As part of 90.5 myFM’s 2026 Election Coverage, myFM reached out to candidates in South Huron, Bluewater, Lambton Shores and Lucan-Biddulph to hear why they believe residents should vote for them on October 26th.
Here’s what Brian Heagle, acclaimed councillor for Hay West in Bluewater had to say.
TRANSCRIBED AUDIO:
“My name is Brian Heagle, the next Hay West counselor in Bluewater as an acclaimed candidate. I’m bringing new leadership to Bluewater Council with over 30 years of business experience, legal and governance expertise, and a life spent giving back through volunteering.
This is a critical time for Bluewater. Broader experience and fresh energy are needed at Council to help drive progressive decisions and proactive changes, especially for smarter, affordable growth and stronger financial sustainability. As the current Board Chair of Huron Health System and Vice Chair of the Blue Water Heritage Advisory Committee, I’m deeply connected to our community and region.
After a career in corporate law, I retired in 2024 from the firm that I co-founded and managed. As a result, I’m able to devote even more time and energy to our remarkable community. For all these reasons and more, including that my wife, Rhea and I absolutely love it here, it will be a privilege and great responsibility to serve as a counselor on the Bluewater team. To be clear, I am not a politician. Having said that, I know how to successfully navigate government policies and processes to get things done.
Those skills have been earned from decades of experience as a community leader and counsel for numerous not-for-profit organizations and charities. More specifically, through years of leadership and governance with hospitals, I’ve learned how to navigate often complex relationships between different levels of government. Hospitals and municipalities deal with the same overriding issues, that is chronic underfunding, advocating with provincial decision makers and choosing between multiple priorities for those they serve. Both are also governed by statute and Queens Park in Toronto. The world of government and politics is certainly not unfamiliar territory for me. I believe the single greatest threat to Blue Water as a whole is a possible financial crisis. Right now, it feels like we’re marching toward a dangerous fiscal cliff.
We live at a time of growing economic turbulence and uncertainty. Bluewater’s current direction is troubling. In particular, council has dipped too deeply into the municipality’s pool of cash reserves. While this has effectively held back increases to residential property taxes for the short term, it is not a sustainable nor responsible approach for the long term. The current plan for restoring depleted reserves needs to be revisited, including by injecting a greater sense of urgency. We also cannot cut our way through tough years. Efficiencies alone will not course-correct Bluewater’s trajectory. We need to explore all options and make bolder, thoughtful decisions. A prime example is agritourism. We must act more aggressively to champion Bluewater’s two greatest strengths, agriculture and tourism.
Agritourism is booming at an unprecedented rate, pumping more than $600 million annually into Ontario’s economy, including with legislative support in the form of the Growing Agritourism Act. Bluewater hasn’t caught that big wave yet. By collaborating more closely with businesses and neighboring municipalities, Bluewater can help build, measure, and promote a truly thriving year-round agritourism culture right here at home.
My work as a counselor will be built on three pillars, proven leadership, fiscal responsibility, community engagement. That last pillar means listening to you and improving municipal communications with more ways and opportunities to be heard. Those aren’t just words. Hold me accountable over the next four years. Get involved by paying attention to what counsel does or doesn’t do. Voice your concerns and ideas. You can make a difference.
For more about my background and priorities, please visit my website, voteheagle.com. Thank you to MyFM for this valuable opportunity to connect with you.”
