Port Colborne Council Candidates Outline Priorities for October Election

Candidates for the October 26 municipal elections in Port Colborne, Ontario, have identified water and wastewater affordability, infrastructure repair, and the local health care crisis as the primary city-wide concerns. Across Wards 1, 2, and 3, candidates are campaigning on the necessity of maintaining the local hospital and addressing the closure of the urgent care center at the former Port Colborne Hospital.

In Ward 2, candidates Monique Aquilina, Barbara Butters, Mark Minor, and Monica Szabo are competing, with Ron Bodner also listed. Their platforms emphasize fiscal responsibility, aquifer protection, and lake access. Ward 1 candidates, including Mark Brunarski and Angie Desmarais, are focusing on minimizing tax burdens and increasing transparency regarding the urgent care center closure. Other candidates in Ward 1 include Tim Hoyle and Brad Wilson.

In Ward 3, Gary Bruno, Amanda Emery, and Adam Robinson-Yu are running. While all three prioritize water and wastewater infrastructure, their approaches vary from Bruno's focus on renewal rates to Robinson-Yu's emphasis on preventive maintenance. Emery has specifically linked water bills to broader housing affordability and the need for fresh ideas on the council. Additional points of contention across the wards include the management of drainage infrastructure and environmental protections at Nickel Beach.