Municipal Election 2026
Hometown News Election Centre
Westport
Latest Election News – WestportStay Informed
Meet Your CandidatesMeet The Candidates
COUNCILLOR
Councillor CandidateBarry Card
Incumbent Councillor - Awaiting Response
1. Why are you seeking a seat on Westport council, and what experience or perspective would you bring to the council table?
Awaiting Response
2. What do you believe is the most important issue facing the Village of Westport, and what would you do about it?
Awaiting Response
3. What could Westport be doing better, and what specific change would you propose?
Awaiting Response
4. How would you seek and consider input from residents who disagree with you when making a difficult decision?
Awaiting Response
5. How should council balance property tax and utility affordability with the cost of maintaining and replacing Westport’s infrastructure and municipal services?
Awaiting Response
6. Westport serves permanent and seasonal residents while also relying heavily on tourism and its business community. How would you balance those interests when making decisions about the village’s future?
Awaiting Response
Councillor CandidateMartin Crapper
Incumbent Councillor
1. Why are you seeking a seat on Westport council, and what experience or perspective would you bring to the council table?
Having served for the past four years as village councillor, I bring a solid understanding of existing issues and opportunities. My career as a senior manager in healthcare and my master's in Public Admin provide me with the skills and experience required in a publicly funded organization.
2. What do you believe is the most important issue facing the Village of Westport, and what would you do about it?
Finances. Our small village has a limited tax base and receives a very small transfer from the province, yet we have high costs, including several capital costs. We need to identify and prioritize which capital costs and seek public input on these; we need to seek grants and special provincial funding to reduce risk.
3. What could Westport be doing better, and what specific change would you propose?
Communication. Improvements could be made on several fronts, including ensuring that a user-friendly website is in place, that "customer service” is a priority for all staff and council, that information is circulated in an effective and timely manner and that meaningful community engagement is undertaken throughout the term.
4. How would you seek and consider input from residents who disagree with you when making a difficult decision?
I have made it a priority during my first term to actively seek out contact with a wide variety of village residents. I use social media to encourage people to contact me directly when there are difficult decisions to be made, and I believe that this approach has worked well. When there are disagreements, I arrange opportunities for face-to-face discussion.
5. How should council balance property tax and utility affordability with the cost of maintaining and replacing Westport’s infrastructure and municipal services?
Dollars accrued through growth are used for the full village infrastructure much of which is 50+ years old. We are fortunate that there are some new dollars available. I view the village as a form of small business and residents as shareholders. Together, we need data on our options for how to best generate revenue and how best to use the dollars we have for the betterment of all.
6. Westport serves permanent and seasonal residents while also relying heavily on tourism and its business community. How would you balance those interests when making decisions about the village’s future?
Our business community is crucial to our growth and stability. We have an excellent business and tourism group that works alongside council to advise and plan on how to best position ourselves for the future. I would support the leadership of these and other community-led groups and ensure that decisions of council are informed directly by them.
Councillor CandidateRandal Goodfellow
1. Why are you seeking a seat on Westport council, and what experience or perspective would you bring to the council table?
I have a strong need to serve the common good. I bring over three decades of serving on the boards, including filling all of the executive board positions. Council is the board of our incorporated municipality.
Based on experience, everything takes longer than is hoped for, thus patience and persistence is always required for success.
Finding creative solutions is a key strength.
Based on experience, everything takes longer than is hoped for, thus patience and persistence is always required for success.
Finding creative solutions is a key strength.
2. What do you believe is the most important issue facing the Village of Westport, and what would you do about it?
Westport faces significant challenges related to maintaining and renewing its municipal infrastructure and buildings.
Westport needs to develop a long-term strategic plan for what it wants to be in the future. It is only from this plan that Westport can truly answer infrastructure questions.
In my work life and board experience I have led the development of strategic plans and know their importance.
Westport needs to develop a long-term strategic plan for what it wants to be in the future. It is only from this plan that Westport can truly answer infrastructure questions.
In my work life and board experience I have led the development of strategic plans and know their importance.
3. What could Westport be doing better, and what specific change would you propose?
Westport needs to develop a long-term strategic plan in consultation with its residents.
Communication of the factors considered in making decisions, and the decisions themselves, should be a prime goal for both the council and staff of the Village of Westport.
Communication of the factors considered in making decisions, and the decisions themselves, should be a prime goal for both the council and staff of the Village of Westport.
4. How would you seek and consider input from residents who disagree with you when making a difficult decision?
As a councillor your perspective should be based both on all the views of residents, as well as detailed financial analysis.
After reaching out for input, decisions need to be made democratically, and those with different opinions to the majority should be honestly respected for their views.
After reaching out for input, decisions need to be made democratically, and those with different opinions to the majority should be honestly respected for their views.
5. How should council balance property tax and utility affordability with the cost of maintaining and replacing Westport’s infrastructure and municipal services?
Raising taxes and utility rates is likely not the answer.
We need to look at all of our assets and determine which we should continue to own outright; which could become part of a public-private ownership arrangement (the harbour comes to mind); and which buildings and land we no longer need to own.
We need to improve our success rate in obtaining provincial and federal grants that are related to infrastructure renewal.
Moving to single tier government, which is being considered by the current council and staff, may be part of the answer.
We need to look at all of our assets and determine which we should continue to own outright; which could become part of a public-private ownership arrangement (the harbour comes to mind); and which buildings and land we no longer need to own.
We need to improve our success rate in obtaining provincial and federal grants that are related to infrastructure renewal.
Moving to single tier government, which is being considered by the current council and staff, may be part of the answer.
6. Westport serves permanent and seasonal residents while also relying heavily on tourism and its business community. How would you balance those interests when making decisions about the village’s future?
Westport has been a tourist town for more than 125 years, and because of this, residents have more restaurants, shops and activities to enjoy.
Because the summer months are already quite busy, further development of tourism assets and activities should be for the shoulder seasons of spring and fall.
All tourist assets and activities need to respect the soul and history of Westport.
Because the summer months are already quite busy, further development of tourism assets and activities should be for the shoulder seasons of spring and fall.
All tourist assets and activities need to respect the soul and history of Westport.
Councillor CandidateKeegan Gray
Awaiting Response
1. Why are you seeking a seat on Westport council, and what experience or perspective would you bring to the council table?
Awaiting Response
2. What do you believe is the most important issue facing the Village of Westport, and what would you do about it?
Awaiting Response
3. What could Westport be doing better, and what specific change would you propose?
Awaiting Response
4. How would you seek and consider input from residents who disagree with you when making a difficult decision?
Awaiting Response
5. How should council balance property tax and utility affordability with the cost of maintaining and replacing Westport’s infrastructure and municipal services?
Awaiting Response
6. Westport serves permanent and seasonal residents while also relying heavily on tourism and its business community. How would you balance those interests when making decisions about the village’s future?
Awaiting Response
Councillor CandidateAlexandra Parliament
Awaiting Response
1. Why are you seeking a seat on Westport council, and what experience or perspective would you bring to the council table?
Awaiting Response
2. What do you believe is the most important issue facing the Village of Westport, and what would you do about it?
Awaiting Response
3. What could Westport be doing better, and what specific change would you propose?
Awaiting Response
4. How would you seek and consider input from residents who disagree with you when making a difficult decision?
Awaiting Response
5. How should council balance property tax and utility affordability with the cost of maintaining and replacing Westport’s infrastructure and municipal services?
Awaiting Response
6. Westport serves permanent and seasonal residents while also relying heavily on tourism and its business community. How would you balance those interests when making decisions about the village’s future?
Awaiting Response
Councillor CandidateCorinne Rikkelman
Awaiting Response
1. Why are you seeking a seat on Westport council, and what experience or perspective would you bring to the council table?
Awaiting Response
2. What do you believe is the most important issue facing the Village of Westport, and what would you do about it?
Awaiting Response
3. What could Westport be doing better, and what specific change would you propose?
Awaiting Response
4. How would you seek and consider input from residents who disagree with you when making a difficult decision?
Awaiting Response
5. How should council balance property tax and utility affordability with the cost of maintaining and replacing Westport’s infrastructure and municipal services?
Awaiting Response
6. Westport serves permanent and seasonal residents while also relying heavily on tourism and its business community. How would you balance those interests when making decisions about the village’s future?
Awaiting Response
Advertisement
Advertisement
How to VoteOfficial Information
October 26, 2026Election Day
Online and Telephone votingVoting Method
Update via Westport Election RegistryRegistration
18+ Canadian citizen Eligibility
Municipal Office Assistance StationVoting Locations
Municipal election pageOfficial Website
Official Voting Information
Visit the municipality's election website for the latest official instructions.
