Lambton’s warden optimistic after AMO meetings

Kevin Marriott says he’s optimistic after discussing local needs with provincial ministers this week.

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“I’ve never felt stronger that we’re being heard,” said the longtime Enniskillen Township mayor and Lambton County’s warden.

He was one among about seven county council members, he said, attending the annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference Aug. 18 to 21 in Ottawa.

“We seem to be building a good relationship” with Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Paul Calandra, and Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Michael Tibollo, Marriott said, noting they’re important in dealing with housing and mental health and addictions concerns in the community.

On the affordable and supportive housing front, the county has been working with Hamilton-based charity Indwell to build and operate 150 to 300 new units, budgeting $100,000 a year for two years for the work.

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Calandra is “well aware and agrees that Indwell is a good organization to work with,” Marriott said about AMO discussions.

“We made him aware that we need funds to start working … (and) dollars to start another new project,” he said

The county is moving ahead with design and construction of a $16.5-million affordable housing project that could create up to 50 units on land it owns on Kathleen Avenue in Sarnia, and it recently offered to buy the St. Bartholomew church site on Cathcart Boulevard for possible new affordable housing.

Last fall, Lambton worked with Flourish, a sister company of Indwell, to assess five potential sites for up to 490 new units of affordable housing, including supportive housing units, at a total estimated cost of more than $143 million.

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There were “no promises” out of the meeting with Calandra, Marriott said.

“But very positive feedback that we’re on the right track.”

Meanwhile, a meeting with provincial mental health and addictions staff about how the Community Health Integrated Care (CHIC) team has been working so far also went over well, Marriott said.

Tibollo, in July, announced $2.5 million during three years for the program that peer paramedics and hospital workers to help care for people living rough in the county, including checking on their well-being and providing wound care.

“It was a good meeting that way, that they know how well (CHIC is) keeping people out of the emergency room,” Marriott said, adding he expects the program eventually will become permanent with ongoing funding.

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Lambton County, he said, will make an application to host one of 19 treatment and social support hubs for mental health and substance dependency recovery.

Minister of Health Silvia Jones recently announced $378 million for the facilities, and said there will soon be a call for applications from municipalities and communities for the hubs, AMO officials said in an Aug. 20 news releases.

Jones also announced the closure of nine safe consumption sites in cities across the province.

Marriott said he does more to help with substance dependency treatment is essential.

“Because addiction treatment goes hand-in-hand with affordable housing,” he said, explaining if people moving into supportive-housing units are grappling with addiction, they need supports.

“They’ve got to be on some type of treatment program in order for that affordable housing to last,” he said.

with files from Paul Morden

[email protected]

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