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Meet the Candidates: Denis Sabourin
Municipal Elections are taking place in October. As one of the main media outlets in the City of Cornwall, The Seeker is always eager to getting to know the candidates. As such, we send each candidate a questionnaire requesting for them to give their position on the most pressing issues near and dear to you, our readers. During the upcoming weeks, we will be publishing the answers from each candidate who choses to respond. Every candidate was sent 11 questions, penned by our own, Jason Setnyk. They can chose to answer as many as they want. We will post them online as they come in. Here are Denis Sabourin’s Questions and Answers. Click on any question to reveal the answer.
1 – Please give us a brief biography / tell the readers about yourself.
(e.g., work/family/education/experience)
My wife Claire and I have lived in Cornwall since 2013. Prior to that we lived in Monkland. My local political and community involvement includes 15 years as a Catholic School Board Trustee. Former executive assistant to Stormont Dundas Charlottenburg M.P. Bob Kilger, over 20 years of senior Parliament Hill experience,an active member of the federal and provincial liberal associations within the riding of Stormont Dundas South Glengarry. I’m a licensed Paralegal, Notary Public, Commissioner of Oaths operating under the business name of SDG Paralegal Services. I have worked as a journalist with national news operations having served in Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton, Dawson Creek B.C. and Cornwall.
2 – If you were on Council the previous term, tell us about your accomplishments during the past four years. If you were not on City Council this last term, please tell us why you are running and what you hope to accomplish.
I want to bring ideas to the council table that I believe will help Cornwall’s progressive growth. With my political experience I believe I can be an advocate for the interests of our residents and contribute to the team that makes up the city of Cornwall.
There are many issues that must be addressed in the next term from the future of our waterfront, the port/harbor lands, the Cornwall landfill site, affordable housing, growth in arts, culture and recreation to name a few areas. For Cornwall to continue growing, we must be prepared to adapt to the rapid changes that is happening all around us.
3 – With rents skyrocketing, what can City Council in Cornwall do to prevent renovictions like those at Cumberland Gardens that have impacted many in our community?
Renovictions are covered under provincial legislation in the Residential Tenancies Act. It is not something that falls under the authority of municipal governments. While renovictions may have a negative connotation for many it is also a common business transaction involving many landlords and tenants across the province. It is commonly referred to as cash for keys. The Ontario Landlord and Tenant Board is a tribunal that adjudicates matters of this nature if there is a case application challenging the intention of the landlord. With adequate affordable rental housing in the community few people would have an issue with a renoviction.
4 – In 2018, the City of Cornwall purchased the old Bank of Montreal building in our downtown for $450,000 as the future home of Cornwall’s Art Centre. In 2019, Council heard a report that renovations would cost an additional $4 to $6 million dollars. In addition to the fundraising already being done, will you support some public tax dollars going towards a Cornwall Art Centre, or should the municipality pause any additional financial support?
We all want to see an active arts community within Cornwall and there is a demonstrated need and benefit to the creation of the Cornwall Arts Centre. As in many other communities. institutions of this nature try to operate on a profitable basis, that is the goal. For this reason, I support some city assistance to making the Cornwall Arts Centre a reality and viable, but its future operation should not be dependent on annual financial assistance from the city coffers.
5 – Post-pandemic, what can Council do to improve Economic Development for the city and support existing businesses?
With continued growth in the population of Cornwall there is an increase in consumers for our existing businesses. So, let’s continue to grow. What is needed is a revitalization of traditional shopping areas such as Pitt Street and Montreal Road. Big box stores have transitioned our shopping core to other areas of the city. The challenge is to get the investment back with the commercial products and consumer services needed into our traditional shopping areas.
6 – What are your thoughts on the McConnell Medical Clinic closure? Although health care is a provincial issue, is there anything Council can do to attract more doctors and nurses to our city?
It’s unfortunate that we lost the McConnell Medical Clinic. The closure was a business decision by the operators of the clinic. One thing is clear they demonstrated the need and success of it, it was a decision on their part to basically retire from their profession. Their success should be pointed out to medical practitioners in a recruitment drive to set up another medical clinic in Cornwall. We are not the only city in Cornwall that is losing medical clinic operators. In our recruitment we need to demonstrate why we claim Cornwall is a great place to live, work and play.
7 – While climate change is a global issue, what can the City do locally to keep our neighborhoods cool and protect natural resources like the St. Lawrence River?
The city of Cornwall has implemented several policies to address climate change and its impact. I suggest that there should be greater awareness of the actions in place while at the same time reviewing them to gauge the level of involvement and impact. I also think we should be taking on more of a leadership role in this area. For that reason, I think we should look at the future of our landfill site and explore the benefits and impact of converting it to a garbage burn facility where we create energy from waste, eliminate the risk of ground water contamination and methane gas in the air. There have been significant improvements in garbage burn facilities that make them less of a threat to the environment than our present practice of burying our garbage. Plastic bags are meant for recycling, why do we put our garbage in them and then bury them?
8 – Many City businesses are open on Sundays, and many events happen on Sundays. Do you support Sunday service for Cornwall Transit?
Yes, I support a Sunday bus service. It might be abbreviated from what people currently experience or perhaps we can explore a dial a bus service for Sunday’s.
9 – What can we do to improve social services in Cornwall? Examples include but are not limited to Cornwall Transit, childcare spaces, or LTR spaces.
I would like an audit or social services in Cornwall to determine what is offered, what is the level of use and ways in which to streamline. Social services are always dependent on levels of support from the senior levels of government which many will attest is not adequate for the needs in the community.
10 – Do you support keeping tax increases to a bare minimum? If yes, where would the savings come from, and would you support reducing some services? If you do not support keeping tax increases to a minimum, explain your reasoning why.
Can you define the bare minimum? I know I can’t. The demands on the tax dollars vary from year to year, while at the same time taking into consideration factors that are out of our control such as inflation or imposed contracts. Cornwall is fortunate in that the city has a stellar financial rating as well as a good rating on debt management. The city is lean in terms of operation and services are delivered at an efficient level. As a councilor I am prepared to make responsible decisions based on the information presented to council always mindful of the impact it has on the average home owner.
11 – How can candidates contact you? Please provide a phone number and/or email and/or one website (or one social media link).
Cell phone 613 360 5633
e-mail [email protected]
Face book Denis Sabourin for Cornwall City Council
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