Rob Rainer highlights council priorities, township operations, and election plans
As 2025 comes to a close, Hometown News reached out to the reeves and mayors across its coverage area with 10 questions reflecting on the year that was.
With the 2026 municipal election approaching, one additional question was also asked: whether local leaders intend to run again.
In Tay Valley Township, Reeve Rob Rainer’s responses focused on governance, fiscal responsibility, and council decision making, including the choice not to use provincially granted strong mayor powers and the challenges facing rural municipalities heading into 2026.
Responses have been published as provided, with no changes to content.
What was the single most important decision you made this year, and why?
The single most important decision I made this year was to refuse to use the so-called “strong mayor” powers that the province, in its ill-advised wisdom, provided to the mayors of many municipalities. These powers weaken the representation of all other members of a council and thus are inherently anti-democratic. I and the rest of Tay Valley Township council have rejected making use of them, and hopefully the next and future reeves and councils will as well.
What was the hardest part of the job in 2025 that residents may not see?
The hardest part of being reeve in 2025 was once again supporting a responsible municipal tax increase, despite facing a (small) degree of citizen opposition. Municipal council members ought to maintain a long-term view of the health of the municipality’s finances, including ensuring reserve funds are sufficient. Tay Valley Township is in fairly good financial position for the years ahead, and that’s in part due to this council’s willingness to do the right fiscal thing, including ensuring (as we did in 2024) the township’s staff are fairly and competitively compensated.
Is there a decision or moment you would handle differently now?
Nothing comes to mind. All in all, 2025 was a pretty smooth year for governance and operations at Tay Valley Township.
What issue took up more time and energy than you expected?
The township was involved through about half of 2025 in a land use planning matter concerning a proposed but controversial property development by Christie Lake. This matter consumed a lot of staff and council time, and is the kind of issue that can and does pop up in a municipality from time to time, and which can ultimately take a lot more time, energy, and money than what might have been expected.
What do you believe council or staff got right this year?
Council and staff once again worked well together to bring in a responsible annual budget for the forthcoming year, and with virtually no decrease in the present level and scope of township services. The tax rate increase (Tay Valley Township portion only) will be 5.29 per cent, with 78 per cent of this due to an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) contract increase that was out of the township’s ability to control. Were it not for the OPP increase, the township’s tax rate increase would have been only 1.14 per cent — well below inflation.
Where do you think the municipality fell short?
We had hoped to have introduced livestreaming of committee of the whole and council meetings by October or November, but instead are on track to see this new service introduced in February or March.
How do you respond to residents who feel unheard or frustrated?
The number of residents in Tay Valley Township who contacted me in 2025 with apparent frustration concerning the township totalled less than 10. Most of these situations involved a resident who was not happy with how the township was treating a land use planning or property building matter. In such cases, the township staff are bound to explain and apply the applicable rules. And I typically advise a given resident to continue to work with staff who in turn work in good faith in an effort to resolve a matter.
What is the most urgent issue heading into 2026?
The next municipal election will be held in October 2026. It is urgent that those who run for council, and most importantly whoever runs for reeve, do so with intent to refrain from using strong mayor powers. Another urgent issue is the ongoing climate crisis. If we do not have sufficient snowpack this winter, and sufficient rainfall next spring, and if we have another very dry year like we did for much of 2025, then I believe we will see serious impacts on freshwater, impacting more and more people, businesses, and potentially the whole of the Town of Perth which is heavily reliant on the Tay River.
How do you define success in this role?
A successful reeve or mayor is one who sets a positive, constructive internal and external tone; who is a good listener and who is responsive to others; who encourages healthy deliberation from all members of council; who respects the knowledge and professionalism of staff; who has a good working relationship with the CAO; who respects the will of council; and who strives to foster a sense of teamwork and team accomplishment.
When your term is over, what do you hope people remember about your leadership?
That I lived up to the success metrics I’ve outlined above.
Will you run in the 2026 municipal election? If not, who would you endorse for the position?
No, I will not run in the 2026 municipal election. By October 2026 I will have served eight years on municipal council. It has been a good experience but I’ll be ready next fall to pass the torch to the next reeve. I am aware of one member of the current Tay Valley Township council who is interested in running for reeve. That individual has yet to announce this publicly.
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