Labour council questionnaires highlight divides on housing, public services and spending

Responses from 35 candidates offer voters a closer look at competing approaches to supportive housing, union jobs, industrial development and Sarnia’s financial priorities.

Supportive housing, the future of public services and how to pay for Sarnia’s infrastructure are among the dividing lines in candidate responses published by the Sarnia & District Labour Council ahead of the municipal election.

The council’s online collection includes 35 questionnaires from candidates for mayor, city/county council, city council and public school board trustee. Its 24 questions cover labour standards, homelessness, economic development, environmental health and accountability. The questionnaire says responses will help its executive committee make endorsement recommendations.

On housing, candidates differ over how quickly to remove barriers and how much weight to give neighbourhood objections.

Mayoral candidate Carrie McEachran proposes a Housing and Homelessness Action Group bringing together the County, health-care providers, Indigenous partners, non-profits, business and industry. She also says she would support zoning changes allowing more affordable and rental housing in established neighbourhoods, even where residents initially resist.

Fellow mayoral candidate Bill Dennis emphasizes location and the interests of surrounding residents and businesses.

“Location is absolutely key,” he wrote, saying he would reject supportive housing projects he considers wrongly located or harmful to neighbours.

City/county candidate Brian White pledges continued support for Indwell and annual contributions to the County’s housing reserve. City council candidate Tammy Mathieson supports increasing affordable housing but explicitly opposes Indwell’s proposed development at 353 George St.

“Supporting affordable housing does not require supporting every proposed development,” Mathieson wrote.

The responses also distinguish between keeping services publicly accountable and committing to deliver them in-house.

“I support public services, publicly-delivered,” wrote city council candidate Lo-Anne Chan, who wants some previously contracted services, including community recreation programs, brought back in-house.

City council candidate Scott Spinks Jr. similarly argues for protecting core public and unionized services, even where outsourcing appears cheaper initially.

Mayoral candidate Scott Molson says he would compare delivery models using service quality, worker safety, accountability and total cost. McEachran supports adopting a living-wage policy and examining its application to city contracts. Dennis says broader wage policies must account for taxpayers, competition and smaller contractors.

Industrial investment produces another contrast. Mayoral candidate Mike Bradley argues the proposed Northern Shield pipeline could replace Line 5, stabilize existing jobs and attract investment, including an upgrader plant.

Chan questions the trade-off between permanent employment and environmental risk, while Molson argues projects with relatively few permanent staff can still deliver substantial industrial tax revenue and contracting opportunities.

On environmental health, candidates offer different views of the city’s role alongside provincial and federal regulators.

Asked what municipal actions he would take on benzene and cumulative air-pollution exposure, city council candidate Terry Burrell answered: “Not a City jurisdiction.”

Chan proposes integrating existing air-quality data into municipal alerts. City council candidate Andrew Stokely proposes a standing joint committee with Aamjiwnaang leadership and closer coordination of emergency plans. McEachran calls for improved information-sharing and public reporting involving industry, labour, public health and Aamjiwnaang.

Financial priorities range from strategic borrowing to delaying projects. Stokely and fellow city council candidate Christopher Oram support borrowing for long-term investment. Molson would defer lower-priority projects when core infrastructure cannot be sustainably funded.

City council candidate Nathan Colquhoun proposes redirecting $14 million annually from police funding to emergency medical services and housing initiatives. That is his proposed reallocation, rather than an adopted budget decision.

Transportation proposals include Chan’s call for more frequent service and 24-hour routes, and city council candidate Briana Reid’s suggestion of an income-based bus pass for residents receiving Ontario Disability Support Program benefits.

Voters can read all the candidates’ answers, including their positions on local hiring, reconciliation and public engagement, on the labour council’s questionnaire page.