It’s a tale of two municipalities and their respective leaders.
St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston is ecstatic.
Central Elgin Mayor Andrew Sloan, on the other hand, is a lot more guarded.
Their differing reactions are in response to an announcement on Wednesday (Feb. 23) the province is introducing legislation to attract new investment to the 800-acre parcel of land east of Highbury Avenue assembled by the city last summer.
Oops, let’s correct that because the release from the province refers to 1,500 acres of land.
We’ll sort that out as we go.
The original 800 acres are located in St. Thomas and Central Elgin and have been identified as one of the most invest-ready mega sites in Ontario.
However, with the land divided between two municipalities with different permitting requirements, potential investors could face red tape and delays from unnecessary duplication.
And so the province has stepped in. We’re unsure if that was at the city’s request but we’ll try to sort that one out as we go as well.

The proposed legislation builds on the province’s efforts during the Job Site Challenge, which was designed to attract large-scale advanced manufacturing investments that have the potential to create hundreds of new jobs across the province.
Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, in a media release stressed, “Creating more shovel-ready mega-sites will help Ontario remain competitive as the province competes for major global investments.”
The Bill enacts the St. Thomas – Central Elgin Boundary Adjustment Act, 2023, which provides for the annexation of a portion of the Municipality of Central Elgin to the City of St. Thomas.
Various matters are dealt with, including the application of bylaws, resolutions and official plans, the continuation of procedures in process and arrangements with respect to real property taxes.
Provision is made for payments between the respective municipalities, as may be required and determined by regulation. The minister is authorized to make orders providing for the closure of public highways.
So, let’s begin to sort out some of the conflicting points here, first with a follow-up call to Mayor Preston on Friday.
We had already spoken to him earlier in the week following the province’s announcement to get his reaction.
We asked Preston what prompted the province to become involved this week.
“Look, we said we would accumulate a site large enough for those who are suitors. For those who want to come here. And it required it to be that size.”
We suggested most new large-scale manufacturing operations announced in the province of late, including new battery plants, did not require that amount of property.

“All I can say is we said St. Thomas is accumulating a large parcel of industrial land in the northeast portion of St. Thomas that also includes some land in Central Elgin and we will continue to do that until we find a suitor, a plant, a company that wants to locate on that land and supply an economic benefit to the City of St. Thomas.”

Preston replied, “I don’t know if any of us has said it’s a battery plant.”
Has our MPP Rob Flack been suggesting that?
In any event, how did we go from 800 acres to 1,500 acres with no indication from the city that was the case? Instead, it is revealed in a media release from the province.
“It is a significant, mega-plant size,” continued Preston.
Why even the Amazon fulfillment centre is nowhere near that size.
“It is the ability to attract anyone in the world who is looking for a facility of any size.”
We’ll delve deeper into this in the following item but Mayor Sloan in Central Elgin tells us he has not been involved in any of these conversations about expanding the property size to 1,500 acres utilizing land in Central Elgin.
Preston responded, “I spoke to Andrew the day the legislation went to Queen’s Park. I speak to Andrew a lot.

“At this moment, St. Thomas has purchased all that land.”

“All I can say is we said St. Thomas is accumulating a large parcel of industrial land in the northeast portion of St. Thomas that also includes some land in Central Elgin and we will continue to do that until we find a suitor, a plant, a company that wants to locate on that land and supply an economic benefit to the City of St. Thomas.”
No doubt Mayor Sloan will be interested in economic benefits to the ratepayers of Central Elgin.
Asked if there has been interest shown by any suitor in the original 800 acres acquired last year Preston replied, “There has been lots of conversation but there is no deal done.”
Then why the need to add more land at this time?
“Again, we’re connecting industrial land to industrial land. The industrial region of St. Thomas is in the northeast.
“We have accumulated the land collectively.”
Has the province contributed financially to this land banking?
“At this moment, St. Thomas has purchased all that land.”
When pressed on the value of the land, Preston would only say, “Can you imagine what it will be when there are 3,000 jobs sitting on it.”
Preston assured the additional land was acquired through dealing with the existing owners and no expropriation was required.
As of Friday, the legislation known as Bill 63 has been Ordered for Third Reading, which could come as early as next week.

MEANTIME IN CENTRAL ELGIN

In a conversation Thursday with Central Elgin Mayor Andrew Sloan, we asked him if had always been under the impression the land in question was the 800-acre parcel east of Highbury Avenue and south of Ron McNeil Line.
“I’m disillusioned,” admitted Sloan, “we were never told there was going to be a larger piece than had been proposed.
“It’s a concern, because this extra land that is being taken, some of that was marked by Central Elgin for their development.
“But what do I say to the ratepayer? When I ran (to become Central Elgin mayor) I said the most important negotiation I would be facing immediately was on this project.
“And how will this cost the Central Elgin ratepayers, who already have some of the highest taxes and water rates in Ontario?
“When I’ve just been told the original piece, which we knew was in play, is now twice that size, essentially with 1,500 acres.
“So, that’s a concern for me and that’s where we find ourselves right now. We’re still doing the deep dive on the actual legislation.
“We’re finding the information we need but my concern this morning is for the ratepayer and how this loss of land will affect them going forward.”
Does this sound like someone who has been invited to the table to talk land deals?
We used the analogy of a three-legged stool with one of the legs missing.
Remember Mayor Preston said above, “I speak to Andrew a lot.”
That may be the case but the conversation doesn’t appear to revolve around property in Central Elgin.

“When we saw the bill, this is the first time any of us saw 1,500 acres.”

Sloan made it abundantly clear, “I am pro-jobs. You’ve all seen the articles in the paper about potential jobs. I think that’s important. I’m pro-job I’m pro-growth.
“But I’m not pro throwing Central Elgin to the wolves when we have been negotiating in good faith.
“We were not aware in any capacity that 1,500 acres was on the table.”
Worth underlining that last point.
“When we saw the bill, this is the first time any of us saw 1,500 acres.”

“I hope someone (industry) comes here but it’s not fair in the current iteration of what we’re seeing in this bill.”

Sloan continued, “The bill does not guarantee anything about compensation. It does have the ability under the bill that the minister can actually bring more land in after the fact.”
Sloan advised he would be meeting with staff later that day to dissect the bill but he reiterated, “The ratepayers of Central Elgin, we do not have the assurances that they will be, first and foremost, in any future deal.
“I hope someone (industry) comes here but it’s not fair in the current iteration of what we’re seeing in this bill.”
On March 8 the St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce holds its Lunch With The Mayors at St. Anne’s Centre featuring Preston, Sloan and Southwold Mayor Grant Jones.
Should prove to perhaps be a little more topical than previous breaking-bread-with-the-mayors events.

DEALING WITH PREVENTABLE DEATHS

The opioid crisis is having a devastating impact on individuals, families and communities, warns the region’s medical officer of health. Dr. Ninh Tran.
In the course of 12 months (April 2020 to March 2021), there were 43 opioid-related deaths in the Southwestern Public Health coverage area.

That’s 20.5 opioid-related deaths per 100,000 population, that’s higher than the provincial rate of 18.7 deaths per 100,000.
It’s a reminder the opioid crisis is not limited to large urban centres, notes Dr. Tran.
He adds, there is an urgent need to explore all options because with the region approaching an opioid-related death every week, it is time to increase support, health services and treatment options.
He argues, “these are preventable deaths.”
And the deaths are due, in great part, to “a toxic supply,” points out Dr. Tran.
“We’ve got opioid concentrations that are much higher in general than what used to be used in the past.

“And we really want to get a rich amount of information from our community. We know there are a lot of different perspectives out there and we want everyone’s voice to be heard.”

“And then now they might be laced with compounds or poisons which is driving the seriousness of this and the much higher rate of deaths.”
Southwestern Public Health is undertaking a feasibility study to explore whether consumption and treatment services are an option for the region.
The study will look into three distinct question areas, explains Dr. Tran.
“. . . what is the perceived need of a consumption and treatment service in our community, what is the level of support and what are some of the service models that could be employed.”
He adds a component of the study is a community survey now open online.
“For anyone who is 18 and older who lives, works or attends school in our region and that includes Oxford County, Elgin county and the City of St. Thomas.
“And we really want to get a rich amount of information from our community. We know there are a lot of different perspectives out there and we want everyone’s voice to be heard.”
The survey is open until the end of the day March 7.
Here is what will transpire once the feasibility study is completed.
“We’ll be finishing up data collection next month and then there will be analysis of the data and a report and a public report will follow and be shared in terms of what are some potential options we could explore.”
For more information on the feasibility study and to participate in the community survey, click here.

HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT UPDATE

At the beginning of this month, we presented an item with Danielle Neilson, the city’s Housing Programs Coordinator about homelessness and unsheltered homelessness.
We referenced Waterloo Region where officials sought to clear an encampment from public property, however, Justice Michael J. Valente ruled last month that evicting people from an encampment when there is no suitable alternative shelter available violates the Charter.
Justice Valente found Kitchener’s encampment bylaws violated people’s constitutional rights to “life, liberty and security of the person.”
The decision will have an impact far beyond Waterloo Region.
This week, the municipality advised it will not appeal that ruling.
Instead, the municipal council approved a $163 million investment in housing and homelessness, which will lead to increased shelter capacity and other supports.

Related post:

Preventing the community from ever getting into this homelessness bottleneck again

DID YOU KNOW?

On Family Day, the City of St. Thomas sent out a Tweet advising four reasons why early childhood education is vital to the growth and development of communities.
Reason Number 4 stated, “Decreases the participation in criminal activity.”
Conversely, is it correct to imply if your child does not participate in early childhood education this may increase participation in criminal activity?
Are there studies to support Reason Number 4 in the city’s Tweet?
We’re curious and will pursue further with the city.

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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.