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Fourteen candidates are running for five at-large councillor positions in Thunder Bay's municipal election on Oct. 26. CBC News asked them three questions.
Fourteen candidates are competing for five at-large councillor positions in Thunder Bay, Ont., in the municipal election on Oct. 26. CBC News asked each candidate to provide 100-word responses to three identical questions, and the responses are published in alphabetical order by last name. Among the candidates are incumbent councillors Rajni Agarwal and Mark Bentz, who are both seeking re-election, as well as challenger Gene Capar. The election will determine the composition of city council as it faces pressing issues including infrastructure funding, housing supply, and property taxes.
Thunder Bay Municipal Election Candidates
The at-large councillor race features a mix of incumbents and new challengers. Fourteen candidates are vying for five seats, making it a highly competitive contest. CBC News submitted the same three questions to all candidates and is publishing the responses received, edited only for spelling, grammar, and word count. The responses provide voters with a direct look at the priorities and visions of those seeking office.
Incumbents Rajni Agarwal and Mark Bentz are both running for re-election, citing their experience and commitment to addressing the city's challenges. Agarwal emphasizes action-oriented leadership and fiscal accountability, while Bentz points to his extensive background in municipal legislation, governance, and finance. Gene Capar is also running for an at-large seat, though his full responses were not included in the excerpt provided.
Rajni Agarwal Campaign Priorities
Rajni Agarwal is seeking re-election as an at-large city councillor. She says Thunder Bay needs action-oriented leadership that puts residents first, noting that rising taxes are squeezing every generation from young adults struggling to buy homes to seniors on fixed incomes. To relieve tax pressure on homeowners, she argues the city must attract commercial and industrial growth while protecting existing local industries.
Agarwal believes attracting investment starts with basics: ensuring the city is clean, safe, and secure for residents, local businesses, and guests alike. She pledges to deliver housing options, enforce fiscal accountability through external audits, and turn plans into measured results to build a safer, cleaner, and more affordable Thunder Bay.
Her key priorities include increasing active patrols and tracking crime reduction, collaborating with universities, colleges, local businesses, and Indigenous leaders to secure government funding, and addressing a $30 million annual infrastructure deficit by repairing infrastructure before it breaks. She also calls for tracking project KPIs, enforcing budget limits, and utilizing an independent auditor reporting to council.
On housing, Agarwal says the city must step back from operating housing directly and instead focus on facilitating private and non-profit ownership and management. She wants to assist non-profits, Indigenous leaders, and stakeholders with grant writing and build essential sector connections. She also advocates leveraging combined federal, provincial, and private capital streams to finance new developments and prioritizing small bachelor, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units along public transit routes to address historical shortages exacerbated by past rooming house closures. She emphasizes partnering closely with the District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board and professional bodies to secure critical capital grants and operational resources.
Mark Bentz Campaign Priorities
Mark Bentz is also running for re-election as an at-large city councillor. He brings extensive experience in municipal legislation, governance, and finance, having served on Thunder Bay city council as both a ward and at-large councillor. He says his experience has given him a strong understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing the city, and he is prepared to listen, work collaboratively, and make thoughtful decisions on behalf of all residents.
Bentz identifies the top issues as ongoing pressures on the city's physical and social infrastructure. For physical infrastructure, he says council needs to refine its long-term financial plan to achieve sustainable funding for properly maintaining assets. Currently, infrastructure renewal is underfunded by approximately $30 million annually, taking a toll on all asset classes. Under the current plan, it will take more than 30 years to reach sustainability while infrastructure continues to deteriorate, increasing long-term costs. For social infrastructure, he calls for developing partnerships that improve service delivery and attract outside funding, reducing costs for Thunder Bay ratepayers.
If re-elected, Bentz says his first priority will be getting to know the new councillors and offering his assistance so they feel comfortable in their new roles and can work effectively toward their goals. As a teacher and an experienced councillor, he believes he can help build a cohesive council that works collaboratively for the benefit of residents. He will also make establishing the 2027 operating budget a priority, with the goal of keeping property tax increases at or near inflationary levels to help ensure taxes remain affordable.
The municipal election is scheduled for Oct. 26. Voters in Thunder Bay will choose five at-large councillors from the field of fourteen candidates, along with other municipal positions. The candidates' full responses to the three questions are available through CBC News, providing voters with detailed information on their platforms and priorities.
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