Accountability Matters in East Gwillimbury:
The Status Quo is on the Ballot

Accountability Matters in East Gwillimbury: The Status Quo is on the Ballot

This is one of the most critical municipal elections in the history of East Gwillimbury. With the establishment facing a real challenge, the ballot has filled up. Town Hall belongs to the people and the taxpayers, and residents deserve representatives who actively listen rather than shut the door.

I am not here to play the role of a typical politician. I am running a fully independent and self-funded campaign with a neighbour's passion and an engineer's precision. My goal is to bring true accountability and transparency to Town Hall, ensuring the public interest is always upheld and public safety remains paramount.

Here is the reality of our municipal election: Every voter casts two votes to elect two Ward Councillors. The main question remains: Who is actually running to champion our community, and who is running to protect the status quo?

In January, a surprise motion (Resolution C2026-006) was introduced to restrict public deputations, placing new limitations and procedural hurdles on residents seeking to address their elected council. When defending this motion to silence the public, Councillor Scott Crone went on the record stating: "These are council meetings, not public forums. They are our meetings..." During that same meeting, elected official Susan Lahey had her microphone cut off simply because she dared to dissent against this motion. This isn't just poor decorum—it reflects a systemic failure in how decisions are made.

The Record on Resolution C2026-006:

• Spearheaded and Moved by: Councillor Scott Crone

• Actively Backed and Seconded by: Councillor Tara Roy-DiClemente

• Recorded Vote to Restrict Residents (Yes): Councillor Crone, Councillor Roy-DiClemente, Councillor Carruthers, Councillor Foster, Mayor Hackson

• Recorded Vote to Stand with Residents (No): Councillor Johns, Councillor Lahey

Because decisions made at the council table affect every single resident regardless of ward lines, I submitted four foundational accountability questions to every new candidate. I want to express my appreciation to Elena Gontcharova for providing a written response, as well as a few other candidates who took the time to answer me.

I am not going to publish my own "Accountability Risk Assessment" of the candidates, but I strongly encourage all residents to do their due diligence. Visit candidate websites, review their social media, look at past public performance, and contact them directly. True accountability means being accessible through direct, clear communication—not hiding behind campaign slogans.

To do your own research, find the full list of candidate websites and contact information via the official Town directory: https://www.electionseg.ca/candidates/registered-candidates

Vote for candidates who believe Town Hall belongs to the residents and are ready to break the status quo.

To help in your research, I am resharing publicly available information with everyone. The town's public records tell the real story of the political establishment:

• Christine Glenn financially backed the campaign of Scott Crone in 2018.

• Joel Kearney financially backed the campaign of Tara Roy-DiClemente in 2022.

For context, look at the current Library Board, where several of these individuals sit together: Christine Glenn (Chair) alongside Councillor Loralea Carruthers, and Councillor Tara Roy-DiClemente. Public records from their March 23, 2026, meeting show this group went into a closed-door 'In Camera' session. When they returned to the open meeting, the public record shows the item they discussed behind closed doors was officially titled: 'Municipal Elections: Board Member Nominations Report'.

When I published verifiable town records documenting these facts, the establishment did not debate them. Instead, they escalated to legal threats and coordinated an immediate purge to have my campaign removed and banned from several different local community groups within 48 hours. I refuse to play along with a political machine that relies on intimidation and censorship to shield itself from scrutiny. My sole allegiance is to the public interest and the taxpayers of this community.

Action matters: Share this post with your neighbours and join the conversation about bringing transparent and accountable representation to Town Hall. On October 26, voters have the opportunity to set a new standard for council transparency and accountability.

Shahab Aryan, P.Eng.

Independent Ward 2 Candidate

East Gwillimbury Resident and Taxpayer

www.ShahabAryan.ca

Shahab@ShahabAryan.ca