2026 MUNICIPAL ELECTION: Q&A

2026 Candidate Arts & Culture Survey — Port Hope

On October 9th, Critical Mass asked every Mayoral and Council candidate in Port Hope’s October 26, 2026 municipal election the same questions about how art and culture fit in their platform. All responses are published in full and unedited so residents can compare them. Please click each candidate name to open their PDF with responses. Critical Mass does not endorse any candidate. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with Port Hope’s creative community.

Each candidate was provided with the following Context & Background:

The arts are a major economic driver of the economy, with a $131 billion dollar impact nationally. The 2025 Artworks report from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Business Data Lab found a $29 return in economic activity for every federal arts dollar invested. The study also identified that the arts and culture sector growth rate (8%) was double the rate of growth (4%) for the entire economy. Arts and culture creates about 13 jobs per $1 million of output, more than traditional sectors like oil and gas, manufacturing or agriculture.

Critical Mass recently completed a community survey, where 195 residents rated the arts as essential to a thriving community, scoring them 9.8 out of 10. Funded by a Work-In-Culture grant, we also led more than 82 hours of consultation, with regional and local arts organizations, artists, community partners, elected officials and municipal staff – where the need for stable funding, year-round space, coordinated advocacy and more paid opportunities for working artists were raised. Artists named making a living, exhibition opportunities, and recognition as their biggest challenges, and most also identified the need for an arts council or umbrella arts organization in Port Hope that could offer support.

The Municipality of Port Hope is increasingly incorporating arts and culture into its strategic pillars, including its new Tourism Strategy and the review of its Public Art Policy, with recommendations forthcoming from Critical Mass. Updating its decade-old Cultural Plan and preparing for potential growth from Wesleyville will also require a strong, well-supported arts community. The next Council will play a key role in turning these priorities into funded, actionable commitments.

The following statements and open ended questions were provided by email to each candidate in the 2026 municipal election:

Each candidate was asked if they Strongly Agree, Agree, are Neutral, Disagree, or Strongly Disagree with the following statements:

Arts and culture are essential to Port Hope’s quality of life and identity.

Investing in arts and culture helps Port Hope attract and keep workers, families and businesses.

Arts and culture contributes to residents’ health and well-being.

The Municipality currently invests enough in arts and culture.

Port Hope would benefit from an arts council or umbrella arts organization that supports and amplifies the work of local artists and arts organizations.

The Municipality should prioritize hiring artists, rather than using generative AI tools as a substitute for human designs which undermine and exploit the local creative economy.

The arts are enjoyed by some people, but they don’t need public support.

PART 2: OPEN QUESTIONS

Candidates were asked to keep each answer to 100 words or fewer.

• Role of the arts. Do you think art and culture add value to Port Hope? If so, how? Where do arts and culture fit in your platform?
• Health and well-being. How do you see arts and culture supporting residents’ health, especially seniors, youth and/or people facing isolation? How would you support that role? 
• Economic growth. As Port Hope prepares for future growth (especially with the potential Wesleyville project), how will arts and culture feature in your plan to attract and keep workers, families and businesses? How would you support arts and culture as an integral part of Port Hope’s local economy? 
• Access. How would you improve access to arts and culture across rural and urban wards, including addressing cost, transportation and disability-related barriers?
• Affordability. What municipal tools and support would you implement to make accessible, year-round arts spaces more affordable? 
• Stable arts funding: Do you support predictable, multi-year municipal funding for local arts and cultural organizations? If so, would you maintain, increase, or reduce that investment, and why? 
• Advocacy. Would you support the creation of a local arts council to help artists and cultural organizations access funding, share resources, and pay artists professional (CARFAC) fees? What Municipal support would you advocate for?
• Commitment to the arts. If elected, can the arts community count on you to advocate for it at Council? Name one concrete action you would take in your first year.

We thank all candidates for taking part! (For those that have not yet posted their responses, we will add them as they are sent to us.)