November 15, 2022 at 2:00 pm
Speaking at his inaugural meeting on Tuesday morning, Sarnia’s mayor asked the new council to be respectful and committed to the city.
Justice Paul Kowalyshyn read the inaugural declaration to eight councillors and Mayor Mike Bradley.
Students from Binoojiinyag Kino Maagewgamgoos Early Learning Center in Aamjiwnaang perform the national anthem at the inaugural meeting of the Sarnia Council term 2022-2026. Photo by Melanie Irwin on November 15, 2022
Aamjiwnaang Chief Chris Plain was the master of ceremonies, and students from Aamjiwnaang’s Binoojiinyag Kino Maagewgamgoos Early Learning Centre played the national anthem in English and Anishinaabe.
Mayor Bradley tells lawmakers by running [in the municipal election] they have demonstrated this commitment [to the city]but he warned that it would be naive to say they won’t have some difficult times in their 2022-2026 term.
“We’re battling high inflation, we’re battling high interest rates that continue to climb, and we’re dealing with the fact that we’re in recession [is predicted],” Bradley said. “Unfortunately, the more people who predict a recession, the more likely it is to happen. So, for me, the first year will be the “get ready” year. We’re just trying to do the groundwork, do the groundwork, and then go ahead and implement these programs that we’ve inherited from past councils, and that’s been very helpful to us. “
Bradley said the previous committee was tasked with responding to a pandemic, and he warned the new group that we are now entering another variant of the pandemic.
“How this will unfold, I don’t know,” he said. “Unfortunately, even during this election, I have noticed over and over again the chaos of our time. I am sorry to say this to this committee, you are entering a different world where there is no trust in government, no There is distrust in the church, distrust in almost every fundamental group in society, and our job is to try to gain that trust back.”
(L to R) Outgoing City/County Councilman Mike Stark, Lambton County Warden Kevin Marriott and senior city staff watch the newly elected City Council take the oath of office. Photo by Melanie Irwin on November 15, 2022
Bradley said he was proud to announce a new addiction center last semester that will open within the next two years.
“This is a terrible problem for our city and our country.”
Bradley said this new term will hold a summit with the county to find solutions to local homelessness and drug addiction.
He added that the new committee will continue to assist with the development of the hydrogen hub, the challenges of Line 5, and the development of a city plan to guide growth and development over the next 25 years.
“There are going to be some challenges,” Bradley said. “The Ford government has made it clear that they will put more of the responsibility back on local cities to pay, including development costs, including taking away some of our rights as local government.”
In City Council’s first job, Bill Dennis, who leads the city/county councilors’ vote, has been named acting mayor for next year.
– File from Stephanie Chaves
