McIntyre Ward’s incumbent councillor, Albert Aiello, is facing a challenge from one other candidate: Brian Phillips.

Albert Aiello (incumbent)

Councillor Albert Aiello is eyeing a third term representing McIntyre with the feeling that “there’s a lot of work that still needs to be completed after decades of stagnant growth in the city.”

Aiello feels that the city has “finally turned a corner and you can see it, you can touch it, you can feel the changes that are happening in a very positive way in regards to growth.”

He presents the city’s last term as one focused on getting the ball rolling on several issues.

One such big ticket item, the Temporary Shelter Village, he worries might not be the right approach: “I really feel like we’re enabling people,” he remarks.

But he also hopes it will be successful now that it’s open; and because council put it forward, he says of councillors who may have reservations that “we all have to get behind it.”

When it comes to opening up parkland or greenspace for development, Aiello argues for a nuanced approach.

He says parkland “pretty much shouldn’t be touched,” but believes that when it comes to green spaces, the city needs to look at developments on a case-by-case basis.

“Growth is vitally important to move the city forward. The additional tax dollars without a doubt are needed to tackle the deficit that we have,” he explains.

Aiello points out that growing the city’s tax base is also a way to alleviate a lot of citizen frustrations about the speed at which the city is able to tackle problems, such as its large infrastructure deficit.

“This 30 million dollar deficit — it’s generational — it didn’t happen overnight and in order to fix it, you have to chisel away at it,” he says, and draws attention to City Council’s decision over this past term to devote an additional 5 per cent of its capital budget towards infrastructure as a win for residents.

Though Aiello was often one to raise financial concerns to the forefront at City Hall, he strongly supported the indoor turf facility.

Though it was a massive project for the city, he argues that “these are the quality of life things that you need in communities,” in order to attract more growth, either through retaining skilled workers or enticing businesses and industries to move in.

“Will it be used? Absolutely. Will it bring in revenue? Absolutely,” remarks the councillor. “It’s just one of those things that was very much lacking in our community, and I’m glad I supported that.”

Looking ahead to the next term, he hopes residents will back him again: “You call me, I do return your calls. I do act. I will listen to you and provide information, whether it’s what you want to hear or not, but I follow it through. I work diligently, I form great partnerships with administration… I’m not somebody who does something halfway.”

Brian Phillips

Commercial property manager Brian Phillips says that he has “always had a love for politics,” and that after running for an At Large Councillor position in 2022, he feels that he could be well-suited for the comings and goings of City Hall.

“I wanted to do something good for this city that’s given back to me for many years,” he adds.

Phillips says for him, the chief issues of the election are safety, street lighting, traffic concerns and general road issues including signage and maintenance.

On the campaign trail, he says voters “want results,” and want transparency from City Hall.

“They don’t want skirted-around issues or answers. They want to know what’s going on,” explains Phillips.

He believes that if taxes are going to be raised, citizens “want bang for their buck,” and are concerned that some wards are giving up more than they’re getting.

Phillips was able to tour the Temporary Shelter Village alongside many other councillors, and feels the project is “a great idea,” and that “the facility is awesome.”

He hopes the project can offer the city some bandwidth in its efforts to counteract the crises of homelessness, addictions, and mental illness that are so dominating this election’s discussions.

On the development of housing, Phillips wants the city to prioritize vacant lots and buildings before it turns to green spaces or park spaces, which he says “nobody wants to see taken away.”

“Use up what we have first, then find other areas to utilize before parkland and green space,” he argues.

Looking back at the past term of council, McIntyre’s challenger feels that although city council did some good, they moved too slowly and were too indecisive.

“No more studies, no more going back and looking,” Phillips suggests. “Just make a decision and stick to it. Get the answers, get all the information and have the one vote and be done with it. Move on.”

To help the city with its finances, Phillips believes the city should look at selling properties it doesn’t need anymore to bring its deficit down. “Going after the taxpayers for the money isn’t the answer. There’s other solutions that have to be investigated, whether it’s taxing bigger business that are coming in or spreading it out to everybody so it’s a fair deal. There’s got to be another solution,” he muses.

If elected, he promises to leave his personal likes and dislikes at the door, rise above any disagreements with others on council, and remember that he’s there “for the betterment of the city… You’ve got to work as a team. You’ve got to get things accomplished. And you’ve got to move forward for positivity and growth.”

“The city’s hungry for change, and I’m hoping that my abilities and background and experience will help move that change forward.”

Ontario’s municipal elections are set for October 26, 2026.

More information about Thunder Bay’s election can be accessed on the city website.