A couple of weeks ago we had a lengthy chat with the province’s new Associate Minister of Housing.
That would be Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Rob Flack and the interview was prior to Premier Doug Ford pulling a 180 on his plan to open up Greenbelt lands for residential development.
So we arranged with Flack to update us on what led up to the policy reversal and what lies ahead for Flack.
We opened the conversation by asking him to recall what preceeded Ford’s announcement on Sept. 21.
“It was an interesting week,” conceded Flack, “a learning week, a growing week and I think a good week for all people in Ontario.
“As the Premier said, the intention was right. We made a mistake. But you know, I’m a great believer that changing your mind for the right decision is not a vice, it’s a virtue.
“And I think at the end of the day, we’ve done the right thing and I would sooner admit we did something wrong and turn the page. Because really what we have to focus on is getting more attainable housing built in this province. That is the main intention, that is the goal.”
Flack continued, “But, I would also say he listened. We had a great caucus meeting, we had a great cabinet meeting and it was fulsome. Everyone supports him 100 per cent and thoughts were shared and he listened and he’s been listening to the people of Ontario.
“The intention here was to get homes built. We’ve got more people coming into this province than we could have imagined a year ago and we’ve got to house them. We’ve got to find affordable housing for these people. And there are a lot of roadblocks in the way.
“We’re going to clear them, get rid of the red tape and get houses built.”
Flack made no bones about his admiration for Ford’s leadership abilities.
“I admire his ability to listen and learn and move on and we have moved on.
“I wake up every morning and that is my job, we have got to get shovels in the ground in a progressive way and get roofs over everybody’s head.
“The pathway to housing stability and home ownership is a pathway we need to construct and quickly. Speed, managed effectively.
“We need to work with our municipal partners, which we are doing.”
With the announcement of the Volkswagen EV battery plant to be constructed in the city, Flack stressed, “I always say, we’ve created the economic climate to create jobs. They’re here, so we need to get people to fill these jobs, we need to house them and we need to feed them.
“The issue now is getting the right type of housing built.”
The conversation turned to his particular mandate as Associate Minister of Housing.
“For me, it is modular or finding a way to build homes that can fit a budget. The Premier has tasked me with that and we’re well on the road. We’re going to act prudently but we’re going to act with some speed as well.”
“So, we have to grow it in a tougher economic climate but still, I think we’re going to be able to grow it by removing red tape and working with the municipal partners and community homebuilders and we’re going to get it done.”
He agreed Project Tiny Hope in St. Thomas fits that bill.
“Since I’ve been in my ministry, I’ve lost count of the number of people who have phoned me to say here is the opportunity to do it. I’m going to listen to everyone and we’re going to put a plan together.
“There is a lot of land we own publically as a province and we want to use land the municipalities own and that we can work with together. And work with community homebuilders and get this done.
“I look at Doug Tarry, for instance, and he’s done a magnificent job in St. Thomas as have others.
“Tiny homes, the project in St. Thomas is right on. It is the beacon of hope for all in Ontario. And, give a shout-out to the YWCA and Lindsay Rice, she is fantastic.”
Being creative could also include exploring the use of sea containers for modular homes, something that is catching on elsewhere.
Creative, bold and innovative, agreed Flack.
“When you look at the term modular, you can even stack them (the containers).
“And look at Essential5 (the recently opened Cross Laminated Timber plant, read more about it here) in St. Thomas and the work they are doing. There are other opportunities there to build component buildings. It’s a real opportunity.
“The Premier is hell-bent we’re going to get this done.”
And Flack stressed this is not a partisan issue.
“This is a pan-Canadian, pan-Ontario issue. It means we’ve got to get 1.5 million homes built by 2031.
“We built 100,000 last year and 100,000 the year before. Record starts since the late 80s.
“But guess what, you do the math and speed that out and that’s 1.2 million. It’s not going to add up.
“So, we have to grow it in a tougher economic climate but still, I think we’re going to be able to grow it by removing red tape and working with the municipal partners and community homebuilders and we’re going to get it done.”
The key is working closely with the new housing minister Paul Calandra.
“I would say he and I are like ham and eggs. He’s going to really focus on the municipal side and clear a path for me to do my thing in housing and we’ll work really well together.”
In the meantime, it is off to “the brave new world” of cabinet meetings for Flack.
“But remember, my primary focus is I got elected by the people of Elgin-Middlesex-London and I am going to do my work for the province, but never at the expense of Elgin-Middlesex-London.”
Related post:
MPP Rob Flack asserts his ‘experience and leadership’ earned him associate housing minister post
HOUSING PRIORITIES
Picking up on the housing issues raised above by MPP Flack, at Tuesday’s (Oct. 10) council meeting, members will be asked to approve the city’s five key housing recommendations, based on the provincial Housing Affordability Task Force final report delivered in February of last year.
In September, the city received correspondence from new housing minister Paul Calandra requesting a prioritized list of housing recommendations for future consideration.
These are based on five of the 74 recommendations contained in the task force report.
So in response, the city notes it is currently updating its Official Plan to address housing affordability.
The plan will permit a full range of low-, medium-, and high-density residential uses and encourage intensification and redevelopment within existing built-up areas.
“As of right” secondary suites, garden suites and laneway housing will be permitted.
Digital options are now available for residents to participate in public consultation meetings. Such was the case most recently with the severing of land at the Elgin County Railway Museum.
The city will require pre-consultation before any formal land use planning application to help streamline the approval process.
The deadline for submitting a response to Calandra’s request is Oct. 16.
LIGHTING THE WAY
We are very familiar with the short stretch of downtown laneway, having used it many times.
However, it wasn’t until reading the agenda for Tuesday’s council meeting that we realized it had a name: Willowsheen Walkway.
It extends south from Talbot Street to the Moore Street parking lot, opposite John Street.
Both walls along the lane are adorned with eye-catching murals.
Well, the walkway is about to become illuminated.
As background, over the winter 100 students from Ecole Eva Circe Cote and Pierre Elliott Trudeau French
Immersion schools used recycled materials to design possible design options for the walkway.
From those options, students from Western University’s Environmental Health Promotion came up with a plan, source materials and budget for the installation of the lighting.
The proposed plan includes the following:
• Lights would be secured to the existing steel beams. The lights can be programmed to have a range of displays – from static colours to a range of colour changes that are triggered by music or ambient environmental noise.
• Bollard lights with hydro access permit event programming in the alleyway.
• The existing light standards will be retained and transformed into sculptural elements.
Best of all, the project is being funded by Andrew Gunn Consulting and administered by the Elgin St. Thomas Community Foundation.
Furthermore, required maintenance will again be funded by Andrew Gunn Consulting and coordinated through city staff.
A pretty neat walkway is about to become even more attractive.
BRACASHIRTS A TALES OF TRIUMPH WINNER
This is Small Business Month and is there ever a local connection this year.
St. Thomas resident Catharine Janssen and her business, BRACAShirts are one of five Canada Post 2023 Tales of Triumph winners.
The program celebrates small business stories and accomplishments across the country.
Her apparel is high-quality, fashionable shirts and hospital gowns to help surgical patients manage their post-surgical drains.
She explains the motivation for delving into this line of specialized clothing.
“I started my business after having breast cancer. And I struggled with my post-surgical drains.
“Every day I almost pulled them out. I thought I would have little, tiny surgical drains and I ended up with these great big six-inch Hemovac drains and they didn’t fit in anyone’s pocket.
“I was constantly catching them on door knobs, drawer knobs even the toilet paper holder, everything,” she laughed.
“This is a major safety issue for patients. I’m a registered nurse and was used to working in intensive care and now I’m retired.
“We need something here that is really effective for women, but also I started thinking about nursing staff and what could I do to help them.
“So, I started BRACAShirts and designed the shirts with two pockets so that the healthcare workers can easily access them and the patient doesn’t have to expose themselves and that’s a big thing.
“That privacy, it goes when you have surgery. But, more than that, it was about being easily able to access those drains, prevent infection and prevent the patients from pulling them out.”
“The shirts will follow, that I know. But, it’s helping these women overcome the issues while they are going into treatment.”
Janssen will receive a $100,000 marketing and promotion package from Canada Post for her win in the Employee’s Choice category.
“And they are not just for breast cancer but for abdominal surgery and I also have shirts for men. And the hospital gown can also hold medication packs and so there is more than one use.
“And at night those drains are safe in your pocket.”
She is also a certified holistic cancer coach and explains her plans for the $100,000 promotion and marketing grand prize.
“I would like to take the promotional marketing and hopefully build the coaching side of my business.
“The shirts will follow, that I know. But, it’s helping these women overcome the issues while they are going into treatment.”
Janssen explains her mantra is “Educate to Advocate” and “Knowledge is Power.”
You can find out more about Catharine Janssen and BRACAShirts at https://bracashirts.ca/
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FOR THE CALENDAR
A change in start time for the Oct. 10 council meeting. Instead of the normal 5 p.m. start, it will begin following the 6 p.m. public meeting in the council chamber at city hall.
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