Councillor’s call with premier becomes council debate

A March 1 phone call between a member of Amherstburg town council and Premier Doug Ford made it to the council table March 9.

Councillor Linden Crain posted to social media March 1 that “Premier Doug Ford gave me a call this evening. He shared that economic development is a top priority following the Diageo closure, and that Minister Victor Fedeli is closely monitoring the situation. He also expressed interest in learning more about Amherstburg’s funding needs. I’ll be continuing this conversation to help bring provincial investment to Amherstburg.”

Councillor Peter Courtney raised the issue at the most recent meeting of council, stating “my phone actually blew up pretty good and I got some text messages” on the matter. He asked Crain about it, saying he was “very intrigued with this” and noted Crain went on the radio about it.

“What was the takeaway from that? Can you divulge to the mayor and to us what happened with that and how that came to be as well?” Courtney asked Crain.

Crain responded by saying he also spoke with Mayor Michael Prue on the matter.

“The premier publicly shares his cell phone everywhere,” said Crain. “It’s online. It can be accessed by anyone in this room if they want to call up the premier. He’ll call you back and leave a voicemail. I keep in contact with him. I think it’s important to have a relationship with upper levels of government. I don’t think it’s an issue if any member of council would reach out to the premier.”

Crain added “we’re all ambassadors for the town” and said it was a two-minute conversation with Ford.

Prue said there was a $1,500 per ticket breakfast the next morning, with Crain stating he purchased a portion of it and the rest was a gift. He said after consulting with the integrity commissioner, he doesn’t have to disclose it under a certain value.

There were other elected officials at the breakfast, Crain added.

“If I can get in a room, or other members of council can get in a room with other levels of government, it’s important,” he said. 

Crain stated out of 444 Ontario municipalities, “I want to make sure Amherstburg is known.”

Councillor Diane Pouget said she found it “very disrespectful” when she heard a radio interview on AM800. Regarding whether Crain reached out to Prue, Pouget said she found it to be a slight to the mayor when Crain said he reached out to CAO Valerie Critchley.

Pouget added while Crain may not have meant it that way, it came across that way. She said she received calls stating opinions regarding where funding from Diageo should go should come from council as a whole.

Crain replied saying he felt he was being targeted, stating “clearly it’s an election year. I can tell by the questions I’m being asked.” He added he did speak with Prue, and Crain was asked to bring up a project at the former Duffy’s lands as well. Crain said he has seen Pouget at Ontario PC Party events.

“It was no disrespect. The mayor and I spoke. We had an e-mail and a phone conversation,” said Crain. “I reached out to the CAO first and she said I should call the mayor, which I did.”

Crain added he has also spoken with cabinet ministers in the past and didn’t speak on behalf of council.

Councillor’s call with premier becomes council debate

By Ron Giofu