"It's Not a Secret" : New Councillor Declares Intent to Run in Next Election

Kyle Cyr was recently appointed as Councilor for Ward 2, a position left vacant since Mr. Mario Zanth was elected as Mayor earlier this year and, although Mr. Cyr aims to “do what we can” to help community organizations and “get businesses back on their feet” over the next 12 months, there is one eye on the 2022 election campaign.

“It’s a big yes,” Cyr says as he lets out a chuckle when pressed on whether he is likely to put his name in the hat for the next municipal election. “It’s not a secret, I just need to decide where.”

However, that is some way down the road and there is a lot to be done for the new, second time councillor. 

Cyr was first elected to represent the constituents in Ward 5, Clarence-Creek (a position currently occupied by Mr. Andre Lalonde) in 2002 at the young age of 27 and served two, three year terms until he decided to put “family” and professional ambitions first in 2009.

“I had kids who were turning into teenagers and I just wanted to be home more often,” he explained. “I put politics aside for a while, but I always said I would be back and here I am.” 

Back again and having to hit the ground running, Cyr was appointed by a ‘hiring committee’ made up for the Mayor 3 other council members and was immediately thrown into the thick of it with the 2022 budgetary deliberations - where Ward 2’s new Councilor had different goals regarding the municipal tax rate to some of his colleagues. 

Aiming as much as 1.5% lower than some of his colleagues, Cyr said he felt it was his “duty to bring it as low as possible” with people “hurting” as we come out of the pandemic. The discussion amongst the councilors at the end of the third day of deliberations went round in circles as, due to there being one member absent, they were unable to find a majority vote when it came to ways to cut the budget. 

In the end cuts to the reserves for 2022 were made to bring the municipal tax rate down to 2.95% and residents will be waiting with anticipation for the next Council Meeting on December 6, 2021 to find out if that is the final number. 

“We have the obligation to bring it down to the lowest possible rate we can,” said Cyr. “We are in a very good financial place in Clarence-Rockland and I thought that maybe we can put a little less in the reserves this year to give the residents a bigger break this year.”

Although a utopia without taxes may seem appealing to many people, a lower tax rate does mean less financial security and potentially fewer services for residents but Cyr doesn’t believe that his proposed cuts will put the city at risk. 
“Next year we could be in a better situation or a worse one,” Cyr retorted. “We are going to get out of this and we are lucky that there is money there. We have flexibility. 

“Let’s bring it down a little more - if I can convince my colleagues,” he laughed.