Founded in 2020, the New Blue Party of Ontario is led by Jim Karahalios, the husband of Belinda Karahalios, former PC MPP for Cambridge and now the party’s first MPP.
She was turfed from the PC caucus after voting against Bill 195, the Reopening Ontario Act, which she described as “an unnecessary overreach on our parliamentary democracy.”
New Blue identifies itself as “an anti-establishment centre-right political party.”
The party aims to field candidates in all ridings for the June 2 provincial election.
It has put forward Matt Millar, a life-long Lambeth resident, as its prospective candidate for Elgin-Middlesex-London.
A third-generation fruit farmer who also operates a small tech support company, Millar advises the party is all about less government involvement.
“The reason I got into this is I just want people to have more control over their own lives. I don’t want the government to be overbearing and forcing people to do things they don’t want.”
In the 2018 Ontario municipal election, Millar ran for Ward 9 councillor in London, finishing second to incumbent Anna Hopkins in ranked-ballot voting.
Millar stresses although he has conservative values, joining the Ontario PC Party is just not an option.
The New Blue Party of Ontario is the only true conservative party now, argues Millar.
“The people we talk to, a lot of them, they are fed up with the current government and they can’t support the Doug Ford PC party and they just want another option and that basically is my core team right now.
“Everyone shares that point of view.”
It’s time to restore transparency and accountability to provincial government, says Millar.
He is frustrated by over-reach at all levels of government during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying it is time to return to individual responsibility.
Millar is not in favour of any COVID mandates and, instead, says individuals should be allowed to assess their own risk.
“We just want to cut down the government control. We’re definitely not in favour of lock-downs. We don’t want to see people forced out of work by the government mandates.
“Vaccine and mask mandates, we’re against all that. We think people should be able to assess their own risk and make their own decisions and not have it forced upon them.”
Millar concedes the party’s philosophy is “somewhat similar” to the People’s Party of Canada which failed to elect a single candidate out of the 312 in ran in the 2021 federal election.
However, it did garner almost five per cent of the popular vote.
“It’s somewhat similar, but it’s more aimed to be a Conservative party for people who were former Ontario PC supporters but the party had shifted too far to the left.”
“Even as we saw with the Emergencies Act at the federal level, it’s being propped up by the Doug Ford PCs, so we just want to get as strong a voice as we can to have some sort of opposition to what is going on.”
Still, with the pandemic, Millar says the way seniors have been treated “is really deplorable.”
“The reason I got into this is I just want people to have more control over their own lives. I don’t want the government to be overbearing and forcing people to do things they don’t want.
“I really want my grandfather who is in long-term care and turning 101 in a couple of months, I want him to be able to celebrate with his family because, right now, a lot of them can’t do that due to the regulations.
“The way seniors have been treated is really deplorable and I just want to see that improve and I want people’s quality of life to improve.
“I’m just here to help things get better for Elgin-Middlesex-London residents.”
One of the planks in the New Blue platform addresses the future of wind turbines in Ontario.
“We’re against carbon taxes . . . and to end the wind turbine program which is costing Ontarians millions and millions of dollars.”
On a personal note, Millar would rather rely on nuclear power to meet the province’s energy requirements.
“I don’t know about the party overall, but I’m in favour of looking into nuclear. I know our current government has been doing some deals on small nuclear reactors and that’s something I am definitely in favour of.
“Since we’re trying to reduce carbon, that’s really the only feasible way forward.”
Already having one seat at Queen’s Park, Millar says the June 2 election is an opportunity to elect a true opposition at the Legislature.
“We’ve got one sitting MPP with Belinda Karahalios and she’s been doing really good work and we just want to get her some backup in there so we can have a voice in opposition to everything that’s going on.
“Even as we saw with the Emergencies Act at the federal level, it’s being propped up by the Doug Ford PCs, so we just want to get as strong a voice as we can to have some sort of opposition to what is going on.”
The New Blue Party of Ontario, in a release, says it is a viable option for voters with its strong leadership and a solid foundation built by a grassroots effort of like-minded Ontarians like Matt Millar.
ANIMAL CENTRE TO BECOME A CITY RESOURCE
At first glance, 1Password Park in the city’s north end would appear to have little in common with the proposed animal services centre to be located near the Doug Tarry Sports Complex.
Well, it seems they share a benefactor in Sara Teare.
In November of 2018, David and Sara Teare contributed $500,000 to gain the naming rights to the 65-acre sports and recreation facility on Burwell Road.
1Password creates password management software used by millions of customers around the world.
Speaking with Sara at the time, she explained the rationale behind that significant contribution.
“We’ve been playing soccer since our kids were first eligible to start playing and we’ve been loving that. David has been coaching for a few years now, so it is definitely something that we’ve grown to love over the years.”
And in Tuesday’s (April 19) council agenda package is a letter from Sara indicating her intention to donate $1 million toward the animal services centre.
She says the intent is to “help kick off the fundraising goals and bring this project closer to completion.”
Sara continues, “I know that there has been a capital amount approved in previous years to go toward that construction (of the animal centre), however, there is a fundraising aspect that needs to be kicked off to help ensure that this facility becomes a community hub, fulfilling many needs at once.”
“I believe that the role of Animal Services is not only to provide a space for lost and surrendered animals to find shelter but also to enhance the community by being a resource that can be used by all.”
She correctly observes the existing shelter “is a small building with limited functionality, in an industrial space that is anything but calming for the animals arriving, wondering where their families have gone.”
Woefully inadequate would be a more apt description.
An embarrassment to the city gives you the complete picture.
She notes “I believe that the role of Animal Services is not only to provide a space for lost and surrendered animals to find shelter but also to enhance the community by being a resource that can be used by all.”
Council is being asked to authorize staff to initiate a request for proposal for architectural services.
The city had previously approved $300,000 to be allocated to the new centre.
And, an animal services centre fundraising initiative is to be created.
A new facility has languished in the background for years, and stalled through inertia.
In December of 2020, the centre was finally included in the city’s Strategic Plan, which prompted Coun. Joan Rymal to offer the following comments.
“I do think the fundraising effort is really almost a barrier to getting the animal shelter re-done. With a pandemic situation and people currently trying to fund for animals which are going directly to animal care which is quite costly.”
Rymal continued, “The animal shelter is just another piece of infrastructure like the police station, the fire hall and the social services building.
“It’s another piece of infrastructure and you’ve got funds through the infrastructure renewal program.
“I know this is just a high-level item at the moment, but December 2023, that’s a long way off for that shelter and, as I’ve said, it’s an infrastructure project and I also think there is a health and safety issue and I would like to see that reconsidered as far as being an earlier date.
“And the fundraising a little bit more realistic with fundraising connected to that project.”
That’s been the point for years, why is there a need to organize a fundraising campaign for a city infrastructure program?
There was no fundraising campaign for a new police headquarters.
Rymal correctly noted at the time, that the centre will include a dog park and overflow parking for the ball complex, so are users of both those components being asked to fundraise?
With a contribution of $1.5 million toward city facilities in the past three years from Sara Teare, you can bet work will proceed at a much more noticeable pace on the animal care centre.
Credit due to Sara.
Oh, and don’t forget her mother, Coun. Joan Rymal.
Related posts:
Unlocking the financial password for the new outdoor recreational complex in St. Thomas
ONE GRANT GRANTED, ONE DENIED
In the first quarter of this year, the city received two community grant applications and they will be considered at Tuesday’s council meeting.
It’s part of council’s fine-tuning of the previous poorly-defined community grant policy where, basically, anything goes.
Under the revamped policy, “Successful applications under the current policy are more likely to be for special events or one-time start-up funding for new community initiatives that align with council’s strategic priorities.”
Grant applications that request funding for expenses an organization incurs “through its normal course of operations are not recommended for approval.”
Such is the case for a request from Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Thomas Elgin.
They requested $3,500 to renovate a room in their office to provide a space for young people and their mentors to meet, participate in activities and relax.
The city’s director of finance, Dan Sheridan advises “The addition of this room is seen as an enhancement to the normal course of operations and not to support a new operation, therefore, staff recommends this community grant not be approved.
The second request is from the Rainbow Optimist Club Southern Ontario and is related to Elgin county Pride Family Day to be held on Aug. 13 and 14.
The club is seeking $563 to cover rental fees for the bandshell in Pinafore Park plus the cost of police services to provide traffic control for a parade.
Sheridan concludes, “Community events are a priority in the community grants policy, it is recommended that council approve this request.
“Police services can accommodate the group’s traffic control request without charging the group.”
COMING UP
It was announced this past week the St. Thomas Police Service will receive $786,925 in funding over three years for two of its programs.
The Mobile Outreach Support Team (MOST) and the foot patrol program will benefit from this cash infusion and next week we’ll talk with Chief Chris Herridge about how the funding will be allocated and what the financial support means for the development of the two initiatives.
FOR THE CALENDAR
St. Anne’s Community Festival returns after being sidelined by the pandemic. This year’s dates are June 1-4. Council is expected to declare this a community festival at Tuesday’s meeting.
Questions and comments may be emailed to City Scope
Visit us on Facebook
And a reminder, I can be heard weekday afternoons as news anchor and reporter on 94.1 myFM in St. Thomas. As always, your comments and input are appreciated.
Ian's City Scope 