With MP Karen Vecchio announcing earlier in August she will not seek re-election, we are following up on a credible email dealing with the potential nomination process for Elgin-St. Thomas-London South.
According to the correspondence, party officials intend to parachute a candidate into the riding instead of following the usual nomination process.
The writer suggests party insiders will nominate Andrew Lawton, who declared his intention to run the day after Vecchio told myFM she would step away after this term.
So, it is 2018 all over again.
In the provincial election that year, Premier Doug Ford announced he would appoint candidates in 11 ridings, including London West, where three individuals had already declared their intention to seek the PC nomination.
Instead, Andrew Lawton got the green light, frustrating not only the hopefuls and their supporters but also party members in London West.
Lawton is a former London radio broadcaster, managing editor of the True North media outlet and author.
He ultimately lost by 15,000 votes to the NDP’s Peggy Sattler.
So, with signs pointing to a reprise of the candidate appointment scenario, we spoke with Elgin-St. Thomas-London South Conservative Association president Rainey Weisler for clarification.
“That really isn’t the narrative that we want out there but, at the same time, if that is how a potential candidate is being treated, then that is very concerning.”
“My understanding was that it was going to be a nomination process. That it was going to be fair and equitable and that’s what we’re looking for, that’s what we expect.
“That’s the democratic process. We are really pushing for that as the riding association.
“It’s important and it’s up to the people to decide.”
According to the email correspondence, potential nominees are told not to waste their time as party officials already have a candidate lined up.
And so, we asked Weisler for her thoughts.
“My recommendation now is if anyone is interested in putting their name forward, they can give me a call and I can direct them to the regional organizer,
“That was the instruction I was given when Karen (Vecchio) officially announced.”
She added if the party bypasses the nomination process and declares Lawton the Conservative candidate for Elgin-St. Thomas-London South in the next federal election, then “that is very concerning.”
She continued, “That really isn’t the narrative that we want out there but, at the same time, if that is how a potential candidate is being treated, then that is very concerning.”
In the meantime, Weisler notes potential candidates can reach her at 519-983-2282 or visit https://www.eslscpc.ca/ for a nomination package.
We have contacted a party official for comment.
THE WORD IS OUT ABOUT ST. THOMAS
As noted in our item last week on the St. Thomas delegation attending the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference Aug. 18 – 21 in Ottawa, Mayor Joe Preston “smiled a lot” throughout the proceedings.
Over that time, Preston, councillors Lori Baldwin-Sands and Steve Peters along with city manager Michael Bradley met with ministers and staff from six ministries. The city council members are seen below with the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Neil Lumsden.
The city’s priorities were laid out in an item in this corner in June and you can read about them here.
To continue with our conversation with Preston from last week, we picked up on housing and homelessness.
Preston advised, “We talked a lot about where St. Thomas is on some of these issues, like homelessness elimination and we seem to be leading in fairly good ways with what we’ve done on that. But we can’t stop. We’ve got a couple of good steps to go.
“We talked to the ministry (Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing) about our supportive housing needs and we need to go with at least one more Indwell building, if not two and we need to continue to help projects like Eastwood Housing and Tiny Hope.
“And we need to find new, significant ways to show private developers – and that’s what Eastwood and Tiny Hope show us – that it’s not just the city leading the project, but the city contributing because it’s a good housing project and letting somebody else carry some of the planning and freight on getting these built.
“Working together with Indwell and those private companies like the Doug Tarry Group on Tiny Hope and the YWCA and Eastwood, I am just so pleased to see what we are able to do in St. Thomas.”
“That is pretty special to be the mayor and hear people are noticing what you’re getting done and how hard our staff and council are working.”
Indwell operates Railway City Lofts on Talbot Street and owns and operates The Station on Queen Street and the aim is to undertake a third project.
“We’ve had conversations and we’re pretty close to getting ready to tell people about it. We want to make sure we get it all, like the location and the deal signed up before we come forward. I expect in 2024 we will hear about one or more new Indwell projects.”
Shifting to addiction and mental health issues Preston advised, “We continue to push for more detox, rehab and more curative actions from a mental health point of view and this is where we think the Ministry of Health should be spending their dollars rather than on safe supply or safe consumption sites.
“Let’s do the big one first. The province has been pretty strict and this week at AMO even stricter on safe consumption sites. It’s not a municipal action we have to take right now, so we’re just continuing to ask for the big things that can really help like rehab and detox and more people on the street in areas like our special constables or our street teams.
“In our community, it is more about how well the community works together and finding what is needed that day. That is working quite well in St. Thomas.
“Could it work better? Absolutely, and that’s where we would like to put our efforts. Getting people cured or getting people a solution for both mental health and addiction problems.”
Preston’s overall impression upon leaving Ottawa?
“People know what is going on in St. Thomas and I think a little bit of pride for our council and the (city hall ) staff.
“The premier mentioned St. Thomas in his remarks at AMO and the Minister of Housing (Paul Calandra) mentioned our community in his remarks.
“That is pretty special to be the mayor and hear people are noticing what you’re getting done and how hard our staff and council are working.
“A lot of heavy lifting has been going on and we would like to recognize each and every one of them.”
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AND HOW WILL YOU BE PAYING FOR THAT LAND?
A report from city treasurer Dan Sheridan for Tuesday’s (Sept. 3) council meeting sheds light on the agreement reached with Central Elgin earlier this year on land required for the Yarmouth Yards industrial park.
On April 19, the two municipalities came to terms on what was referenced as a historic settlement on an $80 million compensation package to the Municipality of Central Elgin for the hundreds of acres of farmland absorbed by St. Thomas for the industrial site to house the PowerCo EV battery plant and other industries expected to locate there.
The land was obtained by the city under provisions in Bill 63, St. Thomas – Central Elgin Boundary Adjustment Act, 2023.
The $80 million is made up of $15 million in monetary compensation and access to 7,700 cubic metres per day of wastewater treatment capacity at flow rates equal to City of St. Thomas rates.
At the time, Central Elgin Mayor Andrew Sloan noted, “A key component of the settlement is an upfront payment of $15 million in compensation for the lost tax revenue and costs realized by Central Elgin.”
So, Sheridan’s report to council advises the city has been approved for a $10 million loan through the Ontario Infrastructure and Land Corporation at an annual interest rate of 4.49 per cent.
The loan is amortized over 30 years and will require an annual payment of just under $610,000.
That figure will be included in the city’s operating budget beginning in 2025.
In addition, notes Sheridan, the city’s loan application included financing for affordable housing and when that financing is required, a second debenture will be created.
The details of the compensation package are included below:
- The Municipality of Central Elgin will receive an immediate payment of $10 million, with an additional $5 million to be received on a five-year payment schedule to begin in 2027
- The total value of the Municipality’s compensation is approximately $80 million
- The municipality will gain access to 6,000 cubic metres per day of wastewater treatment capacity that will support the development of industrial and residential land within Central Elgin
- The municipality will also receive 1,700 cubic metres per day of wastewater treatment capacity to support the redevelopment of the former St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospital property for residential use, which will result in further growth of Central Elgin’s tax base
- The County of Elgin will benefit from further expansion of the Central Elgin tax base and provide valued support in attracting investment to the serviced lands.
HOUSING BY THE NUMBERS
Also on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting of council is the St. Thomas-Elgin 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan: 2023 Progress Report.
Through the St. Thomas-Elgin Social Services Department, there are 558 units of city-owned and managed housing along with 512 units of rent-geared-to-income housing.
The long-term vision is to increase housing supply options to meet projected needs.
Provide supports to keep individuals in the sustainable housing they currently have.
Enhance the current service system to prevent homelessness, and when homeless “rapidly move people into stable housing.”
And pursue community partnerships and broaden community awareness while advocating to senior levels of government to ensure stable housing and poverty reduction for all residents.
According to the progress report, last year 145 households were supported with Portable Housing Benefits with the average benefit listed as $372 per household per month.
The city’s emergency shelter, The Inn, last year served 227 individuals experiencing homelessness and that is an increase of 10 people over the previous year.
Rent supplements are also provided and in 2023, 190 households were served with the average monthly supplement being approximately $325.
Last year, $390,000 in Housing Stability Assistance funding was available to support 690 low-income households with homelessness prevention supports.
This would include funds for things such as utility and rent arrears, last month’s rent and moving costs.
In 2023, 95 youths accessed services through the Youth Homelessness Protocol, almost half of them 16 to 18 years of age.
The city’s emergency shelter, The Inn, last year served 227 individuals experiencing homelessness and that is an increase of 10 people over the previous year.
The total number of bed nights was 14,168.
Of note, the average stay was 62 nights, an increase of 32 nights from the previous year.
Of those individuals, 34 per cent were women, a decrease of 2 per cent.
Seven per cent of the guests were youth ages 16 to 24, a decrease of 1 per cent.
A copy of the progress report is to be posted on the city’s website.
Questions and comments may be emailed to City Scope
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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.
