New Leeds and Thousand Islands councillor focused on fairness

Monique Antoine-Hartley didn’t take on the role of Ward 2 councillor in the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands to sit quietly at the council table.

A lifelong township resident, longtime educator, and dedicated volunteer, she says she is stepping into the position with a clear purpose: to build trust, listen to concerns, and make sure residents feel heard.

“My key priority is to build trusting and collaborative relationships with the council, the staff, and residents to meet the challenges facing the township, and find creative solutions that will lessen the impact on residents,” the 62-year-old Antoine-Hartley said in a recent interview.

“I have a strong volunteer presence, and I’m aware of the many frustrations that our residents are dealing with because I have listened, and I feel the frustrations myself. I want to be available to residents and listen to their concerns and take actions to ensure they feel their voice is heard.”

Council recently appointed Antoine-Hartley to the seat vacated by Mark Jamison’s retirement at the end of December.

Antoine-Hartley is particularly focused on addressing concerns about fairness in how township services and resources are distributed among TLTI’s many communities.

“The township is a collection of unique and diverse villages and communities with strong community pride,” she said. “Often, residents will voice their perception of inequality in the delivery of services and resources. No community is exactly the same, and as a result, the needs of each community are not the same. Therefore, a cookie-cutter approach will not work to deliver resources fairly.”

She acknowledges the efforts of council in striving for balance, but also understands why some decisions may not always appear fair to residents.

“Fairness is not that everyone has the same—it is that everyone has what they need,” she said. “I am passionate about listening to concerns and needs from residents and sharing them at the council table to ensure that all feel heard and decisions are made taking those concerns into consideration, as well as the guidelines that council must work within.”

A strong community presence has always been important to Antoine-Hartley, and she plans to continue that as a councillor.

“Being out and about in the community and being visible is a communication tool to me,” she said. “I am a very active community volunteer, and I plan on continuing to give back because it gives me joy to work amongst my neighbours.”

She also recognizes the importance of being available to all township residents, not just those in Ward 2.

“I understand I am a township councillor and that even though I am the councillor for Ward 2, I represent all residents of the township,” she said. “I will take the opportunity to make myself available to all residents and be visible at community events throughout the township. I love meeting people and prefer to speak one-on-one.”

The new councillor will host a meet-and-greet on March 9, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Seeley’s Bay Legion, to give residents an opportunity to connect with her. She also encourages people to reach out via email at mahartley@townshipleeds.on.ca to arrange a meeting.

Looking at the road ahead, Antoine-Hartley sees economic uncertainty as one of the biggest challenges facing the township.

“Due to the current world circumstances, in my opinion, the biggest challenges for the township are the unknown ones that will arise from the political uncertainty initiated by the Canada-U.S. relationship,” she said. “Being a border community, our economic futures are tied to respectful relationships between those governments, which provide jobs and economic stability to our region.”

She is also concerned about ongoing issues such as food security, housing affordability, and supporting local businesses—challenges she worries may worsen in an unpredictable economic climate.

“Addressing these issues in an ever-changing economic environment will take creative decision-making on behalf of all council members and staff,” she said.

“It is my obligation to collaborate respectfully with councillors and staff and be the voice of my fellow residents in the decision-making process. It will take drawing on everyone’s strengths to find decisions that take into consideration what our taxpayers are able to tolerate as they struggle to maintain the quality of life they have come to expect.”

Antoine-Hartley intends to run in the 2026 municipal election, seeing this appointment as a valuable opportunity to learn the role first-hand.

“People who know me well know that I have expressed for some time that I planned on running for council at the next election. However, when this opportunity presented itself, it seemed like a great way to learn the aspects of the role so that when 2026 comes around, I’m well-informed about the issues and will have demonstrated my skills and commitment to the residents of TLTI.”

While she acknowledges that no councillor has all the answers, she is committed to working through challenges with integrity and dedication.

“I don’t have all the answers to the many challenges that TLTI will face. I don’t think any of us even know the questions yet,” she said. “However, I do have the skills, experience, and moral compass to diligently work to find solutions when faced with a challenge. I want residents to see me as one of them, with some of the same questions and concerns. I give my word as a fellow township resident that I will listen to residents across the entire township, not just my ward, be thoughtful and respectful in my collaboration, and look for creative solutions within the guidelines set beyond the council chamber.”