By tomorrow (Sunday), we will know when Ontario residents will again cast a ballot, accompanied by the rest of Canada.
Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to favour an election on April 28.
This will be the first federal vote locally in the new riding of Elgin-St. Thomas-London South.
As a refresher, thanks to the efforts of MP Karen Vecchio, her grassroots campaigning paid off when in February of 2023, the report by the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario was tabled in the House of Commons and the boundary adjustment in Elgin-Middlesex-London riding turned out to be far less drastic – and disruptive – than first proposed.
Tag Archives: Rob Flack
‘We’ve started our homework on what we do, from a procurement point of view’ – Mayor Joe Preston on the City of St. Thomas doing its part to Buy Canadian
With Trumpian tariff roulette trending in the lives of all Canadians, it is comforting to see that the majority of the citizenry is on standby, elbows raised, and ready for action.
But what about at the municipal level?
Is the city reviewing what products and services it may have obtained through U.S. firms?
In light of the major purchase of a pumper truck for the city’s fire department on Monday’s (March 10) agenda, we checked in with Mayor Joe Preston for an update.
He advised that he had recently contacted Justin Lawrence, the city’s Director of Industrial Development, to see whether the work proceeding at Yarmouth Yards was being undertaken by U.S. firms.
“He assured me other than perhaps some pump parts or some things that are not available anywhere else (that was not the case).
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‘We create the environment for people to succeed’ – PC MPP-elect Rob Flack
Calling it a great night for himself, his family and the people of Elgin-Middlesex-London, PC MPP-elect Rob Flack (shown below being hugged by MP Karen Vecchio) basked in the adoration of his supporters Thursday night at the CASO station in St. Thomas.
His win in the provincial election – the fifth straight PC win in the riding – was part and parcel of Doug Ford’s third consecutive majority government, something not witnessed since the 1950s.
“We worked really hard,” acknowledged Flack. “Again, we knocked on over 14,000 doors.
“If you really want to learn what somebody thinks or people think, knock on their door and ask them. So we’ve learned that in a big way.”
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The second EML candidates forum hosted by the Elgin Federation of Agriculture generated plenty of food for thought
As was the case last week with the Chamber of Commerce candidates meeting at the CASO station, only four of the seven individuals seeking to represent Elgin-Middlesex-London at Queen’s Park were on hand this past Wednesday for a similar forum hosted by the Elgin Federation of Agriculture.
A near-capacity crowd filed into the Old Town Hall Theatre in Aylmer for the event.
Rob Flack of the Progressive Conservative Party is looking to win a second term and is being challenged by Doug Mactavish, Liberal Party; Amanda Stark, Green Party; Brian Figueiredo, New Blue Ontario Party; Stephen R. Campbell, None of the Above Party; and Cooper Labrie, Ontario Party.
Amanda Zavitz, the NDP candidate, was not present and announced the following day that she was dropping out of the race. More on that situation is in the item below.
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ONCE AGAIN A CROWDED FIELD IN THE ELGIN-MIDDLESEX-LONDON PROVINCIAL ELECTION RACE
As in the 2022 provincial vote, there is a crowded field of candidates in Elgin-Middlesex-London.
With the deadline for filing nomination papers closed on Thursday of this past week, seven hopefuls are looking to represent the riding at Queen’s Park.
Rob Flack of the Progressive Conservative Party is looking to win a second term.
He will be challenged by Doug Mactavish, Liberal Party; Amanda Zavitz, NDP; Amanda Stark, Green Party; Brian Figueiredo, New Blue Ontario Party; Stephen R. Campbell, None of the Above Party; and Cooper Labrie, Ontario Party.
Four candidates appeared at a forum on Tuesday of this week, hosted by the St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce.
Zavitz and Stark were unable to attend while Labrie had yet to file his papers.
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‘The future is more like emergency housing or more supportive housing, not emergency shelters’ – Danielle Neilson, City of St. Thomas
A reiteration at the city council meeting this past Monday (Nov. 18) that The INN is not the answer to homelessness, it is strictly an emergency shelter.
The point was driven home – again – by Danielle Neilson, the city’s Manager of Housing Stability Services during a discussion of The INN’s ongoing operating budget.
It generated a bevy of questions from council members, kicked off by Coun. Steve Peters requesting clarification on the financial role of ElginCountyy.
“In our role as the social service provider and the housing provider on behalf of the County of Elgin, if at budget time we approve this, I take it there will be a share of those costs provided by the county?
Neilson responded in the affirmative.
“I am happy to confirm that there will be cost sharing between St. Thomas and the county, subject to the budget being approved.”
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The Elgin Community Health Hub fills a ‘crucial gap in healthcare’ for residents of St. Thomas and Elgin
There was positive healthcare news announced Friday (Sept. 20) for thousands of residents of St. Thomas and Elgin county.
A new primary care clinic is opening Monday in St. Thomas and appointments are now available.
The Elgin Community Health Hub at 230 First Avenue will fill a gap for about 10,000 individuals without a primary care provider, explained Jill Strong, executive director of the Thames Valley Family Health Team.
And provide an option for another 20,000 or so people who use the services of a healthcare provider located outside Elgin county.
“Starting Monday, Sept. 23, Elgin (and St. Thomas) residents seeking health care have a new option, the Elgin Community Health Hub.
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‘I’m not sure that it could have gone better, I smiled a lot’ – St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston following this week’s AMO conference
It appears the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference at the beginning of this week in Ottawa proved productive for many communities in attendance.
In the case of the St. Thomas delegation, the gathering had Mayor Joe Preston smiling on more than one occasion.
At the beginning of June, we outlined some of the key meetings Preston and company had lined up with provincial ministers and the link to that item is below.
We caught up with Preston yesterday (Friday) to get an executive summary of what transpired, from a St. Thomas perspective.
“I took a very powerful delegation with me,” praised Preston.
Along with Preston were city manager Michael Bradley and councillors Lori Baldwin-Sands and Steve Peters.
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‘She did it the right way’ – former MP Joe Preston’s take on Karen Vecchio’s representation in Elgin-Middlesex-London
In announcing at the end of July she would not seek re-election, MP Karen Vecchio praised St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston as someone who “will always be one of my confidants.”
And, speaking with Preston this week, he reciprocated with a quip he has laid on me more than once.
“I took five minutes and taught her everything I know.”
While it is generally acknowledged she first got a taste of politics working in Preston’s constituency office, the former Elgin-Middlesex-London MP reminded me that Vecchio’s introduction to political representation goes back even further.
Many years ago she went door-to-door campaigning for Bill Aarts as he sought a seat on St. Thomas municipal council.
