Councillor candidates field questions at all-candidates night
The 15 candidates for councillor in the Oct. 26 municipal election fielded questions drawn at random last week and did their best to answer them before a packed house at the Columbian Club Hall in Amherstburg.
The Amherstburg Residents Forum presented the second night of its question-and-answer sessions with local candidates on Sept. 30 with each candidate answering the chosen question and passing the microphone to the next candidate. It was a similar format to the previous evening when mayor and deputy mayor candidates sat together and answered questions.
All candidates attended the meeting and went in the same order in each round of questioning with the seating order being Lorne Dupuis, Lena Lazanja, Shawn LeBlanc, Sonya Elliott, Jen DeLuca, Stephanie Pouget-Papak, Armand Anderson, Saurabh Katara, incumbent Molly Allaire, Dhaval Prajapati, Frank Cleminson, T.J. Botsford, Wes Ewer, Keith Boussey and incumbent Peter Courtney.
Each candidate was given an opportunity for an opening statement with Dupuis noting his business background, going from the towing and collision business and now as a realtor.
“I want to see change,” said Dupuis, adding he agrees with some decisions that council has made but does not with others. “I feel the way to make a difference is get involved.”
Lazanja said she has been active in the area in local service clubs and that was her entry into getting to know the community. She said she ran before in the 2018 municipal election and there are issues that were on the table then are still relevant in 2026.
LeBlanc said everyone has a list of needs and wants and would like to work together to accomplish many of those. He said he likes getting to know people and wants to know everyone in the room and beyond and the local realtor added he was excited for the rest of the campaign.
Elliott said she has family roots in Amherstburg and cares about the community. The people in town have to “get together to work things out.” Elliott added she has enjoyed meeting new people as she campaigns in the community.
DeLuca said she started thinking about running six-years-ago when delegating at a virtual council meeting and her microphone was cut off. She said she wants to be part of the change in Amherstburg, adding she is a teacher, coach and volunteer with the Amherstburg Food and Fellowship Mission.
Pouget-Papak said she is a local historian and former curator at the Park House Museum who missed the classroom and so she got back into teaching. She got into the race due to concerns over affordability in Amherstburg so she wanted to be part of the change and build on the community’s foundation.
Anderson said he has concerns with how the municipality is being run. He said additional financial discipline is needed and fixing needs has to be done before granting wants.
“Amherstburg is more than just the downtown core,” Anderson added.
Katara stated he opened a consulting business and has a financial background.
“I do have a lot of experience,” he said.
Katara added he “fell in love with Amherstburg” and also touted economic development and transparency as reasons for running.
Allaire noted in addition to being a current councillor, she is on town committees and the chair of the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA). She said she is passionate about parks and green spaces and the town has done a good job with playgrounds and trails. In a second term, she would like a greater focus on infrastructure. She added she does her best to inform residents of issues on social media.
Prajapati said he is a professional engineer who has worked his way up in his field from being on the shop floor to being in sales and business development. He said he and his wife came to Amherstburg and decided this is where they want to be. He started an online series of 100 stories in 100 days, adding he is someone who talks to people and solve problems.
Cleminson noted he spent over 11 years on the Amherstburg Police Services Board and noted policing is a “big ticket item” for the town. He also noted his employment at Enwin and that he has worked on negotiations for collective agreements. He acknowledged that he has ran for council twice before and is enjoying meeting with people and hearing what they need once again.
Botsford stated “this town has huge potential,” noting he moved to Amherstburg from Windsor. Botsford, who is a paralegal, said he has practical experience and also volunteers in the community including as a coach at a local elementary school. He added he has a degree in finance and wants to see economic growth and protect public services.
Ewer believes he can help the community, noting it makes a difference even just to run for the position of councillor. He said he is in the insurance industry and has played sports, coached and volunteers in Amherstburg. He said he is passionate, willing to listen and collaborate on issues, noting he would be one of seven people on council if elected and willing to work as a team.
Boussey stated his father was a police officer and councillor in Anderdon Township. While he has thought about running before, Boussey said his career often saw him travel for work but he is now working locally and can lend his time and experience to the position.
“We need to be wise with our money,” said Boussey.
Courtney said he got involved with municipal politics out of a desire to serve publicly. He noted he has played sports and coaches and volunteered in other ways. Courtney originally ran for council in 2010, stepped aside when his mother Joan wanted to run in 2014 and then had two successful campaigns of his own in 2018 and 2022. He added he has been “honoured and humbled” to have the privilege of serving the town.
Regarding expenses he would like to review or eliminate, Dupuis said policing is a major issue and believed Windsor could still be an option as well as the OPP and Amherstburg.
“I don’t think that ship has sailed,” said Dupuis.
Dupuis added he wants to see taxes come down and that the town has to learn how to save money better and do more with less. Procurement is another issue he said he would like to study.
The future of properties in town, such as Belle Vue, was a question for Lazanja. She said that was one of the issues faced in 2018 and she would like to see a developer come in and restore the property. Lazanja said there is no place in Amherstburg for proms and similar public functions and would like to see money from such events stay locally and not go to other communities.
Recreational, cultural and community opportunities for younger families was an issue asked of LeBlanc. LeBlanc said he has his children help out with functions and fundraisers he puts on instead of playing on their phones, and they now enjoy giving back to their community. He said there are a number of events in town but there are opportunities to make the town better than ever.
Policing was a topic of a question for Elliott. She said the town has to decide which way it wants to go for policing, and that cost is a factor. Elliott said another factor is whether the community is being protected the way the people want it protected.
The condition of Amherstburg town hall was a question for DeLuca. She said reaching people at town hall can be difficult for people but as for the building itself, she believed the current Sandwich St. S. building should be renovated before anything new is built, including repairing the roof and installing an elevator.
“I believe town hall can be fixed,” said DeLuca.
Pouget-Papak was asked whether her campaign is accepting donations. She said she is self-funding her campaign and she is not soliciting donations. Pouget-Papak said families are facing too many essential needs and she does not want to ask for campaign donations from people who can use that money for other things. She added she doesn’t want to take money from groups and cause a perception she might vote a certain way.
Development and growth was a question for Anderson and it also included balancing heritage. He said the town’s Official Plan needs reviewing every five years. Anderson noted the town has a unique character that needs to be protected, but noted he is part of a generation that has difficulty buying a house. He said protection and the ability to buy a house can be done at the same time.
Some areas need protection and others not as much and Anderson noted Amherstburg needs more housing.
Stopping the “disrespectful treatment of the Golden Age Club” was a question put to Katara. He said yes, noting he is someone who would respect elders. He said he would support respectful treatment of seniors and wants everything to be good for them.
Allaire was asked about keeping communication improved so timely and clear information is shared with residents. She agreed with DeLuca the town’s new phone system can be frustrating for residents and she has worked with the IT department on trying to fix things. Allaire added she tries to be open as she can be with residents.
“I don’t care how you message me, I will respond,” she said.
Allaire encouraged the community to reach out to her.
Prajapati was asked about how to communicate how tax dollars are spent. He said he understands reports and budgets, but not everyone does so he can try and break it down for people. He said he has tried to do so online in his campaign materials. He said he wants to simplify documents for people who need it so they have a greater understanding of where money is being spent.
Open Air Weekends was a question for Cleminson, who believed the event should be reviewed. He said there are concerns over parking and suggested co-ordinating events and possibly not go every weekend. He also wondered about access to parks, including King’s Navy Yard Park, and said he wants public meetings with residents and businesses.
“It needs a total review and I’m committed to it,” said Cleminson.
Performance bonds and end dates for the new fire hall were part of a question for Botsford and he was also asked about not having performance bonds or end dates. Botsford said he is a first time candidate and did not have a vote on the matter, but said performance bonds are in place for protecting the building. He said those bonds are often put in place for failure to perform.
Botsford added while the fire hall is taking longer than most people would like, there are still fire halls in Amherstburg. The issue of performance bonds in the future would be between the town and a contractor.
The fire hall “will get done when it gets done.”
Reducing taxes amid growth in Amherstburg and the plan for it was a topic for Ewer. He believed expanding the tax base and bringing in more commercial taxes would assist in lessening the burden on the residential homeowner. Reducing red tape could do that, Ewer believed. Looking at how the town does things and why things are done could result in savings, he added. Articulating to the residents on why things are getting done is also important, said Ewer.
The effects of climate change on such places as the Big Creek settlement lands was posed to Boussey. Boussey noted severe storms continue to hit the region and lands have to be equipped with proper drainage to lessen the chances that flooding doesn’t happen. Protecting floodplains with drainage is key, he added, noting nobody wants flooded basements and streets.
Putting the right things in the right place is also a factor, he indicated.
Boblo Island residents and clear evacuation options was a question for Courtney. He said there is a homeowners association on the island, he noted, and there has to be a balance with the town, residents and the association. He said it is frustrating to deal with relating to the island including the private ferry service and it is a passion for him to try and solve. He noted, if re-elected, it is important for him to know what is available and try to improve upon it though noted it has often been “a tricky situation.”
Differing opinions between town council and administration and finding solutions was a question posed to Dupuis. He said the people go to council and council tells administration on how to proceed.
“I think that should be respected,” said Dupuis.
Affordable housing and what plans for getting some options for Amherstburg was part of a question for Lazanja. She noted it is an issue that hits close to home for her as her children are grown. It is not just an Amherstburg problem, but a provincial and federal problem. It is not just an issue of building more.
Because more housing is built, it may not be affordable for all as affordability is subjective, she said.
Lazanja said she would like council to find ways to watch and learn from other municipalities to work with developers to help young adults and older people get what they need.
A ward system and the support of one was posed to LeBlanc, who said he does not support a ward system.
“Any time you get five members of council and it should be the best of the best,” said LeBlanc.
LeBlanc said if a person wants to represent a certain area, they should knock on the doors in that area and ensure they vote. He didn’t want to divide the community and didn’t want to see people pigeon holed because of where they live.
Elliott was asked if she would approve a bylaw to dismiss a council member if the negotiated with a contractor on an issue that was discussed in-camera. She said she would likely dismiss that person as “we should be discussing together what is going on. That’s what we’re supposed to do.”
Open Air Weekends and the cost of the 2025 and 2026 versions of the event was a topic for DeLuca, who said she would like to see that.
“We should know how much the cost is,” she said. “It’s not just my money, it’s everyone’s money.”
DeLuca said Open Air is successful when attached to the town’s “excellent festival” but opposed street closures from Friday evening to Sunday evening. She also suggested a different format with one idea being closing Richmond St., Ramsay St. and Murray St. and utilizing Art Alley and not closing a main artery like Dalhousie St.
Businesses who need Open Air to be successful should contribute to it, she added, and not have it all fall on the tax base. Tweaking the event and bringing it back to council is something she is open to, noting some businesses in the area are not making the money they used to.
Projecting what full-time staff in ten years was a question posed to Pouget-Papak. She estimated it would increase but believed it would be ridiculous to try and put a number on it at this stage. Managing staff and how they operate was a better question with each department having to be looked at as well as what the community needs. She said additional staff may be a more efficient option versus paying out more overtime hours.
Resident concerns and consideration of community input was a matter for Anderson to discuss. Anderson said residents should know what is going on and the town has a responsibility to communicate issues and decisions with residents directly. Using a possibly rezoning as an example, a single newspaper ad doesn’t cut it and he suggested notification to each resident in the impacted area but such things as registered mail.
Reconfirming and utilization of knowledge from volunteers on the audit and finance committee was asked of Katara. He said the he has a financial background himself and there are CPAs on the committee that should also be utilized. He said committee members should also have experience and the ability to read a budget.
Accessibility parking during downtown festivals was asked of Allaire. She pointed out she is walking around with crutches due to ACL reconstruction surgery she had in her knee in September and that has been an eye-opener for her. She has learned the town needs to do a better job, noting she has a motion prepared for accessibility buttons at doors to washrooms at parks.
Regarding parking spaces, Allaire said the town is trying hard to create spots but “we could advertise that a lot better.” If there was access to Dalhousie St. during events, more accessible parking could be provided. She also credited residents for stepping up and telling council what could be done.
Prajapti was also asked about Open Air Weekends, and he said he loves and supports Open Air. He acknowledged Allaire’s motion at the Sept. 28 meeting to bring a report back with costings and reports on Open Air to the new council’s first meeting. He said “we need to understand what works and what doesn’t” and realizes while there is a desire for change, the new council has to figure out what that is.
“Once we have all the answers, we can make informed decisions,” he said.
Prajapati said Open Air is a reason he came to town, noting his family would come, buy an ice cream “thanks to Jen” and enjoy the event but “I’m open to change.”
Prioritizing issues like roads and drainage while balancing limited municipal resources was asked of Cleminson. Cleminson acknowledged it is a vital issue that can be controversial, as many residents want to see their roads done. He cited Concession 6 North as an example. There are 287 kilometres of roads in Amherstburg and Cleminson said town council has to look at its budget, possibly do some work in-house like on sidewalks, and have a plan in place on priorities for roads.
“We have to go in and do it right,” he said, adding provincial funding should be sought to offset costs for the town.
Ensuring council sets direction and priorities and having administration carry out those tasks was a subject for Botsford. He said administration does a lot of work preparing agendas and it is important they give all the information to town council and have elected officials ask questions, seek answers and make decisions.
“As more information comes in, we can make an informed decision to benefit the taxpayers and not just rubber stamp something because this is how we feel,” said Botsford.
Ewer was asked if he views himself as a team player and he said he does. He said his life has been dedicated to volunteerism, noting his parents set the way for him. He said he embraces that and they set the example of how people should conduct themselves.
Noting he was promoted in his job to team leader, Ewer said “everything I do is in a team approach.” He said it is about “we” and not “me” as council is seven people that have to collaborate on issues.
“It takes seven people to work together in agreements and disagreements,” said Ewer.
Boussey was asked about Boblo and they are taxpayers, and their access to services. He said he knows they pay taxes like everyone else, and compared them to rural residents who sometimes feel they don’t get services they deserve.
Boblo residents deserve exactly what mainland residents receive, with Boussey adding “it doesn’t matter where you are in the community, we deserve to get the services we are all paying for.”
The process of receiving and reviewing reports from administration was a topic for Courtney to discuss. He said the town has gotten better with getting information out there, with the agenda being put out until almost ten days before the meeting.
Courtney said he respects professional staff but there is “room for improvement.” He said there are some reports that need more options and believed there are times staff can approach an issue better. He added there are in-camera issues that come before council members in short order and Courtney said he is frustrated by that.
Dupuis asked how he would work with council when they disagreed with him. He said he is passionate about what he believes in and wants to fight for residents. Dupuis said he may be opposed to something but is willing to change his mind if presented with an argument he finds reasonable.
“I can be stubborn but I can definitely listen to reason,” said Dupuis.
Lazanja was also asked about Open Air Weekends.
“It doesn’t matter what I think about Open Air. Everyone in this room has an opinion. To be honest, I’ve watched our town become divided over it. The council is divided over it. It’s raised contention and I’d like to see that stop,” she said.
Compromising is the key, Lazanja said. She noted there is a new waterfront plaza and suggested putting events into the plaza, also known as the Navy Yard Park extension. That could appease both sides as it doesn’t cancel Open Air, just relocates it.
LeBlanc was asked about what he would do about the Golden Age Club and his plans. He admitted he didn’t know about it but said when council is presented something, elected officials need to research it. He would walk to the club, find out more about it, then make a decision when he has more information.
“One thing I would love to have is resident feedback on the seniors club and is it something they actually want to have open,” he said.
LeBlanc added his career is about doing research and finding out more information and would do the same about the seniors club.
Ferry service to Boblo during an emergency and an evacuation plan was a question for Elliott. She responded by stating there should always be a plan and it should be reviewed every few months, noting she worked on the island many years ago. She believed an extra boat should be on hand so it can be used in case of an emergency.
“We really need to think about that. No one wants to be stuck there,” she said.
Reviewing the procedural bylaw and public participation in meetings was a question for DeLuca. She said everyone can delegate but that doesn’t work for everyone and council meetings need to be structured.
“There has to be a way to reach our elected officials,” she said.
The bylaw should be amended, suggesting not having it be a unanimous vote of council to have a resident be heard. Questions do not have to be answered that night but can be followed up, she said.
What Pouget-Papak wants to see as far as wants in a progressive budget was asked, with her response including housing, safety and infrastructure evaluations and how to fund those. After that wants to come in, as the town needs to assess what is needed and go from there.
“Being in a middle class home, we are seeing the middle class being broken by the tax base and it’s getting more and more difficult for everyone. We have to put our needs higher,” she said.
Anderson was asked about transparency if he were a business owner and abstaining from voting if he had a financial interest. He said he is not a business owner and was not aware of any financial investments that he would have to abstain from voting on.
Anderson said if he became a business owner and a matter that pertained to his interests came forward, he would recuse himself just as everyone should.
Katara was asked how he was going to judge whether the town needs new staff before new people were hired. He said he believes in reviewing information and going over all of the numbers. He wants to see exact costs and whether the work is getting done.
“I would make sure I would go over every number and analyze everything. If I still think we need more people, I would vote for it,” said Katara.
Cell towers, spotty internet and receiving emergency notification was a question posed to Allaire. She said current council did pass a motion to look at re-instillation of sirens. She acknowledged there are cell reception areas in certain areas.
“It’s obviously not correct. It’s not right. We have started the pathways to try and do so,” said Allaire.Allaire added government is “painfully slow” and issues have to go to higher levels of government. She said current council is trying hard and hopes the next council keeps trying as well.
Prajapati asked if council members should chair or co-chair committees. He said yes. Council members and volunteers work to help residents and council members can use their voice and tell other council members and community members what is happening. He said it would be great to help residents get further knowledge of how things work.
Cleminson was asked if he would vote for a forensic audit on looking at administrative positions to save money. He said he would like to see subcommittees and get residents together to garner input and concerns. If the town can find savings to put in other areas, why not go through and have a complete look at the whole system.
Laying off staff in slower times of the year was asked of Botsford. He said that might be difficult given that town staff is unionized. He also asked what constitutes a “slow time” of year.
Botsford believed the best way is to do a study to see what slow times are otherwise he wasn’t sure it was feasible. He believed all employees need to be valued and be allowed to continue the work they have always been doing.
Ewer was asked what values he would bring to council. Listening to people is vital, he said, and part of that is recognizing the voters “are the boss.”
“We work for the residents. If listening isn’t number one, I don’t know if you are doing it right,” he said.
Disagreeing is fine but collaboration and respect are also important, said Ewer. He said collaboration and respect “go hand-in-hand” and knows every decision made impacts everyone differently.
Boussey was asked what the most important issue the town faces over the next four years. Infrastructure was top of mind and he said studies are being done. He said traffic is an issue with cars backed up from light to light and that has to be addressed particularly with 1,100 new homes coming. He said he would review existing studies to see traffic patterns, traffic light timing, and see what can be done.
The commercial arena on St. Arnaud St. and how it impacts a neighbouring family was a question for Courtney. Courtney said it is “a very frustrating file” and the province has changed legislation and wants to fast-track development. Regarding the question, he said the Ontario Land Tribunal tends to favour developers. On St. Arnaud St., there is a variety of zonings but if they are going to blend, Courtney said buffers need to be created. He said the homeowner faces an “unfair” situation but “council has no say in this.”
“It’s a very frustrating situation there. Council did its best to protect the resident,” he said. “It’s not at this level.”
The next round of all-candidates nights comes this Wednesday (Oct. 7) and Thursday (Oct. 8), this time presented by the Amherstburg Chamber of Commerce (ACOC). The ACOC events will see councillor candidates face off Oct. 7 from 5:30-9:30 p.m. while the mayor and deputy mayor candidates will square off separately Oct 8, also from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Doors open at the McGregor Columbian Club at 4 p.m. both nights and it will be live streamed on YouTube.
Councillor candidates field questions at all-candidates night
By Ron Giofu
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