Meet the candidates: Sault Ste. Marie

Five people are running to be mayor in the city of Sault Ste. Marie. Current Mayor Christian Provenzano is not running for re-election.

Ozzie Grandinetti

What are the top three issues you would like to tackle, if elected?

1. Accountability and Transparency - I want us to get back to the basics, getting focused on working together and collectively solving these immediate and pressing issues, as well as those that we will face over the next four years.
2. Safety and Security - Many people don't feel safe in our neighbourhoods or in our downtown. I propose that we subcontract multiple local security companies to be the eyes of police on a much broader scale. These firms can assist and back up homeowners and businesspeople in time of need until the police arrive. 
3.  Responsible spending - A municipal government's prime responsibilities are to provide decent services and affordable to its citizens, keeping them safe and ensuring that our facilities are adequate, accessible and clean. One of my key priorities is to ensure that people can afford to live here. I will push for the sale of surplus city land with the condition that such land be used to build more affordable housing. I will seek to reduce or remove the city application fees to rezone single family properties into multiple units, where appropriate. 

What is your involvement in the community?

I am a blue-collared working person, and a lifelong resident of Sault Ste. Marie. I haven't been too heavily involved in the community, but I am out and about all the time, and speak to dozens of people every day.

I love this city, I regularly go biking all around town, on the hub trail and the waterfront. That's when I see everything that I love about Sault Ste. Marie, but also when I see and get reminded of the things that need our immediate attention.

If elected mayor, what will be your first priority?

In the first few months I want to seriously have staff and council consider some of the ideas that were brought to me during this campaign, such as opening up city hall, lowering the speed limit to 40 kilometres per hour in residential areas and re-opening Pointes Des Chenes so that our residents and visitors can have a place to camp and enjoy the beaches during the summer months.

Tobin Kern

What are the top three issues you would like to tackle, if elected?
Our community faces three crises all at once:

1. Climate change;
2. an affordable housing crisis;
3. and an addictions epidemic that need our full attention

What is your involvement in the community?

My job is helping people living in poverty access income support, community services, training and employment.  As a volunteer, I have been a community activist with Sault Climate Hub, a hockey, baseball, and soccer coach, a Victim Services of Algoma volunteer, and a board member with Algoma Family Services.

If elected mayor, what will be your first priority?

There are many priorities that need to be addressed right away, but my first priority will be to lead by example, and commit to zero transportation emissions while on city business, relying on active transportation as much as possible. I can do this day one!

Robert Peace

What are the top three issues you would like to tackle, if elected?

1. Declare myself the city's full-time mayor. The issues facing Sault Ste. Marie warrant a full-time  commitment with no conflicts, personal agenda, or personal benefit. This would be done with no additional remuneration. I will work with council, municipal agencies and residents to determine  what requires our immediate attention. While I believe the social issues, including affordable  housing, require immediate attention, other important matters such as infrastructure  improvements, addressing population decline and crime cannot be ignored. 
2. Declare a health care emergency to address the addictions and mental health crisis in Sault Ste. Marie. This would include expanded efforts to attract and retain health care professionals in every field to Sault Ste. Marie. We cannot be a healthy community without all necessary  supports in place.
3. Initiate participation in the revival of the city's downtown. Many residents are angry over the building of a multi-million-dollar downtown plaza – a decision made by the current council. It's a done deal. Cancelling the project would cost millions more of taxpayers' dollars. Every community needs a vibrant downtown. We must move forward and use this as the catalyst to revive an area that is vital to the city's growth. Families, schools, retails outlets have left the area. This change will invigorate investment, community interest and pride.  

What is your involvement in the community?

Extensive. Upon arriving in Sault Ste. Marie, I immediately became involved in the local arts community - this has resulted in expanded exposure of local artisans through art shows, individual features with special emphasis on Indigenous culture and its importance to Sault Ste. Marie and area.

Living in downtown Sault Ste Marie it became apparent to me, in a very short time, that a serious addictions crisis was present. I joined a grassroots group called CHAAT (Citizens Helping Addicts &  Alcoholics Get Treatment). Our group lobbied all levels of government to establish withdrawal  management services in Sault Ste. Marie as well as ensure that a continuum of care was put into place to help those seeking treatment. We were vocal in our determination to get help where it was needed  despite attempts by elected officials, institutional leaders and others to shut us down. A withdrawal  management facility is preparing to open in our community however it is just the start.

I am active with the Sault Ste. Marie Downtown Association, the Chamber of Commerce, Batchewana First Nation, Garden River First Nation, Thessalon First Nation -- helping to tell their stories through film and written word.

My involvement in the community and my desire to be a voice of change in Sault Ste. Marie reached its pinnacle when I jumped into the mayoral race. My platform is innovative and forward-thinking, and with  the help of many others, I will move Sault Ste Marie toward a productive and secure future.

If elected mayor, what will be your priority?

My first priority will see a health care emergency declared in Sault Ste. Marie. 

Matthew Shoemaker

What are the top three issues you would like to tackle, if elected?

1. Providing and lobbying for greater access to mental health and addictions services in the community;
2. Work to establish a permanent downtown police presence in the heart of Sault Ste. Marie's downtown; and
3. Keep spending in check at city hall and ensure that whatever projects are approved, the cost of them is reasonable and incremental.

What is your involvement in the community?

Two terms as Ward 3 city councillor.

Previous board member on many boards/committees including Sault College, PUC, Police Service Board and many others.

The complete list of my involvement can be found at https://matthewshoemaker.ca/committees/

If elected mayor, what will be your first priority?

Finding capital funding to get a supervised consumption site established.

Donna Hilsinger

What are the top three issues you would like to tackle, if elected?

1. Homelessness, Mental Health and Addictions - Our residents who are experiencing mental health challenges, addictions and homelessness or unsafe housing deserve support in the form of treatment services and transition or supportive housing.  The funding for these services must be provided by the provincial and federal governments.
2. Growth - Growth means attracting more people to our community and investing in and supporting all sectors of the community from small business to major industries. Growth in our businesses provides more jobs and provides more opportunities for students, skilled labour, specialists in respective fields. Growth increases our tax base and helps to lower taxes and make Sault Ste. Marie a more affordable place to live.
3. Environmental Sustainability - Ramp up our city's greenhouse gas emissions reduction plan to become net zero by 2040.

What is your involvement in the community?

For over 20 years I have dedicated thousands of hours to serve my community in tourism, economic development, trail development, arts and culture, education, health care, child welfare, social services and LGBTQ advocacy. I have extensive networks and relationships within the community. 

In 2021, I was appointed the first female honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the 49th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA. I have been recognized for my community service over the years including being awarded the 2016 Larry Knapp Award for Community Building from The United Way, the 2015 Chamber of Commerce Paul Dalseg Community Achievement Award, the 2013 Leading Women Building Communities Award from the Province of Ontario, the 2012 Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal, the 2012 Chamber of Commerce Athena Award and the 2008 Northern Ontario Business Influential Women Award.

If elected mayor, what will be your first priority?

I know through my work on council, in the community, and through the conversations I have had at the doors of residents and with local business, labour and community leaders, that we have critical issues that have to be addressed. These issues require strong support, collaboration, leadership and community-wide approach to problem solving.  My first priority as Mayor will be pulling together the people, services, resources and funders required to address the specific issues, and develop strategies that move forward effective solutions to resolve the issues we face as a community. 

I am committed to making Sault Ste. Marie a safe, vibrant and growing community.