At the beginning of the month, Premier Doug Ford announced changes to his cabinet, precipitated by the resignation of Steve Clark who had served as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Paul Calandra was installed as the new Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Rob Flack was promoted to Associate Minister of Housing with a mandate on attainable housing and modular homes.
Clark had been at the heart of the Greenbelt development scandal, in which it was found he had violated ethics outlines included in the Members’ Integrity Act.
We caught up with Flack a week after his appointment to discuss his new role, however, there have been substantial developments since then.
Specifically on Thursday, Ford pulled off a complete turnaround on his plan to open up protected Greenbelt lands for residential development.

Yesterday (Friday), veteran MPP Monte McNaughton announced he is stepping down to transition into the private sector.
At this time, McNaughton’s departure appears unrelated to the Greenbelt controversy.
Earlier this week, Kaleed Rasheed resigned, prompted by an integrity commissioner report dealing with the Greenbelt.

We have requested a subsequent interview with Flack following this tumultuous week but have not heard back from his handlers at this time.
We were told by the media person they would “socialize with the team.”
Right.
So let’s delve into the initial conversation with Flack.
We started with how Flack found out he would be part of the shuffle prompted by Clark’s departure.
Flack advised, “I got a call from the minister (Calandra) asking me if I would serve in this capacity and I was obviously honoured to serve in any way I can to support him and our government and the people of Ontario.
Was he caught off guard because of his lack of direct housing experience as he had been one of two parliamentary assistants – along with MPP Trevor Jones – to Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs?
“The big answer would be yes. When I woke up did I expect I would be associate minister of housing by the end of the day, no.
“I’ll tell you why I think I got this particular role. We’ve got a crisis in Ontario. We need to build 1.5 million homes at least, I would add, by 2031.
“And what he (Calandra) wanted in this role was somebody who had experience in business and facilitation in building things and I bring a fair bit of experience there in that.”
Prior to his election win last year, Flack had served as president and CEO of Masterfeeds in London.
“So whether it’s an agribusiness or any business, the business of housing is the most important issue, I believe, facing Ontarians today and he wanted my experience and leadership.
“The dream of homeownership for young Canadians in most parts of the province, but particularly in the GTHA, is both unaffordable and unattainable.

“So the modular component is to help complement the housing strategy to make sure we meet our target of 1.5 million homes or more by 2031.”

“We need to find unique ways to allow that opportunity for young Canadians and, I would add, for seniors as well who want to downsize and stay in their community and not have to move.”
And, it’s not just about building homes, stressed Flack.
“It’s also about speed in getting these projects off the ground and finding the land and the municipalities to work with. We’ve got a supply crisis.
“Since I was in high school, the population of Ontario has basically doubled. And we expect it to go to 20 million people in the not-too-distant future.
“You and I had that dream of home ownership when we were young, but not everybody has that today.
“So the modular component is to help complement the housing strategy to make sure we meet our target of 1.5 million homes or more by 2031.”
Things are a little bit fuzzy about the modular homes component but the scuttlebutt is this could include the creative use of shipping containers
According to the website Container Addict, the cost of shipping container homes in Ontario is determined by factors such as size, design, type, and the number of containers used.
“With custom container homes, you’ll likely incur additional expenses such as on-site consultation, renderings, floor plans, etc.

“The purpose here is to make sure we have the land available and municipalities are onside with infrastructure in place.”

“If you’re looking to build a luxurious, custom-made container home with multiple containers, you’ll spend anywhere around $88,000 to $250,000 for a quality design and build.”
When talking about the need to build a million-plus homes, Premier Ford has suggested the bar for affordable homes is below $500,000 and Flack agreed.
“That is our goal. Remove development charges from the cost of building a new home. I should add interest rates have not made it any better or palatable for young Canadians so the premier has called out to the Bank of Canada saying let’s halt the interest rate increases because that’s putting a strain on affordability.
“And finally, I would throw out an idea that maybe we need to eliminate GST on new builds. These along with competitive, modular housing, it can be a dream come true.”
The feds have announced they will remove the GST on the construction of new rental buildings and Ford says he will follow suit by dropping the provincial sales taxes.
Clark had announced before his departure the mandated Greenbelt review would begin two years earlier than required.

“I want to assure you my first responsibility is to the people of Elgin-Middlesex-London. It’s where I am happiest and I am honoured to serve and contribute as best I can to make a difference.”

“It will be independent,” stressed Flack. “Every 10 years the Greenbelt comes up for a review and what we’ve done is step that review up from 2025 and hopefully it will be done by the end of the year or early next year.
It will proceed regardless of Ford’s backtracking on the Greenbelt.
Clark had been hinting even more land could have been removed from the Greenbelt.
“When you take a look at where people are moving in this province . . . most are in the GTHA and it continues to grow. The purpose here is to make sure we have the land available and municipalities are onside with infrastructure in place.
“I don’t think we want to pre-determine what this review says, let’s just let it take its course and then we’ll act, however appropriately after it’s done.”
With more time now spent at Queen’s Park and away from the riding, Flack said constituents will not be forgotten.
“I want to assure you my first responsibility is to the people of Elgin-Middlesex-London. It’s where I am happiest and I am honoured to serve and contribute as best I can to make a difference.
“This is going to be the big challenging but fun file. I got thrown into the deep end but I like it. My time will have to be balanced.”
It’s a high-profile posting in a ministry that has been mired in controversy.
“I’m going to give it my best shot,” acknowledges Flack. “Hopefully, I bring a bit of leadership and experience to the team. I’m in a pretty steep learning curve right now so when I don’t know, I’m going to say I don’t know but I’ll find out.

“We need people, yes, but we also need to house them, feed them and find them work. We’re going to be able to do all three, I’m confident, but we have heavy lifting ahead of us in getting houses built and people realizing the dream of home ownership.”

“I knew there was a housing crisis but not having been in the eye of the storm, I now see how fast we have to move. Properly, but fast.
“We have to remove red tape, we have to empower municipalities and we have to find innovative and bold solutions like modular housing and collaborate with federal and municipal partners.”
As has been suggested in many quarters, is the push on immigration impacting the housing crisis now?
“The answer is yes, but we also need immigration because there are jobs going unfulfilled. So, it is a balance. “That being said, if you go back to 2022 when we got elected, we knew we had a housing crisis, but we didn’t think in our wildest dreams close to 600,000 people would be coming to this province in 2023.
“Ontario as a jurisdiction is the fastest growing jurisdiction in North America.
“We need people, yes, but we also need to house them, feed them and find them work. We’re going to be able to do all three, I’m confident, but we have heavy lifting ahead of us in getting houses built and people realizing the dream of home ownership.”
In the meantime, we await the outcome of that socializing with the team.

THE FUTURE OF FERTILIZER IS IN ST. THOMAS TODAY

Amidst the comings and goings surrounding the Greenbelt this week, there was substantial good news on another green front.
An innovative fertilizer coating plant was officially opened Monday morning in St. Thomas.

Located on the site of sister operation Agrico Canada on Edward Street, the CRF Agritech facility is a division of Quebec-based Sollio Agriculture – a cooperative of agricultural producers in Quebec with a presence across the country
The plant was built at a cost of over $20 million, something Sollio CEO Casper Kaastra previously described as “a long-term investment in St. Thomas.”
CRF Agritech GM Mike Pastir outlined what the new facility brings to the table.
“CRF Agritech will be able to provide innovative fertilizer solutions on many forms of fertilizer that are not accessible today.
“CRF will also be able to blend technologies by adding microbes and biologicals to provide a complete solution to today’s growers.
“CRF Agritech’s strategic location in Ontario allows us to source locally and reduce shipping costs for our customers in Eastern Canada and the Northeastern U.S.”
Among other products, the plant will produce PurYield fertilizer for corn growers in Ontario and Quebec. Sollio notes these provinces produce 92 per cent of Canada’s grain corn.
Pastir explained the impact PurYield will have on agriculture.

“It is the future of fertilizer that enables us to evolve our offering with the next-generation product that will increase yields at the field level and network profitability.
“All this while providing farmers with a nutrient stewardship tool that not only protects their fertilizer investment but also increases their bottom line.
“By producing PurYield, we are helping to protect our environment for the next generation of farmers.”
Two years ago this month, Sollio announced the investment in the plant to produce previously unavailable controlled-release fertilizers to eastern Canada and the northeastern U.S.
Kaastra stressed the significance of the St. Thomas operation.
“I’m proud to say right now there are no other fertilizer manufacturing facilities here in Ontario, in Eastern Canada or anywhere else in Canada that are able to manufacture controlled-release custom fertilizer using Purcell’s unique coating technology.
“It’s a big deal.”
The innovative plant operates in partnership with Pursell which in 2018, opened a similar plant in Sylacauga, Alabama and planned to open a second plant in Savannah, Georgia.
Pursell is a leader in coating technology and the St. Thomas operation is their first venture outside the U.S.
Pursell’s coating technology will allow for the use of controlled-release fertilizers on crops such as corn, wheat, canola and potatoes.
Lisa Thompson, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs stressed, “Ontario farmers need to access a complete and effective toolbox when it comes to the planting, growing and harvesting of good quality crops and food across the province.

“It’s a new frontier, a new horizon we are looking to and to all the partners that made this happen right here in St. Thomas, I hope you realize you are contributing to something very special.
“Ontario has become recognized as the food hub for all of Canada and we do have strong partners throughout North America as well.
“And we stand on the shoulders of people who think about our soil health.”
A coating is applied to the fertilizer with the ability to add micronutrients and biostimulants, which provide gradual nutrient release in the soil that is time according to individual crop needs.
The plant will also be able to produce other coated fertilizers for uses other than agriculture.
In July of this year, Sollio Agriculture announced a major research project with McGill University. The study aims to validate the agronomic and environmental benefits of PurYield . . . Initial studies showed that the use of PurYield could potentially reduce GHG emissions by 30 per cent, while increasing field yield.
Researchers are currently validating this data.

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PROJECT TINY HOPE SUPPORT CONTINUES . . . WITH A CAVEAT

When the ceremonial shovels broke ground at 21 Kains Street back in May, the only missing piece in the Project Tiny Hope puzzle was federal funding.
On July 14, word came down that the housing grant was not approved.
The financial ask had been $6.7 million.
In February of this year, the city had pledged $3 million in financial support, contingent approval of the CMHC Rapod Housing Initiative grant.
Well at Monday’s meeting of council, members re-committed to financially supporting Project Tiny Hope to the tune of the original $3 million.
That pledge is conditional on a successful application to the CMHC Co-Investment Fund for $733,620.
In her report to council, however, Heather Sheridan, director of St. Thomas-Elgin Social Services cautioned, that should the CMHC grant not be approved, “the commitment would be null and void.”

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DEBUT OF NEW COMEDY DUO

Going back in time we’ve laughed to the antics of the likes of Laurel and Hardy and Abbott and Costello.
Monday’s (Sept. 18) council meeting saw the debut of Preston and Clarke.
As in Mayor Joe Preston and Coun. Gary Clarke.
The comedic relief began with Preston – in all seriousness – detailing his attendance that morning at the above-mentioned CRF Agritech fertilizer coating plant.
Several moments later, Clarke observed Monday also was the day MPs reconvened Parliament in Ottawa.
He continued, “It seems rather ironic that the federal house goes back today and you were opening the slow-release fertilizer plant.”
Without missing a beat Preston responded, “You’re not the first person who made a politician connection to fertilizer.”
Bada-Boom.

FOR THE CALENDAR

Join Indwell and their partners as they celebrate 45 new apartment homes for people seeking health, wellness and belonging.
Meet the staff, see the spaces, and hear from their partners as they mark the opening of Indwell’s second supportive housing program in St. Thomas known as The Station.
It all takes place at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 29 at 16 Queen Street. Register for this free event by Sept. 27 at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-station-grand-opening-tickets-714865661437?aff=oddtdtcreator

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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.