Municipal elections are October 26 in Ontario. To help voters make an informed decision here in Cornwall, the editorial board of The Seeker has put together 10 questions for candidates seeking a seat at the municipal council table, whether as Councillor or as Mayor. To ensure fairness, the same questions were sent to every candidate. We sent a total of 10 and they had the option to answer all of them, or pick a minimum of 5. Their answers will be published in their entirety, in the order they are received. We will not edit, correct or modify any responses.
These are Fred Ngoundjo’s Answers. He is running for councillor.
Who are you? Where are you from? What education do you have? What relevant experience do you have?
I am a research scientist with the Canadian government. I have contributed to over 10 publications in the field of microbial engineering applied to converting low-value organic resources into green energy. I am bilingual, 50 years old, and have happily lived in Cornwall for over a decade with my wife and two children. I have also been involved in organizing amateur sports on a part-time basis. I am a member of the Knights of Columbus and other community organizations. I was encouraged to run for office by Bernadette Clement, and I am deeply grateful for her support. In 2022, I was elected to City Council, and I have dedicated myself to this responsibility so crucial to the well-being of my fellow citizens.
In The Seeker’s poll asking constituents about the most important issue facing them, a large majority of respondents answered “taxes/affordability”. What would you do as a Councillor/Mayor to make Cornwall more affordable, and what city services or spending, if any, would you be willing to reduce, change or eliminate to keep tax increases under control?
What’s most important is to manage our finances effectively, making sure that we properly protect and serve our residents well, while living within our means. To grow stronger economically we need to be attractive to industry and commerce, maintain a thriving population and attract new residents. It is all a matter of balance. I feel we can do much better in making sure every service, every expense is justified and brings good value. I have been disappointed at times with the information provided to us and the decisions made by the majority. We must do better. I will continue to work to make sure that we live within our means. I will continue seek a justification for every cost taking nothing for granted.
Over the past few years, many constituents have expressed concern that the city’s homelessness situation has significantly worsened. What would you do as a Councillor/Mayor to address this issue?
Working with others around the Council table, I would make sure that we build affordable housing in Cornwall first before anywhere else in the Counties. The need is felt mostly right here. I would also make sure that we took time to listen to get things right the first time instead of having to start all over again as we did with Massey Commons. And I would call for the involvement of all three levels of government to effectively address the terrible impact of illegal drugs in our community.
Why are you running for Council? What is the most important issue facing the City of Cornwall today?
When I was elected in 2022, I became the first Black man to serve on the Council of the City of Cornwall. I welcomed that honour. But adapting the words of Martin Luther King, I much prefer to be judged on the content of my character rather than on the colour of my skin. Breaking down barriers with mutual respect allows us to benefit from the many voices who seek to contribute to our great community. As Councllor, I extend such respect to all, and I will continue to reach out and listen to the many voices who wish to be heard. There is so much we can achieve together, and above all else, we need to restore to City Council the true leadership role which our citizens are calling for to keep costs under control but seize the opportunities of the future.
Many constituents have expressed concerns about accountability and controversy surrounding Council. What could you do as a Councillor/Mayor to improve transparency and accountability?
Some rules and regulations intended to promote transparency have not worked as well as they should and Council can do better. We must definitely improve the possibility for citizens to bring their concerns directly to some Council meetings as other municipalities have done in order to improve accountability.
We constantly hear about the Art Centre and the water meters. Many residents have expressed the view that these were bad decisions on Council’s part. Both projects are being implemented, but they remain a sore spot for some voters. Would you consider revisiting or changing decisions made on those projects?
These two matters are quite separate of course. Water meters were long overdue in our community. Ordinary citizens were paying far more for their water use than very big users who were not paying their fair share for this most precious resource, pure water. We needed a fairer system. But implementation and communication around this could have been much better, and we need to learn from that. Ensuring that we have proper facilities for the Arts in Cornwall is vital to our progress as a community. We very much need to obtain Federal and Provincial funding to make sure we achieve that goal. It is in everyone’s interest that we get the best value for the funds we invest and readjusting some of the actions taken based on new information can be beneficial to the overall objective of providing a range of proper facilities.
What would you do to improve our relationship with Akwesasne? What does Truth and Reconciliation look like to you? Explain how Cornwall can take steps toward it.
As I publicly stated at the Council meeting at which we voted to implement a Cornwall action plan, the reconciliation process has a personal significance for me. Canada is my adopted country. It has welcomed me, and it is a beautiful land that the Creator has blessed. But I know it also needs healing from the sorrows inflicted upon its indigenous peoples. Coming from Africa, I know quite a bit about the lasting pain of colonial oppression, and I feel a special kinship with my Canadian indigenous brothers and sisters. I intend to bring humility and yes, love and respect in moving forward with the reconciliation process.
Cornwall’s municipal government relies on experienced and qualified staff to deliver services to residents. What would you do as a Councillor/Mayor to ensure the city can attract, retain and support the best possible people in senior positions?
I share the concern of the people of Cornwall about the significant turnover of staff in recent years at City Hall. While various laws and rules prevent us from publicly discussing individual cases, we need to openly discuss how we plan to create a better work environment that will be more stable and attractive to the best possible people.
Healthcare is primarily a provincial responsibility, but access to healthcare is a major concern for Cornwall residents. What can the City of Cornwall realistically do to help improve healthcare access, and would you make it a priority as a Councillor/Mayor?
Especially with our aging population, healthcare needs are definitely a major and growing concern for Cornwall residents. Few needs are more crucial than this. A refreshed City Council must speak out more clearly and more powerfully to our provincial government so that greater funding is made available to our Community hospital. Very many of our local residents must travel regularly to Ottawa to access specialized healthcare, and despite volunteer assistance, have trouble getting to that care. It is time to consider a Cornwall Transit Healthcare Link which would provide the possibility of travel to Ottawa for medical care at an affordable rate. This is a proper role for a municipal government that meets the needs of its citizens. And it also time to work to remove any obstacles that may prevent new doctors from coming to Cornwall.
Many residents are concerned about crime, vandalism, drug use and a general decline in their sense of safety. What can the city realistically do to address these concerns, and where should municipal responsibility end and provincial or federal responsibility begin?
We know that municipalities like ours are facing what must be recognized as a very great crisis surrounding illicit drug use. This is the root cause of much of the criminal activity here. And yet we have failed to openly address this problem in Cornwall. An issue so crucial as this must be a high priority bringing together expertise and political will to produce concerted action to deal with the problem.
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