Lights, Camera, Action: Municipal Election Season Begins in Springwater
Integrity Commissioner report exposes deeper divide over communication, media access and political advantage
By Kari Belcourt – North Simcoe Springwater News
Springwater residents were treated to another action-packed council meeting on July 8, with much of the evening once again consumed by council infighting, accusations and debate over transparency. As the 2026 municipal election approaches, investigations, public participation and political divisions are becoming increasingly prominent.
Springwater’s July 8 council meeting offered residents a preview of what could become a defining issue in the 2026 municipal election: who controls the conversation.
The first Integrity Commissioner report of the current council term may have concluded that Councillor Matt Garwood did not breach the Code of Conduct, but the investigation exposed deeper divisions within council over media relationships, communication strategies and accusations of political influence.
The complaint, filed by Deputy Mayor George Cabral, examined Garwood’s recurring community updates published through the North Simcoe Springwater News, as well as his social media activity, including paid Facebook advertising.
Cabral said the complaint was not about restricting communication but about determining whether council rules had been followed.
“I filed the complaint because I believed there were legitimate questions about whether the Council Code of Conduct had been breached,” Cabral stated. “Rather than making that determination myself or debating it publicly, I chose to use the independent process established by the Province.”
However, several members of council viewed the complaint differently, arguing it represented a political challenge against a councillor who has frequently questioned council decisions.
Councillor Brad Thompson called the complaint unfairly directed at Garwood.
“He’s done so much good for the community,” Thompson said. “I think that it was just a personal attack, to be honest.”
Garwood said he believes the complaint must be viewed within the context of the divisions that have shaped council throughout the current term.
“It’s not a secret that there has been a divide with this council,” Garwood said. “While some choose to stray away from that narrative, it is a fact. It’s an unfortunate fact, and it’s something I wish was not Springwater’s reality, but it has been.”
Garwood said the four-three split on council has influenced many decisions and that residents should consider that division when evaluating council’s actions.
“It is the truth when we say there is a four-three divide on most matters, and the public needs to be aware of that and remember that,” he said.
He questioned whether the same complaint would have been brought forward against a councillor who had not challenged council decisions or publicly criticized actions at the council table.
“I do believe parts of this complaint are motivated by politics,” Garwood said. “I do believe that this same complaint would not be filed against somebody who has not attempted to hold members of council’s actions to account over a four-year term.”
He also criticized the cost of the investigation, noting it concluded he had not violated the Code of Conduct.
“This investigation has no tangible benefit to the future of Springwater and comes at a significant cost. It could have been a simple conversation. Instead, taxpayers spent approximately $13,000 to determine that nothing was done wrong.”
The fight over communication
At the centre of the complaint was not simply a newspaper column, but a larger debate over political communication and whether elected officials have equal access to platforms that reach residents.
Cabral’s complaint stated that communication activities “may reasonably be perceived as creating an advantage for a Member of Council in advance of the municipal nomination period.”
The concern focused on whether recurring newspaper space and paid social media promotion could provide an incumbent councillor with increased visibility as the municipality approaches an election.
The issue has become part of a larger conflict between council and local media.
Following the 2022 municipal election, then known as Springwater News offered all members of council the opportunity to submit community updates through the former Council Connects feature. The newspaper has maintained that the opportunity was open to all members and that the purpose was to provide residents with information directly from elected officials.
However, communication between council members and the newspaper became increasingly contentious, with disagreements emerging over publication decisions, election-period communication and access to media platforms.
The newspaper has maintained that its role is to provide residents with factual information while maintaining editorial independence, there was no individual bias.
A shift away from local media
The debate also revisited council’s decision to move away from newspaper communication toward its own township-produced newsletter, the Springwater Link.
According to a report prepared by Township Communications Officer Nicole Audette, the proposed 2024 base operating budget for the newsletter was approximately $54,000 for 18 editions.
Former North Simcoe Springwater News owner Linda Belcourt previously stated that 18 newspaper insertions would have cost approximately $610 per insertion, plus tax.
Critics of the decision questioned why council moved away from an established local publication while increasing spending on direct municipal communication.
Garwood said the change reduced an important accountability mechanism.
“I believe the North Simcoe Springwater News again has been factual and has been fair,” Garwood said.
“If members of council dislike what is being printed about them, members of council should be mindful of what they say when sitting at the council table, and understand that their actions matter.”
He questioned why taxpayers would fund a separate communication system rather than continue using existing local media.
“I do not understand any reality where it is better to spend double the amount in communication efforts and staff time to get the same or less information communicated,” he said.
Thompson similarly questioned council’s decision.
“At the time a full-page ad was $950 with your paper, and they chose the Canada Post option or the direct mail flyer that was $3,100,” Thompson said.
Thompson alleged the decision was connected to dissatisfaction with election coverage.
“I think it had to do with during the election they didn’t like some of the things that were written about them, so they decided to give the paper a consequence for writing things they didn’t like,” he said.
When asked why the Township adopted the higher-cost communication model, Councillor Moore said legislative public notices continue to be published in newspapers where required, but communication strategies have evolved.
“Communication strategies have changed over the last few years with more information being posted on the municipal website, social media and other digital platforms. Just like many newspapers have moved online, communication continues to evolve.”
Councillor Danielle Alexander said the decision to move away from the newspaper took considerable discussion.
“It took us a long time. There was a lot of back and forth. What I kept hearing from residents was that many preferred a direct mailer, and there were concerns that not everyone in the south end of the township was receiving the newspaper.”
Cabral said council’s decision was driven by concerns over consistent delivery across the municipality.
“Neither publication was consistently reaching all areas of the Township. Canada Post direct mail guaranteed delivery, wasn’t tied to newspaper publication deadlines, allowed information to be targeted geographically, and provided greater flexibility.”
Garwood strongly disagreed with council’s decision, arguing taxpayers are paying significantly more for less communication while abandoning a local business.
“I don’t understand any reality where it is better to spend double the amount on communication efforts and staff time to communicate the same or less information. Springwater Township not advertising in the Springwater News is, in my perspective, embarrassing.”
He added that council should support local media rather than replace it.
“These decisions shouldn’t be about a ward councillor, the deputy mayor or the mayor. They should be about what’s best for Elmvale, Midhurst, Hillsdale, Phelpston, Minesing and every community in this township.”
Integrity Commissioner clears Garwood
Despite the political controversy surrounding the complaint, the Integrity Commissioner found that Garwood’s newspaper articles did not violate the Code of Conduct.
The report determined that the recurring articles did not constitute a prohibited “gift” because the arrangement provided value to both parties — Garwood received a communication platform, while the newspaper received community content.
“I don’t believe Councillor Garwood’s recurring article in the NSSN fits the definition of ‘gift’ in the Township’s Code of Conduct, and accordingly it doesn’t contravene section 10 of the Code of Conduct,” the report stated.
The Integrity Commissioner noted that the opportunity had been available to all members of council.
“The fact that all other Members of Council have passed on this ‘opportunity’ arguably also calls into question the magnitude of the benefit that Councillor Garwood ostensibly receives from this arrangement,” the report stated.
The investigation also found no evidence that the articles created a conflict between Garwood’s private interests and his public duties.
“This case established no conflict between any of Councillor Garwood’s private interests versus his public duties,” the report stated.
The Integrity Commissioner concluded that the arrangement was a “mutually beneficial voluntary exchange.”
“It is not the provision of a ‘gift’,” the report stated. No sanctions or recommendations were issued.
The election battle over information
The Integrity Commissioner report may be closed, but the larger political debate remains.
At its core, the dispute raises questions about the relationship between elected officials, local media and public communication during an election cycle.
Do elected officials have equal opportunities to communicate with residents? Should municipalities create their own communication channels or rely on independent media? When does public information become political promotion?
Those questions are unlikely to disappear as Springwater approaches the 2026 municipal election.
After a council term defined by division, disputes and competing narratives, the battle over who controls the message may become one of the central issues voters consider when they head to the polls.
The July 8 council meeting marked only the beginning of several significant discussions.
Council also received a second Integrity Commissioner report concerning Mayor Jennifer Coughlin, following a complaint filed by Mario Giampietri of Geranium Inc. The report addressed issues including language used by members of council, confidentiality and council conduct.
Several councillors indicated they believe the matter may not be concluded and suggested further legal proceedings are possible. As these matters may continue to evolve, the North Simcoe Springwater News will conduct additional research and due diligence before publishing a comprehensive analysis to ensure residents receive reporting that is accurate, fair and historically complete during the municipal election.
During question period, residents again raised concerns about council divisions and sought clarification regarding the Township’s authorization of Loopstra Nixon legal invoices. Those issues, along with other outstanding municipal matters, will continue to be examined in future editions.
With council now entering the municipal election “lame duck” period—during which no regular meetings are scheduled until September and council’s authority may become restricted following the election, depending on the composition of the new council—the newspaper will continue providing readers with background and context on the issues that have shaped this term, including the Barrie Boundary Adjustment, the Midhurst Secondary Plan, council divisions, legal expenditures and other major decisions.
As election season continues, we invite residents to help shape our coverage. If there are issues, decisions or questions you would like investigated or explained, please let us know. Our goal is to provide factual, balanced and comprehensive reporting to help voters make informed decisions at the ballot box.