens to our community decisions… when the cost dies not exceed our means.”

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Morton: “The climate should not be an afterthought… we have to start applying a climate lens to everything we do.”

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Lumsden says “these are not normal times we are in,” and the drug problem must be brought under control. If elected he’ll reduce the mayor’s salary by 10% as a sign of goodwill.

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Eamon says partnerships are key. “Council needs to work with city staff… city needs to work with county… we’re all part of something bigger.”

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Hailman says he tries to fight against despair, “and that’s really hard, when it comes to climate change.” But think: “If we do this right, we win… We build a world that isn’t literally on fire.”

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Last question: say the thing you were hoping to say but we’re not asked about.

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Methot says we need to plan for worst case scenario - like scarcity of resources. And remember how you communicate with ppl must not depend on digital devices that are disabled.

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Schillemat says neighbours taking care of one another - and promoting that - can be helpful. Plus the city can send buses around or offer spaces for warming up and charging phones in power outages.

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Morton says “as a city we have to admit this is the new normal an invest in strategies that mitigate that.”

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Lumsden says green buildings can help

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Eamon says look at plans that can promote less resource use

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Hailman says investment in housing construction is key - but also communications in ERs is critical (Ie: don’t rely on digital communications when there’s a prolonged power outage).

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Riel promotes renter protections to keep ppl housed so they are not left to the elements.

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Q7: Extreme weather events hurt the most Vilma among us - how will you protect them?

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Schillemat says it’s key to ensure local organizations can oversee some green spaces - they are often very good stewards. And add policy fir vacant urban lands to become usable space.

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Morton says the city could educate ppl more about community gardens, pollinator gardens and more.

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Lumsden suggests protecting ag land and allow urban green spaces to be safe for our children.

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Eamon suggests partnerships with Trent and Fleming to include young ppl as leaders. And build relationships with the county.

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Hailman says once you build on a greenfield it is ruined forever - so build wisely. Brown fields are also an issue - and let’s not forget there are many many properties in the city where contamination is preventing development - he suggests taxing those highly.

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Riel would implement the climate change action plan. “This plan is no good sitting on a shelf.” And he’d insist on strict rules for AI data centres. If the proposal uses up too much water the answer is no. He also says he’d hold GE’s feet to the fire to clean contaminated lands.

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Methot: Let’s add green enviros like green roofs and insist on these types of features in construction proposals.

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Q5: What would you do to promote urban green space?

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Morton says sincere listening needs to be there: “it has to feel genuine and authentic - we’re not just ticking boxes.”

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Lumsden says Indigenous ppl possess wisdoms “and we need to open our minds and learn.”

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Eamon says “we need to have a true and honest desire to consult… we need to listen.” We can bring Insigenous heritage to the forefront more often, and train staff and scrap the videotaped land acknowledgment from council meetings.

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Hailman notes that “settlers need to listen and not just dictate.” Don’t just consult and move on - consider equity, and remember the relationship to land is not the same with settlers and Indigenous ppl. So the harms to the enviro impact ppl differently.

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Riel: “Brong them in early, keep them in… involve them from the start of planning, when decisions can still be changed.”

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Methot says one issue is the “land acknowledgment by rote.” Needs to be “actionable” and we need to understand “their perspective on enviro issues.”

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Schillemat says building relationships with Indigenous nabes is key. There’s already an Indigenous adviser on staff she notes, but there’s more that could be done - like a public dashboard.

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Q4: How do you plan to work together with Indigenous communities?

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Lumsden calls for use of smaller buses on routes with fewer riders, for example.

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Eamon says transit fleet could be revamped to include electric buses, for example - and coordinate all city plans (like OP and transport plans) so they all work together.

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Hailman says it’s urgent to finally implement the climate action plan. Mode shift is key, he says - “Electric cars are fine, but out of cars is better.” So walkable neighbourhood that are dense, for example - “and not sprawl.”

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Riel talks about adding transit to new subdivision and focusing on pushing for funding from upper levels of gov for social housing. Free up city owned land fir starter homes, he says - density is key.

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Methot uses city transit daily - and he suggests hybrid and battery operated buses would be key. And urban sprawl needs to be curbed too, he says.

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Schillemat says “making the shift to electric buses” and ensuring better trail connectivity are key, and the home energy retrofit program needs promotion. City itself owns a lot of bldgs too - maybe add solar panels?

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Morton says “we have to get to implementation - because we’re running out of time.” That means infrastructure, buildings, fleets … “We have to be more green… It’s go time.”

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Q3: Most important and urgent aspects of climate action plan that you’d promote for next 4 years?

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Eamon says “we need more renewables - heck, we’re the electric city… And I’d like to see more transit.” That’s his vision for 2046…

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Hailman says he would want us to achieve net zero by 2046. Electrification of transit and construction of the new bus garage is a great example of a place to take a step forward.

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Riel says as mayor “I’m not going to leave anybody behind.” So if green policies are going to cost ppl their shelter, for example, it won’t last. But he’d like to offer free transit to ppl on social assistance.

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Methot says his vision is for a city where we use buses to get around - and they’re on time and accessible, and cycling is more connected. No more “feeling you need a car to get everywhere.”

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Schillemat says her vision is for Ptbo to be a “thriving city” where construction is always done to suit the community, with low-carbon fearltures. And a transit system and trail connections that are more usable.

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Morton says Ptbo becomes one of the “greenest, most resilient communities in Canada… we have great ppl here…. We can be one if the great Canadian cities with green transit and net zero bldgs.”

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Lumsden says more densification and a library and park free of used syringes and free of “human suffering”

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Q2: what’s your vision of Ptbo in 2046?

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