An announcement out of left field, but, in the final analysis, likely inevitable.Steve Peters stood up as Monday’s city council meeting drew to a close to announce he was walking away from municipal politics, effective immediately.
Ironically, this year is Peters’ 30th anniversary of holding elected office.
You can read his announcement to council below.
Peters wants to spend more time in his position as chair of the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers, a position he was appointed to last year.
The organization represents 170 growers of over 4,300 acres of greenhouse vegetables.
“I’m a focused person, and I really want to focus on the greenhouse sector. We’ve got a lot of stuff on our plate.”
It is not a decision taken lightly, and Peters admitted he has spent some months weighing the options.
He continued, “I really want to give them (the association) my undivided attention. And, you know me, I’ve always tried to be a very hands-on municipal politician and try and get the people the answers they want, whether they like it or not. But that all takes time, too.
“I started with them on November 1st (of last year), and we had no idea that we’d be dealing with trade issues and other things.“As I’ve spent time on the job with the association, I realized I wanted to focus more attention on the issues that the sector faces because it’s an exciting sector. It has the potential to really grow more.”
Peters pointed out, “Ontario’s home to the second largest concentration of greenhouses in the world.
“And look at new crops, the growth that we’re seeing in strawberries and in lettuce that we don’t currently represent, that hopefully, will fall under our umbrella in time too.”
He added, “I think one of the important things about the sector is that, as an example, you get one harvest in field cucumbers, but you can get nine harvests off that same one acre of (greenhouse-grown) cucumbers.
“So much of my political career has revolved around jobs. And the challenges we faced, our community faced in the early 1990s with, numerous plant closures.”
“I was Minister of Agriculture from 2003 to 2005, and having represented a predominantly rural area, Elgin is an extremely diversified agricultural sector. And it’s been part of my blood because we need to eat every day. And we also need to make sure that we have our own domestic supply and that we’re not reliant on imports.
“And that’s what’s exciting about greenhouses, that not only are we meeting many current needs, but we have the potential to do and grow so much more for people.
“When 90 per cent of what we grow in Ontario is going into the United States, Ontario is the province that has made the significant investments in the greenhouse sector, unlike our American friends.
“We can reach within a one-day drive, 58 per cent of the American population. So the Americans have become very reliant on us. And I’m hopeful that as we embark on these trade negotiations, there’s serious consideration given to exempting food. Tariffs aren’t good for anyone on either side of the border. We need each other.
“There’s a lot of food that comes from the United States that we don’t produce here in Canada. And we need each other. We’ve enjoyed an amazing trade relationship for so long, and we need to make sure we can’t be putting up barriers; we need to remove barriers.”
In 1988, Steve Peters was first elected to city council at the age of 25. Three years later, he was elected mayor, the youngest mayor in the country.
It’s not the first time he has resigned from council.
He walked away to successfully run provincially as a Liberal candidate for Elgin-Middlesex-London. He first served as opposition critic for disability issues.
He served until 2011, including stints as Minister of Agriculture and Food and Minister of Labour.
“I’ve been very blessed by having an amazing political career, whether it has been as a mayor or as a Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Labour, and Speaker of the Legislature. I’ve been able to do a lot of different things that most people will never get a chance to do.”
From 2007 to 2011, he was Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
In 2018, he returned to the council chamber at city hall.
Reflecting on his career in municipal and provincial politics, Peters noted, “So much of my political career has revolved around jobs. And the challenges we faced, our community faced in the early 1990s with, numerous plant closures.
“And then we attracted Format, and that has become a significant cornerstone in our industrial area. Now with the PowerCo VW announcement, this community is very well positioned for the future to not only provide people jobs but also help the community to invest in other things.
“There’s tremendous potential out there for other investments, and there’s still a lot of land available around the Amazon plant, too, for other investments. So, we are as a community, not only St. Thomas but all of Elgin county, we’re really well positioned economically for the future.”
Peters reminded that, indirectly, he will still be associated with politics.
“I’ve been very blessed by having an amazing political career, whether it has been as a mayor or as a Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Labour, and Speaker of the Legislature. I’ve been able to do a lot of different things that most people will never get a chance to do.
“And, you know, through the greenhouse sector, I’m going to have to maintain and continue to have good relations with the provincial government and the federal government and working with municipalities. So indirectly, I’m still going to be political.”
A key supporter through the decision-making process has been his wife, Karen McDade.
“She’s been very supportive of this. Since I returned to city council in 2018, Karen has been there, supported it, been my sounding board at times too, and understood sometimes my frustrations around the council table.
“How collectively St. Thomas and the County of Elgin grow and prosper, and I believe that that can happen by a better working relationship, including the potential for amalgamation.”
“But, you know, she’s been a great supporter for me, and she understands my decision, that this isn’t a decision I took lightly. It’s something that I gave a great deal of thought to, and I know in my heart that I am making the right decision for myself personally.
“Yeah, that’s been very inspirational as well. Very much so.”
Peters – pictured below with author Bill Vigars – has one wish for this council and future municipal elected representatives.
“The one thing that I would really hope to see in the future is an enhanced and perhaps amalgamated relationship with the County of Elgin. The duplication of services between the City of St. Thomas and the County of Elgin and the individual municipalities is really not in the best interest of the taxpayers, and I think that there needs to be serious discussion and a look at restructuring options, much as we looked at back in 1998.
“How collectively St. Thomas and the County of Elgin grow and prosper, and I believe that that can happen by a better working relationship, including the potential for amalgamation.
“There’s got to be a way that we can collectively work together to benefit all the people we represent, whether it’s in the city or in the county.”
Peters assured he will continue to serve on the Old St. Thomas Church Maintenance and Restoration Trust and continue to volunteer with the St. Thomas Food Bank.
In a media release, Mayor Joe Preston noted, “Steve Peters has been a colleague for more than 25 years, but more importantly, a friend. We have shared countless ideas, exchanged opinions, and worked side by side to strengthen our city – and that friendship will continue.
“His dedication to our history, our heritage, and our people has left a permanent mark on St. Thomas, and I am grateful to have had the privilege of working alongside him for so long.”
At Monday’s (Oct. 20) council meeting, members will formally declare the seat vacant and decide how to fill it – either through a byelection or by appointing a replacement to serve the remainder of the term.
Over his lengthy political career, there is a photo that has special significance for Peters.
“Peter Laing, who had been a city councillor for 54 years, chose not to run in the 1988 election, and I ran. I came in sixth place out of seven spots.
“But it’s this great photo of Pete passing his hat to me after 54 years of service. So 37 years later, it’s my opportunity to pass that hat to somebody else.”
MOVING ON, ACCORDING TO STEVE PETERS
Here are the highlights from Steve Peters’ resignation delivered at the conclusion of city council business this past Tuesday (Oct. 14).
“Thank you very much, Your Worship. When I arrived in this council chamber 37 years ago, we would stand up and address at that time Her Worship. And I have a message to convey to my council colleagues this evening.
“Dear Mayor Preston and city council members, please accept my resignation as a city councillor, effective at the adjournment of the October 14th council meeting. I’m proud and honoured to have served this present city council under the leadership of Mayor Joe Preston.
“I want to thank the citizens of St. Thomas over the years, my council colleagues past and present, and offer gratitude to the hardworking and dedicated city staff. I wish you all the best in the future.
In 1991, Steve Peters defeated Janet Golding and Cliff Barwick to become mayor of St. Thomas. At the time, he was the youngest mayor in the country. Photo courtesy of the Elgin County Archives
“And I just want to say thanks to the citizens of St. Thomas who have entrusted me so many times over the years, not only here at the city level, but at the provincial level too.
“I’ve been honoured and privileged to do things that most people will never ever have a chance to do. I had a chance to serve as a councillor, as an alderman at the time, mayor for seven and a half years, the MPP for the riding of Elgin-Middlesex-London for 12 years, and had the unique opportunity to see the Ontario legislature from three different sides:
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Four years in opposition.
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Four years in government.
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Minister of Agriculture and Food, Minister of Labour, and then four years as the Speaker of the Legislature.
“I have so many highlights that I can look back on over the past 37 years. And 30 years as an elected official. I’m 62 years old, and half my life I’ve been an elected politician. So it’s time to move on. It’s time to spend some more time with my lovely spouse, Karen McDade.
“And having my family here tonight, my sister Janet, my brother Joey. They’ve been here for every one of my elections. And we are going out to the cemetery tonight. We’ll go out and say hi to mom and dad, as I’ve done for every one of my elections. And we’ll continue to do that.
“But if you really want to make your mark, run for council. Because my line has always been, and I have an election sign I put out every year, if you don’t vote, don’t complain, folks. Don’t complain.”
“I have a lot of highlights and lowlights, but they really are highlights of so many great things that we’ve been able to accomplish working together as a community. And that’s what politics is all about. It’s having that ability to agree to disagree.
“And we can lose a vote, but we can walk out of the room at the end of the evening, and we are all still friends. And our job is to do what is in the best interest of the community. So yeah, I can think of a lot of things that I could reminisce about tonight. But I’m just going to reminisce about two things of unfinished business that I want to leave with this council.
“One was identified in the transportation master plan this evening, and that is to get the corridor reopened for the London and Port Stanley Railway. That has been sitting like that almost as long as the 37 years of the rail lands that I made reference to, because it was in 1990 that CN ripped out those tracks. So that’s 35 years, and that’s a piece of unfinished business.
“And the one I’m going to leave you with, and I made some comment in the transportation master plan, I would encourage you all, Mayor Preston, to seriously look at the relationship between the city and the county. Continuing to duplicate the services of:
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Two library boards
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Two homes for the aged
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Two planning departments
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Two engineering departments
“So with that, I just want to say thanks. Thanks to my family. Thanks to the staff, because staff is what makes it happen. We can do our jobs, but our staff have been there, and I’ve had some great staff over the years, not only here at the municipal level, but at the provincial level as well. And staff is what makes things happen.
“And I wish you well as well, too, as the world has changed, because I can tell you 37 years ago, there was no social media. There were no keyboard warriors. There was no Facebook, and it’s so easy to be that armchair politician sitting in front of your computer at home. But if you really want to make your mark, run for council. Because my line has always been, and I have an election sign I put out every year, if you don’t vote, don’t complain, folks. Don’t complain.
“So with that, Mayor Preston, and to my council colleagues, to all of you, Jeff and Gary and Rose and Earl and Jim and Laurie and Steve, all the best. And thanks. It’s been a real privilege and a real honour to have worked with all of you. And with that, I bid my adieu. Thanks, St. Thomas. This isn’t goodbye. This is just we’ll see you later.”
“On behalf of the City of St. Thomas, thank you for what you’ve given us over more than half of your lifetime. What you’ve given this area, we would not be who we are today or looking at the bright future we’re looking at, if you had not been a big, big part of doing that.”
It was a clearly emotional Mayor Preston who turned to face Peters to observe, “You know, Steve, you and I have worked together incredibly over the number of years we’ve both been politicians, and often wearing different uniforms, but certainly working together for the betterment of Elgin and St. Thomas through the whole time.
“I share with most of my friends how easy it was to get things done because you were there. I’ve shared the story a number of times today about how it’s not hard to call Steve for advice because you’re never going to get, ‘You should do.’ You’re going to get, ‘Here’s what I think.’
“And he shares great knowledge with you on how to move things forward. I still love the fact that we can call each other and ask for advice, and that’s not going to stop.
“I don’t know what I could tell you about greenhouse vegetables, but I know I’m still calling you about political issues. And oftentimes we call just to gossip about other levels of government, too. But that’s a different story.
“Look, I’m losing a great friend and a great counsellor at this table tonight, and it does hurt. But what I’m not losing is a friend. You’ll still be there, and your love of St. Thomas, and you know where every bone is buried. You know the dog that brought the bone there and buried it. You know the birthday of that dog that brought the . . .
“Anyway, Steve, I love your history. I love the time you’ve spent being a huge part of this community. When we talked some seven years ago about coming back to council, you and I coming to council then, because I’ve never been here, it was easy to make the decision to do so because you were coming.
“And I can’t say anything, but thank you. On behalf of the city of St. Thomas, thank you for what you’ve given. On behalf of the City of St. Thomas, thank you for what you’ve given us over more than half of your lifetime. What you’ve given this area, we would not be who we are today or looking at the bright future we’re looking at, if you had not been a big, big part of doing that.
“I love you. I’ll continue to call you. Thank you.”
2025 BUDGET UPDATE
As of June 30, the city was on track to record an operating budget deficit of approximately $1.2 million this year.
The information is contained in a report to council from the city’s new Manager of Finance, Mathew Waite, for Monday’s (Oct. 20 ) meeting.
In the report, he cautions, “Historically, the city’s practice has been to fund budget shortfalls through transfers from the Infrastructure Reserve. Based on current projections, staff anticipate that the Infrastructure Reserve’s year-end balance will be insufficient to offset the projected deficit, pending final outcomes of the 2025 capital program.
“Compounding this issue, contributions to the city’s annual capital budget from taxation declined from $5,420,000 to $3,625,000 in 2025, representing the lowest level since 2017, despite significant increases in non-residential construction costs during the pandemic period.”
He continues, “This reduction in capital funding capacity has heightened the risk of future operating and capital deficits and constrains the city’s ability to rebuild its Infrastructure Reserve, which serves as the primary funding source for most of the city’s tax-supported capital initiatives.
“Continued underfunding of this reserve will serve as a significant impediment to achieving the city’s strategic plan objectives, particularly those tied to infrastructure renewal, growth management, and long-term financial sustainability. “In preparing the 2026 budget, staff will evaluate options to address this shortfall, including the reallocation of existing unrestricted reserve balances to offset the projected deficit and the development of a formal Reserve and Reserve Fund Policy.
“This policy would aim to establish target funding levels to mitigate the financial impact of potential operating and capital deficits and safeguard the city’s capacity to deliver on its strategic priorities in future years.”
The largest department deficit at mid-year was $635,000, attributed to the St. Thomas Police Service.
However, as noted in our conversation with Chief Marc Roskamp last week, he stressed the possibility of such a scenario due to provincial funding grants not materializing this year.
In recent years, the service has been the beneficiary of substantial provincial grants, which have benefited the bottom line.
Roskamp cautioned that those grants are not a given this year and moving forward.
You can read that item here.
The St. Thomas Fire Department is running a $340,000 deficit at this time due to “Overtime and equipment costs from lifecycle replacement.”
Environmental Services is showing a deficit of $180,000 due to “winter maintenance” costs.
On the positive side, Planning and Building Services had a mid-year budget surplus of $150,000, the result of a “Position vacancy and Central Elgin Planning revenue greater than budgeted.”
Human Resources, Valleyview Home and Social Services are all projected to meet budget targets.
CLOSING THE POOL TO SWIMMING LESSONS?
Back in July of this year, we wrote about Joy Dawdy and her efforts to promote water safety with youngsters.
For more than three decades, young children have learned to swim in Joy Dawdy’s backyard pool near Central Elgin Collegiate Institute.
That is, until she received an anonymous letter back in 2020 complaining about noise and parking, in what the individual described as an illegal business operating out of her home.
Since then, she has had conversations with the city and sought legal advice.City staff advise that an amendment to the existing zoning bylaw, which does allow home-based businesses, would be required.
Hitting Dawdy with a $1,500 bill.
The matter was raised at Tuesday’s (Oct. 14) council meeting when members received a report related to a zoning bylaw amendment to deal with the home-based business.
The report notes home-based businesses are allowed; however, they “must be carried out entirely within a dwelling unit.”
For Dawdy to continue with her swimming lessons will require an Official Plan Amendment.
The report advises, “Staff are concerned that the proposed amendments do not conform to the intent and purpose of the Official Plan and do not represent good planning.”
Furthermore, “Based on these concerns, it is likely that staff will be recommending refusal of the Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment applications due to issues of compatibility with the surrounding residential neighbourhood.”
Concerns were raised by several members of council that, should the application be approved, the city could open the doors to several similar amendments to the Official Plan.
A public meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Nov. 10 in the council chamber at city hall.
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Good for you Mr.Peter’s, I would rather grow plants in a green house than deal with a politician or the mayor. The corruption would make anyone want to grow plant’s.